Dealerscope, December 2000

Internet World Fan 2000:

Serious About E'Business

By Tatyana Sinioukov

NEW YORK CITY - Bringing the Web to consumers through not just computers but also mobile, wireless devices, from cell phones to pagers, seemed to be the common theme at Internet World Fall 2000.

The show was overwhelmed with dot-com this and e-that companies showing off their services, software in various stages of development and the wireless communication products. Intel, Microsoft, AOL and Adobe dominated the show floor with their vast, ubiquitous presence.

Intel emphasized the importance of being perceived as a leader in e-commerce and letting the world know that the company considers using the Internet a crucial part of its business plan. Intel will continue to expand its global sales and marketing presence into emerging markets, such as Russia, South America, India and Eastern Europe, continuing to build brand awareness all over the world, setting up distribution mechanisms and doing business online rather than by phone or fax.

Microsoft announced its Gold Certified Program, which puts it into the high-end server market. The certified partners will be e-commerce companies with high-end Windows servers, large-scale customers and a certain (high) number of transactions per day.

In his keynote, Barry Schuler, president of America Online's interactive services group, announced AOL 6.0 software and said the technologies behind the four main communication channels - computer, telephone, stereo and television - are beginning to converge.

According to Schuler, in this light, AOL's current initiative (called Anywhere) is to make its services available not just online but through wireless devices and even pagers. "AOL by Phone," the new voice-activated portal, will allow users to check their e-mail by speaking into an analog phone and obtain information, such as stock quotes. Also, AOL, he said, soon plans to sell downloadable music.

AOL also announced plans to release, in partnership with Gateway, a Web appliance that allows access to e-mail through television. The appliance, the company said, will most likely come out by the end of the year.

The show's other keynotes included Larry Ellison, Oracle CEO; Robert Rubin, Citigroup executive committee chair and former Secretary of the Treasury; David Wetherell, CMGI CEO; and Bill Gross, Idealab CEO.

There were plenty of gizmos and gadgets, of course, as well as interactive software in various beta versions.

DigiScents is bent on making the Web smell by using its iSmell technology The company released a free Web developer's kit and plans to start selling the consumer product in the spring of 2001. The device is anticipated to sell for a price between $80 and $199 and will have a cartridge with more than a 100 compartments for storing fragrant oils and releasing them in various combinations.

LIPSinc's LiveTalk SDK software will integrate its interactive content, like talking digital characters, with Internet-based applications. The company said its solution can be used in gaming but goes beyond that to include marketing online, e-learning and CRM.

DataBites demoed its Internet content recorder software for fast Web browsing on computers and handheld devices. The software's interface mimics a VCR and records and stores Web sites in windows on a desk-top. The windows are called DataBites. Each Bite is linked to the parent page and contains updated information. An alarm can notify users when content on a DataBite changes.

Slingshot unveiled calling cards on CDs. They work like a pre-paid phone card, only for the Internet. The CDs will be sold at CompUSA, Eckerd and other retail chains nationwide. The $9.95 CD package includes 600 local minutes, 200 toll-free minutes and free e-mail.

Eyeball.com introduced Eyeball Chat, a video chat service for the Web that allows users to communicate face-to-face online, Eyeball Chat can find applications in banking, entertainment, games and customer service.

E-Book Systems debuted FlipBrowser, a flipping interface that resembles a book-reading experience for viewing photography and multimedia content on the Web.

Umonitor Mobile from Umonitor delivers sorts of mobile conversion, the company said.

Infinite.com launched Infinite Interchange, designed to send voice-activated e-mail messages to WAP-enabled devices.

A comparison shopping online company. My Simon.com, announced the redesign of its site, which put a lot of value-added information, including editorial content, online in time for the holiday season.

The endless maze of booths also highlighted the global impact of the Internet and the growing international business opportunities it entails. A French Pavilion showcased Internet services based in France and geared to the American market. There was also the Ireland Internet Commerce Pavilion with seven Irish e-commerce and e-business companies with an international presence. There was even a booth of RosBusinessConsulting, the Russian Web portal based in Moscow (with a branch in New York City) that provides Web content and advertising services for the Russian-speaking part of the world.

There was also a new addition to the show since last year, the "Urban Digital" pavilion, which showcased exclusively the entertainment companies based in metropolitan areas.

And, yes, there were models. Charmed Technologies, a company that develops wireless communication devices designed to look like jewelry, put on a "Brave New Unwired World" fashion show, where models strolled the catwalk demonstrating cell phones, headsets and tiny MP3 players, in addition to prototypes of wireless ear-rings, necklaces, rings and wearable computers.