Media Metrix touts numbers that show dot-coms performed better than bricks-and-mortar companies in this year’s online holiday shopping spree — only two of the top 10 Internet retailers (Barnes & Noble and Toys R Us) come from physical-world roots. The rest of the Net’s top 10 are Internet pure-plays.
Holiday numbers are in
A new report shows that in Silicon Valley, the Internet boom is benefitting the well-off far more than it is other classes:
Valley of the Digital Divide
The WSJ has assembled an impressive array of articles on today’s announcement that AOL is merging with Time Warner:
AOL Time Warner — WSJ Interactive Edition
People aren’t as adamantly against Internet commerce taxes as you might think — but those who actually use the Internet are less likely to approve of Internet taxes, and those who *shop* online are even more opposed. More genius-level research:
Survey: Consumer opposition to Internet taxes is soft
Economist Manuel Castells is questioning the wisdom of allowing a global economy to run completely automated and unregulated over the Internet. In his view, a completely “wired” global economy will lead inevitably to turbulence — rapid devaluations of tech stocks, for instance — that will prompt some countries to shut down technology innovation. For a global economy to work, Castells argues, it needs global regulation. But the Net may just make that regulation impossible.
Trouble ahead for online retailers? Many dot coms are offering free shipping and other perks in an effort to attract new customers. Now, a Forrester report claims, they may find themselves locked in to continuing those money-losing practices. With negative margins, free shipping, and logistical problems, these retailers may have big problems building sustainable online businesses.
E-tailers may be stuck with shipping costs
