Chapter 3 – Network Applications and eCommerce

Q1. What is an IP Address? What is its main function?

A TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol) is a basic protocol or language used as a common communication. A protocol is a specific set of rules allowing data and information to be freely moved around the internet. All computers on the Internet have unique IP addresses, being either public or private. 

There are four TCP/IP protocol layers and they include; application, transport, internet and network.


Q2. What is Web 2.0, how does it differ from 1.0?

Web 2.0 is commonly known as the ‘Live Web’ and allows its users build their own contents for interaction. Features that are common to Web 2.0 include social networking, blogging, tagging, wiki sites and podcasts.

Web 2.0 differs from 1.0 as it is interactive, 1.0 was not.

Q3. What is Web 3.0?

Commonly known as the ‘semantic web’ it is an evolving extension of the World Wide Web. It depicts content not only in natural language, but data formats that can be used by software agents.

It encompasses one or more of the following:

• Transforming the web into a database
• An evolutionary path to artificial intelligence
• Search for information using different medias
• Evolution toward 3D

Q4. What is eBusiness, how does it differ from ecommerce?

e-business – consists of conducting business activities on the internet. Such business activities are that similar to a normal business not online, with activities including buying, serving and selling to customers and working with business partners.

e-Commerce – the buying and selling of goods and services on the internet. It refers to online transactions

Difference being e-Commerce also refers to online exchanges of information (i.e. - you can view banking accounts)

Q5. What is pure and partial ecommerce?

Pure ecommerce – allows doe the product, process as well as the delivery agent to all be in a digital format.

Partial ecommerce – allows for the product, process as well as the delivery to be physical or digital depending on the circumstance.

 

Q6. List and describe the various eBusiness models?

B2B (Business-to-business) applies to business’ buying from and selling to each other via the Internet.

 B2C (Business-to-consumer) is when any business sells its products or services to its consumers over the Internet.





C2B (Consumer-to-business) is when the consumer sells a product or service to a business over the Internet.

C2C (Consumer-to-consumer) this applies to the particular sites that primarily offer goods and services to assist consumers interacting with each other, via the Internet.

Q7. List and describe the major B2B models?

The major B2B models include online access to data (including expected shipping date, delivery date and shipping status) which is provided either by the seller or the third party.

Electronic Marketplaces represent a new wave in B2B e-Business models.

Q8. Outline 2 opportunities and 2 challenges faced by companies doing business online?
 

Opportunities:

• Increased Consumer Loyalty
• Decreased consumer cost
• Increased Global cost

Challenges:

• Protecting consumers
• Providing security
• Adhering to taxation rules