entrant

n 1: a commodity that enters competition with established

merchandise; "a well publicized entrant is the pocket

computer"

2: any new participant in some activity [syn: {newcomer}, {fledgling},

{fledgeling}, {starter}, {neophyte}, {freshman}]

3: someone who enters; "new entrants to the country must go

though immigration procedures"

4: one who enters a competition

extranet

The extension of a company's {intranet} out

onto the {Internet}, e.g. to allow selected customers,

suppliers and mobile workers to access the company's private

data and applications via the {World-Wide Web}. This is in

contrast to, and usually in addition to, the company's public

{web site} which is accessible to everyone. The difference

can be somewhat blurred but generally an extranet implies

real-time access through a {firewall} of some kind.

Such facilities require very careful attention to security but

are becoming an increasingly important means of delivering

services and communicating efficiently.

[Did {Marc Andreessen} invent the term in September 1996?]

(1997-12-17)