Electronic Commerce

Cisco Systems Inc. agreed to buy electronic commerce software maker WebLine Communications for $325 million in stock. Closely held WebLine's equipment allows users to work together or shop together over the Internet. Phone calls, Web pages and forms can be shared and customer service agents can share Web pages with customers to solve problems, Cisco said. Burlington, Mass.-based WebLine has 120 employees.

PrintNation.com in Irvine, an electronic commerce site for the commercial printing industry, said Monday that it has received $25.5 million in venture capital funding. Lehman Brothers Venture Partners, Partech International, U.S. Venture Partners and Venrock Associates provided the funding. The company said the money will enable it to expand its staff and its marketing programs.

As the economy around it becomes increasingly high-tech, the Anderson School at UCLA today will unveil the Center for Management in the Information Economy. The center will become home to the business school's activities related to electronic commerce and e-business. Management strategy and policy professor Uday Karmarkar will serve as the center's director, and Robert Foster, an adjunct professor of operations and technology management, will be its executive director.

The founder and TV pitchman for mortgage lending leader Ditech.com in Costa Mesa abruptly resigned Monday after three of his top managers were indicted for allegedly trying to extort kickbacks from a Pittsburgh real estate services firm. J. Paul Reddam, 44, a former philosophy teacher who stars in Ditech.com's ubiquitous television commercials, has not been charged with any wrongdoing. A spokesman for the company, a unit of General Motors Corp.

PointCast Inc., which broadcasts information and advertisements over the Internet, said it will unveil a shopping service for users in an effort to expand its offerings and retain customers. PointCast said it will unveil an electronic-commerce service called MarketPlace, where users can find links to buy computer hardware, books or other merchandise. PointCast said its MarketPlace Web site will be sponsored by Visa. It has also struck partnerships with Amazon.com Inc.'

Idealab, the Pasadena-based Internet business incubator, launched an electronic commerce company Wednesday aimed at the $280-billion home decorating market. MyHome.com sells items ranging from kitchen fixtures and toilets to picture frames and candles online at http://www.myhome.com. The Pasadena start-up plans to add furniture, linens, wallpaper and other products in the coming months. MyHome.

A Colorado Internet services company said Thursday that it has consolidated 30 local and regional affiliates nationwide, including two Orange County operations that it melded into one and now calls Verio Southern California. Verio Inc. said the consolidations are aimed at improving the company's presence in each of the 33 U.S. markets it serves.

Vulcan Ventures Inc., the investment company headed by billionaire Paul Allen, is funding a new electronic commerce company that is developing a shopping service for the Internet, cable TV and other emerging media. Bellevue, Wash.-based Mercata Inc. is developing a Web site and shopping service that will let consumers shop on the Internet and cable TV for consumer electronics, home appliances, tools, watches and sporting goods.