The Internet Revolution

The Internet Revolution Now, with the click of a button, consumers are buying just about anything imaginable, and all from the convenience of the internet. People no longer have to leave their homes, work or where ever there is internet access to make important purchases. Technology has advanced so that companies are conducting business around the world with out ever meeting. No longer do consumers or businessmen have to shake to complete a deal or a sale, but merely click down on the mouse and the numbers change. Some internet companies have never seen their customers and yet some traditional retailers have not yet acknowledged the internet. However, “convergence is the new religion (“The Real…” 53).” Big companies are changing the business world as we see it through the internet. June 1, Merrill Lynch announced it was joining the internet revolution and would begin selling stocks for $29.95 a trade (Cropper 60). A division of the Sabre Holdings Company of Fort Worth, Texas and Preview Travel, an exclusive partner of America Online, announced they were both merging to form one of the nations largest internet commerce sites with an expected revenue of nearly one billion dollars (Jones C-7). Companies are merging and joining the internet all out of the internet revolution craze. The internet is revolutionizing the way the world is doing business through faster, easier and more direct consumer access to their desired companies. Of course, such direct contact to these companies means that the “middleman” is often eliminated. People like accountants, travel agents and stockbrokers are all ending up with commissions being cut and even losing their jobs. “My commission was first cut from 10% to 8% and now to 5% on plane tickets. People are now buying their tickets online. Its much easier than going to travel agency (Halbert, intrv). People can also manage their money from home with on-line

Cited: “Can On-line Banking Replace Conventional Banking?” Computer World. 1 Jan. 1998: 32- 4. 2 Nov. 1999: 112-14. Halbert, JoAnn. Personal Interview. 2 Nov. 1999. 23 Mar. 1999: C-4. “The Real Internet Revolution.” The Economist. 21 Aug. 1999: 53- 4. Swisher, Kara. “Making the Sale – Seller Beware.” Wall Street Journal. 7 Dec. 1998: R 22.