According to a new study from high-tech market research firmInternational Data Corp., U.S. small businesses are accessing theInternet with a vengeance.

The study, “U.S. Small Business on the Internet,”reveals that the number of small businesses accessing the Internethas increased from 19.8 percent in 1996 to more than 50 percent in1998. And, by 2001, the Internet will be used by 4.3 million smallfirms.

Other key survey findings:

• The professional services sector–which includes law firms,insurance agencies, real estate agencies and accountingfirms–leads in Internet usage.

• Retail and health-care industries continue to be the laggardsin Internet use.

• Internet users in manufacturing companies log on to theInternet most frequently and for the broadest range ofapplications.

• PC-owning small businesses with home pages will increase from 9percent in 1997 to 20.1 percent by 2001.

• Thirty-six percent of small businesses that plan to go onlineexpect to use the Internet to sell products.

• Small businesses that use the Internet have higher revenues,averaging $3.79 million annually, compared to the $2.72 millionaverage revenue of the overall market.

Melissa Campanelli is a technology writer in Brooklyn, NewYork, who has covered technology for Mobile Computing &Communications and Sales & Marketing Managementmagazines. You can reach her at mcampanelli@earthlink.net

Contact Source

International Data Corp., (800) 343-4952, http://www.idc.com