First I would like to discuss the types of e-business. E-business can be anything from purchasing a toaster from a department store online to checking your bank statement online. All are examples of the many aspects of e-business. There are several aspects of e-business unique to it.

When comparing traditional business to e-business, one can see several differences between the two. The most obvious difference when buying standard goods (such as a toaster, a book, or a new computer) is the store. When dealing with e-business there is no "real" store or merchandise to look at. It is all presented through the merchant's webpage, or by other electronic means. You will not be able to touch, or inspect potential purch

Another personal experience of mine regards online banking. I have a checking and a savings account with Citibank. I noticed that they offered online banking free of charge, so I figured I would try it out. I went to their website and began to setup my online account. I was asked for my basic personal and my account information. I gave them all of that and proceeded to try to log into my account. I was surprised to find that I could not. I was using Internet Explorer with only 40-bit encryption. Citibank requires that you use a browser with at least 128-bit encryption. After I downloaded the addon for Internet Explorer, I successfully logged in. I was meet with a number of options. I could check my checking account balance, my savings account balance, and I could transfer money between the two. This made me very pleased. I have trouble keeping my checking account up to date, but with this I could see exactly what I had with only a day's delay. I am overly pleased with all of!

When you examine the online banking portion of e-business, you have a few more things to consider. In order to use online banking, you will have to have an account with the bank in question. Once you have your account, you can go to the bank's webpage and set it up by giving them account and personal information. Then you will be able to use their software to access your account. There is definitely an issue with privacy in both cases. It is obvious that customers do not what their personal information released. A more important issue, perhaps more important than your personal information is your credit card number. This can be used by anyone who has it. There is no real way to stop someone from using your number at another site to buy things with out your permission. This is a major concern of the e-business industry. Should the consumer be concerned? Well, yes and no. The first thing you should be concerned with is the validity of the e-business itself. Unless the company !

Coates,Vary. Buying and Selling on the Internet:Retail Electronic Commerce. Washington,D.C. 1998.

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Purchasing goods electronically is becoming easier by the day. The majority of e-businesses have software set up on their webpage to take and record your order as well as your credit card and personal information. The software is set up such that you can order anything you want without having to interact with anyone what so ever. You just have to enter your credit card number, address, and other personal information. Some people are not comfortable with the concept of sending their credit card number or other personal information to a potential merchant over the Internet, but are more comfortable using the telephone. Most businesses know this and have set up a special number or other means to talk to a representative from the company to settle any questions, and to accept credit card numbers or other means of payment. There are of course several security issues involved in both forms of commerce. I will discuss security in greater detail later in the paper.

can offer you some kind of assurance that you can agree with, you should stick to the companies you know and trust. Many businesses you have been using for years are now making the push to provide an electronic method to shop. Once you have established that you are in fact dealing with a respectable firm,

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Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)