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Ella Lee

Digital subsidiary AltaVista Internet Software is setting its sights on the Asia-Pacific, with plans to establish regional operations by July.

  AltaVista president and chief executive Ilene Lang was recently in Hong Kong to explore business opportunities in the territory.

  'Consistent with Digital's strategy, AltaVista is channel-oriented in conducting business. It means we always enter a new market with partners, who may be value-added service providers, distributors or system integrators.

  'We have already signed up agreements in Singapore and Australia, and discussions are under way in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and China.'   Ms Lang declined to reveal AltaVista partners in Hong Kong, but said a formal announcement would be made later this year. The company has yet to decide on the location of its Asia-Pacific headquarters.

  Ms Lang expressed confidence in the Internet/intranet field and said figures showed growth in the networking business.

   Combined with investments in new communications technology, the Asian economy was robust, she said.

  'Internet useage is certain, and is driven by a young and well-educated professional workforce.'   Timing was of utmost importance as the opportunities for the Internet and intranet varied from country to country.

  'The US stays ahead in Internet development. Clear business models associated with advertising, content development and business services over the Net have evolved.

  'In the Asia-Pacific, Japan and Australia are rather mature, while the Greater China market is very energetic.'   Although the mainland was an important emerging market, Ms Lang said it had always been a difficult place to make money.

   Many companies questioned whether their investments would ever pay off, she said. As a result, AltaVista had adopted a wait-and-see approach to the greater China market and the relationship between the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

  'We have to find out how the market organises itself, how the various players work together, and how the balance of [economic] power will eventually change,' Ms Lang said.

  China presently wields control over approval of Internet service provider (ISP) licences   It has also placed restrictive measures on information put on the Net to prevent pornography and sensitive political ideas from reaching the public.

  'The Internet is primarily an open environment, a public infrastructure for people all over the world to exchange and share information.

  'Therefore, deregulation, competition, and an entrepreneur style of doing business . . . should be the point. Otherwise, Internet services would be too expensive,' she said.

  Ms Lang predicted that Internet access in China would need to grow using alternatives to fixed telephone lines as the country's communications infrastructure was not ready to support it.

  Innovative delivery mechanisms such as broadcast and cable television, satellite and wireless technologies would be more appropriate and widely applied in the country.

  Digital established AltaVista in 1995 to develop and market a series of Internet software products that enable corporate users to work productively with Internet and intranets.

  The AltaVista search engine is one of the company's most popular products, registering 30 million users daily during peak times.

   It is available in English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese versions. A Chinese-language version is under development. The company also offers security and communication software.

  'Our vision is to offer tools for businesses to search, exchange and share information on the Net.' 



Digital unit eyes growth in the region