Other than inventing the scale-based supply-chain-squeeze model of retail, which must go down as one of the great business innovations of all time, Wal-Mart is hardly known as a foresight-based player.

FORBES: Wal-Mart is Taking the Long View on Africa

From here on, the factors important to success in the traditional brick-and- mortar retail business -- pricing power based on brand strength and economies of scale -- also will be required on the Internet.

FORBES: Does Amazon.com really matter?