A new forecast by International Data Corporation’s (IDC)
Internet Services research group predicts that the worldwide Internet services
market will jump from $4.5 billion in 1997 to $43.6 billion by the year 2002.
Companies moving from using Internet technologies as a publishing medium to
using them for e-commerce are finding themselves strapped for the necessary
resources, the report said. Increased technical demands, higher profile
projects, and a desire to focus on core competencies are driving companies to
turn to external service providers for deployment of some or all parts of
their e-commerce project.
The U.S. represents the largest part of the worldwide Internet Services market
opportunity throughout the forecast period. With $2.9 billion in spending in
1997, IDC expects it to grow to $22 billion by 2002.
“The move to deploy e-commerce sites is putting increased demands on companies
to raise their sophistication in Internet technologies and to rethink how the
Internet ties in with business’ strategies and processes,” said Meredith
McCarty, senior analyst, Internet Services. “Growth potentials exist for
service providers seeking to capitalize on these market opportunities.”
The new IDC report, entitled “Worldwide Internet and E-commerce Services
Market
and Trends Forecast, 1998-2002,” analyzes U.S. market opportunities, as
well as
European markets and opportunities in Japan, Asia/Pacific, Latin America and
Canada.