A free software package which automatically offers consumer advice to online shoppers as soon as they indicate their purchasing intentions was launched in Perth today.
Consumer PING alerts shoppers to safety and legal matters, scams, lists product recalls and offers consumer tips for the 30 most popular online product categories.
It is the first consumer software package of its type in the world.
"This is an exciting piece of software which represents a totally new approach to safeguarding the interests of online shoppers," said the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, Senator Ian Campbell, whose portfolio includes consumer protection policy.
"Unlike a brochure or website, Consumer PING works intelligently with a consumer's internet browser. Once it has determined the likely product being sought, it checks whether relevant information is available in its database and notifies the user.
"It is the online equivalent of someone at a checkout offering you advice as you are about to buy something."
Senator Campbell said the software also included a personal organiser function to make online record-keeping easier and allow shopping notes to be recorded against specific sites.
He said the PING concept was conceived by an officer in Treasury's consumer policy unit and developed over the past 18 months by a Canberra IT company, TSA Consulting Pty Ltd.
All information held on PING had been sourced from public, private and community sector websites and the software independently audited for privacy and security compliance by IT security firm SecureNet, of Melbourne.
He said the software was being made available initially in beta form to reflect the Government's intention to give consumers time to provide feedback.
"Today really marks the beginning for PING," Senator Campbell said. "With consumer input, I expect this software will eventually become an indispensable tool for people shopping online."
Consumer PING can be downloaded for free from www.consumerping.gov.au. The software will work on any Windows-based personal computer (excluding Windows 3.1 and below) and with any internet browser.
PERTH
25 November 2002
Contact: Wayne Grant 08 9421 1755 or 0407 845 280