Publishing and profits in the new economy

The ability to collect small amounts of money for Internet-based information services is fundamental to extending content-based businesses to the Net in its widest sense. This 'micropayment' sector is attracting a lot of attention right now because it is, in a sense, up for grabs. Banks' existing payment offerings - credit and debit cards, cheques and bank transfers - stop being useful (i.e. convenient and cost-effective) as the size of transactions falls. In the 'real world' we can use cash to solve the problem. On the Net, new solutions are required.