In recent months, CA forged alliances with such players as Exodus Communications Inc. in Web hosting and Instinctive Technology Inc. in real-time collaboration.

Adam Yahre, general manager of CA's NetHaven Internet business division, said other announcements will be made in the coming months that deal with the development of e-commerce modules, which will plug into CA's Web and database platforms.

One announcement, to be detailed at the annual CA World convention in New Orleans at the end of the month, will be the development with CosmoCom Inc. of a virtual call center module designed to let Web shoppers connect instantly with a customer service agent through an online chat session. Eventually, audio capabilities will be added.

Other modules the company has developed or is working on with partners include electronic ordering and procurement, credit-card processing, fraud protection, international tax tables, electronic catalogs, online recruitment, searchable press rooms and team collaboration.

"We are very different from the rest of CA in that our mandate is to provide services," Yahre said. "We'll consider acquisitions, but we prefer not to get bogged down with any one technology. The sector is developing too rapidly."

Yahre said CA also plans to roll out "rentable" Web-based versions of its core software offerings in such fields as accounting, financial management and manufacturing.

CA, the Islandia, N.Y.-based software giant, has been quietly building up a well-rounded portfolio of 200 customers through its NetHaven division, including the Macy's department store chain and Weight Watchers International Inc.

CA, in fact, is working with Macy's to develop a customer profiling module, which uses database and push technology to extend the relationship between a retailer and their customers.

The service, which will be called eClub at Macy's, allows users to put in the names of friends or relatives along with their hobbies and tastes. A month or so from their birthday, for example, the database will send a reminder along with some shopping suggestions.

EClub is due to go live on Macy's Web site at the end of May.

CosmoCom can be reached at www.cosmocom.com

CA can be reached at www.cai.com

Macy's can be reached at www.macys.com