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Cisco Keynote Likens Internet Revolution to Industrial Revolution

Growth areas to include Internet commerce, remote training, Chambers predicts.

By Glenn McDonald, PCWorld   

It might seem a transparently self-serving appraisal if it weren%squott so convincing. John Chambers delivered a detailed analysis of how networking contributes to the success of the American economy, as well as its growing impact on the automotive, aerospace, and retail industries.

%dquotThe Internet revolution will have the same effect as the Industrial Revolution,%dquot Chambers said. %dquotJust as the Industrial Revolution determined who would have the best standard of living in subsequent years, so will the Internet Revolution determine which countries will benefit in the future.%dquot

Chambers stressed that companies must look to achieving strategic alliances among makers of Internet appliances, such as the PC, and connectivity providers.

Chambers also predicted that Internet commerce will continue to grow, moving steadily from business-to-business applications to business-to-consumer. He used as an example the successful online bookstore Amazon.com, which typically offers books at lower prices than do retail bookstores.

%dquotExisting retail bookstores will have to ask themselves, %squotWhat value can I add that a person will want to come into my store rather than simply ordering over a network?%squot%dquot The same will ultimately hold true for other industries selling directly to consumers, such as car dealerships and financial services providers, Chambers said.

%dquotI think [Internet commerce] is going to grow much faster than people expect,%dquot he said.

Chambers predicted that another growth area in the future will be remote training over networks, which has the potential to save companies money they would otherwise spend sending employees to training centers.

Stay tuned to PC World Online for further news and updates from Comdex Fall 1997.