A Web page can include company information, pictures, descriptions of products, and even forms that allow users to place orders online. But having a Web page is no guarantee that anyone will see it. While a number of organizations have attempted to categorize Web pages on the Internet, there is no one central authority that catalogs Web pages like telephone companies do with phone directories. And while the Internet is the latest rage among home computer users and businesses alike, it's still unclear what effect it will have on sales and profits. But the Internet, which was formed for research purposes in the 1970s and '80s, has only recently been used for commerce.
Many experts predict huge profits in some Internet-related ventures.
And there are some early success stories. Most of them, the article says, are small Internet access providers - such as Log On America. There are restrictions to the free e-mail offer. Businesses can connect to the Log on America computer for e-mail only during business hours, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and are limited to 20 minutes connect time daily. And each business is allowed just one free e-mail account.