Ireland has been a member of the European Union (EU) since January 1, 1973. The EU is a customs union having free trade among the 15 Member States, while levying a common tariff on imports coming from non-EU countries. Europe represents a market of over 370 million people. Ireland has close transport connections to international markets. No part of the country is more than 70 miles from a harbor or airport, from which frequent shipping and air services connect with …showed first 75 words of 2409 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2409 total…banking organizations both having developed internet banking services and most of the telecom operators launching e-business strategies. Since the completion of the Global Crossing pipeline in June 2000, a number of web-hosting companies such as Global Center, WorldPort, CityReach, BT Esat, and Worldcom have announced plans to establish international data centers in Ireland. Ireland is also developing an indigenous application service provider (ASP) industry with firms such as I-Fusion, eHost, EPS Software, MobileAware, and NewWorld Commerce.