1. Business Telecommunications
Chapter 4
Business Telecommunications

2. The Internetworked Enterprise
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

3. The Internetworked Enterprise cont.
Most organizations could not survive or compete without advanced computer networks

4. 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

5. 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

6. Telecommunications
Internal Business - Telecommunications that support a variety of company operations

7. Business Value of Telecommunications
Advanced telecommunications aid in overcoming barriers to business success
geographic barriers
time barriers
cost barriers
structural barriers

8. 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

9. Management cont
Businesses have increased their uses of the Internet and Web for e-commerce and enterprise collaboration

10. 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

11. Technology Trends
Connectivity is the ability of computer networks to communicate and share information
Changing from analog to digital network technologies
Digital offers advantages

12. 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

13. 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

14. Telecom Application 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

15. Telecom Trends cont Support electronic commerce
Enable workgroup collaboration
Develop online processes
Share resources
Enable new product and service development

16. The Internet Revolution
The largest network in the world
No central location
Network of networks
Unique addresses (IP addresses)
Growing rapidly

17. 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

18. 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

19. Enterprise Communication and Collaboration
Internet, intranet, extranets support global communications and collaboration among employees, customers, vendors, and any other business partners
Interactive web sites, , BBS, videoconferencing

20. 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

21. Business Objectives for 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

22. 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

23. Computers and Control Software
Host computers (mainframes)
Front-end processors (minicomputers)
Network servers (microcomputers)
Telecom monitor software (mainframes)
Network operating systems (network servers)
Communications applications (micros)

24. Network Configurations
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Local Area Network (LAN)
Interconnected (Internet, Intranet, Extranet)
Client/Server
VPN (virtual private network)

25. WANs
Cover large geographic areas such as cities, countries, continents, etc
Cable, fiber optics are primary mediums

26. 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

27. 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

28. Network Computing Browser based network
Network computers have no disk drives
Reliant on powerful servers that contain operating system, applications, databases, and applets

29. Telecommunications Channels
Many forms of media
twisted pair wire - ordinary telephone wire
coax cable - cable television
Cellular networks
Infrared
Radio frequency

30. 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

31. Coaxial Cable
Advantages are low cost, easy to run, can be bundled, laid underground, high transmission rates
Disadvantages - more expensive than twisted pair

32. 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

33. Cellular Cellular grids Low cost to users Not secure
Can be secured with encryption (fairly expensive)

34. RF and Infrared Easy to set up Easy to maintain
Fairly expensive (but declining prices)
Limited to close distances

35. 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

36. Three Types of Network Topology
Star
Ring
Bus

37. Star All terminals linked to a central computer
This computer directs traffic among terminals
Susceptible to downtime
High cost

38. Ring Terminals tied together in a loop Often used to link mainframes
More reliable and less costly

39. Bus Centralized cable that each terminal connects to
Does not require a host
Often used to connect small group of microcomputers