It is said that life on the Internet proceeds seven times as fast as it does in real life. Certainly, e-commerce is moving faster than Bermuda's preparations for its arrival.

Yet another Bermuda-based company was launching a new service last week, this one offering web surfers "money for nothing'' in the latest e-commercial venture to be masterminded from the Island.

DesktopDollars is a web site that pays users to display an advertising bar (called `the ProfitZone') on their computer's screen.

The company announced its launch late last week. The site also offers referral income to member users who sign up additional members.

What the company is describing as a "groundbreaking innovation'' is a downloadable programme that remains the top window on the computer users' display screen, no matter what other programmes the user may be running.

"With the launch of DesktopDollars, the whole concept of `earn-while-you-surf' has been turned completely upside down,'' said Peter Perri, founder and chief executive officer of DesktopDollars. "Surf the web, write a letter, check your e-mail, play solitaire ... as long as you're connected, you earn money.'' Perri explained that other similar sites, such as Cybergold, require active participation from the user.

"Getting paid with these programmes requires that you actively surf the web or test-drive marketing promotions.

"If your mouse doesn't click, the metre doesn't run,'' Mr. Perri said.

"By joining DesktopDollars, anyone -- from home or business -- including college students, professionals and senior citizens can be paid for having an ad appear on their screen.

"It's literally money for nothing -- and there is no cost to participate,'' Mr. Perri added.

He continued: "To earn DesktopDollars, you simply download the ProfitZone from the site, sign up as a member and you're ready to go.

If you're connected to the Web while working in a word processing document, for example, the advertising bar appears on the bottom of your screen so advertisers are assured of their message, and users get paid.'' How much? Users are paid 50 cents per hour for a maximum of 40 hours per month, or $20 a month. Members can receive additional pay for referring new members to the service.

"It pays to tell a friend because DesktopDollars pays members 10 cents an hour for direct referrals,'' said Mr. Perri.

"We expect to be able to offer advertisers targeted demographics such as age, gender, zip code, birthday, travel preferences and a host of other criteria.

Moreover, we enable advertisers to test the reaction of their ads with click-through data.

We can tell advertisers exactly what percentage of those who view their ads actually respond to them,'' he said.

DesktopDollars is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aryval.com, Ltd. (pronounced `arrival').

The company's other Web property, Aryval.com, is to be launched next month.

Targeted to the younger, upwardly mobile consumer, aryval.com will offer premium quality clothing, giftware and health and beauty items.

Aryval members can receive referral income once friends purchase merchandise, and unlike many other network marketing opportunities, there will be no cost to participate.

Aryval.com is headquartered in Bermuda with offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.