What is the primary function of an Internet Gateway in e-commerce?

The primary function of an Internet Gateway in e-commerce is to authorize credit card transactions. An Internet Gateway acts as a conduit between a customer's credit card and the payment processor. When a customer makes a purchase online, their payment information is transmitted through the Internet Gateway, which securely processes the transaction and verifies that the funds are available and that the transaction is legitimate. This ensures that the payment can be successfully completed, providing a secure mechanism for financial transactions in the e-commerce environment.

Although other choices reference important aspects of e-commerce, they do not fulfill the primary role of facilitating immediate financial transactions. Customer support, inventory management, and shipping logistics are essential components of operating an online business but do not pertain to the specific function of an Internet Gateway in handling payment authorizations. Thus, focusing on the role of securely processing and authorizing payments highlights why authorization of credit card transactions is the correct response in this context.