The need for multilingual e-commerce applications is driven by global reach and pressure to beat competitors into new markets. What is all the excitement about? Why would anyone retrofit existing e-commerce/e-business applications? When does it make sense to globalize e-business?

The focus of this session will be the presentation of industry research revealing the distribution of Web users around the world and forecasts for both business-to-business and business-to-consumer electronic commerce spending on a global basis. This information will provide a "wake up call" to project managers, product managers and marketing managers who are considering globalization of Web sites and e-business applications.

Attendees will take home a compilation of research that will stimulate global thinking back at corporate headquarters. Anyone involved in the development of requirements for e-business software projects or e-commerce programs will find the time spent in this session incredibly valuable. Ignore this information at your peril.