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ISSUE: A new paradigm for e-commerce is being created not only around Internet and the Web but also around smart household technologies. However, the diffusion of new consumer technologies (such as digital TV and mobile telephones) and persistence of EDI systems suggest the importance of other access paradigms. RELEVANCE: As Internet and e-commerce use has largely been led by the United States it is tempting to assume a" catch-up" model for both business-to-business and business-to-consumer e-commerce. In order to address the ramifications of these changes, policymakers and entrepreneurs needs to be informed on their socio-economic impacts. Furthermore, even if the technological frameworks are roughly similar in the US and Europe, the socio-economic implications of the emergence of e-commerce may be very different, given the divergent business, market, and policy contexts.