They make network services available to any user, any time, from anywhere, using virtually any device. They adapt on demand to meet new user requirements, and evolve to accept new technologies. The service-driven network is the objective, and services are the lifeblood of the network. Examples include directory, database services, and Internet e-mail packages. For example, in the process of fulfilling an online book purchase, the merchant's Web server may call a payment authorization service, a credit card fraud screen service, and a delivery address verification service.
Portals are the killer apps of the dot-com age.
The word portal is used differently by many vendors, but Perfect Order defines it simply as a service that aggregates services for specific groups of users. For example, Yahoo and Excite are portals that organize collections of services for consumers. There are even industry portals-Web sites where electric utilities can trade power with each other, for instance. Portals make it possible to represent yourself appropriately and consistently to different groups of users. For example, your supplier portal may allow a supplier a detailed view of your current inventory for the products that they supply, while your customer portal may indicate for the customer only whether the product is in stock or not, and may not differentiate between various suppliers.