"Portal" is an internet word that started to catch up very strongly a few years ago. It refers usually to a main guide that includes a search engine, plus additional content (such as current news, entertainment info, etc.), designed to keep you at the portal for as long as possible. A good example would be Google, Yahoo, CNN, AOL, etc. So now every leading Search engine, Access provider or Information network would like to become a portal.

     We extend the definition of the term portal to include also meta search engines that allow you to combine the results of other searchable sites and some SuperStores. A Good example would be Froogle (by Google), Dealtime, or Shopper.com (by CNet), which allows you to search multiple online computer hardware shops, and gives you as a result a very useful table of info about which Online shops sell the item you want, their phone number, is the item in stock, do they sell internationally, etc. Another good example is Addall.com, which allows you to conduct a similar search for books, and calculates for you which Online book shops will give you the best price for the book that you want, INCLUDING the shipment to your area.