Abstract
It is the internet that is transforming the business environment by creating new challenges and opportunities. This chapter provides an overview of the internet and its well defined characteristics. It highlights the key developments that have contributed to its explosive growth and its impact on the business environment. The Internet is a world-wide network of networks. In other words, it is a common technology platform that allows computing devices to communicate with each other. Through this medium, it offers a number of alternative channels that enable businesses and people to communicate across zones. The three core channels include the commonly used email (electronic mail), news groups and mailing lists. And finally the great development of the World Wide Web (www). The World Wide Web (www) is a large network of documents, which contains hypertext and pictures, and provides the opportunity for dynamic interaction. Hypertext allows information to be organized in a user friendly way such that it is easily accessible. Information and data is gaining a major sector of the products and services that people buy and a critical source of added value.
