The internet was developed in the 1960's by the US Government primarily for use as a communication tool for government and military operations going live for the first time in October 1969. After turning over control of the internet to private organizations for public use, the internet grew by leaps and bounds. Today the internet is used by individuals for fun and education, meeting and talking to other people around the world, and by business from small to the largest corporations in the world to advertise their products and services. The computer industry has flourished with the boom of the www and now there are countless computer suppliers and service centers around the world providing laptops to main frames for individuals through the largest international corporations.