Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  • Define e-commerce and m-commerce.
  • Describe the role of electronic payment systems.
  • Define e-governance and its goals.

Major Applications of the Internet

The internet has enabled a wide range of new services and business models that have transformed society.

E-Commerce and M-Commerce

  • E-Commerce (Electronic Commerce): The buying and selling of goods and services over the internet. This includes everything from online retail (Amazon) to digital services (Netflix).

  • M-Commerce (Mobile Commerce): A subset of e-commerce that is conducted entirely on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. This has seen explosive growth with the rise of mobile apps.

Electronic Payment (E-Payment) Systems

E-payment systems are essential for e-commerce. They are systems that facilitate the acceptance of electronic payment for online transactions.

  • Examples: Credit card payment gateways, digital wallets (PayPal, Apple Pay), and bank transfers.

E-Governance

E-Governance is the use of information and communication technology to provide and improve government services, transactions, and interactions with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government.

  • Goals: To make government more efficient, transparent, and responsive.
  • Examples: Filing taxes online, applying for a passport online, and accessing public records through a government website.

Summary

The internet has spawned numerous transformative applications. E-commerce and its mobile subset, m-commerce, have revolutionized retail. These are powered by electronic payment systems that facilitate online transactions. In the public sector, e-governance uses internet technologies to make government services more accessible and efficient for citizens.

Key Takeaways

  • E-commerce is buying and selling online; m-commerce is e-commerce on mobile devices.
  • E-payment systems are necessary to conduct e-commerce.
  • E-governance is the use of IT to improve government services.

Discussion Questions

  1. What are the main advantages of e-commerce for a consumer?
  2. What are some of the security risks associated with electronic payments?
  3. How can e-governance make a government more transparent?