Since the first online sales transaction in the US in 1997, commercial transactions over the web have grown dramatically and the global market for e-commerce and online retailing is now worth over $700 bn, based on the most conservative estimates. The three main components of this digital marketplace by size are: business-to-business e-commerce;online retailing; and online sales of travel and financial services. The market size of b-to-b e-commerce is probably an order of magnitude bigger than online sales, but can now only be estimated roughly given its pervasive reach. The online retail and other services markets are more amenable to measurement.
Best Buy, the largest US consumer electronics retailer, is acquiring Napster, the music download provider, for $121m as it seeks to establish itself as a significant player in the global market for mobile devices and digital services.
Simon Fox, 16 September 2008
The Carphone Warehouse Group PLC and Best Buy Co., Inc. have agreed to form a new venture to accelerate their growth by capitalising on the European consumer’s evolving appetite for consumer electronics. The Carphone Warehouse is proposing to contribute its retail business (which includes all...
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Reiko Uchida, 09 May 2008
As we progress through 2008, Google’s market capitalization stands at just over $150 bn, with revenues of nearly $15 bn, EBITDA of $5.62 bn, a trailing edge P/E ratio of 51.40, and $13 bn in cash at the bank. With some analysts forecasting a further rise in the share price, is this valuation...
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Uday Phadke, 29 February 2008
e-Bay has come a long way since it was founded as an auction site in 1995, recording steady growth in e-commerce revenues year on year to become one of the major players in the global digital market. But it now faces serious challenges which it can only solve by 're-inventing' its core...
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Simon Fox, 25 January 2008
The Recorded Music industry is in decline despite the rise in Digital Revenues. Music publishing revenues have continued to grow slowly year on year, but recorded music revenues continue to fall as the rise in digital music fails to compensate for the fall in CD sales in all major markets. This...
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Reiko Uchida, 15 January 2008