HUGE JUMP SEEN IN PCs LINKED TO NET

The number of personal computers connected to the Internet will jump 71% by the end of the year to 82 million, driven by use in the business market, says market research firm Dataquest Inc. By 2001, about 268 million computers will be linked to the global computer network, according to a recent study. That will lead to more sales of Internet software and services, which are expected to rise 60% to $12.2 billion (U.S.) by the end of the year, up from $7.5 billion last year. The Internet software and services market is expected to reach $32.2 billion by 2001, with the services market alone reaching $7 billion in 1997 and rising to $29 billion by 2001, says Dataquest.