Why you need an online presence

Internet Users in Asia-Pacific to Surpass U.S. Users in 2005: The number of Internet users in the Asia-Pacific region is increasing at an unprecedented rate and is expected to surpass those in the United States by 2005, according to International Data Corp.

Internet users in the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Japan) is expected to increase from 64 million in 2000 to over 240 million within four years. This still leaves enough margin for continued growth because by 2005, only 9% of the population will be Internet users, compared to 76% for U.S. "Rapid growth coupled with a huge pool of potential users will work to ensure Asia's place at the forefront of the Internet revolution," said Douglas Jaffe, analyst with IDC Asia/Pacific's Internet Market research.

Internet Commerce: Worldwide online sales is estimated to grow to grow to $3 trillion by 2003. Forrester research estimates that Worldwide Net commerce - both B2B and B2C - will hit $6.8 trillion in 2004 with some Asian-Pacific countries poised to hit hypergrowth over the next two years. Internet commerce will compel businesses to change their models of pricing, products, distribution channels, internal processes and organizational focus. Read the writing on the wall so you don't become a dinosaur.