3,839 research outputs found
How Regular Business Has Becomes Mobile Business. A Mobile Agent Approach
The age of static business and slow information flow, when most decision was based on day-or week-old data, has come to an end. Now new technology helps organizations provide a more agile, flexible approach to business that was not technologically available five years ago. As a result, organizations are paying more attentions to supporting business process with the ability to adapt to the dynamic environment. This paper describes how the action of mobile agent enabled decision support in conjunction with the organizational trends, enables new practice in the field of e-Business. This is done to understand the magnitude of the e-business context problem and to suggest possible ways around the problem when building mobile agents. Therefore, a mobile agent approach is proposed in this paper to offer solution for mobile business and to manage complex business activities.mobile agent, mobile technologies, mobility, business
Germany's broadband networks - innovation on hold
The market for information and communication technologies is changing rapidly. Products and applications that used to be completely separate are becoming almost interchangeable. Sweeping change lies ahead in voice and data telephony: the fixed-line telephone network faces new competition from innovative technologies. In this report we concentrate on analysing the economic potential of TV-cable and powerline networks as internet-access media, and discuss the prospects for the communications market. Besides looking into the technological developments, we examine the market relevance of existing ownership and competitive structures.ICT, cable, Germany, Broadband
Why the iPhone Won't Last Forever and What the Government Should Do to Promote its Successor
Because of the overwhelming, positive response to the iPhone as compared to other smart phones, exclusive agreements between handset makers and wireless carriers have come under increasing scrutiny by regulators and lawmakers. In this paper, we document the myriad revolutions that have occurred in the mobile handset market over the past twenty years. Although casual observers have often claimed that a particular innovation was here to stay, they commonly are proven wrong by unforeseen developments in this fast-changing marketplace. We argue that exclusive agreements can play an important role in helping to ensure that another must-have device will soon come along that will supplant the iPhone, and generate large benefits for consumers. These agreements, which encourage risk taking, increase choice, and frequently lower prices, should be applauded by the government. In contrast, government regulation that would require forced sharing of a successful break-through technology is likely to stifle innovation and hurt consumer welfare.
UMTS broadband mobile technology is a reality â Confounding many expectations
Contrary to the negative public perception, third-generation (3G) broadband mobile telecommunication, aka UMTS, has become reality. UMTS networks have been rolled out above all in Central Europe. The take-up of UMTS differs sharply from one country to the next, though. The large differences are due not only to market-related factors and differing marketing strategies, but also to political intervention that distorts the market. At present, content providers, handset makers and telcos are working feverishly to produce UMTS-based supplementary offerings. For the sluggish demand for mobile broadband services still harbours a big risk for the entire telecommunications sector.information an communications technology; telecommunications; 3G; broadband
Internet Predictions
More than a dozen leading experts give their opinions on where the Internet is headed and where it will be in the next decade in terms of technology, policy, and applications. They cover topics ranging from the Internet of Things to climate change to the digital storage of the future. A summary of the articles is available in the Web extras section
IPv6 Network Mobility
Network Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting has
been used since before the days of the Internet as we know it
today. Authentication asks the question, âWho or what are
you?â Authorization asks, âWhat are you allowed to do?â And fi nally,
accounting wants to know, âWhat did you do?â These fundamental
security building blocks are being used in expanded ways today. The
fi rst part of this two-part series focused on the overall concepts of
AAA, the elements involved in AAA communications, and highlevel
approaches to achieving specifi c AAA goals. It was published in
IPJ Volume 10, No. 1[0]. This second part of the series discusses the
protocols involved, specifi c applications of AAA, and considerations
for the future of AAA
Structural Separation Models and the Provision of âDark Fibreâ for Broadband Networks: The Case of CityLink
Fibre broadband networks are widely presumed to become the dominant form of fixed-line broadband access. However, the spectre of fibre firms gaining market power, such has been evidenced in legacy copper-based telecommunications networks, has led some policy-makers to suggest imposing separation mandates (either functional or structural) on the owners of fibre networks yet to be built, in order to militate against the creation of a new set of firms with market power. Whilst conceptually separation of the âdark fibre? data transportation core from network intelligence and retail functions echoes the computer technology-centric view of the internet as a âdumb core? and an âintelligent fringe?, and replicates the separation mandates currently proposed as a means of preventing integrated legacy copper-based providers from foreclosing retail competition, the ensuing structures likely exacerbate the chilling effect of access regulation on network investment observed in most markets where it has been applied. The chilling effects arise because of an investment horizon mismatch (hold-up) between infrastructure operators with large fixed and sunk costs, and retailers (and arguably even end consumers) with freedom to switch between retailers and network infrastructures. The usual resolution to such problems requires customers to make a credible commitment to purchase services via relationship-specific investments or contractual commitments. Whereas access regulation precludes the contractual resolution of the hold-up problem, separation mandates preclude their resolution by consumer-owners vertically integrating upsteam into elements of infrastructure ownership. Consequently, it appears unlikely that the level of investment in separated fibre networks providing dark fibre connections will be optimal. Indeed, under competitive circumstances and high levels of demand uncertainty, there may be no private sector investment forthcoming for dark fibre infrastructures. By examining the business model of CityLink, a firm that since 1995 has been successfully supplying dark fibre in a highly competitive broadband market segment, it is confirmed that long-term financial viability of dark fibre-producing firms is feasible when utilising a mix of both contractual and asset ownership mechanisms that bind end consumers into credible commitments sufficient to justify the firm?s deployment of new network infrastructure capacity. The institutional arrangements that led to the development of this firm?s successful business model draw their inspiration more from the flexible and collaborative commercial interaction of the information technology community rather than the adversarial and prescriptive regulatory environment of the telecommunications industry. It is concluded that if policy-makers wish to encourage the creation of a truly âdark fibre-based? fixed line broadband environment, then in the initial stages of network deployment at least, arrangements similar to those of CityLink are more likely to induce sufficient and timely private sector investments than the rigid and rigorous separation and access regulation arrangements common in the recent history of the telecommunications industry.
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