Also called "information appliance," "smart appliance," and "Web appliance," it is a device specialized for accessing the Web and/or e-mail. Designed for ease of use, it plugs into a telephone jack or LAN connection for Internet hookup. Portable Internet appliances use a wireless connection to the Internet. Devices for Internet TV services such as MSN TV are also sometimes called Internet appliances. The term is rather encompassing, and innovative products are expected all the time. See digital photo frame, network appliance, server appliance, Internet TV, network computer and smartphone.

A Bizarre Internet Appliance

In the spring of 2003, the U.K. division of Microsoft announced to an astonished world the "iLoo," a portable toilet with a wireless keyboard and access to the MSN network. In England, street-side public restrooms are typically a whole lot cleaner than those in the U.S.; that is, "if" you can find one. But, who on earth would want to touch a keyboard in such a venue considering the job of its occupants? In addition, there were rumors about printing Web advertising on the toilet paper. Quickly shelved after the announcement was made, most everyone hearing it thought Microsoft had lost its senses. Some swear this was just a prank to call attention to the local MSN service. By the way, "loo" is British for "toilet."