Trading on the Internet.

• Author: Barry, Doug

About 30 million people and 20,000 firms around the world use Internet, a term coined to describe the totality of computer networks able to talk to one another via telecommunications links using common data protocols. The number of users is rising by more than 10 percent a month. Once the domain of government and academic users, the Internet is rapidly becoming commercialized.

Alaskans seeking new markets for their goods and services can use the Internet in two ways: To find markets and sales opportunities and to offer their wares to a worldwide audience.

Lots of information is available on who's out there what they need. The CIA has a Home Page (computer site with graphics), and so does the White House, World Bank, U.S. Department of the Census and the U.S. Department of Commerce. To see what Commerce has, type: http:www.doc.gov.

Next, use the feature "natural language inquiry," which lets you type things like "opportunities in Zambia." After a minute or so, up pops information on Zambia government procurement specifications. There are instructions on how to qualify for the list of bidders. Today, Zambia is looking for vendors of earth-moving equipment. Next week, the list may contain leads for educational service providers and bioremediation firms.

Since this database contains information from our 300 embassies and consulates around the world, you can spend lots of time assessing business opportunities from the public and private sectors of all these different countries.

If you tire of checking out federal government information, dial up the United Nations database and learn how you can qualify for contracts in support of peace-keeping missions in Bosnia, Somalia and other places around the world. "Stat USA," another U.S. government service, provides access to export and import numbers for every country in the world.

For a fee, you can access an on-line service recently launched by Dunn & Bradstreet. Still in its formative stages, the service is designed to help users analyze country and industry structures, trade flows and market penetration strategies, and to provide credit information. Dunn & Bradstreet hopes that the on-line service will interest people in buying its pricier, customized services such as tactical marketing...