| BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : JUNE 28, 1999 ISSUE | ||||||||
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| COVER STORY
Jumping on the Bandwagon Traditional companies in all kinds of industries are furiously mapping out Net strategies UNIVERSAL MUSIC WHAT IT'S DOING Getting ready for the time, probably later this year, when their music is available over the Net. Working out piracy guards and supporting online CD seller getmusic.com. GOAL Compete with smaller labels already selling online and ensure that Universal isn't cut out as the middleman between artist and audience. MERRILL LYNCH WHAT IT'S DOING Recognizing that not all customers will remain true to traditional brokers and brokerage services, it's setting up online trading. GOAL Stem the tide of customers moving to online leaders such as Charles Schwab and E*Trade. Lure E-traders' assets with a supermarket of services from financial-planning advice to Visa cards. NBC WHAT IT'S DOING Merging several of its Web sites--but not its interest in MSNBC--with Xoom.com to create publicly traded NBC Interactive. GOAL Gain Internet currency to acquire Net-content companies and build a bigger presence online. QVC WHAT IT'S DOING Expanding iQVC so television shoppers can turn to the Web for greater selection and variety. GOAL Support the TV shopping business with Web-based sales and use the mass reach of television to steer customers online. ALLIEDSIGNAL WHAT IT'S DOING Pushing top executives to include the Internet in their business plans for 1999. GOAL Dramatically reduce the amount of working capital AlliedSignal uses to manufacture and distribute its products by establishing virtual networks with customers and suppliers that can cut inventory and time to market. AMERICAN AIRLINE'S SABRE INC. WHAT IT'S DOING Considering a tracking stock for its Travelocity travel reservations Web site. GOAL Cash in on the multibillion dollar values accorded the stocks of much smaller Net-based rivals without risking Travelocity's key role linking SABRE's reservations system with airlines and travel agents. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP |
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 RELATED ITEMS Internet Anxiety COVER IMAGE: Internet Anxiety CHART: Nothing But Net TABLE: Jumping on the Bandwagon A Brutal Survival Plan (extended) How Schwab Grabbed the Lion's Share (with video) CHART: Schwab's Net Assets ONLINE ORIGINAL: GE's Welch: ``This Is the Greatest Opportunity Yet'' ONLINE ORIGINAL: PaineWebber's Cyber-Seer: ``We're Only at the Beginning of This'' ONLINE ORIGINAL: Toys 'R' Us' Nakasone: ``We Needed to Move Quickly'' ONLINE ORIGINAL: For Compaq, Nowhere Left to Go but Up? INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online | |||
