E-Commerce

Who would have thought that it would be so easy to get PC and network users to install viruses, worms, application-downloading Trojan horses and other forms of malware on their PCs? Through a simple form of social engineering -- sending out enticing, unsolicited e-mail spam -- Internet users are doi...

Users of AOL's fledgling video download service may be in for a surprise the next time they visit the site. The one-time Internet leader has shuttered its 1-year-old video service and is now funneling users to Amazon.com's Unbox video download site. The shutdown follows AOL's decision to reinvent it...

In a three-year deal worth US$4.5 billion, Dell is consolidating its far-flung advertising efforts into an integrated "new marketing model" that involves partnering with one agency: London-based WPP Group. Dell officials said they've been calling the new arrangement "Project DaVinci," a name intende...

The adage "those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it" is particularly appropriate in the market for consumer video formats and players. Consistently, manufacturers have been unwilling or unable to develop formats compatible over a broad range of CE devices, and consumers have suffe...

The holiday shopping season is upon us. Import prices are up as the U.S. dollar continues its descent, oil prices are hitting record highs, and the American economy is still struggling to absorb shocks from mortgage market problems, falling home values and tighter credit conditions. Given a backdrop...

You probably realize that startups experience an inordinate amount of failures. Of course, starting any new business is fraught with risks. However, these risks can be minimized with the proper planning. Based upon my experience in owning and advising businesses, I have come up with seven tips for t...

Shopping online has become a favorite activity for consumers. However, retailers still haven't successfully replicated the experience of uncovering the perfect item hidden on the back of a rack, the thrill of unexpectedly wandering into an out-of-the way boutique, or the way friends bond over dressi...

Amazon.com on Thursday launched a site that invites visitors to ask questions and receive answers from fellow users, who will be lured with Amazon currency to share their expertise and opinions. Amazon is aiming to use Askville.com to leverage its own expertise in sharing consumer opinions -- user r...

Adobe and Yahoo jointly launched the beta version of a new advertising service Thursday designed to allow PDF publishers to earn advertising revenue for their content. Dubbed "Ads for Adobe PDF Powered by Yahoo," the opt-in service enables online commercial publishers to include timely contextual ad...

Looking to boost confidence among both investors and customers, online brokerage E*Trade Financial said Wednesday it had received a $2.55 billion investment from a private equity firm. After disclosing it had seen significant erosion of some assets due to the subprime mortgage meltdown and after an ...

As the Web video craze continues to escalate, the market for this content is evolving. Advertisers are trying to cash in on clips by both amateurs and production companies; new Web sites catering to the trend are popping up; and video is gaining in popularity on additional platforms, notably mobile....

Cyber Monday lived up to and even exceeded its much-hyped advanced billing, with U.S. consumers setting a new spending record on the unofficial kickoff to the online holiday shopping season. ComScore data show U.S. shoppers spent $733 million online on Monday, a 21 percent increase when compared wit...

What a difference a single dollar makes -- a very big difference indeed. As a matter of fact, the difference can be almost like a mind-altering shock wave, a global hysteria, a cry of the consumer to be heard around every corner of the globe, in addition to being "breaking news" to feed the glitzy T...

There's no denying that seismic changes are afoot in the music industry. As the record labels engage in bitter battles over copyrights, artists are increasingly turning to alternative means of releasing music and reaching their fans. Prince chose to give away his latest album, "Planet Earth," for fr...

Web portal Lycos has released its eighth annual list of the Top 50 most popular holiday season toys and games, and already a few online sales trends are becoming apparent in the realm of consumer electronics. The quality of video games continues to improve along with the increasing capabilities of ...