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Technology Stocks : Check Point Software (CHKP) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Analog Kid who wrote (1770)	3/10/1998 8:08:00 AM
From: P.M.Freedman	Respond to of 7150

Software companies that specialize in connecting e-commerce systems to back-end computers will reap the benefits of the coming boom news.com

To: Analog Kid who wrote (1770)	3/10/1998 11:31:00 AM
From: tcd	Respond to of 7150

I have been buying OMKT since July of 1997 when it was at 11 5/8. In October, it fell it to about 9 1/2. I have read articles in E-Commerce Magazine written by one of officers of the corp. and well done. OMKT is way out in the lead but probably will meet the kind of volatility we know so well in CHKPF. I'm in for the long haul in this stock. Very good fundamentals.

To: Analog Kid who wrote (1770)	3/10/1998 12:53:00 PM
From: Marty	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 7150

"Regarding e-commerce, does anybody follow OpenMarket (OMKT)?" Happily, I also own OMKT (more than twice as much as I own of CHKPF) and it has given me a very nice profit ... although it is consolidating now after recent surge. I think it is early enough in this game that any of these enablers for EDI will do very well. IMHO, e-commerce is SO GOOD that is going take over market leadership, next from the hardware and software companies. Others in the field, I like are SE, HRBC, and of course, the giant who is really positioned by virtue of its existing clients, its big bucks, and its commitment to the business to business aspect of the field is IBM(!). On the edges are GTE (same reason as IBM), ENVY (biggest and most established in medical EDI network) and ECILF. For the Internet play, you can't get a better ride than CMGI. This is like swimming with the current. BWDIK.

To: Analog Kid who wrote (1770)	3/10/1998 9:56:00 PM
From: jkb	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 7150

Security Market Is Maturing, But Needs Standards (03/09/98; 5:34 p.m. EST) By Malcolm Maclachlan, TechWeb LOS ANGELES -- The computer security market is maturing just in time, according to experts at Spring Internet World '98 here. Online business-to-business transactions will grow to $327 billion in 2002, up from $8 billion last year, according to Deborah Triant, CEO of firewall vendor Check Point Software, in Redwood City, Calif. To protect those transactions, the computer security industry must go beyond selling firewall software to providing long-term service. "The firewall is no longer a standalone entity," Triant said. The computer security market is consolidating quickly, finally producing some big players. Nearly $700 million has been spent on mergers and acquisitions in the security field so far this year. Check Point controls 35 percent of the firewall market, according to a June 1997 study by Framingham, Mass.-based International Data, or about four times the market share of its nearest competitor, Cisco, in San Jose, Calif. Check Point uses its position to leverage new software, bundling its FloodGate network management software with the firewall. FloodGate lets administrators allot a certain percentage of the network to certain types of traffic. Because security systems must be designed to accomodate future developments, Check Point's strategy is to add value to its existing products with new software and services. "Security will become a commodity the day hackers become a commodity," Triant said. But one security analyst disagrees. Jim Balderston of Redwood City-based Zona Research said because firewalls are standards-based to work across multiple systems, it is difficult for any one technology leader to stay ahead. Furthermore, companies that control other markets are now bundling firewalls: Cisco ships them with its routers, while Sun Microsystems bundles one with the Solaris operating system. The goal of most independent security companies, Balderston said, is to get bought by a larger concern. A few companies, most notably Check Point and Network Associates, may remain independent, provided they can stay ahead of the curve. Another goal of the security firms is setting standards for digital certificates and encryption. Once those are in place, e-commerce, both on an individual and corporate level, will take off, according to experts. Paradoxically, the government, whose encryption policy has been the target of much criticism, could be key to this process. Ian Curry, director of strategic applications at Entrust Technologies in Richardson, Texas, pointed to a recent Utah law that makes digital certificates enforceable in court. This means someone can't buy something online, then claim he/she never ordered it. Paul Lambert, director of technology marketing at Certicom, based in San Mateo, Calif., said standards will allow commerce systems to quickly incorporate the new growth market in computing: handheld devices. People will then be able to conduct transactions using smart cards, or even two-way pagers. Although many security experts see a system of standards where nearly anyone can issue a digital certificate, Balderston said large, regulated institutions such as banks are likely to be the main source of certificates. He added that government involvement is likely, and could result in a sort of Department of Motor Vehicles for digital certificates.