More than a year before the supposed Y2K meltdown, carrier policy system sales plummeted. Although 1999 was disappointing, vendors believed carrier inaction was the result of preoccupation with Y2K and the resulting freeze on the deployment of new technology. That made sense at the time.

When the next year, 2000, also proved slow, vendors pointed to a persistent Y2K shadow. But 2001 wasnt a good year eithersales didnt approach 1998 levels. Now were three years into the policy system recession with few encouraging signs on the horizon. Y2K was a great rationalization for a while, but not any more.

Whats the problem? Is there a problem? Why arent carriers buying? What are the implications for the industry? Is it failing to meet 21st century challenges? Are carrier dinosaurs not clever in their conservatism but rather dull and slothful? Is the industry, as usual, going to hell in a hand basket?