We already have more than 100 true Windows 95 products in commercial use and this year we will be releasing 70 additional Windows 95 products. I believe that accountants see it as a mixed blessing depending on their current situation. Those firms that have already selected a strong, viable software company are largely unaffected in the near term, and in the long run will benefit as the successful software companies increase their economy of scale and can afford to continue providing more products and services of greater value to their customers. On the other hand, accounting firms that have chosen a software company that has been unable to remain competitive are faced with changing the software they use in their practice - and we know that is not always an easy thing for a firm to do. When we are involved in helping a group of customers make the transition to CSI, we develop special training programs, conversion tools and documentation to make the process go as smoothly as possible.
Consolidation is a natural trend in an industry that has historically been highly fragmented.
The escalating cost of providing high quality software products and services requires a substantial customer base and a very well run business. Because the overall size of the accounting firm software market is relatively fixed, it follows that some companies, particularly those with limited product lines and a smaller customer base, cannot afford the investment required to remain competitive. In the long run this consolidation will be beneficial, as it will provide accountants with better products from more stable companies. Yes, we see the Internet as a continuation of the electronic services that we have been offering our users for many years. CSI pioneered the development of a bulletin board system dedicated to accounting firms, more than 10 years ago.