Chapter 4
Business Telecommunications
The InternetworkedEnterprise
• The Internet and Internetworked technology based networks (intranets and extranets) have become the primary IT infrastructure
• Allows for managers, end users, workgroups, project teams to communicate, share work, and exchange data and information
The InternetworkedEnterprise cont.
• Most organizations could not survive or compete without advanced computer networks
Telecommunications
• Defined as the exchange of information in any form over a computer-based network
• There are three major categories of telecommunications applications each relying on Internet based networks
Telecommunications
• Enterprise collaboration - Applications using telecom networks to support communication, coordination, and collaboration among business teams and workgroups
• Electronic Commerce - Applications that support trade over the Internet
Telecommunications
• Internal Business - Telecommunications that support a variety of company operations
Business Value of Telecommunications
• Advanced telecommunications aid in overcoming barriers to business success
– geographic barriers– time barriers– cost barriers– structural barriers
Management Focus
• Managers need to have an awareness of major trends in telecommunications
• Services and networks are available from many vendors
• Internet and the World Wide Web have created new products, services, and providers
Management cont
• Businesses have increased their uses of the Internet and Web for e-commerce and enterprise collaboration
Technology Trends
• Open systems that use Internet technology are the driving force behind business communications
• Movement towards client/server networks
• Open systems are defined as information systems that use common elements such as transmission protocol
Technology Trends
• Connectivity is the ability of computer networks to communicate and share information
• Changing from analog to digital network technologies
• Digital offers advantages
Digital Advantages
• Higher transmission speeds
• Can transport larger blocks of data
• Economic
• Lower error rates (very important)
• Can transmit multiple types of communications over same line
Communications Media
• Moving towards fiber optic and satellite communications
• These mediums allow for lower installation labor and reduced physical size
• Greater capacity
• Faster transmission speeds
• Freedom from electrical interference
TelecomApplication Trends
• There are many, many telecommunications applications enabled by the Internet, WWW, intranets and extranets
• Telecom networks are an essential component of business
• Telecom lowers costs and shortens business lead and response times
Telecom Trends cont
• Support electronic commerce
• Enable workgroup collaboration
• Develop online processes
• Share resources
• Enable new product and service development
The Internet Revolution
• The largest network in the world
• No central location
• Network of networks
• Unique addresses (IP addresses)
• Growing rapidly
Internet Applications
• Browsing or surfing
• Newsgroup participation
• Browser software opens information doors
• Companies use websites to launch e-business solutions
• Download capability for app software
Business Uses of the Internet
• Strategic uses of the Internet
• Business partner collaboration
• Provide for customer and vendor support
• Buy and sell over the ‘net
• Marketing, sales, and service applications
• E-commerce
• Enterprise communications
Enterprise Communicationand Collaboration
• Internet, intranet, extranets support global communications and collaboration among employees, customers, vendors, and any other business partners
• Interactive web sites, e-mail, BBS, videoconferencing
Electronic Commerce
• Trade conducted over the Internet
• Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the transfer of document based data and information over Internet
• Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) is the transfer of payments over secure networks
Business Objectivesfor the Internet
• Attract new customers
• Improve service for existing customers
• Develop web-based markets and distribution channels for existing products
• Develop new information based products that are easily accessible on the Web
Communications Network
• A communications network requires several elements– Terminals - Can be phones, computers,
transaction terminals, etc– Telecom processors - Modems, switches,
routers– Media - Physical connection, copper wire, coax
cable, fiber optic, rf, infrared, satellite
Computers and ControlSoftware
• Host computers (mainframes)
• Front-end processors (minicomputers)
• Network servers (microcomputers)
• Telecom monitor software (mainframes)
• Network operating systems (network servers)
• Communications applications (micros)
Network Configurations
• Wide Area Network (WAN)
• Local Area Network (LAN)
• Interconnected (Internet, Intranet, Extranet)
• Client/Server
• VPN (virtual private network)
WANs
• Cover large geographic areas such as cities, countries, continents, etc
• Cable, fiber optics are primary mediums
LANs
• Closer proximity than WAN
• Offices, schools, manufacturing
• Use twisted pair wire, coax cable, radio frequency, infrared
• Require NIC (network interface card)
• Most popular configuration is network server with network operating system installed
Internetworks
• Rely on Internet technology
• Intranet - Secure network using Internet technology
• Extranet - External network linking business partners, auxillary offices using
• Client/Server - End user stations are clients
• Rely on central Server
Network Computing
• Browser based network
• Network computers have no disk drives
• Reliant on powerful servers that contain operating system, applications, databases, and applets
TelecommunicationsChannels
• Many forms of media– twisted pair wire - ordinary telephone wire– coax cable - cable television– Cellular networks– Infrared– Radio frequency
Twisted Pair
• Advantages are low cost, ease of use, readily available
• Disadvantages are high levels of interference, must use repeaters that amplify signal, low security
Coaxial Cable
• Advantages are low cost, easy to run, can be bundled, laid underground, high transmission rates
• Disadvantages - more expensive than twisted pair
Fiber Optic
• Low cost (relative)• High transmission rates• Light weight• Low noise interference• Can be run undersea• High security• Disadvantages - Difficult to install, hard to
repair
Cellular
• Cellular grids
• Low cost to users
• Not secure
• Can be secured with encryption (fairly expensive)
RF and Infrared
• Easy to set up
• Easy to maintain
• Fairly expensive (but declining prices)
• Limited to close distances
Telecom Devices
• Modems convert analog to digital back to analog• Multiplexers allow single channel to be split into
multiple channels• Switches, routers direct traffic on network• Hub allows for multiple connections to single
server• Gateway allows connection of differing
topologies
Three Types of NetworkTopology
• Star
• Ring
• Bus
Star
• All terminals linked to a central computer
• This computer directs traffic among terminals
• Susceptible to downtime
• High cost
Ring
• Terminals tied together in a loop
• Often used to link mainframes
• More reliable and less costly
Bus
• Centralized cable that each terminal connects to
• Does not require a host
• Often used to connect small group of microcomputers
Top Related