| The psychic Hotline won't help you in this | | | | because of higher Internet access speeds |
| article!However, I want to share my predictions | | | | through DSL or |
| for 2003 and the | | | | cable.Cheaper and better computers, combined |
| trends I see affecting how you will use the | | | | with improved |
| Internet for | | | | "streaming" software technology, will drive this |
| both business and pleasure.** | | | | multimedia |
| Anti-Spam!Anybody with an email account for | | | | trend. As computers and web servers on either |
| more than three days has | | | | end of the |
| gotten unsolicited email (referred to as Spam) | | | | information exchange get faster at encoding and |
| from people | | | | decoding |
| they don't know. These people offer to sell them | | | | data, the need for broadband access lessens.** |
| everything | | | | Sold to the Highest BidderExpect auction sites to |
| from acne treatment to inkjet cartridges.As | | | | see all-time highs in sales and |
| federal and state lawmakers weigh into the battle | | | | revenues this year. With a sluggish economy, |
| against Spam, you can expect two significant | | | | people look |
| developments | | | | to save and make money any way they can, |
| this year:First, anti-Spam software sales will | | | | and buying through |
| skyrocket among home | | | | eBay makes it easier than ever.** Do you |
| and business users. Unfortunately, unless | | | | Yahoo?Search giant Yahoo will rebound this year |
| somebody invents | | | | from a couple of |
| a solution that actually works well, the end | | | | poor business decisions. Expect them to regain |
| results won't | | | | the top |
| fit the promises made to sell the products.On a | | | | spot as the world's number one search portal by |
| side note: It will prove very interesting to see | | | | the end of |
| how | | | | 2003.** "Micro-Businesses" Will DominateUsing |
| many of the anti-Spam product vendors will | | | | "guerrilla marketing" tactics, small businesses will |
| actually use | | | | spread like wildfire online. These businesses won't |
| Spam to sell their wares!Second, anti-Spam | | | | bother |
| sentiment will massively affect | | | | with startup capital, or IPO's; they'll simply reach |
| legitimate online business owners trying to | | | | profitability within 30 days or close up shop.Also, |
| communicate | | | | expect to see "Big" business start adapting these |
| with their customers via e-mail.New services will | | | | techniques by creating special units within larger |
| spring up to help even the smallest | | | | corporations that reward the entrepreneurial |
| businesses secure their communications with | | | | online spirit.So take the challenge!Cut out this |
| customers and | | | | article, put it on your bulletin board, and 12 |
| avoid the "Spam filters."** Lights, Camera, | | | | months from now we can all see if my psychic |
| Action!The use of multimedia, including video, | | | | abilities rate |
| pictures, and | | | | with the most popular 900 numbers or whether |
| sound, along with other interactive devices, will | | | | flipping a |
| really | | | | coin would have achieved the same or better |
| take off this year.However, the proliferation of | | | | results. |
| multimedia will not occur | | | | |