• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, January 19, 2005

Top Ten Internet and E-Business Trends of 2004

In a recent report, eMarketer describes the top ten Internet and e-business trends for the year based on individual analyst's studies in the scope of its coverage of the Internet and e-business. According to eMarketer's CEO Geoff Ramsey, "Companies are making money online. Advertisers are investing in online advertising - which is now the fastest growing ad medium in the US."

1. Paid Search Advertising: Senior Analyst David Hallerman The main story in Internet advertising in 2004 has been paid search with 51% growth to $3.9 billion in the US alone.

Growth in Paid Search Online Ad Spending 2004 vs. 2003 (Billion $)

	Online Ad	Spending % Growth
Search spending	$3.93	55%
Non-search spending	5.43	15
Total	$9.36	29%

Source: eMarketer, October 2004

2. Cross-Channel Shopping: Senior Analyst Jeffrey Grau Online browsing for product and pricing information drives in-store purchases. while more consumers are dividing their purchases among bricks-and-mortar stores, Internet retail Web sites and mail order catalogs.

3. Blogs and Really Simple Syndication (RSS): Director of Research, Yael Marmon RSS and corporate blogs have been key online content developments in 2004.

4. Strong Broadband Adoption: : Ben Macklin, Senior Analyst When broadband is available for less than $30 per month, take-up is rapid as seen in the most competitive broadband markets.

5. Mobile Service: Dr. Noah Elkin, eMarketer Senior Analyst Wireless phones and wireless phone services are starting to deliver on their technological promise. US consumers are looking to their phones for more than just talking, as evidenced in the widespread adoption of camera phones.

6. IT Overseas Outsourcing: 2004 Accenture survey according to a 2004 Accenture survey of executives worldwide, IT is the most commonly outsourced business function.

7. Health Care and IT: A ten-year plan for several IT initiatives was rolled out in July 2004. Among the plan's top goals is the creation of an interoperable network through which health care providers will be able to share the electronic medical records of individual patients.

8. VoIP leading telecom and cable companies started to unveil their VoIP services. User growth has been slow, however.

9. Linux: Senior Analyst Steve Butler several leading technology firms announced their acceptance of the Linux Standards Base (LSB).

10 China: IDC estimate IDC estimates total IT spending in China will reach $25 billion in 2004, with a spending growth for the year second only to India.

You can find out more here at eMarketer.