Registration is free. Software Vendors Also being referred to as an accounting version of Yahoo is AccountantsWorld, launched in August by Hauppauge, N.Y.-based Micro Vision Software. AccountantsWorld comprised of forums, industry news, links, continuing education, and free financial calculators, among other resources takes a unique spin by offering free Web site design and one year of hosting to its members. So far, about 1,000 members have taken advantage of the free offer, says Lawrence Zuckerman, vice president of Micro Vision and the site s director of content development. Members can also get one free online CPE course a month, in addition to other free offers and discounts on products or services.
Membership is free.
Zuckerman says future enhancements to the site include increasing the number of financial calculators and developing online tools such as calendars. What we are trying to do is that in addition to being a portal, we want to develop proprietary tools they can use on the Internet, says Zuckerman. Despite CSI s decision not to actively promote the service for the moment, ARNE 2 has attracted more than 400 users. It is simply to provide a place for professional accountants to talk to one another about the trials and tribulations of public practice, says Greg LaFollette, Creative Solutions vice president of product strategy. LaFollette stresses that, unlike many online communities, ARNE 2 is not designed to be a moneymaker and users will find no advertisements behind its password-protected walls.