Sting’s Music Helps Create History on the Internet

Sting‘s Ten Summoner’s Tales CD became the first good sold in a secure transaction over the internet.

College student Dan Kohn built NetMarket.com while studying in London. In August 1994, 11 months before Amazon went live, he sold a Sting CD for $12.48 plus shipping to a friend in Philadelphia, processing the credit card transaction through the site.

While other companies have claimed ownership of the first online sale, Kohn’s transaction is believed to be the only one that qualifies as a secure digital payment.