Most such businesses can't afford the staff and hassle required to navigate a sea of local, long-distance and wireless carriers, Internet and application service providers and Web site and e-mail hosts.

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This scanner also comes with the obligatory one-year warranty and Internet-based help via HP's Web site and e-mail service.

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In October, Excite, which is evolving from the second-largest Internet search site to a fully fledged online service, bought NetBot in order to acquire the firm's shopping-agent technology, with which it hopes to create a virtual megastore.

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In the UK, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) took action to the courts, obtaining a court order to force internet service providers to block access to file-sharing site The Pirate Bay.

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Instead of contacting the Internet service provider or Web host running a site, anti-phishing groups and the more than 40 companies impersonated by the group had to contact the domain registrar in each case to have the domains shut down.

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Entries submitted by any other individual or any entity originating at any other Internet web site or e-mail address, including but not limited to commercial sweepstakes subscription notification or entering service sites, will be declared invalid and, as such, ruled ineligible for this promotion.

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