TYPES OF E-COMMERCE

There are a variety of different types of e-commerse and many different types of e-commerce and many different ways to characterize these types. For the most part, we distinguish different types of e-commerce by the nature of the market relationship-who is selling to whom. The exceptions are P2P and m-commerce, which are technology based distinctions.

1. Business to Consumer (B2C) e-commerce

The most commonly discussed type of e-commerce, in which online businesses attempt to reach individual consumers.

2. Business to Business (B2B) e-commerce

In which business focus on selling to other businesses, is the largest form of e-commerce, with about $800 billion in transactions in the US for 2002.

3. Consumer to Consumer (C2C) e-commerce

Provides a way for consumers to sell to esch other, with the help of an online market maker such as the auction site and eBay.

4. Peer to Peer (P2P) e-commerce

Use of peer to peer technology, which enables internet users to share files and computer resources directly without having to go through a central Web server, in e-commerce.

5. Mobile commerce (m-commerce)

Refers to the use of wireless digital devices to enable transactions on the Web.