The first book to provide an integrative presentation of the issues, challenges and success of designing, building and using agent applications. The chapters presented are written by internationally leading authorities in the field, with a general audience in mind. The result is a unique overview of agent technology applications, ranging from an introduction to the technical foundations to reports on dealing with specific agent systems in practice.

1: Introductory Papers.- 1 Applications of Intelligent Agents.- 2 A Brief Introduction to Software Agent Technology.- 3 Agent Software for Near-Term Success in Distributed Applications.- 2: Vision Papers.- 4 Practical Design of Intelligent Agent Systems.- 5 Vendors of Intelligent Agent Technologies: A Market Overview.- 6 Brokering the Info-Underworld.- 7 Personal Agents: A Walk on the Client Side.- 3: Systems and Their Applications.- 8 Rational Software Agents: From Theory to Practice.- 9 Agent-Oriented Techniques for Traffic and Manufacturing Applications: Progress Report.- 10 Co-operating Agents: Concepts and Applications.- 11 Intelligent Agents in Telecommunications.- 12 Managing Heterogeneous Transaction Workflows with Co-operating Agents.- 13 Software Technologies for Building Agent Based Systems in Telecommunication Networks.- 14 Intelligent Agents in Portfolio Management.- 15 The FinCEN AI System: Finding Financial Crimes in a Large Database of Cash Transactions.- 16 Adding Value with Intelligent Agents in Financial Services.