this article tries to breakdown and define the various portal offerings  … it's worth a read even if it's a bit obvious is some cases.

"Almost every major software vendor offers a portal solution. It's no wonder: With organizations striving to provide internal and external users with an intuitive way to access relevant content, browser-based portals are a strategic part of any e-business initiative. In a recent Meta Group survey, 78 percent of organizations indicated future portal efforts would include employees as targets. That figure is far greater than the 53 percent that plan to target customers and 32 percent aiming at suppliers."

From: Network Computing | Feature | Business Applications | A Portal Odyssey | Page 1 | July 23, 2001

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