CONTENTS

Page

About the author I-5

Preface I-7
Syllabus I-9

1
INTROdUcTION TO E-cOMMERcE
1.0 Introduction to e-Commerce 1
1.1 Defining e-Commerce 2
1.2 Nature of e-Commerce 4
1.3 Characteristics of e-Commerce 5
1.4 advantages of e-Commerce 6
1.5 Limitations of e-Commerce 12
1.6 Drivers of e-Commerce 16
1.7 Reasons for transacting online 20
1.8 Categories of e-Commerce 21
1.9 e-Commerce and e-Business 30
SUMMARY 32
QUESTIONS 33
2
TEchNOlOgY USEd IN E-cOMMERcE
2.0 Introduction 35
2.1 Internet 35
2.2 World Wide Web 39

I-11
 CONTENTS I-12

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2.3 Internet and WWW 41

2.4 Designing, Building and Launching E-Commerce Website 42
2.5 Pure Online vs. Brick and Click Business 58
SUMMARY 60
QUESTIONS 61
3
Technology for online business
3.1 Evolution of Internet 63
3.2 The Internet Infrastructure 64
3.3 The Internet Architecture 65
3.3A The Internet protocol suite 70
3.4 The Domain Name system 72
3.5 IPv6 76
3.6 ATM Networks 77
3.7 Middleware 78
3.8 Choosing the right enterprise Applications 80
SUMMARY 83
QUESTIONS 83
4
E-Payment
4.1 Understanding Electronic Payments 84
4.2 Modes of Payment 88
4.3 Payment Gateways 99
4.4 Online Banking 101
4.5 Risks involved in E-payment 105
4.6 Digital Signatures 106
SUMMARY 107
QUESTIONS 107
5
Online Business Transactions
5.0 Online Business Transactions 110
5.1 Understanding Online Business Transactions 110
I-13 CONTENTS

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5.2 E-Commerce Applications 115

5.3 Online Services 122
SUMMARY 142
QUESTIONS 142
6
E-retailing
6.1 Understanding E-retailing 145
6.2 Categories of E-retailing 146
6.3 How E-retailing takes place? 149
6.4 Popularity of E-retailing 150
6.5 Benefits of E-retailing 154
6.6 Disadvantages of E-retailing 156
SUMMARY 160
QUESTIONS 161
7
Security and Legal Aspects of E-Commerce
7.0 Information Technology Act, 2000 and Information Technology 162
Amendment Act, 2008
7.1 Threats to E-Commerce 163
7.2 Security of Client and Service Providers 165
7.3 Cyber Laws - Relevant provisions of IT Act, 2000 and Adju- 167
dication
SUMMARY 181
QUESTIONS 182