Readers' Comments

Reader Comments on Aardvark Daily 4 Jan 2001
From: Peter Harrison
For : for publication
Subj: Internet Business

What must be less than a year ago I sat down with a friend
and discussed how all the Internet Companies who were
burning cash would survive.  Their plans to 'make money'
were all based around attracting investors - not earning
revenue - and to me obviously flawed.

Getting venture capital was easier than actually earning
money for dot coms.  Naturally the 'investors' soon saw
what a black hole dot com companies were, and eventually
declined to continue pouring vast amounts of cash into
these dead cows.  This was good.

However the Internet is here to stay.  The companies left
standing will be the ones generating profit.  Two types of
companies come to mind.  First are tradisional companies,
who use the web as an additional marketing method, and
perhaps to break into overseas markets.

The second group of companies provide professional products
and services to the first group.  Companies such as IHUG
and WebMasters appear to be very successfull by providing
services.

What is clear however is that a good domain name does not
make a company.  A clear vision of how the Internet will
participate in your business is needed - how will the
Internet increase your revenues or reduce your costs?




From: Mike
For : The Editor (for publication)
Subj: There are Profits Online

I know of a very successful Internet Only based business
owned and operated by an NZer that is making substantial
online profits.  The business has an extremely low overhead
and consequently most of the revenue is profit.  The major
market is the USA and very few sales come from the South
Pacific.

The company is a virtual company and totally location
independant.  What resources it does need, such as ordering
and fulfillment are outsourced.  Most of the business is
driven through referalls.

The company is Bullet Proof Software Ltd the maker of
BulletProof Ftp, independantly voted the worlds #1 FTP
client.  The company keeps things simple and easy, just
like their web site at http://www.bpftp.com.  This company
is a great example of Kiwi's competing on a global scale
and winning.




From: David Buckingham
For : The Editor (for publication)
Subj: Payment methods not appropriate

Payment for goods and services will stay mostly static
until another payment method, other than credit card is
developed.

The credit card has two major flaws:

1. People are concerned about the security of the
transaction - often these concerns are unfounded but yet
they still excist.

2. Many people still don't have a credit card, or prefer
not to use it.

Websites can't expect to make a profit, until revenue can
be secured, and something as fundamental as the method of
payment should be the beginning.

Some form of e-coins, e-cash and so on would bring down
these barriers. Banks should get together to create a
network where the average person, who knows they have the
money in the bank can use it.




From: Donald Mackie
For : The Editor (for publication)
Subj: Who needs a faster PC?

Musicians do. There are some stunning pieces of
software out that create virtual musical instruments,
drum machines and mixers. The cost of the software is
a fraction of the equivalent hardware, all they need are
midi drivers. However, there is a price. Run these on a
slow PC and you end up with crackles and clicks.
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