Report: Asia Poised for intranet Take-Off
According to a survey by IDC Asia/Pacific, Asian businesses are going full steam ahead with plans to deploy new Internet/intranet technology and
expand the functions of current server capabilities, despite the region’s
economic woes.
The report, “The Internet/Intranet Server Market in Asia Pacific, 1997-2002,” said that shipments of unbundled commercial Internet/Intranet software
are forecast to increase from 68,000 units in 1997 to 194,000 units by 2002
for the Asia/Pacific region (excluding Japan).
(Web Vision, India; June 5, 1998)
Survey Carried Out On Internet Usage In Britain, France, Germany
A survey of Internet use in Britain, France and Germany by NOP Business found that there have been remarkable growth rates in all three countries during the past 12 months, though there is a time lag of about 14-18 months in adoption levels between the U.S. and countries like Britain.
The report, sponsored by KPMG, Ziff-Davis and Yahoo, was carried out during February and March of this year.
Other findings: men still constitute the majority of Web users in Europe, but female uptake is on the rise; content needs to be compelling and relevant (especially in the case of France); cost remains a primary driver for adoption and use (particularly in the case of Germany, where higher telecom costs seem to be deterring Internet usage).
(Internet Magazine, Britain; June 2, 1998)
China Launches Into E-Commerce
China’s electronic-business market is expanding rapidly with a large
number of online commercial networks having been set up in the past year including a share trading system and online banking.
In mid-April, China’s first online stock brokerage system went into operation in Shanghai, enabling investors elsewhere to deal in stocks on the country’s two stock exchanges in Shanghai and Shenzhen via the Internet.
The Bank of China has established the country’s first standard electronic banking network. SME success stories include a farmer in east China’s Jiangsu province who has been marketing farm products via the Internet since 1997; he has found overseas buyers for 80% of the village’s produce.
(Web Vision, India; June 5, 1998)
Conference Addresses Measures to Tackle Child Porn on the Net
New controls are needed to keep child pornography off the Internet,
including the development of new software to bar access to such material,
according to experts who spoke at a meeting organised in Lyon by Interpol
and ECPAT, a Bangkok-based group fighting the sexual expoitation of
children.
Attendees included representatives from law enforcement agencies,
non-governmental organisations and the computer industry.
“Children die, go
missing or suffer from sexual abuse as a result of encounters on the
Internet,” a statement issued after the meeting said. “Child pornography on
the Internet seriously affects child victims for their whole lifetime.”
The experts concluded there was a need to ensure every country had legislation to criminalise the production and dissemination of child pornography via the Internet.
(The Star, Malaysia; June 2, 1998)
Inktomi Enters Into Alliances in Europe, Asia
California-based Inktomi entered into two international licensing
agreements for its network caching software designed to reduce bottlenecks
on the Internet.
Agreements were signed with the Norwegian company Telenor and the Itochu Techno-Science of Japan.
Inktomi said Telenor is expecting the network software to translate into bandwidth savings equal to about $1 million a year.
Inktomi has alliances with America Online and other U.S. companies, but said it sees strong demand in Europe and Asia where bandwidth costs can be three to 10 times higher.
(Reuters News Agency; June 2, 1998)
Award Ceremony Honours Best Web Sites in Britain
The recent New Media Age Effectiveness Awards, one of the British new media industry’s premier events, honoured some of the best Web sites in Britain.
They include the site “This is London” (www.thisislondon.com) and the Cancer Research Campaign (www.crc.org.uk).
The full list of award winners and finalists is available from the New Media Age Web site.
(Internet Magazine, Britain; May 27, 1998)
Microsoft in Discussions to Promote WebTV in Australia
Microsoft has been in discussions with Australian Telco Telstra and rival
Optus Communications to find the most economical way of delivering Web TV.
Microsoft wants its “Next Generation” Web TV product to run through either
Telstra or Optus’ broadband networks, but each already has substantial
investments in cable TV and Internet roll-outs.
Microsoft also has a commitment to new Australian media company NineMSN, jointly owned by Kerry Packer.
(Agence France Presse; May 26, 1998)
