Another field that has been affected by the Internet is that of the manufacturing companies whose using of outsourcing has significantly grown, thus enabling them to move much of their production to less expensive overseas locations.

Though starting a new business on the Internet is often easier and less expensive than "brick and mortar" companies, many are reluctant "to put their critical information on it because it will be exposed" (Bill Gates).This is why security on the Internet has become one of the top priorities for companies such as Microsoft, that invest a lot of time and energy into secure the online business environment.

A study on how businesses use the internet developed in the year 2000 revealed that "vast opportunities for financial and productivity gains" awaited those corporations and businesses that would regard the Internet as one of their main resources.

This research shows what some people have suspected all along, that integrating the Internet to meet operational objectives does lead to improved financial performance,"...

("Research finds Internet technology investments can boost business financial performance, productivity")
To conclude it seems that even though nowadays there still exist some companies that are able to survive without highly relying on the Internet, the future shall most certainly belong to Internet dependant businesses and corporations.

Bibliography

How the internet transformed business" Steve Schifferes

Business editor, BBC News website Available.Online. (3 August 2006)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5235332.stm (accessed 3rd October 2007)

Research finds Internet technology investments can boost business financial performance, productivity" Available. Online. (21st September 200) http://www.utexas.edu/opa/news/00newsreleases/nr_200009/nr_internet000921.html9(accessed 3rd October 2007)

Internet Quotes" Available. Online. (undated) http://www.woopidoo.com/business_quotes/internet-quotes.htm (Accessed 3rd October 2007)