New electronic media have convenient additional functions, for instance, retrieving and processing of information by computers, but the cost to purchase and maintain them is very high. Corporations are usually prepared to pay higher prices after considering profits and efficiency of particular new media. On the other hand, there is a limit, which is usually small, on how much individuals can spend on them. In the light of this, online services including databases are gradually spreading to corporations, but not to individuals due to their prices which are still not within reach of individuals. Yet, some individuals are expressing their wish to use online services, particularly business information, so there must be scope for service providers to think out of better ways to provide information or price structures and so on. Meanwhile, services designed for individuals, such as PC-VAN, NIFTY-Serve, are fast growing as a way of communication; at the same time they are drawing attention as new electronic networks.
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