Week Eight - Networks, telecommunications and mobile technology

Explain the business benefits of using wireless technology.

There are four key benefits of wireless technology that can benefit a business, these are:

1.       Increased efficiency - improved communications leads to faster transfer of information within businesses and between partners/customers.

2.       You are rarely out of touch - you don't need to carry cables or adaptors in order to access office networks.

3.       Greater flexibility and mobility for users - office-based wireless workers can be networked without sitting at dedicated PCs.

4.       Reduced costs - relative to 'wired', wireless networks are, in most cases, cheaper to install and maintain

http://www.is4profit.com/business-advice/it-telecoms/wireless-communications/the-benefits-of-wireless-communication.html

Describe the business benefits associated with VoIP

Voice over IP allows the internet to carry voice in digital format, call cost have dramatically decreased as the internal are now internet connections. VOIP enables phone calls, faxes, voice mail, e-mail and Web conferences over digital networks.
Business benefits associated with VOIP include:
- Reduce the cost
- Reduce the complexity associated with delivering these services
-Improving response and restoration time

Example of residential network including VoIP

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Voip-typical.gif

Compare LANs and WANs

LANS and WANS are two of three basic types of networks, that connects via communications media so  that media so that can be transmitted among them.

The three basic types of networks are:
- Local area networks (LANs) which connect computers that reside in a single geographic location on the premises of the company that operate the LAN.
- Wide area networks (WANs) connects computers at different geographic sites
- The internet- a global network

Describe RFID and how it can be used to help make a supply chain more effective.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies use active or passive tags in the form of chips or smart labels that can store unique identifiers and relay this information to electronic readers.

Passive RFID – no internal power,  can pick up the very faint signal from an antenna, power up just enough to transmit data back to antenna. Can also store small amount of EPROM data.

Active RFID – have power and transmit much stronger and accurate data.

RFID tags can cut costs by requiring fewer workers for scanning items; they also can provide more current and more accurate information to the entire supply chain.  Retailers use RFID to help keep track of physical assets purchased by the consumers, This is like creating a personal log of past purchases, shopping patterns and behavioural patterns. The information can be used to their advantage to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their supply chain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FasTrak_transponder.jpg

An RFID tag used for electronic toll collection.

Identify the advantages and disadvantage of deploying mobile technology

Advantage of deploying mobile technology include:
- Multi-function devices become cheaper and more versatile- due to intense competition and margin pressure, they have become affordable for a wide range of users

-Access to internet

-Allows social networking getting mobilised- constant access to social networks such as Facebook, Skype and Google

- Improve communication, as people can reply faster

Disadvantage of deploying mobile technology include:

- Wireless security - mobile technology is much more vulnerable to hackers, viruses and data loss  due to the