Discuss the internet and web services available to a business.

1. 1 · Open in two lines. The internet offers many services beyond web pages. Businesses use them to communicate, trade and serve customers at low cost.
2. 2 · Email. Fast, cheap messages and attachments sent by SMTP and read with IMAP or POP3; one message can reach many customers.
3. 3 · E-commerce. Selling and buying online through a website or marketplace, open 24 hours to customers anywhere.
4. 4 · E-banking and online payments. Transfers, bill payments and statements from a phone, without visiting a branch.
5. 5 · Communication and collaboration.
   • VoIP and video meetings cut travel costs.
   • Social media for marketing and customer service.
   • Cloud services for shared files and software.
6. 6 · E-government and information services. Online tax filing and other public services; search engines for research and for customers to find the firm.
7. 7 · Sri Lankan business example. Payments through bank apps on the LankaPay network, online selling on Daraz, and tax filing on the IRD's RAMIS system.
8. 8 · Close with a balance. These services save time and money, but need security against phishing, malware and fraud.

Scoring tip: Use headings for each service and add one Sri Lankan example to each.