Across the Internet, users can share information, discuss topics of interest, research various subjects, or -- increasingly -- conduct commerce. Commercial use of the Internet promises to be an area of explosive growth in the years ahead, as companies look for ways to reach the increasing number of users online and to leverage the Internet to streamline and improve their business.
To gain access, a company or organization creates a local network using off-the-shelf technology from any of a number of vendors and then pays an Internet service provider for a link from that network to the Internet. An individual at home can also link his or her computer to the Internet through an Internet service provider. Once connected, an individual can communicate with any other person on the Internet, even if that person resides halfway around the world.
According to industry estimates, as many as 25 to 30 million people are on the Internet today, with the number growing at 10 to 15 percent per month. Today, the Internet spans all seven continents and every developed country. While more than fifty percent of current Internet users are in companies or organizations, the number of home users is growing rapidly.
