The broad field of test-and-measurement equipment found at www.testmart.com (San Bruno, CA) now includes increasing coverage of products that will be of interest to telecommunications and network installers. Decision-makers looking for an apples-to-apples comparison of vendor specifications can now find information on several prominent local-area-network testers as well as fiber-optic cables.
Beginning with the premise that test and measurement are only a fraction of an engineer's design responsibilities, the Website seeks to make the selection process "the quicker the better," says president and CEO Peter Ostrow. "We provide really high-quality, database-oriented content. We offer no opinions, and we don't care what conclusions buyers come to-to buy, sell, rent, or lease. Our goal is to provide a neutral, one-stop shop that will help engineers find the product to meet their application needs."
Enhancements to the site include expanded content-more than 11,000 products in 75 categories, with 1,000 added per month; integrated product comparison, including a find/like feature that gives shoppers a list of comparable products based on the item and specifications they've chosen; and secure online commerce capabilities that include qualified toll-free support. A key feature at the site is the ability to compare vendors' diverse spec sheet information by commonly defined parameters. Decision-making information also includes hundreds of application notes and industry analysis from research firm Frost and Sullivan (Mountain View, CA).
Currently, testmart.com has direct-seller agreements with 65 manufacturers that can help speed delivery; other relationships are pending. Emphasizing that the site isn't a strictly impersonal e-commerce venture, vice president of marketing Julie Harrington says testmart.com seeks to "blend the best of the online and offline experience. We sell equipment, but we also help people use it and maintain it."
-Steve Smith