14.2  ONLINE STOREFRONTS


Some companies, particularly large computer companies such as Digital 
Equipment Corp. and Sun Microsystems, Inc., have set up their own online 
storefronts.  Smaller companies, though, are increasingly setting up shop 
in online "malls."  The idea behind these malls is similar to that of 
real ones -- you go to the mall for one particular item, and then browse 
around seeing what else there is (for stores, the advantages are also 
similar -- the mall owner is responsible for advertising, promises a 
certain amount of "foot traffic" and does all the maintenance). 

One of the earliest malls, in fact, one based on gopher, is run by Msen, 
a public-access Internet provider in Ann Arbor, Mich.  Its Msen 
Marketplace offers a travel agency, "Internet Business Pages" listing 
companies with services available on the Internet, and an "Online Career 
Center, offering help-wanted ads from across the U.S.  You can reach Msen 
through gopher at 

     gopher.msen.com

At the main menu, select "Msen Marketplace."

As of this writing (November, 1994), CommerceNet remains more a concept 
than an actual online mall.  But if you want to take a peek through a 
knothole at the construction, point your Web browser at 

     http://www.commerce.net

HotWired and the Global Network Navigator represent two other ways to do 
business on the Internet.  Both are online magazines on the Web, 
featuring not only links to other services, but original writing, as well 
(HotWired, started by Wired magazine, even lets readers participate in 
public forums on the articles).  Both carry advertising in the form of 
icons.  Click on the icons (or in the case of Lynx, move your cursor to 
the advertiser's name and hit enter) and you'll be connected to 
advertising material related to whatever the company in question is 
trying to sell.  You can try HotWired at 

     http://www.hotwired.com

and Global Network Navigator at

     http://gnn.com

For the former, you'll have to register first (unusual for a Web 
resource); for the latter, you'll have to chose a local GNN server first.