The Industry Standard Announces "The Standard 100;" Inaugural List Defines the Most Important Companies In the Internet Economy; Presents a Snapshot of Who Makes the Internet Run

Business Wire, Sept 15, 1999

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 1999--

The Industry Standard, the essential source for information and services for the Internet Economy, today unveiled "The Standard 100", its inaugural listing of the top 100 companies in the Internet economy. Unlike traditional rankings, "The Standard 100" is made up of companies defined by their influence and importance in the Internet Economy, not metrics or financial figures. Together, the companies that make up "The Standard 100" provide the goods, the services, the tools and the money to make the Internet run. "The Standard 100" is the marquis feature in The Industry Standard's 260-page September 20, 1999 issue, its largest issue to date.

"The Standard 100" is to be an annual listing of the most important and influential companies of the Internet Economy which readers can use as a reference in this rapidly changing landscape of business makers. As an annual feature, "The Standard 100" will become an e-commerce touchstone. Over time, it will become both a source for analyzing the current state of the market as well as a benchmark by which change and progress within the Internet Economy are measured.

"'The Standard 100' represents a subjective listing of how our editors, who have been immersed in the culture of the Internet and who have an excellent pulse on their respective beats, define and analyze the Internet Economy," says Jonathan Weber, Editor-in-Chief of The Industry Standard. "We have brought our own intelligence and analysis to the process, creating a list that provides broader and deeper insights into the Internet Economy."

Reflecting the diversity of the Internet Economy as a whole, "The Standard 100" is divided into 10 broad categories, with 10 companies per category. The categories were selected to represent all facets of the Internet Economy, from how we shop and read the news on the Internet (retail and media) to the equipment and services that make the Internet run (networking equipment and computer hardware and software).

The companies selected represent a broad range of online and offline companies, with a diversity of business models and specialties. The list includes some likely giants -- Microsoft, Amazon.com and eBay -- as well as some companies that were selected because of their influence and impact, not just their size, such as Webvan, Healtheon and IEG, the web's most successful pornographer. The sum total of companies listed in "The Standard 100" provides a compelling and useful snapshot of the overall Internet Economy.

About The Industry Standard

Headquartered in San Francisco and located on the Web at (http://www.thestandard.com), The Industry Standard and TheStandard.com are the essential sources of information and services for the Internet economy and provide coverage of the people, companies and business models driving this new economy. Through its print magazine, online publication, industry newsletters and conference programs, The Industry Standard serves a dynamic audience of Internet business strategists with news analysis, commentary, industry metrics and special coverage of areas such as business model reviews and executive recruiting. The Industry Standard and The Standard.com have been honored with a National Business Press Award and was nominated for the National Magazine Award in its inaugural year. The Industry Standard is owned by IDG's Internet Industry Publishing. The Industry Standard also operates bureaus in New York, Washington DC and London.

About IDG

Headquartered in Boston, International Data Group (IDG) informs more people worldwide about information technology than any other company in the world. With annual revenues of $2.35 billion, IDG is the leading global provider of IT media, research, conferences and expositions. IDG publishes more than 290 computer newspapers and magazines and 700 book titles in 75 countries, led by Computerworld/InfoWorld, Macworld, Network World, PC World, Channel World, and the "...For Dummies" global product lines. IDG offers online users the largest network of technology sites around the world through IDG.net (http://www.idg.net), which comprises more than 250 targeted web sites in 55 countries. IDG is also a leading producer of 168 computer-related expositions in 35 countries, and its research arm, International Data Corporation (IDC) provides computer industry research and analysis through 49 offices in 42 countries worldwide. Company information is available at http://www.idg.com.