Wireless Technologies and the Modern Organization

Wireless Technologies

Wireless devices: small enough to easily carry or wear, have sufficient computing power to

     perform productive tasks and can communicate wirelessly with the Internet and other devices.

The wireless application protocol (WAP) is the standard that enables wireless devices to

     access Web-based information and services.

WAP-compliant devices contain microbrowsers, which are Internet browsers with a small file

     size that can work within the confines of small screen sizes on wireless devices and the

     relatively low bandwidths of wireless networks.

Wireless Transmission Media



nMicrowave Transmission

nSatellite transmission

nGeostationary Orbit (GEO)

nMiddle Earth Orbit (MEO)

nLow Earth Orbit (LEO)

nGlobal Positioning System (GPS)

nInternet Over Satellite (IOS)

 

 

Wireless Computer Networks and   Internet Access

Short-range wireless networks generally have a range of 100 feet or less.

Medium-range wireless networks are the familiar wireless local area networks (WLANs).

     The most common type of medium-range wireless network is Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi).

Wide-area wireless networks connect users to each other and to the Internet over

     geographically dispersed distances.

Mobile Computing and Mobile   Commerce

Mobile computing: refers to real-time, wireless connection between a mobile device

     and other computing environments, such as the Internet and an intranet.

Mobility: users carry a mobile device and can initiate a real-time contact with other systems from wherever they happen to be.

Broad reach:users can be reached instantly when they carry an open mobile device.

Pervasive Computing

Pervasive Computing (Ubiquitous computing) is invisible “everywhere computing” that is

     embedded in the objects around us – the floors, the lights, our cars, washing machine, microwave

    

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology allows manufacturers to attach tags with antennas and computer chips on goods and then track their movement through radio signals 

  

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are networks of interconnected, battery-powered, wireless sensors that are placed into the physical environment

    

Wireless Security

Rogue access point: is an unauthorized access point to a wireless network.

War driving: is the act of locating WLANs while driving around a city or elsewhere.

Eavesdropping: refers to efforts by unauthorized users to try to access data traveling over

     wireless networks.

RF (Radio frequency) jamming: is when a person or a device intentionally or unintentionally  interferes with your wireless network transmissions.

   



Electronic Commerce: Applications and Issues

     Electronic commerce (e-commerce, EC) describes the buying, selling, transferring or

exchanging of products, services or information via computer networks, including the Internet.

     E-business is a broader definition of EC, including buying and selling of goods and services, and also servicing customers, collaborating with partners, conducting e-learning and conducting

electronic transactions within an organization

Types of E-Commerce

nBusiness-to-Consumer (B2C)

nBusiness-to-Business (B2B)

nConsumer-to-Consumer (C2C)

nBusiness-to-Employee (B2E)

nE-Government

nMobile Commerce (m-commerce)

 

E-Commerce Business Models

Online direct marketing: manufacturers or retailers sell directly to customers.

Electronic tendering system: businesses (or governments) request quotes from suppliers;

     uses B2B (or G2B) with reverse auctions.  Image above is the Hong Kong Government’s

     electronic tending system homepage.

Name-your-own-price: customers decide how much they want to pay. 

     Image above is William Shatner, Priceline’s spokesman.

Find-the-best-price:  customers specify a need and an intermediary compares providers

     and shows the lowest price.

     Note: clicking on the images will take you to the respective Web pages.

Viral marketing: receivers send information about your product to their friends.

Group purchasing: small buyers aggregate demand to get a large volume; then

     the group conducts tendering or negotiates a lower price.

Online auctions: companies run auctions of various types on the Internet.

   Benefits of E-Commerce

nBenefits to organizations

nMakes national and international markets more accessible

nLowering costs of processing, distributing, and retrieving information

nBenefits to customers

nAccess a vast number of products and services around the clock

 

 nBenefits to Society

nAbility to easily and conveniently deliver information, services and products to people in cities, rural areas and developing countries.

Limitations of E-Commerce

nTechnological Limitations

nLack of universally accepted security standards

nInsufficient telecommunications bandwidth

nExpensive accessibility

nNon-technological Limitations

nPerception that EC is unsecure

nUnresolved legal issues

nLacks a critical mass of sellers and buyers