Consumers holding off on buying computers; as the personal-computer market cools, retailers wonder when and if to cut prices

Article Abstract:

Personal computer sales have declined in 2000 and the Christmas season was a disappointment. Consumers may be worried that the economy is headed for a recession or be unwilling to spend large amounts of money upgrading a system that was purchased over the past couple of years. Many computer retailers and wholesalers may cut prices to stay competitive, but computer makers want to develop a new marketing strategy that convinces consumers to buy rather than lower prices.

Electronic computers, Electronic Computer Manufacturing, Analog & Hybrid Computers, Sales & consumption, Computer Stores, Computer and Software Stores, Analysis, Computer industry, Economic aspects, Microcomputers, Forecasts and trends, Marketing, Market trend/market analysis, Consumer behavior

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Ricochet network lived fast and died young

Article Abstract:

A month after it filed for bankruptcy, Metricom has shut down its Ricochet wireless network, which provided over 50,000 customers with fast, trustworthy Internet access. Analysts say the business failure was partly due to the fact that Metricom's service area was limited to 15 metropolitan areas because building the network, with its unique technology, was so expensive. Firms that offer high-speed Internet access without being affiliated with a larger telecom service provider face tougher challenges than their larger rivals. Users hope that the firm will be bought at auction today, but experts say it's unlikely that the service will be purchased and maintained by any other firm.

Telegraph & other communications, Finance, Services, Internet service providers, Wireless communications services, Internet service provider, Wireless communication systems, Wireless Internet access, Metricom Inc., MCOM

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In the airport fast lane, with your eyes as a passport

Article Abstract:

EyeTicket Corp. is testing its iris-recognition technology for use in identifying air passengers, in place of a passport, in a trial program of the JetStream Passenger Processing System, using enrolled volunteers, at Heathrow Airport. A special camera uses infrared light close-up to make an image of the iris which is encoded into a 512-byte code that is stored on a server. An air passenger in the program would go to passport control and have another image taken of the iris. The image would be converted to code and compared with the codes stored on the server's database to obtain a match. So far, the only biometrics program in operation is Inspass, which uses hand geometry, with only 65,000 enrolled participants at present.

Usage, Innovations, Product information, Testing, Personal identification products industry, Scanning devices, Optical scanners, Biometry, Passports, Biometric technology, EyeTicket Corp.

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