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Anvil
Issue Six
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*Welcome to Anvil- a weekly newsletter providing insight into online
industry news, issues and trends. In this week’s issue:
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TOP
INDUSTRY NEWS
*Mac BeWare
*Novell’s Network Challenge
DESIGN
*IBM Enters Battle of the Browsers
*US Web: The McDonald’s of Web Design
HOSTING
*Pay Your Own Way
*AOL Restructures
MARKETING
*Real Virtual Mall
*New Online Marketing Tactics
TOP
WEB PICKS
*ADP AutoConnect
*The Drudge Report
*Editor & Publisher Interactive
*Forum One
*U Vision’s Computer ESP
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TOP INDUSTRY NEWS
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*Mac BeWare
Apple Computer recently announced a possible agreement with Be Inc.,
resulting in a new operating system for the revolutionary computer
manufacturer. Despite varying reports and speculation, the deal
looks promising. Developers are excited at the possibilities, although
there are concerns over migration issues. The new operating system,
BeOS, will reportedly include premptive multitasking, multiprocessing,
multithreading and protected memory functionality. While a switch
may alienate the current Mac users, resulting in a migration to
Windows NT, the benefits far outweigh drawbacks. If Apple decides
to break off the deal and remain with their own new OS, Copeland/Gershwin,
end users will experience further delays and lack of stability and
functionality in the end product. In a related story, Apple is licensing
its name and logo to a restaurant company that plans to open a chain
of Apple Cafes around the world. Partners in the ambitious project
include Landmark Entertainment Group, Mega Bytes International,
and the Artists Rights Foundation. The first restaurant is scheduled
to open in late 1997 in Los Angeles, with more to follow in Australia,
London, Paris, New York, Tokyo and Sydney. The 15,000-square-foot
facilities will feature Internet connections and CD-ROM machines,
tabletop video-conferencing units enabling diners to converse with
others in the restaurant, and gift shop.
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,5249,00.html
http://www.be.com
*Novell’s
Network Challenge
To help combat Microsoft’s increasing market share in network operating
systems, current leader Novell has enlisted Sun Microsystems. In
the agreement, Novell will license several of Sun’s Java-based products.
Sun, in turn, will license Novell’s directory technology for managing
access to computer networks. Once competitors, Novell and Sun have
joined forces to take on mighty Microsoft NT.
http://www.wsj.com
http://www.news.com
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DESIGN
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*IBM Enters Battle of the Browsers
IBM’s Internet Division has recently unveiled new Web server products.
IBM has boldly positioned their new products against industry leaders
Microsoft and Netscape. Microsoft is "out of their league"
when it comes to developing specific Internet applications and is
distracted by ventures into content development with MSNBC, says
IBM executives. With regards to former partner Netscape, IBM is
highlighting their experienced support staff and aggressive pricing
strategy as a winning combination. One new product, Domino Server,
will run in place of Netscape’s server on all new IBM/Lotus systems.
Among other announcements, IBM said it had signed up 13 new merchants
for its Internet shopping mall, World Avenue; which is a conduit
for online business.
http://www.wsj.com
*US
Web: The McDonald’s of Web Design
USWeb, with 37 affiliates in 11 states, provides a broad range of
Web services including needs analysis, developing, hosting, management,
marketing, education, training, hardware and software. USWeb’s goal
is to provide full-service via a national network of franchises.
Small and middle-sized businesses can benefit from the large pool
of resources and competitive pricing while small developers can
benefit from new business and national marketing efforts. Like McDonald’s,
USWeb does have limitations and drawbacks. USWeb franchises may
suffer a lack of creativity and quality as small firms conform to
new national standards. Larger companies may not receive the best
bang for their buck, hence small niche boutique firms will continue
to thrive. The new model should be successful, as it can meet the
needs of many businesses across the country, and perhaps, around
the world.
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,5301,00.html
http://www.usweb.com
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HOSTING
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*Pay Your Own Way
The Interactive Services Association (ISA) is creating a stir with
their recently released White Paper regarding the proposed Internet
access tax policies. Led by major Internet service providers (ISPs)
including America Online, AT&T, CompuServe, Microsoft, IBM and
Netcom, the ISA is trying to derail aggressive tax policies that
may hurt the group’s more than 150 members. The White Paper comes
as a growing number of states are implementing or considering taxes
on ISPs. The only effective tax, argues the ISA, is a "transaction
tax" imposed on subscribers, not ISPs. The group also suggested
any taxes should be based on uniform definitions adopted by all
states and rates should also be uniform in every state because of
the difficulty of determining the physical locations of buyers and
sellers operating through the Net. Users should be concerned with
the radical "transaction tax" as it puts the burden directly
on the consumer, rather than sharing it with ISPs, as in the telecommunications
and oil industries. Either way, users can expect to be taxed in
the near future, whether the cost is put squarely on the consumer
or deferred partially by ISPs.
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,5189,00.html
*AOL
Restructures
In the shadow of the recent $385 million first-quarter charge announcement,
America Online Inc. (AOL) recently laid off 300 employees, roughly
five percent of its work force. The restructuring effort will result
in a $75 million charge for the fiscal second quarter. The Virginia
facilities were hardest hit, with nearly 200 layoffs. AOL also dismissed
most of the 60 employees of its Global Network Navigator (GNN) Internet
service, which it bought for roughly $11 million in May 1995, and
closed offices in Berkeley, Calif., and Vero Beach, Fla. The existing
200,000 GNN subscribers will transfer over to AOL service. As an
AOL executive reports, the recent layoffs should be offset by future
hiring plans of up to 1,500 new employees by next June.
http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,5312,00.html
http://www.aol.com
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MARKETING
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*Real Virtual Mall
Two new sites are targeted at the virtual shopping experience. The
Virtual Emporium in Santa Monica, Calif., offers high speed access
to 80 online retailers including Amazon Books and CD World. The
2,500 square food store includes 30 terminals and a staff of sales
associates to help shoppers find exactly what they are looking for
in a short amount of time. Time will tell if cyber-shoppers and
traditional shoppers alike will prefer the experience. Unfortunately,
I don’t think this idea will be successful. The convenience of shopping
from the home via modem or the experience of traditional shopping
far outweigh any benefits of the virtual mall. A better interpretation
of this concept can be found at The Slam.Site/Limbo Lounge, which
is an entertainment and clothing retailer wrapped into the "Internet
blanket." WetSeal/Contempo Casuals recently unveiled the interactive
clothing store in Riverside, California. Shoppers are able to duel
on networked games and in virtual reality, as well as surf the Web
and check out sites for tips on how to keep up with the latest fashion
trends. Four more stores are slated for opening by Spring 1997.
Limbo Lounge is an Internet Café with a twist.
http://www.vemporium.com/
http://www.slamsite.com
*New
Online Marketing Tactics
Netscape once dominated the browser market with their aggressive
pricing and marketing policy: free. Now comes a new spin on the
strategy: pay a commission to people for helping sell your product.
One of these marketing pioneers, Forte, sells a popular Windows
Usenet newsreader called Agent and also distributes a freeware version
of the program, FreeAgent. It’s set up a new business partners program
that encourages others to resell the program at a price they set
and pocket the difference. The mutually beneficial relationship
results in increased sales for Forte, and easy revenue for resellers,
primarily ISPs, user groups, publishers and VARs. Amazon.com, a
leading online book store is making similar strides. Anyone with
a Web site can receive a commission on a sale resulting from their
link to Amazon. Another online company specializing in pagers and
cellular phones will pay for every sale resulting from a banner
ad placed on the "reseller’s" site. The program has been
fairly successful thus far, and will likely be the model for the
future.
http://www.forteinc.com/agptr/index.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/assoc-application.html/
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TOP WEB PICKS
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*ADP AutoConnect
Looking for a new car? ADP Dealer Services is the world’s largest
provider of computing, data and professional services to over 15,000
auto and truck dealers throughout the United States, Canada, Europe,
Asia and Latin America. Their value-add Web site is a one-stop auto
shopping experience. Features include an auto and dealer finder,
credit check, payment calculator, auto links and auto compare.
http://autoconnect.net/AUTOFORM.HTM
*The
Drudge Report
Online news junkies will binge over this online resource. The Drudge
Report provides links to virtually every online news service and
columnist. While the site is not graphically dynamic, it is highly
functional and useful. Visitors can also sign-up for a trial of
The Drudge Report email newsletter.
http://www.lainet.com/~drudge/
*Editor
& Publisher Interactive
The research staff of Editor & Publisher Interactive systematically
collects information about online newspapers around the world and
compiles the data in an online database. This comprehensive reference
resource includes newspapers that are on the Web as well as commercial
online services. As of November 8, 1996 the E&P Interactive
Online Newspaper Database has 1,569 online newspaper entries.
http://www.mediainfo.com/ephome/npaper/nphtm/online.htm
*Forum
One
Forum One is a guide to Web-based discussion forums. Forum One catalogues
over 34,000 separate discussion forum topics (threads) in current
events, public policy, entertainment, finance, sports, society,
and many other themes. The list is very comprehensive and easy to
search.
http://www.forumone.com/
*U
Vision’s Computer ESP
Computer ESP is a one-stop search, compare, and buy resource guide.
Computer ESP indexes over 268,000 prices from different computer
resellers so that you can easily find up-to-date computer prices.
The search engine is both powerful and accurate, and allows for
easy price and feature comparisons between resellers.
http://www.uvision.com/
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JOKE OF THE WEEK
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*The following are actual quotes from former Vice President Dan
Quayle:
"I
believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and
democracy. But that could change."
"Hawaii
has always been a very pivotal role in the Pacific. It is in the
Pacific. It is a part of the United States that is an island that
is right
here."-- During a visit to Hawaii in 1989.
"What
a waste it is to lose one’s mind--or not to have a mind. How true
that
is."-- Addressing the United Negro College Fund.
"Mars
is essentially in the same orbit. Mars is somewhat the same distance
from the sun, which is very important. We have seen pictures where
there are
canals, we believe, and water. If there is water, that means there
is
oxygen. If oxygen, that means we can breathe."
"The
Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation’s history...this
century’s history.... We all lived in this century. I didn’t live
in this
century."
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