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There's a need for some serious upgrading on the Internet; power users are demanding higher speeds, wider bandwidth and greater reliability. The Internet2 and Next Generation Internet programs are designed to produce a new, high-performance network - and function as an incubator for technologies that may eventually find their way to the public Net. How Companies Keep on Top of Their Markets How can businesses devise strategies to protect and expand their presence in the marketplace? The best answer is usually Competitive Intelligence, or CI, the collection of data about competitors' activities in a particular area. Internet-based news clipping services can help satisfy the CI requirements of a wide range of corporate users. The Extensible Markup Language offers a powerful way to describe the meaning of the data in a document instead of just its structure. XML also promises a host of possible implementations for companies large and small, from an alliance with EDI to a new way to handle micropayments. Outsourcing Hits The Web The latest trend in outsourcing is the concept of "rent-an-app" - network-based versions of robust enterprise applications that smaller businesses can rent without the cost and headaches of outright purchase and labor-intensive maintenance. If your company plans to do serious research or marketing on the Internet, a dedicated Web search specialist can help clean up and codify Corporate Web search techniques. Smart agents are a dumb idea. They may have a high "cool" factor, but they aren't nearly as effective as a robust server in the prompt delivery of valuable information. BFWs are simply the best way of matching supply with demand in real time. |