Electronic commerce - such form of delivery of production at which the choice and the order of the goods is carried

out through computer networks, and calculations between the buyer and the supplier are carried out with use of electronic documents and-or means of payment. For today dominating payment means at on-line purchases are credit cards. However on a stage there are also new payment tools: a smart-card, digital money, micropayments and electronic checks. Electronic commerce includes not only on-line transactions. In the area covered by this concept, it is necessary to include and such kinds of activity as carrying out of marketing researches, definition of opportunities and partners, support of communications with suppliers and consumers, the organization of document circulation and so forth Thus, electronic commerce is complex concept and includes electronic data exchange as one of components. Volumes of electronic sales. If at the initial stage of the development the Internet served only for dialogue and distribution of the non commercial information, today it is already obvious, that network technologies can successfully be used and in commercial objectives. As the statistics shows, in 1999 nearby 600 thousand firms sold the goods and services through the Internet, that on 65 % it is more, than in 1998. By the present moment about 40 % of all the Internet-users (more than 100 million person) have made even one purchase in on-line shops. In 1999 the volume of retails in the Network has made nearby 40-50 billion dollars Now the greatest gain the category of sites of retail in the Internet (52 % for half a year) has. The volume of electronic transactions thus will make 300-500 billion dollars, And the share of corporate sector will grow up to 70-80 %. Today the share of small business in incomes of electronic commerce makes about 20 %. It is expected, that by 2003 it will increase up to 27 %. The Americans buying through the Internet, use at payment by credit cards. In 1998 each buyer has made on the average 6 purchases, and in 1999 - 13. For example, researches during the New Year's period of 1999 show online-buyers, that they get 67 % of gifts in usual shops, 7 % under catalogues, and 26 % - on the Internet. Besides arrangements between the EU countries about a mutual recognition of electronic contracts are reached. Approval of the given project is powerful stimulus for development of the European electronic market. Now about 35 % of constant European users the Internet is visited on a regular basis with the sites connected with on-line trade. Now in the Europe 16 million buyers the Internet-shops is totaled nearby. By 2004 growth of their quantity up to 100 million that will make about 70 % from all European users is

expected.