Financial transaction mechanisms for World Wide Web applications

Abstract

The World Wide Web is the fastest growing application of the Internet. Its continual growth has provided a new electronic medium for commerce. One of the more exciting uses of the World Wide Web in commerce is the selling of information, instead of goods. A major obstacle that the World Wide Web in general and information sellers specifically faces for commercialization is secure means is conducting financial transactions. This thesis' objective is to develop a criteria for individuals to use in the evaluation of the different financial transaction mechanisms that are becoming available on the World Wide Web. Two of the leading financial transaction mechanisms available today, First Virtual and Netbill, are analyzed in detail and compared on the basis of these criteria. This analysis is then applied to Decision Net. While First Virtual's is further along in the development process, Netbill promises to offer better features to the meet Decision Net's requirements.