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Technology Stocks : DRIV (DIGITAL RIVER). Get in on internet IPO. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Winston Kim who wrote (229)	11/5/1998 4:59:00 PM
From: .com	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 3198

Actually, the one I think DRIV needs to sign up is amazon.com, since they are now entering the software sales game (as I predicted a while ago). Better off joining these guys and not competing against them. Actually, DRIV could make it extremely easy for amazon to get into the software game. Amazon to sell software By Bloomberg News Special to CNET News.com November 5, 1998, 12:05 p.m. PT Amazon.com, the No. 1 online bookstore, is expected to pitch software over the Internet, in line with its strategy of selling more products online, analysts and Web commerce analysts said. Amazon.com chairman Jeff Bezos has said he wants the company's Web site to be the place where shoppers can buy almost anything online. So far, the site sells books and music, and it soon will market videos. Software, one of the most popular purchases on the Web, is likely to be the next move, analysts and investors said. Online software sales in the United States are expected to soar to $2.4 billion by 2002 from $258.9 million this year, market researcher Jupiter Communications said. That projection places software far ahead of music and videos, which are expected to reach $1.6 billion and $575 million in U.S. online sales by 2002, respectively, according to Jupiter estimates. "The concept of Amazon selling software is well-anticipated and a natural extension," said Steve Jurvetson, a venture capitalist with Draper Fisher Jurvetson. "Software is a good high-margin business on the Web." Amazon.com spokesman Bill Curry declined to comment on the Seattle-based company's expansion plans. Moving into software will pit Amazon.com against online software retailers such as Egghead.com and Cyberian Outpost. It also raises the stakes against Barnes & Noble, whose online site began selling software earlier this year. Online software retailers say they aren't concerned. "We're in one of the world's largest markets," said Cyberian Outpost chief executive Darryl Peck. "There's room for a lot of companies to be successful." Amazon's entry into software should make potential competitors nervous, considering the company's successful foray into the music business, analysts said. Last month, online music retailer CDnow agreed to buy rival N2K after both reported disappointing third-quarter revenues (See related story). Marketing expenses surged as both spent on advertising to compete with Amazon.com as well as with each other. The following week, Amazon.com said its music sales reached $14.4 million during the first full quarter it sold music. That compares with $13.9 million in third-quarter revenue for CDnow, and $10.5 million for N2K. "Any retailer who isn't worried about Amazon has their eyes closed," said Nicole Vanderbilt, an analyst with Jupiter Communications. Amazon.com declined to comment on when it will open its video store.