In this interview with platform he attempts to unravel the latest phenomena of recent years e-commerce. I don't think the terminology has really shaken out enough for us to say yes or no to all of the above because some people use the terms more specifically than others. I don't have any claim to being right here, however. For the average consumer it will mean nothing in the short term, but perhaps the average consumer will eventually get on-line, and perhaps they will begin to make some purchases via the Internet.
News is always about what is different, rather than what continues.
I still see it as part of an evolutionary change in retailing, which probably began with Sears Roebuck and the mail-order business in the early 1800s. Electronic communications systems just shorten the time span of the purchase-decision, and extend the reach of the retailer, and electronic information systems allow more information to be made available cheaper. A few years ago the fashion in technology was all about videophones and videoconferencing. So the media is promoting certain new concepts as if they were 'expert opinion', when they are probably actually being devised by marketing departments. It is easier and 'safer' just to follow the promoted line.