240 UK companies already have entries in the directory, taking advantage of a free trial running until the end of June. The directory has been designed by researchers and is intended to help buyers and agencies - for example, the resulting emails tell agencies how many others have been asked to quote. Nick Thomas, Director of MrWeb, points out that the directory is intended as a response to two trends / opinions noted among UK researchers of late: "We are constantly told by UK researchers that they find existing directories expensive - £400 per annum is prohibitive for many smaller agencies - and they are looking to online directories to offer as much exposure at a far lower cost. "At the same time, UK agencies seem to be eyeing the US launches with a combination of scepticism and interest. They recognise that "things may well go this way" but they need convincing of two things, 1. That enough people will use them and 2. That the many extra features added really justify a thousand dollar sign-up and a commission on top of that. "The new service is intended to answer all these. For a cost much lower than that of the current UK directories, we are adding what we see as the useful bit of the functionality of the US sites. Clients generally start off sending the same spec to a number of agencies, which is where the "Exchange" will help, but after that they often deal individually with those who respond and as researchers ourselves we find 'phone contact is far more practical." Nevertheless the directory seems likely to evolve rapidly. Agencies will be able to take advantage of new features as they arise because they can edit their entries online whenever they like at no charge. Clients will shortly be given the facility to nominate preferred suppliers which will appear alongside other qualifiers in searches.

"Our biggest advantage over other sites is our existing user base", concludes Thomas. "MrWeb is a real community - adding site visitors to those receiving news emails we are in contact with about 1,000 UK MR professionals every working day, including 300 or more regular clientside users, and we want it to be a natural thing to log in to the Exchange when you're getting quotes".

A year's entry in the Exchange will cost 250 pounds per annum (with a discounted rate for those booking early).

The Exchange is at www.mrweb.com/spec/ - for a (free) password, clients should email survex@mrweb.com Like the rest of MrWeb the Exchange will remain free to users. A Fieldwork Exchange will follow shortly - you'll hear about it first on DRNO of course.