1. Either You're Wired or You're Not. ... "Businesses are beginning to see the Internet as essential to their operations: Networking giant Cisco Systems, to cite a dramatic example, will no longer do business with suppliers that can’t fill orders via the Web," Andrew Kupfer, Fortune, July 6, 1998. ... Yep, it's beginning to happen in real estate, too, and here's a good example:

Gerald Porter of Metrospace/CRESA-LA writes, "...we track all of DreamWorks SKG’s leases with full web functionality via Domino by using our CRESA Trac lease administration application in Notes. DreamWorks can access their 22 leases via Notes client from our NT server or via the web with a browser and a password from our NT web server that is co-hosted by our ISP." ... CRESA also represents Montgomery Watson, "a national account that has 100 leases on our CRESA Trac database and for whom we are running a Transaction Tracking database that provides password-access via Notes client or browser to all correspondence on over twenty current transactions." ... Forget paper. That's what I would want, if I were a corporate real estate director.

2. Access Speed II. ... Wow, did I strike a chord with the mention of access speeds in last week's Dispatch. ... Based on the e-mails that I received, access speeds above 33.3k are not unusual. ... For example, Brian Peterson, a CCIM in Seattle, writes that he consistently logs on to the Microsoft Network (msn.com) at speeds between 44k and 54k. ... Seth Kaufman logs onto MindSpring in San Francisco at speeds over 40k. ... And Patrick Vermuyten, logging on in Brussels, Belgium, claims to get close to the maximum speed using Compaq Pressario’s 56K modems. ... Not every ISP offers high speed access from all their local POPs, but it sounds like they'll all be there eventually. And, of course, your modem must be capable of these higher speeds.

3. Knowledge Base--Need An Aerial Photo? ... Since launching PikeNet, I've been asked many times, "Can I get aerial images over the web?" Now you can. ... Although it doesn't cover the entire U.S., Microsoft's new TerraServer web site at http://www.terraserver.microsoft.com takes a giant step in that direction. TerraServer uses USGS photos, which can be downloaded free, and SPIN-2 (Russian satellite) photos, which cost $7.95 or more to download and which can be purchased as prints. ... I poked around a bit and enjoyed zooming in and out of areas that I know. The resolution is not great, as each pixel represents about 2.4 square meters, but it's still an excellent resource. ... You’ll find step-by-step instructions in the PikeNet Knowledge Base (top of home page) under the Maps and Directions section, or use the URL below:

http://www.pikenet.com/pike?func=showPublicPage&page=
questions/questions/question073

4. Web Success--Latter & Blum's Virtual Tour. ... Check out the "virtual tour" that Latter & Blum has created for Westpark, a 108,000 s.f. office building and adjoining 20-acre office park in New Orleans, LA. Using IPIX photo bubble technology, you can look around 360 degrees from floor to ceiling, and zoom in and out. Rich Stone, Vice President and Director of the Commercial Sales Group writes, "In our initial mailing to prospects we have provided a special address, http://www.latterblum.com/westpark, for them to take a quick virtual tour to help acquaint them with the property." ... Wow, that’s a whole lot cheaper than mass mailing a color brochure or a video. ... By way of full disclosure, you need the IPIX Viewer Plug-In, which you can download for free and is easy to install. ... Do you have a Web Success story? ... Send me e-mail. ... For hyperlinks to this week’s story, use the URL below:

http://www.pikenet.com/pike?func=WebSuccess07

5. When a "Test" Is Not a Test. ... Oops, my programmers pushed the wrong button and sent a "test" message to hundreds of my loyal subscribers (not the whole list, whew!). ... So I apologize for getting some of you all excited. ... Don't worry, there's nothing wrong with your e-mail address. ... My web developers are redesigning my e-mail system, which will include HTML mail. ... If you use the latest mailing programs, like Outlook 98, Outlook Express, Eudora 4.0 and Netscape Mail, you'll be able to receive the Dispatch in a web-like format. ... After you see the difference, you'll wonder why you ever liked plain old, text-based e-mail. ... Also, I believe that we have solved the problem in which some corporate e-mail systems were receiving strange looking characters in recent Dispatches. ... Nothing's easy on the net. Thanks for your patience!

6. Dispatch Sponsorship. ... Each week the PikeNet Dispatch is sent to over 5,600 real estate practitioners. ... Each Dispatch Sponsor has its URL displayed at the beginning of the newsletter and a descriptive paragraph of your service or product. ... It's a great way to reach savvy professionals. ... For full details, click the online "Media Kit" under the Billboard on the home page or use the hyperlink below:

http://www.pikenet.com/advertising/advertising.html

--Peter Pike