ABSTRACT
At the start of the 1990s the first reports were heard of a new network for commercial applications; this was to be known as the Internet. At the time there were a number of developments going on in the United States that enabled contacts and commerce through this network. The first applications were aimed at online searches for information and advertising. Small-scale applications were developed whereby companies could offer their services, and customers – usually businesses – could establish contacts directly. There were also similar developments in other countries, such as Teletel/Minitel in France and Prestel and Ceefax in the UK.
