Internet Service Providers are still losing money on every sale, but trying to make it up on volume. Most Internet software companies are reaching the end of their venture capital rope. They're essentially system integrators, combining hardware, software, networking and communications to deliver what clients are convinced they want. One of the biggest is IBM's operation in Marietta, Georgia, which I toured recently. They do good work.
Trouble is, their customers are taking a bath.
Because while the amount of money we have to spend, as consumers and businesses, may increase arithmetically, the money needed to gain our attention multiplies. The big problem isn't the execution of these high-end sites. This medium is not Moses getting the tablets on the mountain. It's everyone back at camp arguing about what's on the tablets and what it means. EDI on those companies' Intranets, where business models are real and the technology offers real savings.