Are You On The Information Highway?
The Internet, World Wide Web, Information Highway are all household words in 1996. But, what are they? (Or are they the same thing?) How do you use it? Why would you want to?
What Is It?
The Internet -Anonymous vast, worldwide network of computers communicating with one another. Begun in 1969 by the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense as a communication device to allow scientists working on grant projects to collaborate and share data. Then known as ARPANET, this network comprised of four computers located at universities in California and Utah (Stanford, UCLA, University of California at Santa Barbara, and the University of Utah).
In 1983 the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) was finalized, thus giving the Internet a global language allowing all computers to "talk" with each other. At this point the National Science Foundation linked its network (NSFNET) to ARPANET, and since then hundreds of thousands of networks and single-user computers have joined the network.
The Internet is now the oldest and largest long-distance network in the world. It is not owned, operated, controlled, maintained, or policed by any one organization. A multitude of organizations now reside on "the net" including government agencies, commercial services, educational institutions, businesses, and John Q. Public. This network is commonly referred to as the Information Highway.
The World Wide Web -a graphic based, multi-media information system-"The Web" is the virtual newsstand on the Information Highway. Magazines, newspapers, rock groups, businesses and individuals now create Web Pages to tell you about themselves.
The publishing industry is augmenting their readership by placing their publications on-line. You can now read News Week, Time, George, and The Green Sheet from your computer. All you need is the URL [pronounced "earl"] (Uni-form Resource Locator) such as http://www.greensheet.com/. You can find the addresses you want by searching the Web, using a "search engine" such as Webcrawler or AltaVista. Most magazines and newspapers publish their URLs prominently, and there are several magazines available about the Internet which publish lists of popular Web sites. Some studies estimate that the number of Web sites doubles every two months.
Commercial Service Providers -the AAA of the Information Highway. Just as the Automobile Club of America made using the interstate highway system easier with maps, rest-stops, and emergency road service, so the commercial service providers make accessing the Internet easier for the PC-based user. America On-Line, Compuserve, Prodigy, Microsoft Network, and others provide subscribers with an interface to the worldwide network. Using a modem, phone-line, and your computer you can send e-mail (electronic mail) to the President, check your stock portfolio, chat with your favorite rock star, or send flowers to your mom.
Choosing your service provider is primarily a question of phone charges, reliability, and service. However, the most frustrating element can be the availability of technical support and customer service. Before you choose a provider, we suggest you call their technical support/customer service line to see how long it takes to get a question answered or problem resolved.
Who's Surfing?
Over 45.5 million users regularly access the Internet and its 300,000 Web sites. Fully 80% of these users are under the age of 45, and 67% are male. Fifty percent (50%) have incomes over $50K annually, 65% have college degrees, and 50% consider themselves to be professionals or managers. Internet users average over 5 hours per week on the Net.
While all these users look impressive it's worthwhile to remember that 40% of PC owners can't name an Internet service provider. Using the Net ties up your phone line, the boom in demand for phone lines has caused some areas, such as San Francisco, to begin rationing phone numbers. Only 14% of regular Internet users have purchased products or services on-line.
Regardless of whether you see this as the future or a road stop, ISOs can make some serious money on the Internet. We think the best way is using ISPs (Internet Service Providers), such as Multiplex Media Corp. selling Web page services to merchants For more information contact Brian at 1-800-383-3953.
