In 1998, IBM, with its agency Ogilvy & Mather, began to use its foundation in IT solutions and expertise to market itself as a leader of conducting business on the Internet through the term "e-business."[4] Then CEO Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. was prepared to invest $1 billion to market this new brand.[5]
After conducting worldwide market research in October 1997, IBM began with an eight-page piece in the Wall Street Journal that would introduce the concept of "e-business" and advertise IBM's expertise in the new field.[4] IBM decided not to trademark the term "e-business" in the hopes that other companies would use the term and create an entire new industry.[5] However, this proved to be too successful and by 2000, to differentiate itself, IBM launched a $300 million campaign about its "e-business infrastructure" capabilities.[5] Since that time, the terms, "e-business" and "e-commerce" have been loosely interchangeable and have become a part of the common vernacular.[6]