Tweney.com - Internet war

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4 . 5 . 1999

Internet business news and analysis. by Dylan Tweney

Internet war

They're calling Kosovo history's first "Internet war." For the first time, the Internet has become a significant channel of communication and miscommunication for both sides of the conflict. A Serbian Orthodox monk files e-mail reports critical of both Slobo and NATO [1]. A banned radio station in Kosovo continues to broadcast -- at least for awhile -- over the Internet [2]. Hackers in Belgrade clog the NATO Web site with mailbombs and ping floods [3,4]. And -- this is really scary -- the Department of Defense ("now with 85% Y2K compliance!") and the Navy were struggling with the Melissa virus while making war last week [5].

What the heck does this have to do with Internet business? you ask. Simple: companies can no more control the flow of information about, around, and through themselves than countries can. Actually, companies have significantly *less* control, since in most parts of the world a corporation can't point a gun at you and tell you to stop sending out your email newsletter.

Bottom line: Kosovo ain't no Gulf War, where the only information we've got access to is what the U.S. military chooses to let CNN show us. From now on, it will only get easier for noncombatants at the front lines of any conflict -- civil, international, or for that matter corporate -- to get their reports out to the rest of the world. What we're seeing coming out of Kosovo is just the beginning of what an "Internet war" might mean.

But don't tell that to the people on whom bombs are falling, or who are getting rounded up and shot in the woods. I'm sure it feels very much like a regular old war to them.

[1] Kosovo's "cyber-monk" and his mailing list

[2] Banned Radio B92 from Yugoslavia still live on the Web

[3] Belgrade Hackers Hit NATO Web site

[4] NATO reinforces against Net attack from Serbs

[5] Melissa virus stows away aboard Navy ship

PUSHED OFF A CLIFF: PointCast lays off still more people, as times get tougher and tougher for the push pioneer [6]. Do we need any more indications that the television model does not fly on the Internet? We're not couch potatoes, waiting for you to broadcast the news to us, no matter how targeted it may be. I never did much like those flashing blinking scrolling headlines, anyhow. I guess I'm too easily distracted.

[6] PointCast is forced to recast its future

IS AMAZON.COM THE MICROSOFT OF E-COMMERCE, willing to throw its weight into any market, no matter how grungy, in pursuit of world domination? Amazon.com began hosting auctions on their site this week [7], proving that there's nothing this company *won't* try to sell online, as I pointed out last August [8].

I've seen a lot of speculation about Who Will Win, eBay or Amazon. These arguments are missing the point. Amazon's auctions will appeal to buyers who are already shopping on Amazon for books, CDs, and videos, and Amazon (if they're smart) will tease specific auctions on their retail pages.

As a result, Amazon's auctions will draw a different set of sellers than eBay. If you're looking to unload something online, you'll list your stuff where you believe you'll have more eager potential customers. In time, the differences between the two markets will become quite pronounced. Expect Amazon to migrate towards bigger-ticket items and a smaller, more upscale audience, while eBay will remain a high-volume flea market for low-cost and/or unusual items.

[7] Amazon.com will go head to head with eBay, Onsale in online auctions

[8] No mere bookstore, Amazon.com wants to be an online retail giant

Plus: NET PROPHET: Internetworking and a swarm of WASPs.

~ Back issues ~

Get a clue! - AOL deals - Tim Berners-Lee - I-commerce fraud - the Webby Awards and the future of the Internet (3.29.1999)

Retail revamped - IE5 launch - IBM catalog tool - Web site speed traps (3.22.1999)

The whole dang archive...

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Links worth clicking

cluetrain.com
Net market manifesto - read it!

tbtf
Tasty bits from the technology front

ditherati
Deflating industry bombast daily

posthoc.com
Upfront guide to San Francisco - way cool!

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copyright (c) 1998-1999 tweney media
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home | latest news | back issues | who is dylan? | contact

	home \| latest news \| back issues \| who is dylan? \| contact 4 . 5 . 1999 Internet business news and analysis. by Dylan Tweney Internet war They're calling Kosovo history's first "Internet war." For the first time, the Internet has become a significant channel of communication and miscommunication for both sides of the conflict. A Serbian Orthodox monk files e-mail reports critical of both Slobo and NATO [1]. A banned radio station in Kosovo continues to broadcast -- at least for awhile -- over the Internet [2]. Hackers in Belgrade clog the NATO Web site with mailbombs and ping floods [3,4]. And -- this is really scary -- the Department of Defense ("now with 85% Y2K compliance!") and the Navy were struggling with the Melissa virus while making war last week [5]. What the heck does this have to do with Internet business? you ask. Simple: companies can no more control the flow of information about, around, and through themselves than countries can. Actually, companies have significantly less control, since in most parts of the world a corporation can't point a gun at you and tell you to stop sending out your email newsletter. Bottom line: Kosovo ain't no Gulf War, where the only information we've got access to is what the U.S. military chooses to let CNN show us. From now on, it will only get easier for noncombatants at the front lines of any conflict -- civil, international, or for that matter corporate -- to get their reports out to the rest of the world. What we're seeing coming out of Kosovo is just the beginning of what an "Internet war" might mean. But don't tell that to the people on whom bombs are falling, or who are getting rounded up and shot in the woods. I'm sure it feels very much like a regular old war to them. [1] Kosovo's "cyber-monk" and his mailing list [2] Banned Radio B92 from Yugoslavia still live on the Web [3] Belgrade Hackers Hit NATO Web site [4] NATO reinforces against Net attack from Serbs [5] Melissa virus stows away aboard Navy ship PUSHED OFF A CLIFF: PointCast lays off still more people, as times get tougher and tougher for the push pioneer [6]. Do we need any more indications that the television model does not fly on the Internet? We're not couch potatoes, waiting for you to broadcast the news to us, no matter how targeted it may be. I never did much like those flashing blinking scrolling headlines, anyhow. I guess I'm too easily distracted. [6] PointCast is forced to recast its future IS AMAZON.COM THE MICROSOFT OF E-COMMERCE, willing to throw its weight into any market, no matter how grungy, in pursuit of world domination? Amazon.com began hosting auctions on their site this week [7], proving that there's nothing this company won't try to sell online, as I pointed out last August [8]. I've seen a lot of speculation about Who Will Win, eBay or Amazon. These arguments are missing the point. Amazon's auctions will appeal to buyers who are already shopping on Amazon for books, CDs, and videos, and Amazon (if they're smart) will tease specific auctions on their retail pages. As a result, Amazon's auctions will draw a different set of sellers than eBay. If you're looking to unload something online, you'll list your stuff where you believe you'll have more eager potential customers. In time, the differences between the two markets will become quite pronounced. Expect Amazon to migrate towards bigger-ticket items and a smaller, more upscale audience, while eBay will remain a high-volume flea market for low-cost and/or unusual items. [7] Amazon.com will go head to head with eBay, Onsale in online auctions [8] No mere bookstore, Amazon.com wants to be an online retail giant Plus: NET PROPHET: Internetworking and a swarm of WASPs. ~ Back issues ~ Get a clue! - AOL deals - Tim Berners-Lee - I-commerce fraud - the Webby Awards and the future of the Internet (3.29.1999) Retail revamped - IE5 launch - IBM catalog tool - Web site speed traps (3.22.1999) The whole dang archive...		Join my free mailing list! Just enter your email address in the box below and click the button: Email: Optional - your name: -
			*Links worth clicking* cluetrain.com Net market manifesto - read it! tbtf Tasty bits from the technology front ditherati Deflating industry bombast daily posthoc.com Upfront guide to San Francisco - way cool!

	- copyright (c) 1998-1999 tweney media - home \| latest news \| back issues \| who is dylan? \| contact