Internet Pull Marketing Revolution

Marketers of the world beware of the consumer, warns Unilever. Morris Tabaksblat, its CEO, says the Internet is empowering consumers to the point that businesses can no longer tell people what to buy. He say "push selling" must give way to the era of "pull marketing." The key is the vast array of information consumers learn online. Tabaksblat says the key question for business is not what can be sold, but what can we learn from the consumer about their needs and then satisfy them.

Prodigy in China Despite Red Tape

Prodigy hopes to have its new subscribers in China online in 30 days. Bruce Franson, vice president for the Asia Pacific region, says some "regulatory grey areas" have delayed the launch of its China services, but he thinks the 30-day goal is realistic. Its new service pits Prodigy against the Chinese telecommunications ministry, whose subsidiary is at present the only Internet provider in the country. The Beijing government remains determined to block overseas news sources. Chinese surfers trying to visit a political site on the anniversary of the 1989 army crackdown found the word "Forbidden" on their computer monitors.

Privacy Plea to Uncle Sam

High tech industry and privacy advocates are sending a message to Washington: it's time to privacy laws in the digital age. The Digital Privacy and Security Working Group has issued its findings and recommendations. It is calling for new eavesdropping standards to cope with the new technologies law enforcement can use. It also wants new standards for government access to information over the Internet or telephone and stronger laws to ban scanning of wireless phone conversations. The study group was commissioned by computer, communications and public-interest organizations.

H-P Plans in Europe, South Africa

Hewlett-Packard, having returned to South Africa, is not predicting the Internet revolution will help expands its business in Europe. Franz Nawratil, president of H-P's division for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, told Reuters he hopes high tech sales, currently slumping in Europe, will soon rally. He believes cheaper telephone prices there will make Europeans more excited by the Internet. H-P is the latest US business to return to South Africa with its planned acquisition of Siltek Ltd. A spokesman said H-P the South African technology market is significant.

2000 Bug Could Bring German Boom

The "millennium bug" may be a worldwide headache, but it could bring Mark signs to German computer businesses. Chairman Joerg Menno Harms of the German computer industry association, could spur hiring in the industry. The bug will cause many computers to confuse the year 2000 with the year 1900 and is forcing governments and businesses to hire more programmers to fix it. Harms also thinks the coming on a single European currency could also help the German computer industry grow. He expects double-digit expansion this year.

Web News Frame Dispute Ends

Several media giants have settled their lawsuit against TotalNews Inc. after it agreed to change the way it links its Web site to theirs. TotalNews had been linking to other news services, but within a frame including TotalNews ads. The Washington Post, Time Warner, CNN, Reuters and the Wall Street Journal, among others, objected. Under terms of the settlement, the frames will no longer be used. But TotalNews still uses frames to link to the USA Today Web site, which didn't object.

MS pushes Netscape Compatibility

Microsoft says future online publishers will be able to write their content with a single standard for Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0 and Netscape's planned Netcaster software. The Redmond giant has announced plans to make its "push" technology compatible with Netscape software. A spokeswoman for Microsoft says this will allow both companies to focus on implementing standards instead of competing. An industry analyst says the move is in Microsoft's interest. Editor Dwight Davis of the newsletter Windows Watcher says Netscape is still the more popular software.

Compaq Says Its Sales Plan Better

Compaq thinks it has developed a marketing plan better than those of its mail order rivals. Senior Vice President Greg Petsch says Compaq has developed a "hybrid" system to combine customized products with reduced inventories. He says it will cut costs and speed deliveries. Petsch calls the direct sales approach of Gateway 2000 and Dell Computer "inefficient." He says it only works well for sales to small and medium-sized companies, but won't meet the needs of larger corporate clients.

Apple Hopes for Rhapsody in Black

Apple Computer expects its new Rhapsody operating system to allow it to resume corporate growth next year. Executive Vice President Guerrino De Luca says the company hopes to be out of the red by the end of September. It is currently eliminating 4,000 jobs to streamline operations. Rhapsody will allow software developers to write programs on both Macintosh and PC systems. It is being designed for corporate clients, but Apple also plans to upgrade computers for small business and individual users.

Chinese Online Fire Sale

It could be the first global garage sale. The Financial News reports China will use the Internet as a means to reduce huge inventories of unsold goods. The new National Stockpiled Goods Redistribution Network has been up and running for more than two weeks in Beijing. Many state-owned companies have piles of unwanted goods, many dating to the days of central economic planning. An estimated $361 billion of unsold items was reported nationwide at the end of 1996.

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