HP Internet Appliances E-Commerce, What Is E-Commerce

E-Commerce

E-commerce(electronic commerce or EC) is the buying and selling of goods and services on the Internet, especially on the World Wide Web.

In practice, this term and a another new term, e-business, are often used interchangeably. For online retail selling, the term e-tailingis sometimes used.

What Is E-Commerce?

E-commerce can be divided into:

➜E-tailing or virtual storefronts on Web sites with online catalogs. Sometimes these are all gathered into a virtual mall.

➜The gathering and use of demographic data through Web contacts

➜Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), the business-to-business exchange of data

➜E-mail and fax and their use as media for reaching prospects and established customers (for example, with newsletters)

➜Business-to-business buying and selling

➜The security of business transactions

6-2 ONLINE SHOPPING HOME INTERNET APPLIANCE–GETTING STARTED