IT-director.com bridges the technology divide

IT directors have this week gained a free, Web-based information service from Bloor Research, Silicon.com and UK IT director association, Certus.

The Web site - http://www.IT-director.com - will allow those who qualify for the service to get in-depth advice from Bloor analysts. The service is free, but members will need to fill out the "occasional" survey as payment. Questions will not be answered confidentially, so all advice will be shared with the group of registered users.

At last night's launch, Certus president David Taylor said the service will provide a bridge between IT vendors and the people who use their technology. "IT directors need three things: they need friends, they need answers, and they need influence. And they will get all three from IT-director.com," he said.

Robin Bloor, founder of Bloor Research, explained that IT directors simply don't have time to educate themselves, and that's where the service comes in. "What we're expecting to develop is an interactive consultancy where IT directors can come onto the Web site, ask for information, ask for ideas, or ask for just background information on things they need to know, and they will get a fairly prompt service," he said.

"Basically we're going to sit between the IT directors and the vendors, and we're going to make it all honest."