1. LEARNING UNIT 6: INTRANET AND EXTRANET
E-COMMERCE
LEARNING UNIT 6: INTRANET AND EXTRANET

2. OUTCOMES
DISCUSS AND UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE INTERNET, INTRANET AND EXTRANET

3. INTERNET VS WEB: According to your manual p. 39:
The Internet is a series of interconnected networks that include local area, regional and national backbone networks. Networks in the Internet use the same telecommunication protocol and provide electronic mail, remote login and file transfer services
Also see the definition from webopedia.com:
The Internet is a massive network of networks, a networking infrastructure. It connects millions of computers together globally, forming a network in which any computer can communicate with any other computer as long as they are both connected to the Internet. Information that travels over the Internet does so via a variety of languages known as protocols.

4. According to your manual p
According to your manual p. 39: The World Wide Web is a network of servers that uses hypertext links to find and access files. Many websites also support video and sound. “Internet” focuses on physical and technical networks/infrastructure, while the Web focuses on the set of content accessible on that physical and technical infrastructure Also see the definition from webopedia.com The World Wide Web, or simply Web, is a way of accessing information over the medium of the Internet. It is an information- sharing model that is built on top of the Internet. The Web uses the HTTP protocol, only one of the languages spoken over the Internet, to transmit data. Web services, which use HTTP to allow applications to communicate in order to exchange business logic, use the Web to share information. The Web also utilizes browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Chrome or Firefox, to access Web documents called Web pages that are linked to each other via hyperlinks. Web documents also contain graphics, sounds, text and video.

5. COMMON USES OF THE INTERNET:
The sending of electronic text messages between parties.
Internet may travel and be stored unencrypted on many other machines and networks out of both the sender’s and recipient’s control
attachments have greatly increased the usefulness of

6. The World Wide Web:
Millions of people have easy, instant access to a vast and diverse amount of online information
Decentralisation of information and data
Web logs/blogs can be used by e.g Microsoft to find out what the public’s interest in their work is
Remote Access:
The Internet allows computer users to connect to other computers and information stores (with or without security/authentication/encryption technology)
A business person can have access to all his/her normal files and data, including and other applications, while away from the office
Remote access extends the secure perimeter of a corporate network into its employees’ homes

7. Remote access

8. Collaboration:
Low-cost, nearly instantaneous sharing of ideas, knowledge and skills through software such as Linux, Mozilla, OpenOffice.org
Internet “chats” allow colleagues to stay in touch in a convenient way when working on their computers
Messages can be send more quickly and conveniently through
Extensions to these systems may allow files to be exchanged, “whiteboard” drawings to be shared (e.g scribblar) as well as voice and video contact between team members
Version control systems

9. Collaboration

10. File sharing:
A computer file can be ed to customers, colleagues and friends as an attachment
Uploading onto a website or FTP server make downloading easy
“shared location” can be used for instant use by colleagues
“mirror” servers or peer-to-peer networks can be used for bulk downloads through user authentication
Credit card payments are acceptable
All forms of office documents, publications, software products, music, photography, video, etc. can be transmitted

11. File sharing

12. Streaming media:
According to webopedia: Streaming is a technique for transferring data so that it can be processed as a steady and continuous stream. With streaming, the client browser can start displaying the data before the entire file has been transmitted. (Youtube)
Many radio and TV broadcasters provide Internet “feeds” of their live audio and video streams
Allow time-shift viewing or listening
Most internet-connected devices can be used to access on-line media
Podcasting is where audio material is first downloaded in full and then may be played back on a computer or shifted to a digital audio player to be listened to on the move
(Vodcasting is the downloading of video clips)
Webcams are an even lower-budget extension of streaming media

13. Streaming media

14. Voice Telephony (VoIP) - SKYPE
Voice over IP (Internet Protocol)
2-way voice extension to some of the Instant Messaging systems
The Internet carries the actual voice traffic
Free or cost less than normal telephone calls
Inexpensive VoIP modems are available that eliminate the need for a PC
Most VoIP providers offer unlimited national calling but the direction in VoIP is clearly toward global coverage with unlimited minutes for a low monthly fee.
VoIP has become increasingly popular within the gaming world as a form of communication (Ventrilo, Teamspeak)

15. VoIP

16. EXTRANETS
Def: a secure website that enables your business to primarily communicate with selected business partners, suppliers (B2B) and customers (B2C). Provide safe business-to-business activities (a private Internet over the Internet)
Advantages :
Improve productivity by automating processes
Project information can be viewed at any time – cuts down on meeting times
Information can be updated, edited, changed instantly
Can improve relationships with customers
Exchange large volumes of data using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI
Collaboration with other companies on joint training and development efforts
Disadvantages:
Can be expensive to implement and maintain
Security I
s a concern (sensitive and valuable information)
Reduce personal contact (lack of connections and loyalty)

17. Extranet

18. INTRANETS:
Def: a private internal business network that enables employees to share information, knowledge, idea collaboration and improve communication (inside the organisation). Improve information flow and keep costs down in an organisation (a private version of the Internet)
Advantages:
Increase workforce productivity (increase employees’ ability to perform their jobs faster, more accurate and with confidence)
Save time
Powerful tool for communication (horizontal and vertical)
Web publishing allows corporate knowledge to be maintained and easily accessed.
Intranets can be used as a platform for developing and deploying applications to support business operations and decisions
Cost effective
Enhance collaboration
Built for one audience (user-specific)
Promote common corporate culture
Immediate updates

19. Disadvantages:
Publication of information must be controlled to ensure it is correct and appropriate
Security issues
Careful planning and structuring is important (avoid information overload)
Management concerns (fear of loss of control)

20. Intranet