Auctiva has launched a beta version of an ecommerce platform that will allow merchants to develop full-featured, independent Web stores. Auctiva provides free tools for half-million eBay sellers, and Auctiva Commerce is its first off-eBay service.

The Web store builder will include such features as unlimited categories, subcategories, products, pages and links; inventory controls; daily and monthly sales reports; a shopping cart; a shipping calculator; customizable tax codes; email marketing tools; and support for a wide variety of electronic and paper payment methods.

Auctiva Commerce is in limited release as a test environment, allowing users to set up stores and conduct mock transactions to try out the extensive array of features. Auctiva is inviting a select group of users to participate in the beta, and the platform is expected to be available in January 2009. Pricing has not been announced but will likely include a monthly storefront fee and a small sales fee for those transactions that were referred by Auctiva's marketing efforts.

http://www.auctiva.com