Welcome to Cyberspace Today! Since we are brand-new, the history is short. Here's our only press release...
Contact: Vernon Keenan (415) 647-0743
PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Francisco (Jan. 27, 1995) - CyberBiz Productions, based here, today announced a free monthly newspaper targeted for California distribution dedicated to the burgeoning on-line products and services market. The premier issue of Cyberspace Today is scheduled for distribution throughout the Golden Gate, Silicon Valley, Northern California and Santa Cruz areas in early February with a publication date of February 15, 1995 and a circulation of 20,000 copies.
"A void exists in ways for people to learn about California Internet service providers and gain access to the historical discussion forums provided by the Internet," said Vernon Keenan, owner of CyberBiz Productions and Cyberspace Today's publisher. "Besides helping new users get over the hump of simply finding and using an 'on-ramp' to the Internet, Cyberspace Today guides average computer users through the exciting possibilities of the Internet, local bulletin board systems and on-line systems," continued Keenan.
Cyberspace Today helps computer owners sort through the deluge of raw data that forms the cyberspace, that rough organization of things that constitutes the on-line world. Cyberspace Today meets the needs of the home and business computer user who is looking for ways to gain access to just about any kind of information or social interaction. Specifically, Cyberspace Today prints a directory of all the phone, fax and modem numbers plus the URLs of every on-line service provider and California Internet service providers.
While several monthly magazines and two computer newspapers already cover the Internet, a well-written, artistically produced and freely available publication that focuses on the local issues of Internet access in the San Francisco Bay Area will be read by information-starved consumers. Cyberspace Today prints observations on cyber-happenings in the capital of high-tech and helps local denizens gain access to the cyberspace via a list of California Internet service providers. Other listings provided in the premier edition of Cyberspace Today include on-line service providers, a World Wide Web catalog, a calendar of events and dozens of popular California bulletin board systems.
Through the work of leaders in government, such as Vice President Al Gore and Rep. Newt Gingrich, and the popular press, including the San Francisco Examiner, The New York Times and NBC-TV, words like cyberspace and the Internet actually mean something to most people. Those who have never used the Internet have a curiosity about all these gems of information, entertainment and services they've been hearing about.
The latest examples of the power of the Internet includes the ability to instantly gain current information about the California floods and the Kobe earthquake. On-line services and the Internet offer virtually unlimited access to free and value-added raw data, critical analysis and other services. After a person hears about how a friend has gained access to the data they've found on the Internet they want to know how their did it.
The network-enabled citizen wants easy access to the latest up-to-date information on the Internet. Only a fast-paced newspaper like Cyberspace Today can meet the needs of these highly-informed decision makers in California including entrepreneurs, parents, teenagers, and business men and women.
The average Cyberspace Today reader is anticipated to be 75% male, around 25 to 35 years old, 30% parents with school-age children, and a high household income (median level between $40,000 and $80,000).
In 1989 and 1990, with vendors like IBM, Microsoft and Apple still struggling with getting their products into the home, industry analysts began predicting another major trend: the "grand convergence" of industries: computers, communications and entertainment. Shortly after those predictions came out several large Japanese hardware companies bought U.S. entertainment companies for their software libraries. Like most predictions from industry analysts, the "grand convergence" hasn't happened on time. In fact, TCI failed to complete a major acquisition and Sony is in trouble with it's Hollywood properties. But, in 1994 the home computer dream finally came true with millions of PC and Macintosh systems being bought for the dens and bedrooms of Americans. Consumers bought home PCs to let themselves start a new business, do office work at home, hook up to on-line services and as an educational tool for the kids.
While analysts were listening to John Malone's vision of set-top boxes, what made California heads of households all of a sudden decide they needed to spend $1500 on a computer, CD-ROM and modem? Because affordable Macintosh and Windows computers now had enough technical power so the computer could tell a story just like the TV. 486, 68040 and PowerPC technology is affordable. Home buyers now get a system with the same capabilities as the $3000 system they use in the office. CD-ROM, high-resolution video displays, stereo sound and high-capacity computer systems now tell users about a world of learning and fantasy in entertaining and engaging ways.
While the "grand convergence" hasn't happened with cable TV set-top boxes, like analysts predicted, Cyberspace Today still believes that consumers will be able to view movies and television programs using a "video on demand" technology within five years. Someday the corner video store will become quite scarce after video on demand technology becomes affordable.
A preexistent form of video on demand is in fact the World Wide Web. "Multimedia on demand" describes what happens when Internet users access the Web. Gaining access to a colorful interface that is informative, useful and contains multimedia elements breaks down many barriers that previously existed on the Internet. We believe that how people are using the Internet today is an important prelude to how video on demand will function.
Much data illustrates that home computer owners are now using their modems to connect to the Internet and on-line services. There are dozens of Internet service providers (ISPs), hundreds of established BBS system operators, thousands of entrepreneurs and millions of home computer users in the state of California. Extrapolation of data from the NSF indicates a 10% monthly increase in the Internet's packet transmission rates. America On Line made news in early 1994 with their poor service associated with unmanaged growth. Netcom is famous for growing too fast for their own good at the expense of customer service. Many small companies in California who provide Internet connectivity services have no problem finding customers.
In summary, several industry factors lead us to conclude that the use of home computers to access on-line services is poised to continue rapid growth. Competition is causing the prices for modems, telephone calls and services to fall rapidly. Many new home computers have just been purchased as it turns out the best home computer is an affordable business-class computer. The Internet and the on-line services have become faster, more entertaining and now use graphical user interfaces that make them much easier to use.
Interest in the Internet and on-line world will grow rapidly as large telephone, cable and computer companies continue to join forces with Hollywood and independent entertainment content producers.
Cyberspace Today will be distributed to San Francisco Bay Area computer stores, corporate hot spots, coffee shops, local user group meetings and computer trade shows. With an initial circulation of 20,000 copies Cyberspace Today distribution will be tightly controlled and monitored to determine where to increase circulation. Paid subscriptions are available for $40 per year via First Class postage.
Cyberspace Today was founded by Vernon Keenan. Mr. Keenan has over 15 years experience working with telecommunications systems, including the Internet. A contributing editor with MacWEEK magazine for five years, Mr. Keenan also managed a $1 million computer service and software company for three years.
For more information, including a sample issue, rate card and 1995 editorial calendar please contact: Vernon Keenan, voice 415-647-0743, surface mail 1049 Dolores Street, Suite 3, San Francisco, CA 94110, fax 415-647-7030 or vern@lanminds.com.
Return to Cyberspace Today home page