Web Terminology - 'Portals'

[John_Harbison/CSRS at colshan.com]

I refer everyone to a recent article entitled "Racing to the Start Line"
for further info on the 'Portal' term.

http://www.news.com/SpecialFeatures/0,5,22073,00.html

John Harbison
Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott, PLLC
Wash., DC

Jian wrote:

Another term, popping up more and more frequently, on the commercial
side of the web at least, is "Portal", referring mainly to the big
search engine sites, which have added other popular subject directories,
free email, chat room, and other shopping opportunities. There is
a recent article in PC Magazine Online that discusses Netscape's NetCenter
as being one of the portals.

Any comment on the use of the word, or this portal trend?

Jian
Indiana University Libraries