E-TECHNOLOGIES

Demystifying Bluetooth Technology

- - Vishakha Munshi

Bluetooth technology is a short-range, low-power, low-cost wireless communications technology. The key feature of this technology is that it replaces the cables which connect portable and fixed devices, and simultaneously maintains high levels of security. It gives a uniform robust structure for a wide range of electronic devices, ranging from laptops to mobile phones, to digital cameras audio equipments and printers, allowing them to connect and communicate with each other. This article examines the technological aspects of Bluetooth, its key features and application. It also highlights the security challenges while using the technology and examines its future potential.

© 2006 IUP . All Rights Reserved

E-TECHNOLOGIES

Adoption of Bluetooth Technology : Europe vs. US

- - Minita Sinha

The article presents a comprehensive view on Bluetooth technology. The different applications that use Bluetooth technology and the issues regarding its adoption are discussed. The article examines the reasons behind the low adoption of this technology in the US and compares it with that of Europe. It also discusses the application of Bluetooth in home security and enterprise use in the US.

©2006 IUP . All Rights Reserved

E-TECHNOLOGIES

The Role of SMS in Multichannel Business Communications

In an age of multichannel business communications, effective interaction with customers requires coordinated messaging at every stage of the sales, service, and support cycles. Messages delivered through multiple channels-whether e-mail, fax, HTML page, or automated voice call-must be properly timed and targeted to cut through the noise of spam, pop-ups, and mass-market advertising. Short Message Service (SMS) provides an extraordinary opportunity for businesses in the US to differentiate their messaging. It serves as a powerful tool for connecting with customers, particularly in emerging markets.

© 2006 Twelve Horses, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission.

E-MOBILE

The Mobile Enterprise Strategy

- - S Jaya Krishna

Only a few companies have embraced mobility with a strategic vision. With the increasing adoption of mobile solutions, it is essential to evolve from tactical mobility project to an enterprise-wide approach to mobility. This article accentuates the need for a mobile strategy and the importance of evolving from tactical mobility projects to a consolidated, managed, enterprise-wide approach to mobility to limit operational costs and security risks. It explains the essential elements that form the mobile technology strategy.

© 2006 This is the summary of the article "The Mobile Enterprise: Defining Your Strategy" by Carl Zetie, published by Forrester Research Inc. IUP holds the copyright for the summary.

E-FINANCE

Online Commodities Exchanges : The Emerging Trends

- - V Shunmugam, DG Prasad

The use of IT has made it simpler for the participants to trade in the commodity markets; it has also led to higher levels of efficiency, improved risk management, thereby resulting in reduced cost of market participation, taking the online exchanges to unparalleled levels of competency. Riding on national level electronic online trading platform, MCX and other national level multi-commodity exchanges have brought in more transparency in the markets.

© 2006 IUP . All Rights Reserved

IT GOVERNANCE

The Path to World-class IT Governance

- - Fred Gattelaro

Many organizations do not have a well-defined strategy to implement IT projects and they do not follow the path to mature IT governance. Successful implementation of governance initiatives require adoption of maturity-based approach that allows organizations to launch new tools and processes on an incremental basis. This approach helps in identifying and prioritizing opportunities that can deliver best value in quick time. The article describes seven critical process categories that can be used to assess an organization's IT governance maturity level.

© 2005 Pacific Edge Software. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission. Originally published as "The Path to World-class IT Governance: Maturing Your IT Organization to the Next Level".

BOOK REVIEW

Workforce Crisis

- - Ken Dychtwald, Tamara J Erickson and Robert Morison

With the huge numbers of old people ready to retire and declining birth rates in the US, there will be a major deficit for talented workers. The authors of this book believe that companies will face the workforce crisis in the near future. To overcome this disaster, companies should concentrate on their workforce, analyze the future situation and come out with good workforce retention strategies. The authors present innovative strategies for rewriting the employment deal and leveraging the talent of the people in order to achieve success.

© 2006 Ken Dychtwald, Tamara Erickson and Robert Morison. All Rights Reserved. IUP holds the copyright for the review.

CASE STUDY

Browser Wars II : The Release of IE7 (Beta 2)

- - Rajiv Fernando, Hadiya Faheem and Soorya Tejamoortula

Though Microsoft was a late entrant in the web browser market, in the late 1990s, it used its dominance in the Operating System (OS) market to gain a 96% market share in the web browser market till June 2004. However, the release of Firefox, an open-source browser, in 2004, and the security concerns regarding its IE6 browser not only led to a decline in its market share but also compelled Microsoft to release a new Beta version of its Internet Explorer (IE) web browser, IE7 Beta 2 in April 2006. The case examines the rationale behind Microsoft's release of the new version IE browser, apart from highlighting the competition between Microsoft and Google Inc. for the search-based online advertising market.

© 2006 ICMR. All Rights Reserved. For accessing and procuring the case study, log on to www.ecch.com or www.icmrindia.org.

INTERVIEW

"The challenge is in integrating the online operation with legacy systems and processes".

- - Les Boggia

In the interview, Les Boggia, Head of IT at UK-based Carole Nash Insurance Consultants Ltd., explains the reasons that led to the adoption of the new project management software at Carole Nash, the implementation process and the benefits of the software. He also shares insights on how the project management software integrates with other applications and the problems faced while implementing it.

© 2006 This interview is reprinted with permission by Conspectus Magazine and the Evaluation Center. The original interview has been posted on Evaluation Center website: www.evaluationcenter.com.