Kaphan
notes that “Amazon was dependent on commercial and free database systems, as well as
HTTP server software from commercial and free sources. Many of the programming tools
were free software” [Collett 2002]. In July 1995, Amazon opened its Web site for sales. Us-ing heavily discounted book prices (20 to 30 percent below common retail prices); Amazon
advertised heavily and became the leading celebrity of the Internet and e-commerce.