Configuring a product at Cisco's web site

Cisco Systems is a worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco products include routers, LAN and ATM switches, dial-up access servers and network management software. It is also a leader in using the Internet to allow customers to enter their orders. Visit Cisco's web site at www.cisco.com. Find the page for entering an order (Cisco calls this the "Networking Products Marketplace.") Accept Cisco's invitation to "take a test drive" in configuring a product.

Questions:

1. What does Cisco's configurator software do for someone ordering a Cisco product? Identify other types of products for which a similar configurator might be used.

2. To what extent is technical knowledge needed to order products using Cisco's ecommerce site?

3. Cisco prides itself in supporting a high volume of self-service ordering using the Internet. Under what circumstances does this approach seem especially applicable or inapplicable?

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