Analysis of Internet Diffusion in Italy: a comparison of for-profit and non-profit sector

The Internet is expanding very rapidly (Coffman, Odlyzko, 2001) and has gradually become a parallel reality, with which an individual interacts in order to buy goods, organize leisure time, job-hunt, study and do research, manage one's own finances and the household, communicate with institutions, and find incredible bargains on on-line auctions, without ever leaving home. By now, any company can be seen by whole world on the Internet, enjoying the many advantages and opportunities offered by this means of communication. These advantages for businesses provided by the Internet are not only linked to the sale of products and services (direct advantages) but can also be indirect (Hansons, 2000, Novak and Hoffman,1996). For example, among the most important of these are reduced costs, image consolidation, greater customer loyalty, and a wider diffusion of products offered by the company. They are referred to as "indirect" since they do not lead directly to sales and do not generate immediate profits; however, they are important since they will probably be the greatest benefits offered to businesses by the Internet. (...)