A method and system for automatically conducting a business transaction between
a user and a trader, including the functions of ordering, financial transaction,
delivery initiation and data management. A trader terminal (170) includes
billing information (200) representative of the trader and a user terminal
(100) or user card (800) is used to receive and process the billing
information (200) over a local communications link (300). The user
terminal (100) or user card (800) includes user information representative
of the user. The user information and billing information is transmitted by the
user terminal (100) to a service provider (500) over a communications
network (400) whereupon the service provider (500) automatically
transfers funds of the user, which may be reserved funds, to the trader upon entry
of a PIN by the user on the user terminal (100). Delivery destination information
and information identifying the goods and/or services purchased by the user may
be transmitted to the service provider (500) and to an electronic warehouse (900).