11th Blog

A topic that was discussed in class not too long ago was offshoring. This is a type of outsourcing, it is the relocation of an organizations business processes to a lower cost location. That includes both manufacturing and production. Many of our companies here have offices in India or other foreign countries, and to call over there to them there is a huge phone bill. Now they can use Skype instead of relying on actual phone calls.

Skype has single handedly removed the communication constraint from these companies. It allows employees from different locations to communicate freely without the fear of increasing the communication costs. Since 2005 the effect on productivity of Skype is believed to be 10% or greater, and I can only imagine that it is much higher now this year.

I think that this is a great way of being more efficient in the offshore actions of our companies that are trying to be more responsible with the money and where it goes. Also, if you watch news or late shows you can see now and then that some celebrities just use Skype instead of flying to the actual show. It's so amazing.

I'm copying and pasting the following from:

http://www.sourcingmag.com/content/c051214a.asp

Here are some of the ways Skype has revolutionized communication between global teams:

• The basic teleconference equipment is expensive; therefore, companies were able to buy only a limited number of devices. The use of Skype through computer speakers has reduced the need for expensive teleconference equipment.
• Teleconference bridges in most developing countries don’t exist. In places where they do, the expense is out of reach for typical global teams. Skype’s conference facility has reduced the need for teleconference bridges for conference calls with five or fewer participants.
• Skype has increased the ability of the teams to collaborate, since they can use voice and IM simultaneously. Written communication is still the preference for sharing source code snippets, Web site details, phone numbers, etc.
• Skype also allows for impromptu communication. Due to the time zone difference between countries like US and India, there’s a need to communicate during early morning or late evening hours. Often phone calls during late hours catch people during dinner or after they have gone to bed. Skype allows users to see who is online before the call is made.
• The superior quality of Skype calls has encouraged users to communicate using voice rather than email or IM. This not only results in better communication but also helps in building better relationships between team members who are geographically distributed.
  
  
  
  

SKYPE

In the early 2000s there was AIM and YAHOO messenger. If you weren't video chatting, there was definitely something wrong. Now, in 2010, if you don't have a SKYPE account, you're definitely "living in the past". SKYPE is a downloadable software application that was acquired by Ebay in 2005 which allows users to makes voice calls over the Internet. Making video and voice calls, instant messaging, and file sharing amongst other SKYPE users are free, but calling land line phones and cell phones have a small fee. Recently, Verizon Wireless has enable free SKYPE calling to those who have an android capable phone. So all you would have to do is download the app and get a SKYPE account and you can make free calls.

Lately, Many have been making complaints that there is a SKYPE download that is actually a virus. Also there has been a set back on SKYPE actions because it has been running slow. IT techs say that the reason why SKPE sometimes run slow is because its not accustomed to the latest windows updates such as Vista, 7, and Mac.

Personally I think is very convenient. I'm away from my loved ones during the school year and sometimes a phone call isn't enough. Just being able to see their face makes my days easier. My Cousin is in the Army and he's stationed in California for Basic Training. I make sure I talk to him at least once a week just to make sure he's okay because we never know when he may be called to go fight for our country.

I feel like SKYPE is very convenient and with that being said, what's your SKYPE? add me @ coa.coa-

Peer-to-Peer Networks

Peer-to-peer (P2P) networks are networks that connect one PC to another PC. This type of network was first made famous with file sharing software such as Napster. A lot of people were attracted to this type of networking because it allowed the clients to be the suppliers instead of a centralized server. P2P was the first time everyday PC users could upload their own information and share with anybody else who connected to them. This network had many disadvantages as well.

Some disadvantages of a P2P network were heavy bandwidth usage, malicious software, and no single point of failure. Since P2P networks rely on a constant connection to another PC, this can cause heavy bandwidth usage and can bog down your ISP. Many ISPs have reduced the bandwidth usage for P2P file sharing. Another disadvantage is the threat of malicious software. Many hackers have seen P2P networks as a golden opportunity to spread their malware with less restrictions. Lately, many P2P networks have added more security and better file verification mechanisms. Lastly, a disadvantage of a P2P network is the absence of a single point of failure. This means there is no centralized index where users get their data.

It has been over 10 years since the peak of Napster and P2P networks have come a long way. Now P2P networks have gone as far as connecting two or more PCs by telephone. Some programs that offer services like this are Skype and Oooma. P2P networks have also been used to stream TV, instant messaging, online chat, and even connecting large institutions for file sharing. Peer-to-peer networking accounts for majority of the internet usage and this trend will only continue.