Online population reaches 7.4 million - 02/2001

Australia's online population increased by almost 1.9 million between 1999 and 2000, according to research firm IDC.

IDC estimated that there are currently 7.4 million Internet users in the country. By the end of 2000, Australia's ecommerce market was worth USD2.9 billion, with further growth expected over the next few years. IDC predicted that ecommerce spending in Australia will be worth well over USD37 billion by 2004.

In its report on the Australian Internet industry, 'Lessons Learned in 2000' IDC highlighted the top ten lessons the industry has learned from 2000, such as:

The Internet is not a fad

An Internet strategy is not an IT strategy, but a business strategy

Privacy and security are major concerns for customers

Ecommerce failed to capture the small-to-medium enterprise (SME) market in 2000

The authors of the report also said that traditional companies with online divisions needed to realize that integrating both their online and offline business was the key to success.

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