Inhaltsangabe:Abstract: The thesis ¿Evaluation of opportunities of Electronic Commerce to retailing companies in the UK and Hong Kong¿ is written with particular emphasis on Internet banking. The primary objective of the research was to evaluate opportunities e-commerce provides to the retail banking industry in the UK and Hong Kong. The thesis looks at already established Banks who extend their distribution channels by offering Internet banking as well as pure Internet banks. Chapter one provides a brief overlook of the approach and methodology to the thesis. Chapter two contains a general overview about the Internet and e-commerce. Chapter three deals with Internet banking and how the Internet affect the distribution of financial services. Chapter four analyses the macro environment for retail banking in the UK and Hong Kong. Chapter five then tries to identify opportunities for Internet banking but also possible threats and weaknesses. Chapter six makes the attempt to find determinants of successful Internet banking. The final chapter provides a brief summary of the thesis and an outlook of the future of Internet banking. At the end of the research, the authors expected four gains. First, improve the skills, from research to data collecting, language, analytical and problems solving, etc. Secondly, the study in dept about e-commerce and the banking industry of Hong Kong and the UK will drive the authors to the international approaches and experiences. Thirdly, the methodology and writing expression will enhance author communication skills. Finally, the author hopes that companies can benefit from the findings of this thesis. Inhaltsverzeichnis:Table of Contents: 1.APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY TO THE THESIS1 2.THE INTERNET AND E-COMMERCE2 2.1THE INTERNET AND ITS EMERGENCE2 2.2INTERNET PENETRATION2 2.3FACTORS THAT AFFECT INTERNET PENETRATION5 2.3.1New technologies5 2.3.2Cost of Internet access7 2.4THE DEFINITION OF E-COMMERCE9 2.5THE INTERNET AS A PLATFORM FOR E-COMMERCE11 2.6TRENDS IN E-COMMERCE12 2.6.1The second generation of e-commerce12 2.6.2E-commerce in a global market place14 2.6.3Increased familiarity with Information Technology15 3.INTERNET BANKING17 3.1THE INTERNET AS A DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL FOR BANKING SERVICES17 3.2THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF INTERNET BANKING18 3.3THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY20 3.3.1on categorisation of services20 3.3.2on customers21 4.RETAIL BANKING AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MACRO [...]