COMNEWS WEBWATCH.

Future Queue

HIGH TECH AND THE DAILY PLANET

On-line newspaper success is a powerful complement to their traditional product say over two-thirds of U.S. newspapers. Among all adults, 57% read a daily paper; 67% read on Sunday. Among those who read on-line newspapers, however,

Even Internet users who don't look at on-line newspapers tie the total adult population with 57% daily and coming in higher on Sunday with 71%. Seventy-four percent said there's been no change in their print-newspaper reading habits since they've begun looking at on-line newspapers. These statistics were compiled by the Newspaper Association of America.

SECURITY, PRIVACY, REGULATION

More and more headlines herald the scope of the Internet's impact on security, privacy, and regulatory issues. Recent front-page articles allude to the increasing burden on U.S. governmental agencies. The Customs Service monitors on-line foreign drugstores, inspects and impounds shipments of various substances not approved for use in the U.S. Although imports of certain drugs from Net suppliers are illegal, buyers are not (yet) being prosecuted.

The FBI's solving of an "e-plot" to blackmail an on-line CD e-business is another example of added governmental responsibility. After the e-victim refused to pay, the extortionist--reportedly located in Eastern Europe--released its credit-card files over the Internet His Web site was promptly squelched by the FBI. Questions about e-criminals include those of extradition, prosecutions, and basic investigation.

TELECOM POTPOURRI

Broadband and bigger communications pipes mean mom storage capacity. Demand for data storage should more than triple in the next three years--some say an increase to fivefold by 2003. For large businesses, broadband wireless will dominate network technology over the next 10 years, with fiber ATM leading the pack. Wireless data transmission costs are dropping. Estimates of a 33-cent drop per-megabit over the next three to four years would not be surprising as this industry expands. Through the next decade, America's wireless telecom industry will take in revenues in the $60-billion range. Within the next 10 years, on-line sales of goods and services will surpass the $100-billion mark--some suggest as high as $600-billion--in the U.S. alone. Twenty percent of all airline ticket sales, on-line banking and financial services, gift sales, and bills in the U.S. will be handled via e-commerce.

Resources

* The International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE) holds two symposiums at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Tennis Club in Newport Beach, Calif., on March 5-9. Its 5th international Symposium on Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring of Aging infrastructure and its 7th International Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials each offer the opportunity to meet international peers, take short courses, and see the latest technologies. www/spie.org/info/ss-nde/ has details on these events.

* In Miami Beach's famous Fontainebleau Hilton Resort & Towers, the International Engineering Consortium (IEC) will hold its Global TMN and OSS Summit 2000 from March 6-9. Check www.iec.org for details about this and other upcoming IEC events.

* Non-engineering business professionals can learn the fundamentals of telecommunications in a two-day interactive seminar presented by Advanced Information Technologies, Visit www.iqcp.com/ait for details on the March 2000 sessions being held in New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Oregon, California, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Texas.

* Global Knowledge's Microsoft Training is available in Atlanta, Ga., March 6-17; New York City, March 27-April 7; and Washington, D.C., May 1-12, 2000. Its MCSE Boot Camp allows a student to become a certified systems engineer in only 11 days. Call toll-free at 1+800-COURSES or visit http:// access.globalknowledge.com.

* See www.pmg.com for Pine Mountain Group's latest network analysis training and services catalog. A video library, newsletter, and reference guide are other professional resources offered. Learn how to apply best practices that prevent problems. Network troubleshooting is taught by successful analysts who diagnose critical problems.

* Wave Technologies International offers self-study career packs for the IT professional. Boot camps, power tracks, and eCamps are among the training options available www.wavetech.com outlines ongoing dates for MCSE and Cisco CCNA boot camps in several large metro areas, including Atlanta, Raleigh, Boston, Long Beach, Reston, Minneapolis, San Diego, Cleveland, Orlando, St. Louis, and Philadelphia.