CMP's TechInvestor Examines the Exploding World of Push TechnologyHigh-tech Investment Site Looks at Profits, the Players and the Quest for an Industry StandardPRNewswire With Microsoft and Netscape entering the $5 billion push technology field, all eyes are turned to this latest hot spot on the Internet playground. In a five part series posted to CMP's TechInvestor™ (http://www.techinvestor.com/), Financial Editor Larry Dignan examines the push for profits, the favorite players and the quest for an industry standard. Also included is a Q&A with Eli Barkat, CEO of BackWeb, a leading push company. "For many users, push technology is loud, intrusive and delivers too much content that's irrelevant," writes Dignan. Despite the complaints, however, push, which is broadly defined as the ability to deliver information, video and audio to users over the Internet and intranets without having to access the Web, is making waves. In fact, too many waves, say some. "The hype surrounding push technology has gotten so bad that even the so- called push companies are sick of hearing about it," notes Dignan. "But that hasn't stopped companies from chasing the profits behind the push." According to Dignan, there are about 30 companies looking to profit on what is estimated by the Boston-based Yankee Group to be a $5 billion market for push software. This week, push got a push when Netscape decided to race ahead and get a beta of its Netcast product out within 30 days. "Early favorites in the push race are PointCast, BackWeb and Marimba," says Dignan. "The consensus is that five push companies will survive." For those that survive, the question of standards arises. Among the players there is agreement that an industry standard is needed, but disagreement as to where it will originate. "Last month, Microsoft submitted its channel definition format (CDF) to the World Wide Web Consortium and will use the standard for its Internet Explorer 4.0," writes Dignan. "Netscape officials are expected to propose a different standard in the coming months." Backweb's Barkat takes a practical stance on the issue of standards, saying "we'll have one or multiple standards -- even if it's two or three it's better than 30." Asked if Microsoft's entry into the field is a threat to the other players, Barkat responds: "Microsoft being a threat shows the size of the opportunity. If you don't have Microsoft, Cisco or IBM in your space, you need to look around and see if there's any value in what you're doing." TechInvestor, part of CMP's TechWeb® technology super site (http://www.techweb.com/), is a valuable resource for high-tech investors both large and small. USA Today Online said that "few financial sites are put together better than TechInvestor." Through the site investors can examine continually updated financial and product news about high-tech companies, see stock and mutual fund quotes on a 15-minute delayed stock ticker, read comprehensive market analyses from industry experts, and even use Java applets to value their personal portfolios and track companies' historical stock performance. TechInvestor also includes the TechWeb 250™, an index of 250 high-technology companies regardless of market capitalization. CMP Media Inc. provides publishing, marketing and information services to the broad high-technology spectrum -- the builders, sellers and users of technology -- through print and electronic media. All of CMP's publications and online products can be accessed through the company's TechWeb site on the World Wide Web. Print titles include EE Times, Computer Reseller News, InformationWeek, HomePC and WINDOWS MAGAZINE. -0- 4/17/97 SOURCE: CMP Media Inc. CONTACT: Steve Rubel, 516-562-7434, srubel@cmp.com, or Catherine Jarrat |