Thursday, August 4, 2011

Skype


            The world has come a long way since the telegraph, phonograph, radio, and television. These communication technologies were invented to break barriers of communications. We are always finding ways to overcome distances and ways to communicate efficiently and effectively. The desire for progression in communication has led to the convergence of multimedia. “Resolving such performance gaps through a knowledge of business’s activities and a technology’s potential to facilitate these activities is likely to increase the search by both technology providers and users for relevant uses of new technologies, thus serving as a stimulus for innovation (“Information Technology Innovativeness”.) A prime example would be what is called Skype. What is Skype? It is a communication technology created to break down barriers to communication. Skype is a software application to communicate by voice calls, video calls, and chats over the Internet. This Internet based software allows people to make calls to phones, send text messages, send offline video messages, live video calls, instant messages, group conferences, and file sharing. The invention of the source to each of these types of communication is all put into one. It is a very efficient way to get in contact with a recipient. Skype can be accessed through a computer, mobile phone, and television. It uses the VoIP network and operates on a “peer-to-peer” model. The bandwidth efficiency and low costs VoIP types of communications such as Skype are the reason for gradual migration from traditional copper wire telephone systems. The idea of a unified communication system appeals to the daily person today whom is always searching to cut time and live effectively and efficiently. 

Lind, M.R., & Zmud, R.W. (1991). The influence of a convergence in understanding between technology providers and users on information technology innovativeness. Organization Science2(2), 195-217.