COMPUTER APPARATUS AND METHODS SUPPORTING DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF USERS

A central computer system preferably communicates with local computers of users over the Internet and stores account information of users. Preferably, users may interact with information provided by the central computer system or third party computer systems. The availability of such information is preferably controlled by a different user. The central system preferably stores data representing rewards available to the users as a result of interaction with such information. The users preferably may obtain products or services, in accordance with the stored rewards, wherein at least some of such products or services are promoted by a different user, which provides financing for at least some of the items obtained with the reward. Preferably, the central system includes administrative software that may provide monitoring and managing performance of the system, fraud detection, and management of the information available to the users.