The WAVE Report on Digital Media
3D --- Media Creation --- Shared Space
---Published by 4th Wave, Inc.---
Issue #898------------------10/19/98
The WAVE Report is Searchable on
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***Correction on NVIDIA 128 Review
on Remote Review
(October 19)
A WAVE Report reader pointed out an error in the Remote Review on
one game and its 3D support. The article referenced, which was in
WAVE#897, and we provided a link to the actual review, mentions
that Final Fantasy VII only supports 3D cards directly and does
not support Direct3D. According to the reader this is incorrect
and in fact, Final Fantasy VII only supports Direct3D. The only
reason certain cards do not work with FF7 is not because FF7 only
supports certain cards, but rather that the Direct3D
implementation of that chip is not fully compliant with all the
features needed. Any Direct3D card that supports: Triangle
textures, flat-shaded and gouraud-shaded triangles, the correct
blends modes and 8-bit paletted texture support will work with
FF7.
***Macromedia Gets Bundling Deal
with MacOS 8.5
(October 19)
Macromedia has announced that Apple Computer is shipping
Macromedia Flash and Shockwave players with its new MacOS 8.5.http://www.macromedia.com/software/director
http://www.flash.com
http://www.macromedia.com
http://www.shockrave.com
***Advantech Announces Display Panels
with PCs
(October 19)
Advantech, located in Taipei, Taiwan, has introduced its PPC-120
and PPC-140, Pentium processor-based Panel PCs with 12.1" and
13.8" TFT/STN LCD displays. The PPC-120 & 140 are integrated
multimedia computers. They include an Intel Pentium MMX
processor, hard disk drive, on-board Sound Blaster compatible
audio processing, two front panel speakers, CD-ROM disk drive,
floppy disk drive and PCMCIA drive. In addition, there is an on-
board 100/10Base-T Ethernet controller and a front panel IrDA
port for wireless data transmission.Advantech's Panel PCs can be wall, panel, swing-arm or desk
mounted, and users interact with the Panel PC through an
ergonomic analog-resistive touchscreen.The PPC-120 & 140 are industrial-grade computers that are
resistant to liquids, vapors and dust. There is an on-board
watchdog timer and power management making them suitable for
continuously running applications in unattended environments.PPC-120 & 140 are designed for easy integration to customer's
system. There are four serial ports, two USB ports, an Ethernet
interface, a parallel port, a game port and four COM ports. There
are also mic-in, speaker-out and line-in connectors for the
audio. Attaching the PPC-120/140 to your other hardware is as
simple as connecting cables. There is a single ISA/PCI slot for
expansion cards.
***Advantech Releases PC on a Board
(October 19)
Advantech is shipping its network-ready PCM-5862 multimedia
Biscuit PC board, complete with on-board sound chip. The PCM-5862
uses a Pentium processor-based to make a single board computer.The PCM-5862 supports AMD K5, Cyrix 6x86, as well as standard
Intel Pentium processors up to 200 MHz. The board also features
communication capabilities. It has 4 serial ports, 2 USB
(Universal Serial Bus) interfaces, and a Novell NE2000 PCI
Ethernet interface capable of 10 Mbit/sec transmission.The PCM-5862 follows the 5.25" FDD form factor, with dimensions
of 8" (L) x 5.75" (W) (203 x 146mm). A built-in sound chip makes
this board perfect for multimedia applications with limited
available space. The on-board PCI slot and PC/104 interface
accommodate feature expansion, and the PCM-5862 has an on-board
VGA controller with 1 (expandable to 2) MB video memory. It
supports LCD resolutions of up to 1024 x 768 at 256 colors.Additional features include an enhanced IDE interface, one
multimode parallel port (SPP/EPP/ECP), one floppy drive
controller, and a keyboard/PS/2 mouse interface. To minimize
power consumption, the PCM-5862 features power management
functions and complies with the "Green Function" standard. The
computer's power saving modes can be set to Doze, Standby or
Suspend Mode.The series encompasses a line of models that can fulfill a range
of computing needs. The PCM-5862, featuring a 10Base-T ethernet
interface, is currently listed at $386. The PCM-5862/L without
audio is listed at $366, while the PCM-5862/E with a 100Base-T
ethernet interface is listed at $416. The 5862/EL without audio,
but including a 100Base-T interface, is listed at $396.
***Cyberspace Disputes Subject of
Conference
(October 19)
The Center for Information Technology and Dispute Resolution
(CITDR) at University of Massachusetts is sponsoring a five-day,
online series of workshops, discussions, courses, and software
demonstrations on resolving disputes that arise in cyberspace.
The event is called the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
CyberWeek and will run from Nov. 9-13.The CITDR focuses on understanding the nature of online conflicts
and creating new tools for working with individuals involved in
disputes. The conference is being co-sponsored by 25 national
organizations involved in mediation and dispute resolution,The online address for ADR CyberWeek is
For information about the conference contact Katsh at the CITDR
web site located ator call 413/545-5879. His e-mail address is katsh@legal.umass.edu
***Zona Research Forecasts Internet
Technology Growth - Big
(October 19)
Zona Research announced the availability of the fourth edition of
its popular Internet and Intranet: Markets, Opportunities, and
Trends report. This report, which provides detailed market sizing
and projections through the year 2001, also examines the
significant issues, trends, and participants that are driving the
opportunities represented by the Internet, Intranet, and Extended
Intranet.Zona estimates that the market for Internet and Intranet products
and services, which it calls the Adjusted Gross Internet Product
(AGIP), was $49.21 billion in 1997 and will grow to $142 billion
by the year 2001.1997 Internet and Intranet Market (AGIP)
Market Segment Dollars in Billions Percentage of
Market
Communications $32.431 65%
Containment $11.591 24%
Consumption $2.059 4%
Creation $1.302 3%
Control $1.086 2%
Content $0.739 2%Total Market $49.210 100%
Zona predicts that the electronic economy will grow to over $204
billion in Web-based transactions by the year 2001.Total US Internet Transaction Revenue
Year Dollars in Billions
1997 $10.4
1998 $31.3
1999 $71.3
2000 $134.5
2001 $204.1In this 200+ page report Zona Research also presents a set of
issues and opportunities facing the Internet and Intranet. This
discussion includes topics such as the Internet regulatory
climate, the popularity of Web application servers, the
innovation rate slowdown, and portalnomics, among others.The report is now available from Zona Research for $1,795.
Discounts are available for multiple and additional copies. To
view a report profile of Internet and Intranet: Markets,
Opportunities, and Trends, visit Zona's Web site at
***Intergraph Rolls Out Wildcat 3D
(October 19)
Intergraph Computer Systems announced that its Wildcat 3D
Graphics Technology is now available in the Intense 3D Wildcat
4000 graphics accelerator. This card is intended as the
mainstream workstation product while the Intense 3D Wildcat 4100,
which ships at the end of 1998, is for the high end of this
market.Prices start at $8,093 for a TDZ 2000 GX1 ViZual Workstation with
Intense 3D Wildcat 4000 graphics accelerator with geometry
acceleration and 64 MB texture memory standard; single 450 MHz
Pentium II Xeon processor; 128 MB memory; and 9.1 GB 10K rpm
Ultra2 SCSI disk.The geometry accelerator has 9.5m transistors and is
programmable.Wildcat cards based on the scalability of the geometry engine
(GE) and the rasterizer will be available during Q1 1999. The
exact configuration of the cards and the level of use of the GE
and Rasterizer Engines, in early shipments, will be based on
customer demand.
***Newradioworld Virtual World
(October 14)
The WorldsAway Products & Services group, a division of Fujitsu,
is joining with New Radio Star to create a virtual world, for and
about radio.NewRadioWorld is a web-based replica of the United States, where
a station's listeners can visit cities via a bullet train, spend
time in bars and cafes, listen to radio stations, talk to other
people and even buy products and rent their own apartment.Radio stations in NewRadioWorld will be comprised of a virtual
studio, reception and lounge areas where these stations can
schedule events with their listeners, such as weekend parties,
webcasts, or singles mixers. Stations will also be able to sell
advertising to local clients which can be in the form of a
billboard on the street or objects in a room (buy a cup of
coffee, click on the cup and actually buy a pound of coffee and
have it shipped to you).NewRadioWorld.com will unveil its first cities in early November,
growing to 20 cities by early 1999.
***Discreet Logic and Matrox Bundle
on edit* and DigiSuite LE
(October 19)
Discreet Logic and Matrox Video Products Group announced an offer
that combines the Discreet Logic edit* realtime nonlinear editing
software with the Matrox DigiSuite LE realtime editing card at
only $9,900 US.This is a special offer and is available through the end of 1998,
from Matrox/Discreet Logic authorized resellers throughout the
Americas.
***Frys Price Watch on 3D Cards
Fry's Electronics is the place to shop for electronics in the San
Francisco Bay Area. We recently spotted prices on a number of
cards.Company Card Price
Creative Blaster TNT (16MB SDRAM) $169
Venus I-740 8MB AGP $49
Real 3D Starfighter I-740 24MB PCI $250
Diamond Viper V550 TNT PCI (16MB SDRAM) $200
Venus Virge GX4 4MB $30
Diamond Monster 3D II Voodoo 2 (12MB) $190
The bottom is falling out of the 3D card business. There are too
many cards, a wide variation in performance between cards and a
saturated market at retail. Thus, prices are declining faster
than expected even a few months ago. As we commented on before
being in the I-740 business is especially difficult. Shown here
is a 5:1 spread between two I-740 cards. As we recently reported
even the Voodoo2 is facing tough times as its market is also
saturated.This is a simple problem to identify - not enough buyers. It is
finding a solution that is so hard.
***Hyundai Announces Industry's Fastest
SDRAM -- 166-MHz 1 Meg x
16
(October 12)
Hyundai Electronics America announced a 1 Meg x 16 Synchronous
DRAM (SDRAM) with operating frequencies up to 166 MHz.Specifically targeted at the graphics market, the HY57V161610D
device is also suited for printer, copier, DVD, and set-top box
applications, as well as for others requiring large memory
density, high bandwidth, and low cost.Fabricated using 0.22 micron CMOS technology, the device is
organized as two banks of 524,288 x 16, operates from a single
3.3 volt (plus/minus) 10% power supply, and offers fully
synchronous operation. All inputs and outputs are synchronized
with the rising edge of the clock input. Datapaths are internally
pipelined to achieve very high bandwidth. Input/output voltage
levels are compatible with LVTTL.The HY57V161610D 1 Meg x 16 -6 and -7 (166 MHz and 143 MHz)
devices are available from Hyundai. The price structure for these
new Hyundai SDRAMs is no more than five to ten percent premium
over a standard 1 Meg x 16 -8 device.
***Autodesk announces AutoCAD LT
98
(October 12)
Autodesk announced the release of AutoCAD LT 98 software, a 2D
drafting solution. AutoCAD LT has had total unit sales of 800,000
users.Among AutoCAD LT 98's features and enhancements are:
- Drag-and-Drop Hatch Patterns from the Content Explorer
- Customizable User Interface
- Intuitive Visual Interfaces for Existing Features
- Undo and Redo EnhancementsMinimum system requirements include Windows 98, Windows 95, or
Windows NTa 4.0, 486DX/66 CPU, 16MB of RAM, 50 MB of free hard
disk space, VGA display (800 X 600 recommended), and a Windows-
compatible mouse.The English language version of AutoCAD LT 98 is available
immediately in the U.S. and Canada at an estimated street price
of US$489. The following offers are valid in the U.S. and Canada
only: upgrade pricing is US$129. Anyone who purchases and
registers a new AutoCAD LT 97 or upgrade unit one month before or
after the initial shipment of AutoCAD LT 98 will receive a free
upgrade, through the PSG Customer Protection Policy. The single-
user version of AutoCAD LT 98 is available through software
retailers, Authorized Autodesk Resellers, corporate resellers, or
directly from Autodesk.http://www.autodesk.com/autocadlt
http://www.autodesk.com
http://www.ktx.com
***Collaborating Companies Join to
Form Home API
(October 12)
Compaq Computer Corporation, Honeywell, Intel Corporation,
Microsoft Corp., Mitsubishi Electric and Philips Electronics
announced they are working together to define and develop an open
industry specification that will foster the development of
computer applications for home systems and appliances.These applications will enable the control of home entertainment
devices such as televisions, VCRs, set-top boxes and other home
electronics devices including security, indoor/outdoor lighting
and temperature control systems.The companies are collaborating and leading an industry effort
called the Home API Working Group (Home API). The goal of the
group is to provide a foundation for supporting a broad range of
consumer devices by establishing an open industry specification
that defines application programming interfaces (APIs). These
APIs are protocol and network media independent enabling software
developers to more quickly build applications that operate these
devices. In addition, they will allow both existing and future
home network technologies such as HAVi, home phone networks, Home
RF, CEBus, Lonworks, and X-10 to be more easily utilized.To support developers, the group intends to provide a Software
Developers Kit (SDK) that will implement these APIs on the
Microsoft Windows operating system, with availability expected in
the first half of 1999. In the future, the group expects SDKs to
be available for other operating systems as well.Users will benefit from new applications in the areas of home
entertainment, security and home automation. For example, for
home entertainment, Home API will help simplify the set up and
operation of A/V devices and home theaters, and will be
compatible with other emerging digital A/V network initiatives
such as Home Audio/Video Interoperability (HAVi).Philips, Sony, Intel and Microsoft are working together to define
a bridge between HomeAPI and HAVi that will enable each to use
the other's services to expose home devices to their respective
clients. (Philips and Sony are both members of the HAVi Working
Group.)Home automation and security are other areas that can greatly
benefit from Home API. House modes, such as Away, Asleep and
Entertaining, can be defined to control the status of the home
security, sprinkler, heating/cooling, lighting and entertainment
systems according to user-defined criteria. These modes can be
modified either within the home or remotely, and can be tied to a
calendar or even the current weather forecast. This level of home
automation can increase security and comfort, as well as save
money through energy conservation.Initial users of the Home API SDK include software vendors who
will use the Home API to write applications that monitor or
interact with home devices. There are currently no standard APIs
for home devices, so application developers are currently faced
with the prospect of writing all aspects of home device control
from scratch, including the handling of network interface
hardware and device control protocols. With Home API, the
application developer can ignore these low-level details and
focus instead on adding the features that provide direct benefit
to the user.Vendors of home networks and controllable home devices will
provide Home API compatible driver software to expose features of
their hardware to developers of home applications. Since Home API
does not define communication protocols but rather provides a
framework for integrating and exposing existing protocols, it is
not necessary for device or network vendors to modify their
hardware products to enable them to work with Home API. Timetable
The Home API Working Group expects to complete the Version 1.0
Specification in the first half of 1999 with a Windows SDK
available shortly thereafter.Specific product announcements will be made by individual
manufacturers in accordance with their own product launch
schedules.The Home API Working Group includes Compaq, Honeywell, Intel,
Microsoft, Mitsubishi Electric and Philips Electronics. The
companies are developing an open industry specification for
application programming interfaces to enable developers to build
more functionality and ease-of-use into home automation software
and to allow the operation of home devices from anywhere in and
around the home. In addition, the group will develop and deliver
a Windows SDK based on this open specification. The group's goal
is to accelerate the development and deployment of software
applications that can monitor and control home devices.
***Intergraph's TDZ 2000 ViZual Workstation
Product Line to offer
CrystalEyes
(October 2)
StereoGraphics and Intergraph Computer Systems announced the
addition of CrystalEyes to Intergraph's TDZ 2000 ViZual
Workstation product line. As part of the companies' arrangement,
Intergraph will offer CrystalEyes as an option for design
professionals purchasing its leading-edge 3D graphics
workstations. StereoGraphics will provide all qualifying
Intergraph Computer Systems resellers with a pair of CrystalEyes
eyewear with emitter at no cost for demonstrating Stereo3D
capabilities on leading mechanical CAD applications.Stereo3D applications available include Structural Dynamics
Research Corporation's I-DEAS Master Seriesx 6, Division
Incorporated's dVISE and SolidWorks Corporation's SolidWorks 98.StereoGraphics' CrystalEyes products are available in November
from authorized Intergraph Computer Systems value-added resellers
at a suggested retail price of $995 (US).http://www.stereographics.com
http://www.intergraph.com/ics/
898.7 Internet
***Cisco's IP/TV 3400 Series Servers
Provide Deploy Network Video
Solutions
(October 12)
Cisco Systems announced the IP/TV 3400 Series Servers which are
to deliver network video services for corporate intranets,
including video on demand (VOD), live video and scheduled video
broadcasting.Pre-configured with IP/TV 2.0 client-server software and pre-
installed video store, video cards, network interface cards and
device drivers, the IP/TV 3400 Series Servers offer enterprise
customers a turnkey solution for easy installation and
deployment.Featuring a rack-mounted, modular design, the IP/TV 3400 Series
Servers consist of three separate servers -- the IP/TV 3410
Control Server, the IP/TV 3420 Broadcast Server and the IP/TV
3430 Archive Server -- each offering a specific set of video
functions. Designed around IP/TV's distributed video server
architecture, these servers provide the management features,
scalability and bandwidth efficiencies required for large-scale
deployment.The Cisco IP/TV 3410 Control Server offers a set of management
capabilities that simplify content, bandwidth and server
management for program and network managers. It manages clusters
of Broadcast and Archive Servers, both locally and remotely, and
communicates program information directly to client desktops. The
IP/TV 3420 Broadcast Server is designed for multicasting live and
pre-recorded programs, while the high-performance IP/TV 3430
Archive Server is designed primarily for distributing VOD
programs.The IP/TV 3400 Series Servers include IP/TV software, which runs
on Microsoft Windows NT. Future versions of IP/TV software will
integrate Microsoft's Windows Media Technologies, as jointly
announced with Microsoft last July.The Cisco IP/TV 3400 Series Servers offer the following feature
set--High-Quality Video Communications: The IP/TV 3400 Series
Servers produce full-motion, full-screen TV images with
synchronized video and audio.
--Scalable: The IP/TV 3400 Series Servers utilize a distributed
server architecture that localizes and minimizes bandwidth
consumption by replicating and dispatching content to local
servers. This architecture enables network administrators to
seamlessly add video servers as needs expand.
--Management Capabilities: Providing centralized point-and-click
control of both scheduled and on demand programming, the 3410
Control Server offers a full suite of management capabilities
including server, content and bandwidth management; program
scheduling; content tracking; web integration and security.
--IP Multicast: The IP/TV 3400 Series Servers utilize IP
Multicast to optimize bandwidth for live and scheduled video,
broadcasting a single, real-time stream per program over the
network, regardless of how many people tune in.
--Standards Compliant: For greater interoperability, the IP/TV
3400 Series Servers use industry-standard technologies for its
networking protocols, platform application programming
interfaces, file formats and a wide range of codecs.
--Service and Support: The complete IP/TV solution is fully
backed by Cisco's industry-leading SMARTnet maintenance service
and support program, which includes quick response to hardware
replacement, software upgrades and 24 hours a day, seven days a
week telephone support.The IP/TV 3400 Series Servers will be available in November 1998.
The IP/TV 3410 Control Server, which includes IP/TV Content
Manager software, StreamWatch monitoring and demographics
software, and a 10/100 BaseT interface, has a U.S. list price of
$10,000. The IP/TV 3420 Broadcast Server, which includes IP/TV
Server software, two video capture cards, a 10/100 BaseT
interface and 50 IP/TV Viewer licenses, has a U.S. list price of
$22,000. The IP/TV 3430 Archive Server, which includes IP/TV
Server software, an 18 GB video store, dual processors, a 10/100
BaseT interface, and 50 IP/TV Viewer licenses, has a U.S. list
price of $24,000.
***Microsoft, Publishing firms and
Electronic Book makers join to
develop Standards for 'eBook'
(October 8)
Microsoft announced it is joining major publishing firms,
electronics manufacturers and pioneers in the new market for
electronic books to establish an important set of open technical
standards and help strengthen this emerging industry.The announcement was made at the electronic book ("eBook")
conference, sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and
Technology in Gaithersburg, Md. The firms working with Microsoft
include publishers Bertelsmann, HarperCollins Publishers Inc.,
Microsoft Press, Penguin Putnam Inc., Simon & Schuster and Time-
Warner Books; the online book seller barnesandnoble.com; the
manufacturer Hitachi Ltd.; Audible Inc., the Web's leading
electronic distributor of audiobooks; plus eBook pioneers
EveryBook Inc., Glassbook Inc., Librius Inc., NuvoMedia Inc. and
SoftBook Press Inc. More firms are expected to join this effort
in the future.eBooks are digital versions of printed books, which display on
specialize dreading devices or on PCs and laptops. The firms
announced today that they have agreed to collaborate on a common
set of file specifications. This will allow a title to be read on
all machines adhering to these standards, and it will allow
publishers to reach a wide audience without separately
reformatting their titles for each machine.At the conference, Microsoft announced that the Open eBook
specification for eBook file and format structure is based on the
popular HTML and XML languages used to format information for Web
sites. The specification, which will be available free of charge
to all interested users, is designed to allow compatibility
between many different types of eBook devices, including
conventional PCs and laptops, as well as the specialized reading
appliances that are now beginning to appear.
***Samsung Launches New Windows CE
Handheld Computer
(October 9)
Newsbytes reports that Samsung Electronics has a handheld
computer based on the new Windows CE 2.1 operating system from
Microsoft Corp.The Ego-Note is based on a Toshiba TX3922 series 32-bit RISC
(reduced instruction set computer) microprocessor running at 148
megahertz and features an 8.2 inch color liquid crystal display.
As standard it comes with 16 megabytes of RAM (random access
memory) although this can be upgraded to 48 megabytes.It also has a 56 kilobit per second modem, compact flash card
slot, PC-Card slot, USB port, RS-232C serial port, Fast Irda
infrared port, video output socket, modem jack, mouse port,
keyboard port and parallel port. It weights just under a kilogram
and measures 227mm by 197mm. Battery life is three and a half
hours using regular batteries and up to ten hours on a
rechargeable lithium-ion battery.The machine will be sold in the United States market in December
1998 and be followed by launches in Europe in the first quarter
of 1999 and in South Korea in the second quarter of 1999. The
Eco-Note will carry a price between US$800 and $850.
898.9 Out-of-Home Entertainment
***Universal Upbeat on Japan Theme
Park
(October 12)
Reuters reports that Universal Studios says despite Japan's
current economic doldrums, the time is right to start work on a
theme park set to open in the spring of 2001 in Osaka, western
Japan.Construction is scheduled to begin on Universal Studios Japan,
Universal's first theme park outside the United States, on
October 28. It is being built by Universal Studios Japan Co.
Ltd., a consortium led by the city of Osaka and Universal Studios
Inc. of the United States."Timing is good," Robert Gault, executive vice president of USJ,
told Reuters in a recent interview. "Due to the depressed
economy, we are taking some advantage of good deals and values as
we buy things we need to build the park."As for prospects the park's opening, he said: "We believe the
business environment will be improved within two and a half
years, prior to the opening." Gault said his company estimated
the park would draw eight million visitors in its first year
based on what he called a "conservative" feasibility study. "We
feel that we can get to the 10 million to 12 million range very,
very quickly," he said.Tokyo Disneyland, which opened in 1983 outside of Tokyo, is
currently Japan's most successful theme park with 17 million
visitors a year. It drew 10 million visitors in its first year."Universal and Disney have always been recession-proof because
people will spend money on a quality experience. There is a lack
of world-class entertainment in the Osaka region despite a huge
population and tourism base. That is one of the reasons why we
chose here instead of the Tokyo area," he said.The Japanese theme park will have 18 attractions including
popular rides and shows from the U.S. parks like "Jurassic Park-
The Ride" and "Animation Celebration" with Woody Woodpecker."We take the best attractions from Florida and Hollywood and
combine them into one 'super Universal,"' said Gault. "Disney was
an unknown product in Japan, a kind of high risk thing. But they
got from 10 million to 17 million visitors through all kinds of
ups and downs, so we are very bullish about our future," said
Gault.The total cost for the project is about 170 billion yen ($1.4
billion). USJ plans to raise its capital from a current 24
billion yen ($203 million) to 40 billion yen ($338.4 million) by
2001. The rest of the money will be supplied through bank loans
and government project finance.Gault said he expects the theme park will post a profit in its
fourth year and eliminate accumulated losses in its sixth year.
"We have an aggressive capital infusion plan after the opening to
add a new
attraction every two to three years in order to attract repeat
visitors," said Gault.
It takes lots of guts to open a theme park in Japan with its
dismal economic situation.
***New Report Documents World ICT
Marketplace Approaching $2
Trillion
(October 8)
A study of global information technology spending and economic
impact documents an industry valued at almost $2 trillion and
growing at a rate substantially faster than worldwide gross
domestic product (GDP).The results suggest that national GDP grows when Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) spending increases and that even
in the face of worsening economic conditions, the effect on ICT
spending is muted. The World Information Technology and Services
Alliance (WITSA) released the findings at the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) meeting in Ottawa,
Ontario.Produced for WITSA by International Data Corporation (IDC),
"Digital Planet: The Global Information Economy" provides the
first systematic exploration of the size and shape of the ICT
marketplace around the globe. The study presents its findings
based on data gathered in the 50 largest country markets (in GDP
terms) as well as four rest of region components. In aggregate,
this group represents 98 percent of worldwide ICT spending and 97
percent of global GDP.The Digital Planet study is distinctive in several important
respects, including its coverage of internal IT spending. This
includes company expenditures on IT staff, capital depreciation
and other non-vendor related costs-an important marketplace
component not previously examined in industry sizing studies.The new study provides additional evidence of the growth of
personal computers and their influence on education. At year end
1997, 118 million personal computers had been installed in homes
and educational institutions worldwide-up from 35 million in
1992. Report author IDC forecasts World Wide Web utilization to
hit 100 million people by the end of this year and 320 million by
2002. Every year, an additional 50 million people gain access to
telephone lines in their homes.-- In the last five years, Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) has
been the fastest growing ICT market, moving at a compound rate of
over 14.5 percent. Despite the current uncertainty, ICT spending
in most of the region is expected to rebound as the crisis
abates. Latin America followed just behind at almost 13.6
percent. At under five percent, Western Europe was the slowest
growing market at 3.5 percent as a result of the appreciation of
the dollar and local currency fluctuations in addition to a
period of sluggish economic growth in Western Europe. PC
installations in the home and education markets grew almost 80
percent in Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan)-over twice as fast as
Latin America, the next closest region and three times as fast as
North America.-- Vietnam, PRC, Columbia, Brazil and Hong Kong were the five
fastest growing IT markets in the world. Although Vietnam is
ranked 47 on the list of 50 IT spending markets, the compound
rate of spending on ICT jumped 44 percent between 1992 and 1997.
PRC, ranked in the top ten ICT markets, grew at a rate of 28.5
percent.-- Over half the countries included in the survey have increased
their representation on the World Wide Web by over 100 percent
per annum between 1992 and 1997.-- The U.S. pays the world's largest telephone bill. With outlays
of $220 billion last year for telecommunications products and
services, the U.S. outspent Japan-number two on the list-by $68
billion. The U.S. and Japan constitute almost half of global
spending on telecommunications. Other big spenders are Germany at
$47 billion, the United Kingdom at $36 billion and France at $31
billion.-- At 15.3 million, the U.S. has the largest number of Internet
hosts, 15 times more than its closest rivals, Japan and Germany.
Other countries in the top five for the number of Internet hosts
are the United Kingdom and Canada. Least friendly Internet
countries--Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Venezuela and
Philippines--are the least well represented on the Internet in
terms of the number of Internet hosts in the country.-- Internal spending on IT also shows the U.S. ahead, although
the amount of these outlays has dropped gradually over the years
from $105 billion in 1992 to $99 billion last year. Other top
spenders in this category in 1997 are Japan ($63 billion),
Germany ($26 billion), France ($24 billion) and the United
Kingdom ($22 billion).Also of interest in the new study:-- Russia spends less on telecommunications ($3.2 billion) than
far smaller countries like Portugal ($3.4 billion) and Greece
($3.7 billion). Russia spends less on information technology
($8.5 billion) than Taiwan ($12.1 billion) and Hong Kong ($12.0
billion).-- While most countries experience incremental gains, telecom
spending by the PRC has exploded over four-fold between 1992 and
1997, from $4.3 billion to $18.8 billion. China spent almost six
times as much on telecommunications in 1997 as Russia.-- Singapore is the world leader in telephone lines per
household. Singapore has 1.25 lines per household, followed by
Taiwan with 1.2 lines, Korea (1.17 lines), Israel (1.15 lines)
and Sweden (1.15 lines).Digital Planet is made possible through sponsorship grants from
The Nasdaq Stock Market, the Virginia Center for Innovative
Technology, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority,
the Japanese Information Services Industry Association and the
European IT Software and Services Association.Published by WITSA, Digital Planet: The Global Information
Economy is available to the public for $500 and can be ordered
from the WITSA website.http://www.itaa.org/digitalplanet.htm.
An executive summary is available free on the web at
--------------------------------------
Copyright 1998 4th WAVE, Inc.
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