Ecommerce Issues

The Internet makes it possible for sellers to reach buyers that previously would have been unable to purchase goods and services due to geographic limitations or even because they did not know that such goods or services existed. With the Internet, sellers can reach buyers on a global scale without regard to time zones or logistical concerns that so often constrain traditional business transactions. Information can also be disseminated on Web sites, giving companies an ideal medium to reach potential investors and others who might be interested in the company. This vast potential for communication brings with it additional responsibility, however, and companies that transact business on the Web must be mindful of the legal, ethical and regulatory environments of the many countries they might reach. This research considers the security, confidentiality and international issues at the Web sites of IBM, Gateway and Dell.

Dell addresses international markets by having the user select a country on the first page of www.dell.com. When English is the primary language spoken in the selected country--such as the United States or the United Kingdom--the remaining pages are displayed in English. Some countries, such as Korea and Japan--offer the user the choice of viewing the pages in English or the destination language. Other languages are displayed automatically, such as French and Norwegian. In