Prophet 21 has launched a new division, TradingPartnerConnect, that provides distributors and manufacturers of durable goods with a one-stop-shopping marketplace.

Colorado Springs, Colo.-based NxTrend Technology signed an agreement to sell to BuildNet Inc. of Research Triangle Park, N.C., an e-business, technology and project management systems provider for the home-building industry.

Informix Software has pledged to support the UniVerse and UniData database products developed by Ardent Software, which Informix acquired.

A survey conducted by e-commerce research provider The Kelsey Group/ConStat's Local Commerce Monitor reports that 64% of U.S. businesses with fewer than 100 employees are currently using the Internet while another 10% expect to be online in the next year.

A new Web site developed to sell excess PHCP inventory will be launched at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, April 7-9 in Chicago.

If you're a wholesaler without an electronic commerce strategy, don't panic.

The U.S. Commerce Department will study business-to-business electronic commerce activity through a national survey, Commerce Secretary William M. Daley said.

Membership applications are now being accepted from plumbing and heating manufacturers for hotOverstock.com, which facilitates overstock trading on the Internet.

The Construction-Zone, a Louisville, Ky.-based online resource for the commercial construction industry providing information on all phases of business, recently launched a distributor directory on its Web site.