Bermuda's answer to online company registration is due to be unleashed "hopefully in the new year'' according to Registrar of Companies Jeremy Cox.

This project has been in the works for about two years with Paragon Bermuda which is involved in creating the site. However everyone seems to be remaining silent about what stage the project is at.

For the last three weeks I've been trying to get an idea about the state of affairs after writing about places like Anguilla in a previous Tech Tattle column and Bottom Line magazine. Anguilla launched its Internet company registration facility (www.anguillaoffshore.com) a few months ago. I can understand the need for caution and not proceeding until the site is cleansed of all bugs, but hey, isn't this going a bit too slow and too silent? A Paragon spokesperson deferred all questions to the company's client, the Government. An e-mail from Mr. Cox directed me to an interview published in this month's Best Review labelled "Bermuda's new chief insurance regulator is moving the department into cyberspace''.

In the interview Mr. Cox credited his predecessor Kymn Astwood with getting the ball rolling by recognising that in order to provide a level of service required to continue to attract business Bermuda was going to have to offer an electronic means of registration.

Mr. Cox cited gains in efficiency in processing applications. He said the department was also considering allowing service providers to view the company register online.

"I really believe that that's going to be crucial for our department,'' Mr.

Cox told Best Review, adding that the project was still in its pilot stage.

As I understand from sources some of the service providers, mainly law firms I presume, are currently testing the site to ensure it works before it is finally rolled out. Currently the Registrar of Companies has a one-page Web site at www.bermuda-inc.com.

In the Throne Speech Government announced the "Bermuda Internet web site'' was being re-launched and re-designed using "state-of-the-art technology to assist both travel trade specialists and consumers''. This statement probably refers to Government's tourism web site at http:/www.bermudatourism.org.

Meanwhile, the Finance Ministry is also using "new technology to meet the needs of businesses and to benefit from technological developments'', according to the speech. "Plans are already in hand for the electronic filing and payment of tax returns, a move that will allow for the immediate updating of taxpayer records as well as a reduction in paper flow.'' I notice no mention has been made towards computerising the Supreme Court registry of writs to which the law firms still have to send hordes of office scribes to pour over tattered, bound copies of books so as to keep up to date with filings and decisions.

The group of civil servants coordinating all these initiatives, as part of the Computer Systems and Services Department, have been shifted from Finance to become part of the Ministry of Telecommunications and E-Commerce. It remains to be seen whether they prosper under the renewed emphasis on computerising Government activities.

To be fair Computer Systems and Services have been dealing with the more immediate problem of the Year 2000 bug to ensure Government doesn't come to a standstill as the date changes.

Government is now faced with the unenviable task of throwing a lot of money into what may seem like a bottomless pit, not an appealing task when attempting to fulfil social promises, which yield a more immediate payoff in terms of pleasing the public.

Those in the telecommunications industry also look set for another round of turmoil with the announcement that a position paper on a new act is being produced. I bet new wireless and Internet licensing legislation is under way.

Look ahead for new punch-ups over allowing Internet telephony.

Meanwhile the e-commerce industry is attempting to hammer out codes of conduct for the sector. On the other side of the fence Jersey and the Isle of Man were last week in a hurry to push through their own legislation on electronic commerce. I guess they took their cues from the offshore electronic conference in New York at which Bermuda swamped delegates with publicity about its offerings.

Well a few months later both states have announced they expect to bring in separate legislation by early next year to put paper-based and electronic commerce on the same legal footing. The UK's e-commerce bill is due to be published later this month.

Jersey and the Isle of Man hope to make a splash this week in London at the Tax Efficient Commercial Structures for Electronic Business conference on November 18 and 19. Both jurisdictions, along with Ireland are listed as hosts of the conference, which is sponsored by start-up Internet publication Lowtax.net (www.lowtax.net) and Jersey-based consultancy Micronet.

I plan on attending the conference for at least for one day as I'm also attending the launch of Lowtax.net's site on the evening of November 18.

Contact Business Seminars International Ltd. at 011-44-1424774493 for information.

Just for fun I'm also attending the Java 99 exhibition being held on the 17 and 18th and hope to report how the UK is currently playing a good game of catch up with the US on the Internet. Check out www.itevents.co.uk for information.

Tech Tattle deals with topics relating to technology. Contact Ahmed at ahmedelamin Yhotmail.com or (01144)1273708386.