Experts tend to agree on at least two predictions. The Internet will continue to get bigger and more pervasive in American and world society, and much of the action will happen out on the “edge” of the Net as computer users increasingly employ smaller, more mobile, more powerful devices.

A bigger, more pervasive Internet will mean greater availability of Web commerce at all levels of buying and selling. It will also mean that online auction sites will have more buyers and sellers competing with each other.

Greater mobility, however, will ensure that you will be able to combine travel and pleasure more easily with running online auction sales. As you find new items to sell, you will simply pull out your wireless multifunction digital device, take the necessary photographs, create the descriptive text, post the listing, watch for bids, handle other transactions, send and receive e-mail, and make voice phone calls. As long as you don't misplace or lose your Miracle Multi-communicator device, you will be fine. The panic you feel now when losing a cell phone certainly would be multiplied because of the number of other functions supported by the future device. Imagine yourself running your auction business while hiking in the Grand Canyon. It could happen soon. Now picture yourself suddenly and completely cut off from your auction business because you have just dropped your Miracle Multi-communicator into the Colorado River. That could happen, too. Adopt new technology as it fits your needs, but always have a backup means for keeping your business going.

Several groups and organizations, including Internet2, are looking ahead to the so-called next-generation Internet, which may start appearing within a few years. For example, the National Science Foundation has proposed basically starting over, viewing the current Internet as a “clean slate” in its Global Environment for Networking Investigations (GENI) initiative. GENI is expected to focus on improving Internet security, as well as making the Internet easier to access and more useful for monitoring sensors and controlling devices within a building or home.

Internet changes may be years away from having any impact on your online auction business. Or, they could start arriving much faster than you think. Always keep one eye on the outside world while you stay focused on building your auction business and providing top-notch customer service.