Young entrepreneurs maki BY IAN NOBLE News Reporter RALPH Shaw and Alex Andrews are two Web- skeptic entrepreneurs taking a peek at Internet possibilities with a little help from student Andrew Fitz-Earle and the feds. Seated in Shaw's home office on Adderley Street. business administration stu- dent Fitz-Earle explained » that the Student Connection Program is a partnership between Industry Canada. academic organizations and the private sector. ~ The program strives to help- small and midsize Canadian’ businesses get connected to the information highway and become more : competitive. Under the program, busi- nesses pay $100 and stu- dents provide up to 15 hours . of Internet instruction. Businesses get new tools, and students get a job for the -. summer. “But Shaw and Andrews don’t scem to be brimming over with confidence that the Internet can help their busi- _ nesses.” - Andrews skeptical. “1 think the Internet is a is especially ~ bunch’ of blocdy hype,” he _ said. “Pm tying: to figure out what my use for it is going to be.” Said Shaw: ‘J den’ t think it will be particularly useful in- business but I’m interest- ed-because my family can use it as well. For $100, it’s a : cheap opportunity to learn.” s “He acknowledges the Internet ‘may be geod for’ ‘ electronic: mailing and as an info source, “but I don’ teven know what that means.” “As abimarketing ‘tool, Shaw has -his. doubts about the information highway. But Fitz-Earle, a 21-year- old Sinion. Fraser University student said the Internet does indecd provide a competitive ° -edge by helping firms; — gather information for market research and on their competition: ~— develop a communica- tions system for salespeople on the move; HOw are we doing? When we falt short of your expectation, please tell us. When a ™ newspaper story does nat seem to teflect fairly what was said; let our editors know. When we are unable to solve your complaint, we encourage you it to submit to the: B.C. Press Council Box 5414 Victoria, B,C. V8R 654 Tel: (604) 595-2571 Fax: (604) 595-2573 The B.C. Press Council was created in 1983 as an independent review board to protect the public from press inaccuracy or unfairness and to promote quality journalism. — create a customer feedback and tracking sys- tem: — allow more level com- petition with larger compa- nies: — access markets: — and improve the quali- ty of life by telecommuting. Unfortunately, back on Adderley Street: Wednesday afternoon. things weren't going as planned. A problem with the computer-modem hookup had prevented Fitz- Earle from accessing the Internet on Shaw’s computer. However, by eariy next international week. Shaw and Andrews . expect to be getting their toes wet on the new technol- ogy. Shaw said time: was needed to assess the Internet, so time will be provided. ng a connection Next week, we find out what the (wo think of the information highway. Meanwhile. Industry Canada says only 7% of all Canadian business use the Internet and most are large corporations. Over the next three years. the connection program hopes to introduce 50,000 smali and midsize businesses to the ‘Net. Industry Canada has built a $5-million Web site called Strategis to assist businesses with market information and all aspects of international trade. and promote Canadian businesses to the world. For more information on the stu- dent program call 291-5914. 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