Commerce on the Internet

The Internet is a global web of 25,000 computer networks. These networks, including corporate, education, and research institutions, are linked by high-speed data lines and wireless systems. Portions of the Internet are noncommercial. An example is the National Science Foundation Network, which serves as the main artery for research and education access.

The Internet network is loosely configured and lacks a central command. Thousands of computers are linked by thousands of different paths: "[The Internet] has, in a sense, come to be a 'backbone' by which networks link up with each other" (Jones, 1995, p. 4). Messages transmitted on the Internet carry addresses that allow them to be forwarded to their destinations. If a message fails to arrive at its destination, the user has no recourses to, for instance, a telephone operator. As one author commented, "There is no Internet Inc." (Tetzeli, 1994, p. 92).

Several organizations have emerged that provide a sense of cohesiveness on the Internet, although no single group manages it. One volunteer organization, the I

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that act as buffers for incoming messages. These workstations verify the confidential access code of authorized users and ensure that their access is confined to authorized material only. Companies like IBM take elaborate measures to safeguard their corporate network: "IBM tests the security system annually, challenging its own programmers to ferret out problems" (Tetzeli, 1994, p. 88). The security concerns of consumers is one of the factors that limits commercial exchange on the Internet. Currently, few Internet retailers allow the customer to order on-line because it necessitates customers disclosing their credit card numbers in cyberspace. Although the Internet is probably as secure as telephones and faxes, customers are leery about having their credit card numbers accessible to seasoned hackers. Improved security standards on the Internet are on the horizon, but experts caution that total security in cyberspace is an unrealistic expectation (Sussman, 1995, p. 78). Privacy on the Internet is another important consideration that worries potential and current users. Customers leave an electronic trail of their buying habits, telephone calling habits, and entertainment and research preferences. Companies desiring to e
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Approximate Word count = 2695
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)

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