Friday, November 07, 1997
Pick a number, any number
Revenues for the country's 4000 Internet service providers will hit $50 million by
the year 2000, according to a recent report issued by market researcher Maloff Group
International. The Maloff study claims ISP revenues are growing at a clip of 25%
per month, compared to a pokey 3.8% growth rate as of March 1996.
__ A separate study by International Data Corp. reinforces
the findings. IDC says 'net use is up 96% over last year, with 53 million users now
online. But another report, just issued by the Interactive Services Newsletter, has
a completely different spin.
__ It claims ISPs lost 3% of their customer base in
the last 90 days, with erosion hitting 4.9% at the five largest firms, and pegs the
user base at 20.452 million users. The biggest losers, according to the newsletter
report, were AOL, down 3%; CompuServe, off 23%; and Prodigy, down 1%. AT&T WorldNet
gained 6% more users, and the Microsoft Network held steady.
APPLE BEEFS UP SALES CHANNELS
In September, acting Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs sent undercover units to dealers
around the country, who proved dealers did little to promote Macintosh products on
showroom floors. Jobs promised big changes for resellers, and this week revealed
the first fruits of that effort.
__ Apple and CompUSA jointly announced 40 new Macintosh
stores-within-a-store, in what CompUSA officials characterized as a "recommitment"
to their neglected Apple franchise. The nation's #1 computer retailer will dress
up its superstores in 40 key markets with "intrastores" featuring Apple
products and specially trained Mac sales reps, all in time for the critical Christmas
selling season
__ And on Monday, Apple is holding a multimedia extravaganza.
Sources say the company will announce a new direct sales channel, which will take
orders by phone and by Web site. Rumors are also flying that Jobs will announce a
new CEO, a network computer, or a major alliance, investment, or merger with database
giant Oracle Corporation.
Rich Levin's PC Report -- As heard on KYW Newsradio 1060 AM Philadelphia
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