The success of e-commerce is based on standards, such as TCP/IP and HTTP, as well as low-cost Internet access. But more important, its triumph lies with the protocols involved in exchanging money for goods and services. These payment protocols define electronic commerce, distinguishing true e-commerce sites from their information-only, "brochureware" counterparts. A payment protocol does not move data; it moves money. The headers and provided services of these protocols are layered on top of underlying data- and link-layer protocols.
ReadTo build or to buy. Yes, it's time to dust off that old bit of IS folklore. We know about the popularity of the Web and the well-documented successes of electronic-commerce sites--at least the PR machines have publicized them well enough. That success has driven us to wistful contemplation: Can we be the next ones to make $1 million on the Internet. But how will we sell our widgets and services over the Web? It shouldn't be too hard. After all, the prerequisite components--corporate Web servers, databases and consumer browsers--are ubiquitous; they work well and they don't cost an arm and a leg. Moreover, at this point everyone and his mother has a Web page. Heck, you might be up to your third or fourth version.
Read