The document provides an introduction to e-commerce. It discusses how e-commerce has grown exponentially since emerging in the mid-1990s, with Americans expected to spend $142-172 billion online by 2005. The document outlines different types of e-commerce models including B2B, B2C, and C2C, and describes key characteristics of e-commerce such as ubiquity, global reach, and interactivity that differentiate it from traditional commerce. Unique features of e-commerce technology that allow for personalization and customization are also highlighted.