Week 7: Chapter 5 - Network Applications & Chapter 6 - E-Business and E-Commerce:

Chapter 5: Network Applications

1. Describe the underlying technologies, applications and types of Web sites that comprise Web 2.0.

Information technologies and applications used by Web 2.0 sites include XML, AJAX, tagging, blogs, Wikis, Really Simple Syndication, podcasting, and video casting. AJAX is a Web development technique that allows portions of Web pages to reload with fresh data instead of requiring the entire Web page to reload. This process speeds up response time and increase user satisfaction. A tag is a keyword or term that describes pieces of information. Users typically choose tags that are meaningful to them. A weblog is a personal Web site, open to the public, in which the site creator expresses his or her feelings or opinions. A wiki is a Web site on which anyone can post material and make changes to other material.

Really simple syndication (RSS) allows anyone to syndicate his or her blog, or any other content, to anyone ho has an interest in subscribing. When changes to the content are made, the subscribers get a notification of the changes and an idea of what the new content contains. The subscriber can click on a link that will take them to the full text of the new content.

A podcast is a digital audio file that is distributed over the Web using Really simple syndication for playback on portable media players or personal computers. A videocast is the same as a podcast, except that it is a digital video file.

Web 2.0 Web sites that use some or all of these technologies and applications may be grouped into several categories: social media, aggregators, and mashups. Social networking Web sites allow users to upload their content to the Web, in the form of text, voice, images, and videos. Social networking sites provide an easy, interactive way to communicate and collaborate of content from the Web. A mash up is a web site that takes content from a number of other Web sites and mixes them together to create a new kind of content. Web services are self-contained, self-describing applications, delivered over the internet that users can select and combine through almost any devices.

Web 2.0 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0
http://www.go2web20.net/
http://www.paulgraham.com/web20.html

2. Describe the function of Web services.

Web services are self-contained business/consumer modular applications delivered over the internet, users can select and combine through almost any device. By using a set of protocols and standards, these applications permit different systems to ‘talk’ with one another (to share data and services). Web services have a great potential because they can be used in a variety of environments: over the internet, firewalls etc.

They perform a number of tasks, from automating business process to integrating components of an enterprise wide system to streamlining online buying and selling. Web services are based on four key standards: XML, SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI.

3. Describe how you see Social Networking being used in Business.

Social networking Web sites allow users to upload their content to the Web, in the form of text, voice, images, and videos. Social networking sites provide an easy, interactive way to communicate and collaborate of content from the Web. These sites can be useful way to find like-mindened people online, either to peruse an interest or a goal. Social networking is a great way for small businesses to expand their knowledge as the websites allow discussing and sharing of knowledge. Some social networking sites include: MySpace, Flickr, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Social Networking - http://www.whatissocialnetworking.com/

Example of Social Networking: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites

Chapter 6: E-Business and E-Commerce

Section 6.1 - Before You Go On…

1. Define e-commerce and distinguish it from e-business.

E-commerce is the process of buying, selling, transferring, or exchanging products or services, or information via computer networks, including the Internet. In comparison, e-business includes the buying and selling of goods and services, as well as servicing customers, collaborating with business partners, conducting e-learning, and conducting electronic transactions within an organisation.

Difference among E-commerce and E-business- www.apdip.net/publications/iespprimers/eprimer-ecom.pdf

2. Distinguish among B2C, B2B, C2C and B2E electronic commerce.

B2C (e-tailing) can be pure or part of a clicks-and-mortar organisation this is when the sellers and organisations and the buyers are individuals. Direct marketing is done via solo storefronts, in malls, through electronic catalogs, or by using electronic auctions. The leading online B2C service industries are banking, securities trading, job markets, travel, and real estate. The major B2B applications are selling from catalogs and by forward auctions, buying in reverse auctions and in group and desktop purchasing, and trading in electronic exchanges and hubs it is completed through both the sellers and the buyers are the organisation. EC also can be done between consumers (C2C) but should be undertaken with caution as this is conducted when both the buyer and seller are individuals. Auctions are the most popular C2C mechanism. C2C also can be done by use of online classified ads. B2E provides services to employees, typically over the company’s intranet, it is internally that provides information and services to its employees.

Types of E-commerce - www.accountingsoftwareadvisor.com/ec/ectypes.htm

3. List some benefits and limitations of e-commerce.

Benefits of e-commerce include making international markets accessible and lowering the costs of processing, distributing and retrieving information. Though customers benefit by being capable of accessing all products and services. Besides benefits include: the ability ti easily and conveniently deliver information, services and products to people in cities, rural areas and developing countries.

On the other hand limitations include technological and nontechnological. Technological limitations include the lack of universally accepted security standards, insufficient telecommunications bandwidth, and expensive accessibility. Nontechnological limitations include the perception that EC is insecure, has unresolved legal issues, and lacks a critical mass of sellers and buyers.

Section 6.2 - Before You Go On…

1. What are spamming, permission marketing and viral marketing?

Spamming is the indiscriminate distribution of e-mail without the receivers permission. Permission marketing is the method of marketing that asks consumers to give their permission to voluntarily accept online advertising and e-mail, and viral marketing is the online word for word-of-mouth marketing.

Marketing - www.marketingterms.com/dictionary/permission_marketing

Section 6.4 - Before You Go On…

1. What are micropayments?

According to the dictionary of SensaCom (http://sensacom.com/web_glossary.html) micropayment is the digital cash systems that allow very small sums of money to be transferred but with lower security. Such small sums do not warrant a credit card payment because processing is too costly.

2. What is Multichanneling?

Multichanneling is the process through which a company integrates its online and offline channels. This process occurs when a channel of conflict arise in areas such as pricing if products and services and resources allocations. However this method can increase expenses and reduce the synergy between the two organizational channels.

Section 6.5 - Before You Go On…

1. List some ethical issues in EC.

There is increasing fraud and unethical behaviour on the internet, including invasion of privacy by sellers and misuse of domain names. The value of domain names, taxation of online business, and how to handle issues in a multicounty environment are major legal concerns protections of customers, sellers, and intellectual property is also important.

Various Issues - http://baggins.nottingham.edu.my/~kcztm/Handouts_DDB/L10-6spp.pdf

2. List the major legal issues of EC.

When buyers and sellers do not know one another and cannot see one another, there is a chance that dishonest People will commit fraud and other crimes. The major types of legal issues include:

· Fraud on the internet: It is the fastest growing concern than internet use. It includes the false selling of investments and setting up counterfeit business opportunities.
· Domain Names: is when assigned by central nonprofit organizations that check for conflicts and possible infringements of trademarks.
· Cyber squatting: the practice of registering or using domain names for the purpose of profiting from the goodwill of someone else. Companies such as Nike, Christian Dior, and Microsoft have had to battle to pay to obtain the domain name that communicates to their company’s name away from cyber squatters.
· Taxes and Other Fees: For example, the claim that the state in which the seller is located deserves the entire sales tax.
· Copyright: grants the author of the original work special rights for an assured time phase, in which the work has penetrated into the public domain.