Commerce on the Internet

Commerce on the Internet is still in its infancy, but many experts believe that the computer industry is poised for an on-line revolution. The anticipated changes on the information superhighway are expected to rival the revolution brought about by the introduction of the automobile. Worried about ending up as "roadkill," thousands of businesses annually are establishing their presence 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

Related Essays

The Internet, e-Commerce & Government .... the "haves" and "have nots" of American society; and, 5) questions related to the inherent privacy, security and safety of Internet commerce, banking, and .... (3122 12 )

E-Commerce in Korea .... The Role of the Korean Government in E-Commerce Governments around the world are attempting to define their role with relationship to Internet commerce. .... (860 3 )

E-Commerce in Korea .... The Role of the Korean Government in E-Commerce Governments around the world are attempting to define their role with relationship to Internet commerce. .... (910 4 )

Efficient Markets and the Internet .... To succeed in the world of e-commerce and the Internet, Campbell (2000) states that business are adopting new business models and strategies that fundamentally .... (2491 10 )

New Models of Internet Marketing .... target markets. There are several models for the conduct of e-commerce over the Internet and the World Wide Web (WWW). One of those .... (553 2 )

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

Category: Science - C