*OT* MJ- "Internationalization of the internet"....It is likely start with American multinationals (already is...)...supply chain management-one application.. and, overtime, spread to foreign multinationals, and filter its way thru to and down to medium-sized and then (some) small business....As you know, multinationals have been much more keen (this past decade) to take "best practices" in one part of the globe, and apply them elsewhere.....(if they can be applied).....one thing, however, is universal...all companies understand saving $$, and gaining additional customers......and if there is a feasible way to do it....most will try...
Remember, too, that your companies like Commerce One, Free Markets...are almost all focused on the U.S. market, to date (because of the enormous opportunites..and, also, it is just easier to stay domestic, given things are just beginning here..)..Soon, these companies, and others associated with E-commerce will be opening offices overseas, looking to capture the growth that will be there for many years......Look at a company like Yahoo, or Amazon..and how they grew (starting U.S., now trying to work in all markets)...
Of course, networks are going to take a while to get built out (look at DSL here..), but it will happen...internationally, yes, more slowly...but it will happen....Governments around the world realise how big this thing truly is...
Internationally (of course) computerization is simply not as high (as in the U.S.)...But this is changing too...Statistics bear this out...both Europe and Asia are raising their level of consumptions (corporations and individual consumers)..and I expect that they will continue to narrow (along may not entirely close) the gap Re: internet...many, including Koogle of Yahoo, see Europe as where the U.S. was about 3 years ago...Latin America, it is just beginning...of course, there is biforcation...in many countries, it may years, if ever, that many use the internet (for folks are very poor)...however, also, in many of these countries there are small (in % terms) middle classes, but pretty big in absolute numbers....Supposedly 200m middle class in India, etc.......In China, it is amazing the level of computerization (and growing), given the median level of income...however, the education is considered extremely important, and sacrifices are made.........Often, the poor (in 3rd world countries) are ingenious in tapping into "1st world" luxeries...in Venezuela, for examples, some of the poor "Ranchitos" either tap into the cable line, or (don't ask me how) manage to get a satellite dish....but I digress..
Corporations is where the internet will be implemented quicker and on a much larger scale......of course, global competition is making a huge difference here...although far from perfect, barriers are coming down, and all companies, big and small, are being forced to think more competitively..and adapt......they are being confronted by competition that is not down the block, but based in another country..........the internet is the next big "adaption" for these businesses...if they don't adapt, they will, in the long run, be able to compete on a cost basis....
As I stated before, this cost savings will be eventually split, between the business (higher profits) and the consumer (lower prices)...a dampening of inflation....a multi-year cycle to come...
Also, as Bill F. rightly point out, we haven't even seen (yet) what some of the major, final applications of the internet will be...this is a prescient technology that is a long, long way from maturity..it will eventually morph into something we have yet to imagine, but will have enormous benefits, for sure.... |
