FACILITIES AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET

The internet provides several software tools to take maximum benefits from the net. It is possible to communicate with people all around the world. Information on various subjects can be accessed very easily. A user can navigate from one topic to another and download any information required by him. Friendship can be built by people of related interest from around the world. Further business can be done and product can be advertised on the Internet. The following are some of the services that can be exploited by an Internet user. 

 1. E-mail

2. FTP

3. Usenet 

4. Telnet 

5. Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

6. World Wide Web

1 . Electronic Mail (E-mail): E-mail is an electronic message sent from one computer to another.  

2. File Transfer Protocol (FTP):FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is the simplest and most secure way to exchange files over the internet. 

3. Usenet:Usenet is acting like a huge bulletin board with thousands of newsgroups and subgroups. 

4. Telnet:Telnet allows internet users to access another computer linked to the internet. 

5. Internet Relay Chat (IRC):Internet Relay Chat is a real time internet based chat service, in which one can find ‘live’ participants from the world over. It is a multi user chat system that allows many people to communicate simultaneously across the Internet. 

6. World Wide Web (WWW):Information can be accessed on the internet through the World Wide Web. Web is a system of organizing, linking and providing access to related internet files, resources and services.

INTERNET IN INDIA

The internet is very popular now and is growing rapidly in India. In the beginning, internet was made available to Education and Research Network (ERNET) and National Informatics Network (NICNET) only. Internet connection was restricted to private organizations and individuals. This was mainly due to the absence of an agency to provide internet connectivity.

In 1995, VSNL (Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited) Mumbai, the external telecom provider was given the approval to extend internet facilities commercially to individuals and organizations. Internet, which was available only in few cities in India and through VSNL only, is rapidly increasing since internet connection is entered to the nook and corner of India and private internet service providers coming into the picture.

India also extended the age of e-commerce, the day the government deregulated the Internet Service Provider Policy in November 1998. VSNL, MTNL, Satyam Online, Intel India are some of the popular ISPs already providing access to internet in India. As a result of these reforms, the number of internet subscribers has been steadily increasing.

At present Indian sites are increasing on the web ranging from the history of India to matrimonial advertisements. Information on travel, culture, art, education etc are now available on the internet. The internet is widely used for enabling transactions as a medium of electronic commerce. Now internet has become an integral part of trade and commerce in India.

BUSINESS USE OF INTERNET

Business concerns use internet for a variety of purposes. Some of the major uses of internet in the business field are enumerated below.

1.    Access to databases :Internet is highly useful to a business to access complex databases. For example with the help of internet, a company can access financial databases.

2.    Electronic Commerce:Buying and selling products and services on internet is called electronic commerce.

3.    Electronic Mail:The electronic mail (E-mail) is widely used by companies to communicate faster between companies, customers, workers and outsiders.

4.    Conferencing:Companies are also making use of internet to conduct both audio and video conferencing to discuss important issues by executives locating at distant places.

5.    World wide audience:The Internet is a worldwide network allowing the business to reach people all over the world. It helps to capture the attention of customers even very expensive advertising could not achieve.

6.    Provide product information:Internet give customers direct access to information about your products. Some people prefer to collect information about products by themselves. The Internet has an great ability to make information about your company’s products or services available to potential customers.

7.    Save on literature costs:Providing the information online reduces the need to print and mail product literature, thereby resulting in significant cost reductions.

8.    Provide easy access to customer service representatives:Human interaction cannot be totally replaced by even the best graphical interface. When customers have a question, or would like to speak with a person, provide a list of contacts and phone numbers or allow them to send e-mail directly to a customer service representative, requesting that they be contacted.

9.    Recruit new employees:Many companies provide current information about job openings and attract talented people from places they could not reach otherwise.

10.                       Provide on-line service:Many products and services can be delivered over the Internet.

11.                       Eliminate the middleman:Middlemen exist in some industries where there are barriers to direct contact between producers and consumers. The Internet is a vehicle for removing these barriers. This lowers prices for consumers and increases profits for producers.

12.                       Entertainment programs:Media and entertainment companies use the internet to broadcast audio and video, including live radio and television programs.