Electronic and Mobile Commerce

Week 5 - E-Commerce and Mobile Commerce Applications

5th week now, and we began to learn more about the application of E-Commerce. The lesson starts with a good example of telecommunication improvement, and how it affects our way in communicate.

Early days in Singapore, Singtel became a monopoly basic services operator. Only in May 1995, TAS (Telecommunications Authority of Singapore) issued a license to operate mobile voice and paging services to the M1 consortium. And in 1997, Starhub come in. That’s when competition took place. All of the competition is even more challenged by the new technology in voice communication: VoIP, stands for Voice Operator Internet Protocol.

I never heard of VoIP term before, until Prof Gilbert questioned us about that, and then began to tell the story… as the story goes, I found out that I myself actually using it, for more than 2 years now, which is embedded in a software called Skype. I didn’t know that outside there, a lot of other devices are specially made to support it. So curious in VoIP, I browsed through internet about it, and found some interesting information to be shared… ^-^

Internet Voice, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line.

Some services using VoIP may only allow you to call other people using the same service, but others may allow you to call anyone who has a telephone number - including local, long distance, mobile, and international numbers. Also, while some services only work over your computer or a special VoIP phone, other services allow you to use a traditional phone through an adaptor. That is how Prof Gilbert use it!

Completely, there are three different "flavors" of VoIP service in common use today:

ATA - The simplest and most common way is through the use of a device called an ATA (analog telephone adaptor). The ATA allows you to connect a standard phone to your computer or your Internet connection for use with VoIP. The ATA is an analog-to-digital converter. It takes the analog signal from your traditional phone and converts it into digital data for transmission over the Internet. Providers like Vonage and AT&T CallVantage are bundling ATAs free with their service. You simply crack the ATA out of the box, plug the cable from your phone that would normally go in the wall socket into the ATA, and you're ready to make VoIP calls. Some ATAs may ship with additional software that is loaded onto the host computer to configure it; but in any case, it is a very straightforward setup.

IP Phones - These specialized phones look just like normal phones with a handset, cradle and buttons. But instead of having the standard RJ-11 phone connectors, IP phones have an RJ-45 Ethernet connector. IP phones connect directly to your router and have all the hardware and software necessary right onboard to handle the IP call. Soon, Wi-Fi IP phones will be available, allowing subscribing callers to make VoIP calls from any Wi-Fi hot spot.

Computer-to-computer - This is certainly the easiest way to use VoIP. You don't even have to pay for long-distance calls. There are several companies offering free or very low-cost software that you can use for this type of VoIP. All you need is the software, a microphone, speakers, a sound card and an Internet connection, preferably a fast one like you would get through a cable or DSL modem. Except for your normal monthly ISP fee, there is usually no charge for computer-to-computer calls, no matter the distance.

Although I’m not an expert in this technology, I myself have proven that VoIP is really useful for me, in several ways. Here, I would like to introduce you to Skype (or know it better, if you have known it :P)

Skype is a proprietary peer-to-peer Internet telephony (VoIP) network, founded by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, the creators of KaZaA and competing against established open VoIP protocols. The system has a reputation for working across different types of network connections (including firewalls and NAT) because voice packets are routed by the combined users of the free desktop software application. Skype users can speak to other Skype users for free, call traditional telephone numbers for a fee (SkypeOut), receive calls from traditional phones for a fee (SkypeIn), and receive voicemail messages for a fee.

SkypeOut was recently blocked in some regions of mainland China (notably Shenzhen) by the operator China Telecom for undisclosed reasons, believed to relate to SkypeOut's ability to take lucrative international and long distance business away from the People's Republic of China's state controlled telecoms companies. This is one of the 5 forces analysis by M.Porter - Legal and other barriers which is erected by companies, government regulators, and school systems. But after all, Skype is a very potential product. eBay has acquired the company for $US 2.6 billion in cash and stock, plus an additional 1.5 billion in rewards if goals are met by 2008.

Skype is kept updated to provide a better service (as I typed this blog on 2nd February’06, Skype’s latest version is on 1st February’06) With its new version, we can even do video call! Before it, some of the features I really love to use is its chat interface, with its cute emoticons, its call function, which i usually use to call my sister at China, and its conference function, where I can have call with my sister in China and brother in Australia at the same time! it's so fun.. it's even hard to be implemented in the traditional phone.. now it's real.. and it's free ^^

Besides of the fun VoIP, during the class, we also learnt of the disruptive technology. And since we’re in the education environment, we have to think of what disruptive technology which has really affected the education sector. Well, many of our mind go to internet – as it is almost can’t be separated from us now. It really brings a lot of changes in this sector, but I never thought that there is something even brings more effect to it – a printer. Yes, I just know that.. before printing was available, when someone said he wrote book, he really wrote it. Haha.. As the printer came out, book is a luxury thing no more. It’s improved to e-book now, although it’s not as common as the paper book yet, and not as ‘disruptive’ as paper book. :D

Those disruptive technology changed the behavior of how people acts, which in general, divided into 2 categories: Freedoms (get something new which isn’t available before) and Convenience (do the same thing in the much more easy way)

Before the end of the lesson, once again, we’re reminded of the important of business model. It’s very important to find a business model that suits our business. Virgin’s cell phone is one case where we can learn that business model is absolutely important.

At the end of the meeting, we’re reminded about our project on Flash. Really going to put hand on it now :)

posted by Unknown @ 5:50 AM