Synopses & Reviews
"Read this book first before investing in Internet commerce." -- Vinton G. Cerf, Cofounder, The Internet Society
Prepare for the coming revolution in Internet commerce.
In this in-depth executive briefing, CyberCash founder Daniel Lynch and new technology specialist Leslie Lundquist provide decision makers with an invaluable head start on the emerging world of Internet commerce. Digital Money explains the processes, issues, and strategic considerations of options now, or soon to be, available. It helps you to understand the various ways in which your business can benefit from developing Internet transaction capabilities. And it provides answers to an array of practical considerations, such as how much it will cost you to set up and maintain a digital exchange system, what types of technologies and resources you will need to support it, which methods are most appropriate for your type of business, and many others.
Explains the technical basics of secure digital transactions, including encryption and digital signatures
* Explains the essential principles of exchanging digital money and goods
* Describes current and emerging forms of digital financial transaction, including direct sales, online investing and banking, and the exchange of commodities
* Critically reviews proposed protocols and standards now vying for predominance, including Netscape, CyberCash, DigiCash, and First Virtual Holdings
* Describes creative ways for using digital money to open new markets and sales opportunities
Authoritative, complete, and up-to-the-minute, Digital Money helps you make informed decisions about how to take your company into the brave new world of Internet commerce.
Synopsis
Until now, commerce on the Internet has been shackled by the lack of secure transactions. This book offers an executive briefing on this vital topic. Exploring the technical underpinnings of what can and will be done on the Net, it explains the processes, issues and strategic considerations of a variety of approaches to secure transactions, including digital signatures. You'll learn about the pros and cons of each approach so you can decide which is best for your business.
About the Author
DANIEL C. LYNCH is a founder and Chairman of CyberCash, Inc., one of the pioneering companies in Internet financial transactions. He is also founder and Chairman of the Interop Company and serves on the boards of trustees of the Santa Fe Institute, the Bionomics Institute, and The Internet Society.
LESLIE LUNDQUIST is a writer and software engineer specializing in new technologies and Internet publishing. She has worked on many groundbreaking computer products, including projects at Xerox and Apple Computer, and currently owns a successful writing and Internet consulting business.
Table of Contents
Introduction: The Foundations of a New Commerce.
Dramatis Personae: Digital Money Architectures, Companies, and Organizations.
Cryptography: Secret Writing as a Cornerstone of Digital Money.
Digital Money: The Cuneiform of a New Age.
New Business Concepts.
The Evolving Cyber Economy.
Electronic Information Exchange.
The New Wooden Nickel.
Legal Questions.
Technology in Service to Humanity.
Appendices.
Notes.
Additional Readings.
Glossary.
Index.