Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Dell Technologies Inc. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Walcalla who wrote (104737)	2/24/1999 10:45:00 PM
From: Mohan Marette	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 176387

<Industry News> This just in- Microsoft opens Online Store. Microsoft Opens Online Store for Computer Software (Update1) (Adds more detail of Microsoft strategy in electronic commerce in 6th to 9th paragraphs.) Redmond, Washington, Feb. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp. opened an online store to sell computer software and hardware in a bid to take advantage of the 2 million daily visitors to the No. 1 software maker's Web site. The store site, shop.microsoft.com, lets customers buy directly from Microsoft and four participating retailers -- Beyond.com Corp., CDW Computer Centers Inc., CompUSA Inc. and Insight Enterprises Inc. Products bought from Microsoft will cost 10 percent to 25 percent more than those from the retailers, as is now the case, as a result of widespread markdowns, the company said. Microsoft is stepping up efforts to sell online to compete with internet retailers of software and hardware such as Egghead.com and Cyberian Outpost Inc. Yet Microsoft's efforts are tempered by the need to avoid taking business away from retailers who sell its products. ''Software is a favorite product category for online consumers,'' said Steve Schiro, Microsoft's vice president of the consumer customer unit. Shop.microsoft.com, which will add more retailers in the next few months, also will showcase Microsoft's electronic- commerce platform. The platform uses an array of server software, including Windows NT operating system, SQL for database management and Commerce for transacting business online. Microsoft's moves in electronic commerce have centered on its MSN Network of Web sites, which is being fashioned into an online hub. Starting with online services such as the Expedia travel-bookings site, MSN has branched into online retailing with its Shopping site. Electronic commerce generates revenue from online transactions as well as software sold to companies doing business on the Internet and consumers buying over the Web. Microsoft also sells its e-commerce technology behind sites such as Expedia to airlines and other companies. Those sales have stumbled on potential buyers' fears of competing against Microsoft's own Web sites, analysts said. Shop.microsoft.com is not part of MSN. Shares of the Redmond, Washington-based company fell 2 9/16 to 152 7/8. shop.microsoft.com