Topic 1: Introduction to E-commerce
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This topic introduces the student to the fundamental issues surrounding electronic commerce. The first isssue is definitional. Waht do we mean by the phrase e-commerce? Is it defined narrowly or widely? The other main issues centre around contractual issues, security and online payment issues, competition law, privacy and data protection, taxation, intellectual property rights protection and consumer protection.
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E-commerce Introduction
What is E-commerce?

E-commerce via the Internet has radically transformed the way trade is conducted. Some commentators have argued that the internet has been the biggest commercial revolution since the advent of the Industrial age. Others argue that the internet is the electronic frontier, analogous to the Wild West of America in the 1800s, a place where the trading post is uncontrolled and uncontrollable. The first hurdle we have to overcome is one of definition. What does e-commerce actually mean and why is it important? E-commerce is sometimes defined as conducting commerce in the virtual world, or online trading. This can be defined widely or narrowly. Does it include contracts concluded by e-mail, over the internet, via a mobile phone, when the goods are delivered online or when the goods are physical? What about contracts concluded in onlin英语论文网 【http://www.51lunwen.org】e gaming where virtual items are bought and sold?
E-commerce conveniently divides into a number of different types of virtual commerce.

Business to business [b2b]
Business to Consumer [b2c]
Business to employee [b2e]
Consumer to consumer [c2c]
Device to device [d2d]

The rules of e-commerce will differ according to the relative bargaining power of the parties to the transaction. Companies are deemed to be equal, whereas consumers are normally in weaker position vis a vis the company and thus the e-commerce rules must take account of this fact. B2C rules must protect the consumer, in order to engender trust and confidence in online trading. 

Electronic commerce can be conducted through a variety of electronic media, such as; E-mail, Intranet, Internet, an Extranet, TV and more recently the mobile phone [3G technology]. Developments in wireless technology have created a new generation of devices that offer true flexibility, mobility and interconnectivity for electronic communications, namely

Third Generation [3G] mobile telephones
Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) [palmtops and handhelds]
Laptop computers
Short Message Service [SMA] Messaging
Wi-fi [Wireless Fidelity]
Bluetooth [radio link between electronic devices]
EDI [Electronic Data Interchange]

3G mobile phones al 本文来自：英语论文网 【http://www.51lunwen.org】