DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT

TERM PAPER REPORT

TITLE

Internet as a cost effective means of communication

Submitted By:Zameer Ahmad

Roll No:RS-1006-B-40

Registration No:11000046

Submitted To:Mr. Nandan Sujati

DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENTLOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY

PHAGWARA

(2010)

Acknowledgement

I sincerely feel that the credit of this term paper could not be narrowed to

only one individual as the whole work is outcome of integrated efforts of all

those concerned with it through whose cooperation and effective guidance I

could achieve its completion.

I wish to place my profound indebtness and deep sense of obligation to Mr

Nandan Sujati Senior lecturer Lovely Professional University for providing

me with the opportunity to work on such an interesting topic. I also want to

pay my gratitude and sincere thanks to my esteemed Sir for being

supportive and lenient during the entire tenure of this term paper.

When emotions are involved words fail to mean. My heart full sincere

gratitude to my parents, who have supported, encouraged and helped me

throughout my life and academic career.

Zameer Ahmed

DECLARATION

I, "Zameer Ahmad, hereby declare that the work presented herein on the topic “ internet as a

cost effective means of communication” is genuine work done originally by me and has not

been published or submitted elsewhere for the requirement of a degree programme. Any

literature, data or works done by others and cited within this dissertation has been given due

acknowledgement and listed in the reference section.

Zameer Ahmad (Reg. No:-11000046)

Date: - 2010-11-06

INTRODUCTION

Internet Communication

E-mail is an important communications service available on the Internet. The concept of

sending electronic text messages between parties in a way analogous to mailing letters or

memos predates the creation of the Internet. Today it can be important to distinguish between

internet and internal e-mail systems. Internet e-mail may travel and be stored unencrypted on

many other networks and machines out of both the sender's and the recipient's control. During

this time it is quite possible for the content to be read and even tampered with by third parties,

if anyone considers it important enough. Purely internal or intranet mail systems, where the

information never leaves the corporate or organization's network, are much more secure,

although in any organization there will be IT and other personnel whose job may involve

monitoring, and occasionally accessing, the e-mail of other employees not addressed to them.

Pictures, documents and other files can be sent as e-mail attachments. E-mails can be cc-ed to

multiple e-mail addresses.

Internet telephony is another common communications service made possible by the creation

of the Internet. VoIP stands for Voice-over-Internet Protocol, referring to the protocol that

underlies all Internet communication. The idea began in the early 1990s with walkie-talkie-like

voice applications for personal computers. In recent years many VoIP systems have become as

easy to use and as convenient as a normal telephone. The benefit is that, as the Internet carries

the voice traffic, VoIP can be free or cost much less than a traditional telephone call, especially

over long distances and especially for those with always-on Internet connections such as cable

or ADSL. VoIP is maturing into a competitive alternative to traditional telephone service.

Interoperability between different providers has improved and the ability to call or receive a

call from a traditional telephone is available. Simple, inexpensive VoIP network adapters are

available that eliminate the need for a personal computer.

Voice quality can still vary from call to call but is often equal to and can even exceed that of

traditional calls. Remaining problems for VoIP include emergency telephone number dialling

and reliability. Currently, a few VoIP providers provide an emergency service, but it is not

universally available. Traditional phones are line-powered and operate during a power failure;

VoIP does not do so without a backup power source for the phone equipment and the Internet

access devices.

SOCIAL IMPACT

Sociology of the Internet

The Internet has enabled entirely new forms of social interaction, activities, and organizing,

thanks to its basic features such as widespread usability and access. Social networking websites

such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace have created new ways to socialize and interact. Users

of these sites are able to add a wide variety of information to pages, to pursue common

interests, and to connect with others. It is also possible to find existing acquaintances, to allow

communication among existing groups of people. Sites like LinkedIn foster commercial and

business connections. YouTube and Flickr specialize in users' videos and photographs.

In the first decade of the 21st century the first generation is raised with widespread availability

of Internet connectivity, bringing consequences and concerns in areas such as personal privacy

and identity, and distribution of copyrighted materials. These "digital natives" face a variety of

challenges that were not present for prior generations.

The Internet has achieved new relevance as a political tool, leading to Internet censorship by

some states. The presidential campaign of Howard Dean in 2004 in the United States was

notable for its success in soliciting donation via the Internet. Many political groups use the

Internet to achieve a new method of organizing in order to carry out their mission, having

given rise to Internet activism. Some governments, such as those of Iran, North Korea,

Myanmar, the People's Republic of China, and Saudi Arabia, restrict what people in their

countries can access on the Internet, especially political and religious content.[citation needed]

This is accomplished through software that filters domains and content so that they may not be

easily accessed or obtained without elaborate circumvention.[original research?]

The Internet has been a major outlet for leisure activity since its inception, with entertaining

social experiments such as MUDs and MOOs being conducted on university servers, and

humor-related Usenet groups receiving much traffic. Today, many Internet forums have

sections devoted to games and funny videos; short cartoons in the form of Flash movies are

also popular. Over 6 million people use blogs or message boards as a means of communication

and for the sharing of ideas. The pornography and gambling industries have taken advantage of

the World Wide Web, and often provide a significant source of advertising revenue for other

websites.[citation needed] Although many governments have attempted to restrict both

industries' use of the Internet, this has generally failed to stop their widespread popularity.

[citation needed]

One main area of leisure activity on the Internet is multiplayer gaming. This form of recreation

creates communities, where people of all ages and origins enjoy the fast-paced world of

multiplayer games. These range from MMORPG to first-person shooters, from role-playing

games to online gambling. This has revolutionized the way many people interact[citation

needed] while spending their free time on the Internet. While online gaming has been around

since the 1970s,[citation needed] modern modes of online gaming began with subscription

services such as GameSpy and MPlayer. Non-subscribers were limited to certain types of game

play or certain games. Many people use the Internet to access and download music, movies and

other works for their enjoyment and relaxation. Free and fee-based services exist for all of

these activities, using centralized servers and distributed peer-to-peer technologies. Some of

these sources exercise more care with respect to the original artists' copyrights than others.

Many people use the World Wide Web to access news, weather and sports reports, to plan and

book vacations and to find out more about their interests. People use chat, messaging and e-

mail to make and stay in touch with friends worldwide, sometimes in the same way as some

previously had pen pals. The Internet has seen a growing number of Web desktops, where

users can access their files and settings via the Internet.

THE IMPACT OF THE INTERNET ON COMMUNICATION

The Impact of the Internet on Communication

The internet has revolutionized all forms of communication since the beginning of its

existence. The world has now become �smaller' or more like a �global village', so to speak. The

internet was first used by the U.S military for communications purposes. The internet, from the

communication point of view, has brought on new developments and techniques to keep in

touch not only for individuals, but for businesses as well. An example of how the internet has

impacted communication would be an example of doctors now communicating through live

video feeds via the internet with patients or other doctors to diagnose patients or to even guide

and advise surgeons through complicated procedures.

Email

Email (electronic mail) was one of the biggest breakthroughs in communication when the

internet was commercialized. With email, it became possible to send messages and letters

across the world in a matter of seconds to the recipients address. Email was used as an

alternative to conventional mail or �snail' mail, as the term was introduced to describe its speed.

As technology improved, it became possible to �attach' documents, photographs and even sound

clips or songs to emails which made mail by post redundant. Emails used packet switching

software whereby the email was broken down into �packets' and sent via the internet to the

recipient.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

Internet Voice, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is a technology that allows

you to make regular telephone calls using a dial up or broadband internet connection instead of

a regular 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...

INTERNET: A WAY TO COMMUNICATE

The Internet: A Way to Communicate Cost Effectively

The words communicate means to send a message. You communicate when you talk to

someone, or when you write a letter to a friend. Communication means all different ways of

sending messages or passing information from one person to another. These include visual

methods such as sign language, auditory, such as voice and music, and physical, such as touch.

Communication allows us to give this information to others for the purpose of enriching life for

ourselves and others.

We are living through a period characterized by the works of a new technological paradigm

organized around information technologies. This period is being driven by the new information

and communication technologies. It is the most important revolution since the industrial

revolution.

Advances in electronics, computers, and satellites mean that we can send information farther

and communicate faster than ever before. Powerful rockets have placed communications

satellites in orbit around the earth. They relay thousands of telephone calls across continents

so quickly that you can talk to people on the other side of the world as if they were next door.

Communication satellites also carry television and radio programs, facsimile images, telex

messages, and computer data.

One of the new communications technologies that are affecting our lives on a scale of

significant as the telephone and television is the Internet. Some people believe that when it

comes to distributing information, the Internet is the most significant invention since the

printing press. If you use a telephone, write letters, read a newspaper or magazine, or do

business or any kind of research, the Internet can radically alter your entire worldview.

Everywhere you turn, you hear people talking about the Net. Radio shows give you their e-

mail address, businesses give you their Web site, and strangers ask whether you have a home

page. People are going online and staying connected....

INTERNET THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

"Beam me up, Scottie." This popular line from Star Trek was a demonstration of the advanced

technology of the future. Though it was a fictional story, Star Trek became the universal vision

of the future. As always reality tends to mimic fiction. Though our society has not quite

resulted to living in space, we have made life easier with technology. Economic survival has

become more dependent upon information and communications bringing forth new

technology of which was never thought possible. Just a mere thirty years ago a computer

occupied a whole room compared today’s palm sized computers, which are faster and perform

more functions. Cellular phones, now light and compact, were bulky just ten years ago. The

most incredible invention, the Internet, is bringing infinite amount of information to your

desktop. In the world of the of the Internet there exist a world blind to skin color and other

physical appearances. The Internet while still young in age has grown rapidly, spreading to

countries world wide and connecting 50 million users. With its popularity, it is incumbent upon

our society to recognize how the Internet works and to be aware of its advantages as well as

disadvantages.

While seemingly high tech the Internet concept is rather simple. Computers speak to one

another and send information. This is accomplished by sending and receiving electronic

impulse, and then decoding them into a message. In order to communicate with one another

they are linked up in a network. They are then able to access information from thousands of

other computers. The network acts like one large computer storing information in various

places, rather than in one physical structure. Users tap into the Internet to access or provide

information. Internet technology allows one to surf the World Wide Web or send e-mail.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Internet use by university academics: a bipartite study of information and communication needs.

AUTHOR(S) Mohammad Nasir Uddin, (Mohammad Nasir Uddin is an Assistant Professor in

the Department of Library and Information Science at Rajshahi University, Rajshahi,

Bangladesh.)

ABSTRACT

In Bangladesh, there are only 0.2 million Internet users out of a population of 140 million.

Because there is a lack of academic research on Internet usage, the prime objective of this

study is to report the level of Internet use by university academics for their information and

communication needs. The study also sought to find out whether differences exist among the

various levels of academics in terms of their use of the Internet. Six categories of information

and communication needs were identified and a survey conducted among the lecturers of

Rajshahi University where the Internet was introduced in 2001. Findings showed that Internet

use by academics is useful for some common needs and that the academic rank of users is an

important factor in determining the priority of needs. It also showed that there are some

barriers to adequate use of Internet resources. Suggestions are made for increased use of the

Internet, to benefit the nation as a whole

Use and impact of Information-Communication Technology in modern conflict: the war in Iraq

AUTHORS Uroš Svete

ABSTRACT

Technology has always been one of the decisive factors, by which the outcome of conflict or

war ought to be influenced without any doubt. But with Information-Communication

Technology (ICT) appearance it seems the revolutionary changes began concerning conflict

perception, the organisation of actors waging a war and (spatial) spheres where conflicts are

taking place. The case of last Iraqi war should confirm this thesis. The main purpose of my

research paper is therefore to prove that ICT has really multidimensional impacts regarding

recent conflicts and wars and these impacts should be analysed with interdisciplinary approach

in any case.

So my research paper based especially on strategic (defence) studies as well as on

communication and sociological theory guidelines, what actually ensures a real

interdisciplinary approach. Within these three basic theoretical approaches the concepts such as

propaganda, perception management and information operations/warfare as well as asymmetric

warfare, have also been used.

Internet use by health professionals at the Health Sciences Centre of Kuwait University

AUTHORS Sajjad ur Rehman, (Sajjad ur Rehman is Professor of Library and Information

Science at Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.), Vivian Ramzy, (Vivian Ramzy is Medical

Librarian in the Health Sciences Centre of Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.)

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to analyse Internet use and related issues among the health care

professionals at the Health Sciences Centre of Kuwait University. A questionnaire was

administered to all the 180 faculty members in HSC. The response rate was 76.6 per cent. The

extent and patterns of their use of the Internet for 12 applications were analysed. The current

level of skills was examined and perceptions for improving them were explored. Also, the

impact of the Internet on professional and personal development was explored. Problems

related to access and use were also investigated. It was found that the Internet had become a

vital instrument for research, information, and communication in the lives of these

professionals. Respondents wished to be further empowered through rigorous training and the

alleviation of problems that inhibited their Internet use.

The Internet and services marketing – the case of Danish retail banking

AUTHOR(S) Niels Peter Mols, (Niels Peter Mols (nmols@econ.au.dk) is Associate Professor,

Department of Management, and University of Aarhus, Denmark.)

ABSTRACT

Examines various aspects of the motives, perceptions and expectations connected with the

introduction of Internet banking in Danish retail banking Responses from 60 key managers in

the largest retail banks in Denmark show that they believe that Internet banking will become

more important in the future, whereas all other distribution channels are predicted to become

less important Describes further the relationship between the perceptions of and expectations

from Internet banking, the reasons for offering an Internet bank and the way it has been

organized in the banks.

INTERNET AS A COST-EFFECTIVE & FASTEST MEANS OF COMMUNICATION

With service industry booming at a faster rate, various conferencing service providers have

come up with solutions to help people in conducting conferences more effectively. Every

organization is now incorporating conference calling services in order to establish direct

connection with their clients present in different parts of the world. It is very useful for remote

business meetings.

 For conference calling, Calls can be connected from any cell phones, landlines etc. No extra

support applications are required. In this service, you can call the person you want to talk to

and can add more participants in the conversation.

 Conference calling can be done in either of the two ways; one is dialing through the

conference bridge, which is a special kind of telephone having a facility to link multiple

telephone lines simultaneously. The other method is through special telephone number set up

for conference calling. It is one of the primary means of saving time, minimizing travel costs

and increasing the productivity of employees by cutting down the time of travel.

 Voice conferencing is one of the most demanded conferencing solutions, where the users are

offered features like audience poll, call recording, auto-reply, messenger services and survey

facility. Voice conferencing is a cost effective medium of conducting conference, as it helps in

connecting multiple callers at the same time on the single platform.

Most organizations do not use the Internet to buy goods and services—yet. ITC’s trend-

trackers in international purchasing and supply management expect this to change; however, as

Internet use becomes more widespread. Companies and governments in developing countries

and economies in transition should take a second look at using the Internet to save time and

money on purchases, and build better relations with suppliers.

Business use of the worldwide network mostly involves information gathering with relatively

few organizations actually purchasing products or services over the Internet. Yet the Internet is

already proving its cost-effectiveness in purchasing and supply management, according to trade

sources as diverse as leading business newspapers, specialized purchasing and supply

management magazines, and reports from international organizations.

Purchasing-related sites are on the rise, such as ones allowing businesses to track costs of raw

materials and ones with on-line procurement requests. As telecommunication infrastructure

improves, and people become more comfortable with using the Internet, organizations are

starting to use a variety of tools (ranging from simple e-mails to more sophisticated Internet-

based Electronic Data Interchange systems) to track purchases, manage stock levels, streamline

ordering and payment processes, and build better relations with suppliers.

SIX REASONS TO USE THE INTERNET FOR DOING THE COST EFFECTIVE

COMMUNICATION

Cut purchasing costs. One can negotiate better prices for the products you purchase by using

the Internet to monitor the material and labour costs of your suppliers. If your product material

contains a high percentage of commodities, you can monitor current market prices and trends

in public on-line databases, and use this information when negotiating with suppliers. Sources

like Reuters commodities (http://www.commods.reuters.com) provide you with both current

and historical data on commodity futures and options prices, which can help you to hedge

against future price rises.

The Internet can also help you analyze the labour costs involved in your purchased product.

For an example, visit the web site of the United States Department of Labour

(http://www.bls.gov/datahome.htm), where you can obtain information on International

Comparisons of Manufacturing Productivity and Unit Labour Cost Trends for 1997.

Even without analyzing the detailed material or labour costs of your supplies, you can use the

Internet as a benchmark for comparison with current prices paid, or for negotiating anticipated

price rises. Try to access a server specialized in the market from which you are buying. You

can often gather commercial information on your supply market, and also request suppliers

connected to this site to quote you a price according to your specifications. For example,

buyers of office supplies in developing countries can now use the Internet and sites such as

Buyerszone (http://www.buyerszone.com) to identify which local equipment is overpriced

when compared with competitively-priced international market items, enabling them to

negotiate discounts with their local suppliers.

Using the Internet allows you in some cases to directly access manufacturers, and save money

by avoiding costs of intermediaries. This was the experience of a rural Kenyan farming

cooperative, which managed to bypass distributors and obtain lower prices by establishing a

direct relationship through e-mail with the US-based Earth Marketplace, whose main business

is selling directly to North American consumers.

Reduce operating costs. The Internet—when coupled with web-based Electronic Data

Interchange systems that incorporate a purchase order facility—reduces costs involved in order

processing and invoice processing. It also lowers costs by reducing the number of dedicated

telephone lines for fax machines normally required to move data.

Improve management of suppliers. Strengthen relationships with suppliers that are linked

with you electronically. For example, you can communicate by e-mail, involve them at an early

stage in your design process, exchange ideas for product improvements and encourage them to

send you information regularly on your supply market by e-mail. The more you improve

information flows and communication (both with your internal customers and with suppliers),

the faster you can react and cut lead times.

Control stock levels. One of the greatest benefits organizations can achieve by electronic

linking with suppliers is substantial savings in inventory. Better communication links will

decrease supply risks and shorten lead times, enabling you to adapt stock levels to the

variations in demand more rapidly.

Take advantage of government and international organization calls for bids. Businesses

are responding to a growing use of the Internet by governments to disseminate procurement

opportunities and receive quotations from interested providers. International organizations are

also using Internet for purchasing activities. The United Nations, for example, recently

launched UN Development Business Online (http://www.devbusiness.com), a site providing

procurement opportunities from multilateral development banks, such as the World Bank, and

other international agencies. Over the next five years, the major development banks will pay

over US$ 190 billion to companies worldwide.

Reduce problems. Other concrete advantages of using Internet-based tools include eliminating

errors due to rewriting or re-keying data, and speeding up the payment process by processing

invoices electronically.

USING INTERNET FOR MARKETING IN A COST EFFECTIVE MANNER

Also known as Web Marketing, Website Marketing, Search Marketing, Internet advertising,

or eMarketing, Internet Marketing integrates a variety of creative and technical facets of the

Internet, including design, development, advertising, and sales.

Internet Marketing is best deployed as part of an overall strategic web marketing

campaign. Internet Marketing should be viewed as a synergy of business models, platforms,

technology and techniques applied to meet business objectives through good website

marketing. Internet Marketing is a powerful concept when applied properly and good

website marketing can be delivered through quality web design, site functionality and

search marketing through search engine optimisation as well as in a variety of other formats

such as:

Banner ads

Blogs and blog ads

Text linking

Group marketing

Audio/visual rich media ads

Podcasting

RSS feeds

Streaming media

E-mail list and newsletter publishing

Press release distribution

Virally distributed interactive products

Internet Marketing delivers and communicates messages. Internet Marketing is also used to

also sell virtually everything from products, brands, concepts, services, information,

donations, votes and profiles, making website marketing a versatile tool.

Large marketers continue to spend big online through Website Marketing and Search

Marketing. Online advertising alone is worth tens of billions of dollars annually. In 2008 it

is estimated that more than $5 billion will be spent worldwide in each of the top four

categories of Internet Marketing ads - adult content and gambling, information, electronics,

and computing, making web marketing a growing industry. The US is predicted to lead the

world in Internet Marketing through adverts, spending over $45 billion in 2011 purely on

website marketing, making internet marketing big business.

The reasons for Internet Marketing proving such a powerful, emergent concept are many.

Internet Marketing is targeted:

Internet Marketing can be directed at specific web users, with content and media created to

deliver appropriate messages via website marketing techniques. Specialised interest groups

and niches can be focused by targeted Internet Marketing.

Internet Marketing is flexible:

An Internet Marketing campaign can be very specific, not just in where and how the Internet

Marketing campaign will run but also when the web marketing runs. Website Marketing

Campaigns can be time exact and efficient.

Internet Marketing is measurable:

Internet marketing campaign performance analytics can be closely studied to reveal key

web marketing performance indicators. E.g. - new customers acquired, status of existing

customers, profitability of customers by demographic segments, spend per head, return on

investment and many more website marketing stats. Website Marketing results are easily

accessible, making web marketing and search marketing a great measurable tool.

Internet Marketing is adjustable:

As the Internet is such a dynamic environment, website marketing campaigns can be honed

as an ongoing process of web marketing. Analytics and Internet Marketing campaign data

can reveal strengths and weaknesses in Web Marketing campaigns and website marketing

resources deployed accordingly. Website marketing isn’t just focused and proactive,

Internet Marketing can also be extremely reactive.

Internet Marketing is Cost Effective:

Internet Marketing is relatively inexpensive when compared to the ratio of cost against the

reach of the target audience. Using website marketing, companies are able to reach their

target audience for a fraction of traditional advertising budgets with good Internet

Marketing. The current economic downturn may offer many potential opportunities for

companies to develop effective website marketing, search marketing and advertising. Search

marketing incorporating organic search engine optimisation and pay per click (PPC) web

marketing campaigns prove the most effective forms of website marketing.

ANALYSIS

In the present world, businesses are growing globally. Companies are no more regional or

national; if they are to succeed, they have to compete globally. Similarly, individuals and

business customers are no more restricted to specific areas. Everyone has access to internet so

they are very well aware of the prevalent prices. In such situations if companies and individuals

are to thrive, they have to reduce their costs to retain and expand the current market share.

Hence, for this purpose, the individuals and organizations need to communicate with people at

different locations. Within most organizations, conventional phone lines are still widely used.

Such option is not only expensive but also does not provide several benefits offered by Internet

Phone. If cellular phone is thought to be a substitute for landline, it also has many limitations.

You can move around with your mobile device but it is also costly. Your calls can be on

roaming (if you leave some specific area) which can charge extra to both to both parties on

line.

Different options are available as to how internet can be used for making calls and video

conferencing. There is good news in store for those dependent upon phone for their business

communications and want an inexpensive yet reliable way to communicate. On internet, there

are different websites having setup similar to a conventional phone with all facilities. Different

packages are available depending upon the services availed, like conference calling, call

waiting, voice mails, call divert, video conference etc.

In a computer, there are some additional hardware and software installed to use the facility of

telephone on the same computer. Telephony software provides access to the phone system.

Usually microphone and speakers or headset are mandatory to make calls. Wireless headsets

are available in the market with which you can move around (within range) while working with

your phone.

There are many web servers like MSN, YAHOO and Skype who are efficiently using the

technology and has made communication very affordable. Without incurring any additional

cost, you can download messenger from internet and use it to share emails, messages, voice

chat, video call, files, pictures etc. For video call you need to attach web camera. Once you

have the web camera all you need to do is to choose a person from your messenger list and

invite him/her to show and view video. When it is done, you can see and speak to the person

without any problem.

Apart from that there is Voice over Internet Protocol, also known as broadband or Internet

Phone. The technology of Internet Phone service has fascinated millions in no time due to its

uncountable advantages. You can communicate with anyone from anywhere at a price which is

as low as free. With it you, are no more bound to physical location or wires because you can

carry your portable number to any place where there is internet facility. Internet Phone service

can be utilized from anywhere, without any extra roaming costs like cell phones. You can also

make use of soft phone, which loads VoIP software on your laptop and you can use it with

internet.

The time is not far when landline phone would be something belonging to past. Graham bell

would have never thought that his invention would advance to such levels.