ild, I think Exodus gets hit after USIX goes belly up, but, until then, they continue to gain market share. I believe that the internet market is still growing and that not everyone has a web site that is worth having. Many companies have a web site that does little more than give potential local customers their phone number and address.
What has changed is that there are fewer people who believe that putting up a web site will guarantee them riches for eternity. Now, the web site is simply a defensive move. If you don't have one, you are dead meat. And, if you don't have a good one, you are at least heading for the slaughter house.
The first to get hit by this changed perception will be the server companies and their software providers. The buildup of servers has been extraordinary and some folks who have gone the independent route and even many hosters (Not the market leader, EXDS <G>) will be selling servers cheaply in the used products markets. That won't be pleasant for IBM, Compaq and Hewlett, and, to a lesser degree, new kid on the block, Dell. Then we get the server software providers. This will be especially important when folks realize that the net presence doesn't rate a Rolls Royce approach and that a Toyota Tercel will do just fine, thank you. That is bad news for Oracle, but deadly news for Oracle's competitors who are still alive. Sadly enough, it might be good news for Microsoft. |
