(Business Week - April 1995)

The progression of computers and their capabilities is phenomenal. In the 1970's, timesharing mainframes and minicomputers were the best that the computer industry had to offer. However, the terminals were expensive, communications slow, and the software was not user-friendly. It was difficult also to share information between systems. Cheaper microprocessors appeared in the 1980's, which brought computing power to the people. The computing generally was done in isolation with only limited data, or with others but only within the organization through local-area networks.

The 1990's has brought a new age to computers with the Internet (Net), a collection of networks (wide-area network) that spans most of the globe. The networks are united by common communications protocols and services that allows every make and model of computers to talk with one another and to swap files. Because its software is open to all types of computers, "the Internet will be able to wipe out the technical and geographic hurdles that have been holding back the Information Revolution." People have come to realize that the Net will allow new products, strategies, companies, and markets to be easily developed at relatively low costs. In essence, the new global network stands to reshape business as we currently know it. No one can afford to ignore it for fear of being left behind.

The computer predicts that by the year 2000, all major software programs will depend on the Internet for a continuous stream of new data and updated functions. Through the use of the World Wide Web (Web), information and computing resources from all over the world will be at your fingertips, whether it be a piece of data, a movie clip, or a new program. Ambitious entrepreneurs will have a field day as the Net provides a wonderful opportunity to create new ventures with ease.

The Internet is not owned or controlled by any one company. The Net consists of several thousand independent networks, each of which have their own administrative authorities. About 30 million people already are connected to the Internet. Every month the Net population grows by 10% to 15%. The Web is doubling every 53 days. Experts predict that the Net will have as many as 100 million servers by the year 2000.

Recently, the major focus of innovation has been the World Wide Web, which is a hypertext based information service. The Web is one of the most effective methods to provide information because of its visual impact and advanced features. The Web can access many of the Internet services, including those dealing with multimedia and complex documents and databases. A key public protocol called HTML (hyptertext markup language) is used to publish the complex documents. Another feature of the Web is the hyperlinks that allow users to click on highlighted words or buttons on a Web page to gain access to related pages to obtain additional information, a program, or more links to other points on the Web. A user does not have to be concerned with the physical storage of the information.

The big names in the computing industry, such as IBM, Apple, Microsoft, etc., are building Net-centered strategies to stake out their future in the computer business. The ones who can help customers create new products and services for the Net or forge Net connections potentially will be the leaders a decade from now. This focus has helped organizations to reengineer entire business processes with the Net. Electronic commerce on the Internet has been a major emphasis. Some drawbacks of electronic commerce, including network security and payment for goods, have made customers somewhat leery. However, these drawbacks have provided additional opportunities for the big computer companies to develop and deliver solutions.

Software companies as well must adapt to the Web and the Net. PC packages, such as word-processing programs, spreadsheets, and operating systems must be able to access the Internet through the Web. Lotus Notes, a groupware package, is being made Web-compatible. Microsoft and IBM are making Internet access a feature of their Windows 95 and OS/2 Warp operating systems, respectively. Software companies will be able to advertise, take orders and payments, ship code, and deliver technical support directly into customers' computers over the Internet.

To survive, computer makers must embrace the Net and utilize its capabilities to the fullest extent. The rate of innovation on the Internet, the cheap cost of Net communications, and the fact that Internet traffic can travel over virtually any communications technology are some factors that will be too compelling to ignore. Ubique, an Internet startup based in Israel and San Francisco, has developed software that mixes text, photos, drawings, and VocalTec's digitized phone conversations to create "virtual places" on the Web. Business people and others can meet in a simulated room where they can share documents, exchange typewritten and spoken comments, and explore the Web together with no time delay.

We, as consumers, have various means of connecting to the Internet and, thus, should be utilizing its capabilities for our own means. Prodigy, America Online, CompuServe, and Netcom's Netcruiser are some of the ways to connect to the Net for a fee. Microsoft, IBM, and Apple will be providing Internet links soon. Digital Equipment Corp. and Sun Microsystems have been supplying Internet technology for years. So much can be performed on the Net: creating a client base, product and market analysis, wide scale information dissemination, rapid communication with electronic mail, cost-effective document transfer, and new business opportunities. Electronic malls have sprung up to help retailers establish storefronts on the Web. At this point in time, the opportunities on the Internet appear endless. As the Internet evolves, it will pervade everything.