Exchange (BSX) launched their most powerful marketing tool, a site on the World Wide Web, yesterday.

Bermuda-inc., which went on-line yesterday at a BIBA/BSX presentation at the Hamilton Princess, is a comprehensive site linked to all existing Bermuda web sites.

BIBA chairman Tom Davis said: "Visitors to the site are able to access information about forming a company in Bermuda, securing professional services and trading on the BSX as well as the latest information from the Bermuda insurance market. They can also browse the Tourism Department's web site for information about a holiday in Bermuda.'' The site includes Bermuda's central reservation system which includes over 80 Island properties. Travellers can book their stay on-line.

The site, described as the official web site of Bermuda's international business, also keeps Bermuda ahead of competitors like the Cayman Islands, Dublin and Luxembourg.

None of Bermuda's competitors have a web site of this magnitude, BSX CEO William Woods said.

The interactive technology provides clients with a sophisticated business tool, he added.

"The technology used to create this site allows the BSX and BIBA to update the data as often as necessary,'' he said.

"Visitors to Bermuda-inc.com are constantly receiving the latest information about what is going on in Bermuda and it makes the site very easy to manage.'' To keep the site a vital marketing tool, it will have to be updated and expanded continually, Mr. Woods said.

Ultimately, the goal is to conduct business on-line -- to click Bermuda Monetary Authority and ultimately incorporate a company on-line, to register funds electronically, he said.

The technology used to set up the site was created by US firms Microstate Ltd.

and ObjectLinks Corporation, but a Bermudian team was responsible for the design and co-ordination of the project.

Local company Matcham & Matcham and multi-media consultant Rick Morbey created the site's graphic design and Walton Brown of Research Innovations collated and input all the data for the on-line business directory. Photographs are from Roland Skinner.

Bermuda-inc. runs off a Virginia-based server through ObjectLinks, which mirrors the Bermuda web site. Eventually, as bandwidth increases between Bermuda and North America, the need for the Virginia-based mirror site will disappear and serve as a backup. With the data mirror, the response time is increased for inquiries by customers abroad.

The site cost about $50,000 to set up. BIBA's share was $16,000. Some costs are recouped through a one-time company inclusion fee, $200 for BIBA members or $250 for others, as well as additional costs to participants wishing to offer more information through the web site. Sponsors also pay fees.

The overseas launch of the site includes a 15,000 direct mail programme, said BIBA executive director Wendy Davis Johnson.

The web site will be featured at the Bermuda booth at the Shorex Exhibition, an offshore business centre trade show scheduled for November 20-22 at London's Design Centre.