INTNET: Non-U.S. # of USERS to pass U.S. in 2000
NOVEMBER 20, 1998
Information Week 11/16/98 p. 2SS-4SS
"A Web site automatically opens a company to a global marketplace, but
that doesn't mean it's easy to conduct business internationally.
Cultural, business, and infrastructural differences among nations
complicate marketing, sales, and the development of business-to-business
relationships.
In addition to the usual technical problems associated with E-commerce,
companies also must wrestle with issues such as logistics, regulations,
currency conversion, and languages.
Still, the Internet's potential to increase sales globally is
undeniable. Although the United States and Canada account for more than
two-thirds of all Internet users, increasing use of the Web in other
countries will soon lead to a global online audience larger than North
America's. In fact, the market research firm eMarketer projects the
non-U.S. share of worldwide E-commerce revenue will increase to 23% by
2002 from 11% in 1998...
For companies willing to fit the pieces required to build a global
E-commerce infrastructure, a huge market is only a click away."
(Line-chart shows Global Internet Users, U.S. vs Non-U.S., 1996-2002).
Bar-chart shows Internet User Growth Rate, 1997-2002, U.S. vs Non-U.S.
vs Worldwide). |
