$98 Billion Electronic Commerce Opportunity for Telecommunications Services Companies Worldwide.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 1996--A new study from Killen & Associates, "Electronic Commerce: Opportunities for Telecommunications Companies," forecasts that by the year 2000 electronic commerce (EC) will create a $98 billion opportunity for telecommunications services companies.

This figure includes a $65 billion Network Information Services (NIS) market, a $22 billion EC Support Services market, and a $10.5 billion EC Transactions and Payment Services market. Aggressive telcos are partnering and positioning to compete for these markets.

Besides identifying the emerging EC opportunities for telcos in all major world markets, the study ranks and describes the EC strategies of 17 telcos including: Ameritech, ANS (an AOL company), AT&T, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth, British Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, Hong Kong Telecom, MCI, NTT (Japanese), NYNEX, Pacific Telesis, SBC, Singapore Telecom, Sprint, and US West.

"By the year 2000, 7.5% of all purchases will be made electronically over the Internet," said Karl Duffy, director, Telecommunications Services Communications. "That is equal to roughly $600 billion worth of goods and services. Financial institutions will execute 7 billion electronic payment transactions worth $10.5 billion in transaction fees alone."

"Telcos have an opportunity to provide merchants and financial institutions with services to create and support electronic malls and electronic payment systems. They may also decide to establish and operate their own malls."

The study defines:

NIS -- including credit reports, financial market quotations, credit card authorizations, and ATM services, that support EC and Electronic Financial Services (EFS).

EC Support Services -- which refers to software, training, consulting, Web site set-up, intranet services, security, and other services that facilitate the use of the Internet and other on-line networks for EC.

EC Transactions and Payments -- which are procurements (business) and payment (consumer) using primarily Internet and other on-line services standards for PCs, screen phones, and point-of-sale (POS) terminals.

Additional details from the study are available at the company's Web site, http://www.killen.com. For additional information contact Karl Duffy by Tel: [phone] or FAX: [phone], "[e-mail]"

Killen & Associates is a leading research and consulting firm that helps telecommunications services and equipment suppliers, banks, and financial services companies worldwide to seize emerging business opportunities.

The company produces studies and seminars that enable high-level executives and their teams to identify business opportunities created by advances in computer and telecommunications technology, changes in public policy, and dynamic forces in the industry.

CONTACT: Killen & Associates

Karl Duffy, 415/617-6130

[e-mail]