Growing demand for such Internet solutions is creating "infomediaries" - firms that act as central clearinghouses for business information or matchmakers for suppliers and corporate buyers worldwide.

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And by comparing the prices Inland pays with Ispat's best prices worldwide (it is one of the biggest buyers of the industry's inputs), he says Ispat has reduced costs on products such as blast-furnace components by up to 20%.

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Demand continued to outpace supply after a worldwide rollout, and the company was surprised that many buyers already had computers.

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Earlier this month, still more hybrid car buyers were hit with bad news: more than 100, 000 Priuses worldwide are being recalled because of a steering problem.

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