Mercator releases update of snap

Mercator Corporation, Newburyport, Mass., announces the release of snap version 4, its survey design and analysis software. Version 4 offers users an enhanced on-screen survey design and layout facility. A library of options enables users to stylize their questionnaires to suit their individual needs. An extensive graphics option provides the ability to present data in a variety of forms. Users can select from an existing range of table and chart styles or create and save their own.

New geodemographic software

Market Statistics, New York City, has released MarketIntellect Version 1.8, which combines up-to-date demographic and economic data with the software to make sense of them. Marketintellect 1.8 lets users perform geomarketing analysis and create their own maps showing geographic distribution of variables like income level and purchasing power. The software contains nine different databases, including retail and service industry sales, buying power indices, consumer expenditure potential, and updatedcensus demographic figures. In addition, Marketintellect 1.8 will accept users’ customized data.

Forrester puts its services on-line

Forrester Research, Cambridge, Mass., has made available its line of technology, research services and new value-added services via the Internet and corporate Intranets. Forrester Internet offers flexible purchasing options, allowing clients to select only those services and features that meet their needs. Pricing is based on the number of users, services and features. Available immediately to existing clients, the Web-based products include: three years of Forrester Research Reports, Briefs and Journal entries indexed by Forrester’s custom keywords; a personalized research tracking feature that highlights any new research in areas where the client has expressed interest; searching capabilities including relevance ranking, natural language querying and Boolean logic querying. For more information visit the company’s Web site at http://www.forrester.com

Service provides credit reports on research companies

Creditview, Inc., West Haverstraw, N.Y., now provides a credit reporting service designed to meet the special needs of the market research-industry. The service enables users to evaluate a new or existing client’s payment history and credit rating(s). By using a multi-source method of compilation, Creditview has compiled a database of and for the market research industry. "Data includes company location, telephone, fax, E-mail and Internet address, principal’s name(s), other personnel, primary and secondary SIC codes, type of business, number of employees, sales volume, credit rating(s), years in business, and a detailed history of past projects and remittance times for each. The project history and remittance times are compiled from ongoing contributions to the database from field services, tab houses, coding services, printers, sample companies, and other suppliers to the industry. The reports are normally completed in an hour or less. They can be faxed or mailed and soon will be retrievable online.

Raosoft issues update of UFill

Raosoft, Inc., Seattle, has released version 3 of its UFill data collection progam. The collected data is stored in an associated database that is unseen by the person entering the form. Its DBF data format lets UFill become a generic data collector that can feed data into organization databases. UFill can be distributed across networks, either on file servers or as an E-mail attachment. UFill can be put on Web sites for downloading and mailing back. It can also gather informarion through: disk-by-mail, kiosk-type display on standalone computers, and notebook computer. A Professional Developers’ Edition is also available.

New service designed for testing consumer packaged goods

Promotion Decisions Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, has introduced National Shopper Lab, which compiles information on consumer purchasing decisions gathered directly from more than 200,000 consumers via frequent shopper programs. Promotion Decisions Inc. developed National Shopper Lab through five years of cooperation with seven leading retailers. With National Shopper Lab, store-based or panel-based tests can be conducted, or it can be used for tracking purposes and panel analytics.

Tablet PC suitable for research use

Fujitsu Personal Systems, Inc., Fujitsu’s Stylistic 1000 RF tablet PC Santa Clara, Calif., has introduced the Stylistic 1000 R.F, a Windows compatible tablet PC featuring Proxim’s built-in 2.4 Ngahertz wireless LAN radio. The Stylistic measures 7.3 x 11 x 1.6 inches and weighs 3.6 lbs, making it suitable for market research applications requiring a portable surveying unit. The Stylistic 1000 RF can be configured with Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and Pen Extensions 1.0 including the CIC Handwriting Recognition System 4.0 or Windows 95 with Pen Services 2.0 and the CIC HRS 5.0.

Database builder helps reach youth market

Regulus Communications, Inc., Lincoln, Neb., the producer of the Young Author’ s Magazine Anthologies, has introduced its DataSHARE initiative for market research programs. Through the 33,000+ schools and home computers YAM now reaches, clients will have a 16 million+ youth population from which to build a database for market research. DataSHARE allows World Wide Web automated responses from kids and families to be delivered by E-mail to a clients desktop computer. Through its "Read and Write Activity Center" on the Web, the Young Author’s program provides clients with electronic connections to kids and families via desktop computer and the Internet. Each DataSHARE project is available to individual clients under an exclusive license arrangement that fully protects both the data and the client. No other company is allowed to use the protected responses from a client’s project.

Version 2 of ASK?em out now

Infonetics Corp., Northboro, Mass., has introduced version 2 of its Windows- based ASK?em software, which allows users to conduct CATI or mail surveys. The new version offers integrated graphics and a variety of gaphing formats, from bar charts to trend charts. Version 2 enables users to automate all phases of the survey administration process, including survey design, contact list generation, conducting the survey, survey management and tabulation of the results.