The real profit in the credit card business is the revolving balances, ... Commerce has calibrated what balances they need to be able to make this product profitable without charging the fees that some of the other credit cards charge.

[Few small e-commerce software makers have been able to turn a profit in the small-business market. Bock says that with an ISP's sales channel, those small companies can change their fortunes.] The tools makers are lining up to dance with the ISPs, ... Tool vendors have to have an elegant way to interface with potential clients: supporting a tool through an ISP is like a hot knife through butter.

committed to taking steps to ensure that e-commerce remains a secure place to do business.

A free ISP does not create a business you can float. It is really e-commerce that can drive a business. We have to turn these customers into revenue.

The pursuit of the small business has always been the holy grail of e-commerce.

The dramatic decline in the share price is entirely due to what's going on at its subsidiary. This is a serious distraction from the HSBC takeover arrangement that needs to be resolved.