Methods and apparatus for enabling shared web-based interaction in stateful servers

A method of interactively sharing information between at least two devices in a computer network, each 'device having a respective browser associated therewith for handling the information, includes retrieving information from an information source in the network for storage in resppnse to receipt of a retrieval request from a first browser associated with a first device. The method further includes sending the stored information to at least a second browser of at least a second device in response to receipt of a similar request therefrom, the second device receiving the request from the first device, such that the devices can share the information retrieved from the information source in response to the single request made to the source. Preferably, a surrogate is established in at least the first device for informing the second device of the request made such that the browser of the second device can make the similar request. Also, the information available from the information source in the computer network may include dynamically changing (i.e., stateful) content.