The next time you log into your Provider Control Panel you may notice a new menu item entitled "IPN Settings". The screen that is presented when it is selected will enable you to set up your NorthStar Solutions account to use our new Instant Payment Notification (IPN) feature. If you use a hosting solution that enables you to run scripts, such as php, then you can use this new feature to have our system POST order data to a script on your server (a sample php script is provided if you select the orange question mark beside the IPN Remote Script field). IPN can be used in addition to e-mail notifications so that you can automate processes on your own server/host: with just a little php skill, you can customize the script to generate custom e-mail messages, log order data to a file, load a database, etc. Of course, the e-mail notifications many of you are used to will also remain as part of our feature set.

Speaking of e-mail, we have added the ability for you to resend customers an invoice (and any custom message you have set up to be sent after a particular product is purchased). You can also trigger our system to resend you an order notification via e-mail and/or IPN hit with just the click of a button (which is also useful if you are testing the new IPN feature). You can even have multiple ones resent at once. To do this, while viewing your list of orders (retrieved with whatever search criterion you have used), just mark the one(s) you want resent and choose the appropriate button at the bottom of the screen. The option is also available if you are viewing the details of an individual order.

We get a lot of inquiries about the boxshot software we use and would like to mention the Insofta Cover Commander. At only $69, it's priced very competitively (and we compared its features to other programs selling at $99 before selecting it as our boxshot software). Moreover, NorthStar Solutions has negotiated an additional discount of 50% for our clients. Cover Commander (only $34.50 with the discount!) offers precise control over the process of creating an attractive box shot and, just as importantly, enables you to do so without the steep learning curve high-end (expensive) general use graphics editor have.

Despite the tough economic times in our industry and the larger economy, NorthStar Solutions grew our client base faster than ever last year. As a result, our accountant has convinced us to incorporate and gain some of the advantages a business can gain via incorporation. From your perspective, little has changed in the way we do business. We plan to offer the same quality of service, to include personal attention to each and every client, as we always have -- and the same low fees. We are very excited about our future, as the fact we can grow during a financial crisis means that once times get good, we'll be doing even better. We recognize that none of this would be possible without you, and we thank you very much for using our services!