Zona Research, Inc., provider of information and advice to the Internet industry, has released its seminal report, Network Computers: Markets, Opportunities, and Trends, which explores the issues surrounding the adoption of network computers and network computing in the commercial, education, and consumer markets.

Designed for marketing, technical, and general managers who are seeking to leverage the network computing architecture, the report identifies and quantifies the NC market, explores key opportunities for vendors and end-users, and discusses the trends driving the current marketplace.

This new report, the latest in the Markets, Opportunities, and Trends series examines and provides analysis of the following issues:

-- Quantifiable estimates of the opportunities for network computers in the Internet, Intranet, and extended Internet arenas

-- The industry players involved in the network computer market, including assessments of their roles and motivations

-- The future trends impacting the adoption and nature of network computers

-- Primary research related to the purchase and use of network computers. Key observations presented and discussed in this report include:

-- The total market size for commercial network computers is projected to grow from approximately 1.7 million in 1997 to over 6.7 million in 2000.

-- Shipments of consumer network computer devices are projected to explode from 2.0 million in 1997 to more than 70.0 million in 2000.

-- The corporate market for network computers will be primarily a replacement market, with network computers replacing terminals of all types.

-- The Total Ownership Cost (TOC) argument will not be the significant force swaying customers to deploy NCs.

"This report provides an in-depth qualitative assessment of the market, buttressed by a set of customer interviews conducted specifically for this report," remarks Stephen Auditore, President of Zona Research, Inc. "We designed this report to provide technology vendors and end-users with primary research and analysis that will assist them in understanding the opportunities derived from the new computing and communication infrastructure of the Internet."

The report also defines and analyzes the three distinct NC markets that Zona believes will develop and grow over the next four years. The three markets, commercial, educational and consumer, are quantified in terms of the number of network computer device units shipped.

Network Computer Shipments Projections by Market

This report is now available through Zona Research, Inc. To order or receive a Report Profile on Network Computers: Markets, Opportunities, and Trends call 415/568-5700. The report is available for $895, and additional copies are $299. For more information, you may also visit our Web site at http://www.zonaresearch.com .