May 8, 2003
|
Believe it or not, the hope for an e-business revival may be more than wishful thinking.
By Stuart Glascock
The signs are there:
- Predictions of a turnaround in IT spending.
- Studies showing a rise in e-commerce.
- Investors taking renewed interested in dot-coms.
- Stock run-ups in bellwether companies such as Dell, IBM, and Intel.
It's telling that both Aberdeen and IDC predict tech spending will rise this year, compared to the market's dismal 6.2 percent contraction over the past two years. IDC said IT spending in the U.S. will grow 1.5 percent this year. Aberdeen projects IT spending increases of 3.9 percent globally.
Another study says the growing availability of broadband is boosting e-commerce. In the same breath, it notes that a big majority of businesses have at least tried online procurement. In sum, it seems that e-commerce may be making a comeback.
Then there's the steady trickle of corporate earnings reports that shine a ray of hope on the remnants of the beleaguered dot-coms. Positive financial reports from eBay, Yahoo!, AskJeeves, Amazon, and other Internet companies have a few people talking about new dot-com era.
These signs are real, but they're a far cry from scientific evidence of an economic turnaround. Still after the last few years, let's enjoy these long-awaited positive signs.
Back to the Top
|
Microsoft Pulls Windows XP Update