The advancement of information technology has altered the way that many businesses communicate. For example, fax was a popular form of communication for businesses in the 1980’s. Whilst it still has its uses, people now largely use e-mail instead. The internet is a key tool for many firms now to communicate with many different groups, such as advertising to customers and finding suppliers. Investing in the new technology is costly however and potentially it can become outdated within a few years. There is also the need to train many staff on how to use the technology effectively and even then some employees may be reluctant to change from their traditional methods.

Communication is the most popular use of the Internet, with email topping the list of all the technologies used. Some of the types of communication technologies used also include email discussion groups, Usenet news, chat groups, and IRC. Other technologies, including video and audio conferencing and Internet telephony, are also available on the Internet. They require more multimedia capabilities of computer systems and are more taxing of network resources than the others.

E-mail refers to messages sent over computers and includes everything from casual notes to friends to multimedia presentations sent across the world.

Web is a series of inter connected documents scored on computer sites or web sites. On the internet via web, more and more linked data are available at very high speed. When the operator uses computer, sends a softwareprogram called a browser for visiting a site on the web, the computer screen displays a document called home page. The home page gives the organisation or individual name of (Sponsoring in the web site) and displays a list of highlighted words, buttons or pictures. One can have more information by clicking to those words or buttons through mouse pointer.

Intranet is developed by using internet technology to deliver internal information over the local area network accessible only to employees or other invited users

Multi media is a combination of several media (means of communication such as motion picture, slides and music) incorporated in computer system to enhance the impact of communication. This can be used for entertainment, sale presentations, education and training of employees, digital publication, etc.

Multimedia brings presentation alive with sound, movies, animations and interaction by photographs. Drawings could be used to illustrate and explain products and their performance. With this, company can effectively advertise.

Telecommunications is the electronic exchange of information. This term used to telephones, telexes, and faxes, but now it comprises a rapidly developing technology that will soon allow high quality video images and personal conferencing systems that operate on individual PCs.

This is used when the conversation is only to be heard by the members of the conference call and not visually presented like in a web conference call session.

A teleconference is a meeting or conference held via a telephone or network connection between participants in remote cities or work sites. Many types of teleconferences exist, with the simplest form involving the use of a speaker phone at each location to conduct an audio conference. More sophisticated teleconference meetings involve the exchange of audio, video, and data. The term teleconference can also refer to a live event that is transmitted via satellite to various locations simultaneously.

A videoconference (also known as a videoteleconference) is a set of interactive telecommunication technologies which allow two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously. It has also been called visual collaboration and is a type of groupware. It differs from videophone in that it is designed to serve a conference rather than individuals.

Plan well in advance for the conference.

Prepare a detailed agenda like you would do for a meeting and follow it.

Involve all participants equally during the meeting.

Speaking normally and clearly. Don’t shout.

Address individuals by their names to ensure their attention when speaking

Remember the reduced non-verbal communication in videoconferences has to be made up by clarity in speech.

During the videoconference, introduce yourself and wait for the camera to focus on you before you start speaking.

Limit the use of gestures and restrict movement.

Prepare all graphics keeping the video in mind.

Use and provide appropriate handouts.

Minute the meeting as you would normally do.

With use of computers, organisationas are proactively interconnecting various employees and executives with computer networks.

A network is conncetion of two or more computers through a cable so that they can exchange ingotmation and can communicate with one another. Networks are often called LAN. Networks which serves small areas are called Local Area Networks

LAN are restircted to local areas and cannot be used over long distence. For connecting computers on separate sites. Separate cities or even separate countries, Wide Area Network(WAN) are used.

Mobile is a long-range, electronic device used for mobile telecommunications over a cellular network of specialized base stations known as cell sites.

Features• Sending text message• Making voice calls, including call register• GPS navigation• Music (MP3) and video (MP4) playback• RDS radio receiver• Alarms• Memo and document recording• Ability to watch streaming video or download video for later viewing• Video calling• Built-in cameras (1.0+ Mpx) and video recording with autofocus and

flash• Ringtones, games• Memory card reader (SD) & USB• Infrared, Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity• Instant messaging, Internet e-mail and browsing and serving as a

wireless modem for a PC• Some phones also include a touchscreen.

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RELATED SYSTEMS• Professional Mobile Radio Advanced professional mobile

radio systems can be very similar to mobile phone systems. Notably, the IDEN standard has been used as both a private trunked radio system as well as the technology for several large public providers. Similar attempts have even been made to use TETRA, the European digital PMR standard, to implement public mobile networks.

• Radio phone This is a term which covers radios which could connect into the telephone network. These phones may not be mobile; for example, they may require a mains power supply, they may require the assistance of a human operator to set up a PSTN phone call.

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PRIVACY• Cell phones have numerous privacy issues associated with them, and are

regularly used by governments to perform surveillance.

• Law enforcement and intelligence services in the UK and the US possess technology to remotely activate the microphones in cell phones in order to listen to conversations that take place nearby the person who holds the phone.

• Mobile phones are also commonly used to collect location data. The

geographical location of a mobile phone can be determined easily (whether it is being used or not), using a technique known multilateration to calculate the differences in time for a signal to travel from the cell phone to each of several cell towers near the owner of the phone.

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There are of course certain things that need to be kept in mind while using cell phones.

Avoid making or answering calls while driving.

Cell phones should be switched off during business meetings, Conferences and Presentations.

They should also be switched off during business and social lunches/dinner, at cinema halls and at theatres.

Avoid using SMS abbreviations/language/graphics while writing e-mails.

Before you call, remember that you might have to leave a message on the voice mail, so plan it out.

Information Technology has its positive aspects as well as negative aspects. Let us first consider the merits of information technology before we state the threats that it may pose.

oCapacity

oDecision-making

oSharing Information

oAccessibility

oSpeed

oIncreased effectiveness and efficiency

oOnline information

oCreate communities

oConstant Accessibility

oDemarcation

oSecurity

oIlleteracy

oQuick Response

oEtiquette

oOverload

With the introduction of new tools and technologies, not only has whole production system been transformed in various organisations but the nature of management has also changed. Various IT solutions are now available for planning and forcasting sales and investments.

Planning and forecasting sales and investments

Storing and analysis

Simpler and faster

Aware of present technology

Updated information

Present era is I.T era. The IT revolution has transformed the business commnunation. With it, we find marked increase in amount and availablity of information at great spead and cheaper cost, replacement of conventional written communication by e-mails, evolution of economy to digital economy and expansion of global networks. With IT expansion, we find emergence of new communication devices like Laptops, PDAs and Palmtops that offers the advantage of computer fuctions with mobility. Besides these healthy impacts, there are some threats of IT.

Eg:- increase in flow of useless information, accelerating rate of change, viruses,etc