`'Stretching the Boundaries'' Keeps Tech Industry Evolving Says Winter 2000 Technology Trends Publication from Deloitte & Touche and Deloitte Consulting.

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 12, 2000

"Stretching the Boundaries" is the theme of the Winter 2000 Technology Trends publication from the Technology & Communications practices of Deloitte & Touche LLP and Deloitte Consulting LLC.

This edition of the quarterly Technology Trends examines the limitless ways Web technologies and e-business practices can be adapted and changed to contribute to the success of e-business strategies. Among the topics examined are the wireless Web, China's interest in wireless, EU's "e-Europe initiative," and technical and geographic barriers to wireless expansion.

"There are seemingly no limits to the ways in which Web technologies and e-business practices can be stretched, adapted and pushed to address existing and new challenges," said Mark Evans, managing director of Deloitte & Touche's Technology & Communications Group based in Silicon Valley.

"Technology Trends examines how savvy businesses are reinventing the business world by tearing down all types of barriers, from geographic to technological, from legal to financial."

Welcome to the Wireless Web

While the wireless infrastructure is receiving great fanfare, Web site developers and designers are grappling with how to make Web surfing tolerable on sluggish networks and devices that are no bigger than your hand. And, there's an intense focus on wireless for a good reason -- there are big profits to be made.

In fact, m-commerce (mobile commerce) purchases are projected to reach $14 billion by 2004. To take advantage of this burgeoning market, e-tailers are plotting to morph themselves into m-commerce players.

Technology Trends examines the direction of the wireless Web and the technological barriers being broken down by savvy m-commerce pioneers. Among those discussed are Amazon, which introduced Amazon Anywhere for those who want to shop on the run, and Yahoo, whose wireless initiative, Yahoo Everywhere, puts services like the Yellow Pages and People Finder at the fingertips of wireless users.

Breaking down Geographic Barriers -- E-Business in China and Europe

Technology Trends also examines China as a potential market for wireless. China wants wireless service, and the West wants new markets. Although China's wireless penetration is very low at just 4.5 percent of mobile wireless users, China's 1.3 billion population makes the raw numbers look pretty enticing.

China's impending membership in the World Trade Organization also makes it a more attractive opportunity for partnerships than it has been in the past. But will companies find partnerships with China profitable or unstable? In this issue, wireless opportunities in China are examined by leading industry analysts and major players in the wireless industry.

While there is still some trepidation about dealing with China due to its government's conservative approach to doing business with foreign companies, Europe is wide open for e-business activities and is anxious to close the gap with the United States. The European Union is so confident of its push for e-business that it established an "e-Europe initiative" and has begun passing laws to make it a reality.

With e-business expected to grow sharply in Europe -- $1.5 trillion by 2004, according to Forrester Research -- there is tremendous opportunity for U.S. e-businesses expanding overseas. But it won't be without some complications -- including Internet taxation; European cultural, historical and geographical boundaries; and early ventures between the United States and e-Europe.

Stretching the Boundaries to Make Business 24/7

Also examined in Technology Trends are ways companies are stretching the boundaries to make e-business work anytime and anywhere.

Examined are broadband issues, the new "opto-chip" that makes huge downloads happen in seconds, privacy issues, biometrics (devices that use biological characteristics, like fingerprints and iris patterns, to verify a person's identity), the expanding Web hosting services market, patenting online business methods and developing new business models.

Issues Examined by Today's Leading E-Business Luminaries

Designed to assist companies in building innovative, successful technology and communications e-businesses, Technology Trends examines topical issues and offers opinions by industry leaders and analysts. Among those featured are (in order of appearance):

--  Anurag Mendhekar, director of products, Yahoo Everywhere
--  Phillip Asmundson, deputy managing director, Deloitte & Touche's
     Technology & Communications Group
--  George Koo, director of Pacific Rim Services, Deloitte & Touche
--  Erkki Liikanen, leader, e-Europe initiative
--  Per Andersen, managing director, IDC Nordic
--  Andy Fisher, executive vice president, Cox Television
--  Naresh Lakhanpal, product innovation leader, Deloitte & Touche's
     Technology & Communications Group
--  Lorrie Cranor, chair, P3P Specification Working Group, AT&T
--  Greg Hampson, corporate privacy manager, Microsoft
--  Roy Avondet, partner-in-charge, Deloitte & Touche's Northern
     California Technology & Communications Group
--  Frank Price, senior analyst for e-business infrastructure,
     Forrester Research

About Technology Trends

Technology Trends is a quarterly publication, including an annual report, produced by the Technology & Communications practices of Deloitte & Touche and Deloitte Consulting. Technology Trends was created to highlight and examine changing technologies and practices with the objective of helping companies find new, unique solutions to business challenges.

The most recent Technology Trends issues have focused on helping companies make sense of new business challenges and opportunities arising from the proliferation of e-business.

About Deloitte & Touche and Deloitte Consulting

Deloitte & Touche, one of the nation's leading professional services firms, provides assurance and advisory, tax, and management consulting services through 30,000 people in more than 100 U.S. cities. The firm is dedicated to helping its clients and its people excel.

Known as an employer of choice for its innovative human resources programs, Deloitte & Touche has been recognized as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" by Fortune magazine for three consecutive years.

Deloitte Consulting is one of the world's leading e-business consulting firms, providing services in all aspects of enterprise transformation, from strategy and processes to information technology and human resources.

The firm's e-business professionals help its clients, from new economy start-ups to Fortune 1000 global organizations, to create, reinvent and defend their business models by guiding them through the complexities of the evolving digital economy.

Deloitte & Touche and Deloitte Consulting are part of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, one of the world's leading professional services firms, with more than 90,000 people in more than 130 countries. For more information, visit Deloitte & Touche's Web site at www.us.deloitte.com and Deloitte Consulting's Web site at www.dc.com.

About Deloitte & Touche's Technology & Communications Group

The Technology & Communications Group is composed of service professionals throughout the world who have a wealth of experience serving technology and communications companies in areas such as Internet, software, computers, telecommunications and networking, semiconductor and related industries.

These specialists understand the challenges that technology companies face throughout all stages of their business growth cycle and are committed to helping them succeed. Deloitte & Touche is a leader in providing strategic, financial, operational and information technology assistance to its technology and communications clients.

Technology Trends contains general information only, and neither Deloitte & Touche nor Deloitte Consulting is, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect you or your business. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. In addition, prediction of future events is inherently subject to both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to vary materially. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect you or your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor. Neither Deloitte & Touche nor Deloitte Consulting shall be responsible for any loss sustained by any person or entity that relies on this publication.

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