Y2K cost estimate cut by $2 billion
An industry research organization reduces its estimate for worldwide costs related to Y2K computer downtime.
International Data Corp. predicts that Y2K bug-related glitches will eventually take a $21 billion bite out of the global economy. The research firm earlier estimated worldwide Y2K costs at $23 billion.
"With the reports we have in from our analysts in all the different time zones, we now have enough information to refine our numbers," John Gantz, leader of IDC's Project Magellan, a research project that has studied preparations for Y2K, said in a statement. "Since we never expected major infrastructure systems to fail, we haven't had to do much revision."
IDC, based in Framingham, Mass., expects the real impact of Y2K to become apparent in the coming weeks and months as companies repair business software affected by Y2K bugs.
"In a way, the major applications were easiest to identify, and the easiest to fix," Gantz said. "It's the applications deep in the bowels of the average company that will need the remedial work. And these will create downtime, an hour and a minute at a time."