The launch of an application service provider.

E-commerce firms that want to automate and personalize their email marketing campaigns will have a new resource with Monday_s launch of an application service provider. Responsys, led by executives formerly with Netscape Communications, Banyan Systems, and Mentor Graphics, offers a Web-based service that lets firms upload their email contact lists and automate dispatches. Responsys is stressing the personalization feature of its service, which can track users_ purchases and other transactions to tailor individual email messages to recipients_ buying patterns and tastes. Responsys has not disclosed pricing, but executives say the service will cost a fraction of what a typical packaged application providing the same service would. Based in Santa Clara, California, and founded in April 1998, the company has completed a $5.4 million round of private financing from venture capital firms Accel Partners and Foundation Capital and from Hotmail founder S. Bhatia, currently vice president of business development at Microsoft.