Micro, The Entry Threshold For Value-Added Networks

Description: 

Telematics services, electronic mailboxes

Main Article Text

The telephone system whether private or public, today is still the only means that allow users to reach the information they need wherever this information may be. Communication is increasingly becoming a poignant factor for each application: the industrial and service sectors need data that are often not are available within corporate boundaries. This adds to the demand for connectivity services, in addition to the physical medium, which offers the transport of essential signals, and we have the added value that is usually expressed in mail services electronic exchange of data, electronic funds transfer, and consultation of databases. The personal computer enters this scenario as the ideal platform projecting itself into this new world of communication. Our aim is to provide users with a personal computer. A simple tool that allows them to access the information they need in the same way says Maurizio Ammannato, director of operational marketing for General Electric Information Services (Geis), the most prominent among suppliers of value-added services, of which Stet intends to buy 50% of the shares. Morsels like the stamp or phone and telex are not enough, and, what’s more, traditional mail suffers from well-known limitations, therefore, electronic mail address is becoming one tool more and more compelling for the circulation of letters between users, the building of shared files for selected access and to disseminate alerts of common interest , a superstructure,for example, of this type would be useful to companies that want to mechanize the management of orders from commercial subsidiaries the or dissemination of updated price lists or more remote maintenance interventions.

The cost of such a link is relatively low, and there are solutions for small companies, such as the messaging services offered by Peis of Bologna, which makes use of the national Geis network. In the United States, there have been already activated millions of mail boxes (electronic mailboxes), that those that subscribe to e-mail services number eight times those of the telex. In our country, according to estimates by Teknibank, mailboxes that were activated by the end of 1987 numbered approximately 6,500, of which the vast majority belonged to large companies. It is estimated, however , that ,during 1988, the number of national users will double thanks to a new public service offered by Teleo (STET group). In 1992, we should reach a market of 428 billion lire, which incorporate electronic mail services,, the electronic data interchange (EDI) and electronic transfer of funds (EFT). It is virtually impossible to estimate the evolution of a market such as this one and one can only do assessments towards maximum values that, for the sector of electronic mail in particular, sees Geis discernible in the first position, pursued by Teleo, Seve, Datamont, Enidata and Olinet. With regard to the exchange of electronic data interchange (EDI), there are references 30,000 companies in the world connected by the end of 1987, with growth prospects such that,by 1995, a third of all transactions will travel over networks Edi (source Yankee Group). The Italian Companies are a bit late, and the only Edi links activated at the moment are those of Standa Department Store, with its suppliers (a service created by Televas last year). On the other hand, there are many national operators interested in entering this sector. Other than Montedison, who wanted the creation of Televas, we have Intesa, made by Fiat and IBM; Seva, in which Eni, Olivetti and Sip participate; Pirelli Informatica who is experimenting with an in-house Edi service.

Banking on the wire
This race for the interchange of electronic data is justified by an ever increasing demand of users. Here, we are listening to the opinion of Fiat, which uses the Geis network to consolidate its financial statements internationally. Edi is inevitable, says Luciano Sacco, head of coordination of international Edi projects by the Fiat Group. Furthermore, it is likely that all companies of a certain size will be using it within the millennium. This will then push small businesses to do likewise. The electronic payment of funds is the third type of application that is spreading in the world of networking. It is, however, an embryonic industry as traders and banks are unable to agree on the allocation of responsibilities, costs, and advantages. By the end of 1987, according to estimates by Teknibank, Eft there were 300terminals managed by lenders while those installed at supermarkets and department stores(Coin, Pam, and other Rinascente) exceeded 400, both ATM experiments. The service companies active in this field are Seva, Olivetti, Electronic Money, and Sia. Parallel to the Eft are the emergence of electronic banking services that allow company users to connect remotely to the bank and operate in their accounts. I mention only in passing because it is territory that is still almost entirely unexplored. The consultation of databases is the fourth type of service accessible via the telephone network. Companies are able to consult from distance information regarding legal, financial, corporate, tourist, and technical matters, with the list continuing. In addition to collecting and encoding information, the data bank managers are now moving towards e-mail functions and remote control. This is the case, for example, of Cerved, which assists the Chambers of Commerce associated with the control of certain establishments, the transmission of messages and updates the register of companies. Sometimes the division between the four categories described above is not that clear, and the user can take advantage, at the same time, of two or more different technologies. We are also talking about E- learning, as in the remote training system for staff prepared by Seva for the employees of Sip, or online tourism. We cite, for example, the Sigma network (capitalized by Alitalia 31%, Fs 31%, Finmare 24% and BNL 14%), which connects 26 airlines, the State Railways, Tirrenia, Alpitour and other tour operators, enabling the automatic ticketing operations and reservations for airlines, trains, boats, hotel and cars. Particularly in the tourism sector, there are many other services available, some of which are specially designed for specific geographic areas.

Roberto Mazzoni