GTE Enterprise Solutions (GTE) today launched its System 4 Alliance Program, which allows authorized third parties to access MLS data using open standards Internet technology.

Here's how it works. The System 4 Alliance Program allows a real estate organization’s existing software programs and infrastructure to link to GTE’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS) database. Using technology and software developed with the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) open standards in mind, the System 4 Alliance Program will provide a secure data access for third party partners of GTE's MLS customers.

What does this mean for Realtors? Online transaction management for the broker/agent is almost here. Realtors who are members of MLSs using GTE System 4 data management systems will be able to share their data with a variety of third-party partners including creators of productivity tools and broker systems; Internet publishers such as Realtor.com, HomeAdvisor.com and HomeSeekers.com; MLS book publishers; classified ad publishers and MLS staff. It's just a short leap to the day when lenders, title companies, appraisers and other service providers with a role in the real estate transaction can take part, all managed by the agent. Agents and brokers can look forward to easier transfer of MLS information using their favorite productivity tools and in-house office software. The new technology will streamline the process of data exchange and integration to compatible software and public Web sites.

Online transaction management has been a pet project of the NAR for months. The NAR has been working to create open standards for the Internet so that all parties to the real estate transaction can communicate with each other efficiently and less expensively than with current methods. GTE personnel sat on the standards committee.

According to GTE product manager Jim Secord, GTE has been working on developing an open Internet standard concurrent with the NAR's. Although the NAR's standards are not yet ready for adoption, and won't be released until the fall convention, he maintains that the standards are very similar. The ad vantage for GTE users is that once the NAR's standards are announced, GTE systems will already have a leg up on competitive systems who will have to adopt the NAR platform and retool their software systems.

An open MLS access offers increased opportunities for all parties to the real estate transaction, if they have software that is pre-configured to work with the GTE MLS system interface. As part of the rollout, GTE provides authorized third-party partners a Developer’s Toolkit and Interface to MLS, allowing them to develop their own front-end access solution to query and download data.

The System 4 Alliance Program is sure to receive industry support. "The fact that GTE is moving so rapidly to deploy this product is truly a reflection of its desire to provide our members with relevant state-of-the-art technological solutions," said NAR first vice president Richard Mendenhall.

GTE says that leading real estate industry technology companies are already developing front-end applications in order to link with any GTE MLS database including: Hillside Software, HomeSeekers.com Inc., Offutt Systems, Inc., PREP Software, Real Edge Inc., RPIS, Inc., Top Producer Systems Inc., brokerage John R. Wood, Realtors, and many others are working with GTE-ES on developing their front-end applications that will link with the System 4 MLS.

Randy Purcell, president of Top Producer, said the Alliance Program will provide major benefits in both time-savings and convenience. "The System 4 Alliance Program will allow us to seamlessly integrate MLS information into our award-winning Top Producer and Top Presenter products," he says. "This means significant time-savings and added convenience for our customers."

Purcell also pointed out that having a standard API across all GTE MLS systems ensures GTE clients will have the option of using Top Producer and Top Presenter the day the new MLS is installed.

Pat Zaby, president of PREP Software, said the System 4 Alliance Program will allow real estate agents to enter property information just once.

"Agents don't want to enter information more than once -- connectivity is very important to agents, and so is the ability to transfer important property data into their contact managers," Zaby said. "This will save them a lot of time and be a very convenient feature."

The System 4 Alliance Program is being piloted at the Naples Area Board of Realtors (NABOR) in Florida, and at the Mid Florida Regional MLS (MFRMLS). It will be part of the standard product offering to all GTE customers.

For more information, check out the Realty Times MLS News & Issues

Published: May 21, 1999

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