Today, a
new "
virtual culture" is emerging that transcends local and regional cultural boundaries. This virtual culture is both being generated and sustained through the application of new technologies. Proponents of such a virtual transcendence tend to exhibit a form of cyberspace ethnocentrism, which has been termed "cybercentrism". While the advocates of such a virtual culture emphasize its advantages for the typical consumer, critics point to the negative consequences this process is having on the digital have-nots. This paper provides an overview and analysis of the trends in marketing that are making important changes in the way products and services are researched, developed, designed, manufactured, packaged, advertised and ultimately brought to market and sold, followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.