1-4-1.Digital+Convergence+&+the+Changing+Business+Environment


 * - When we want to assess the growing impact of IT in business firms; 5 factors should be considered as following: **

**1) Internet growth & technology convergence: **

**- The current networking & communications revolution is driven by: ** *The growth of the internet.
 * Internet-based technologies.
 * New business models & processes.

1- Enterprise : computer -Hardware & Software- industry.  2- Knowledge workers individual : consumer electronic industry.  3- Connectivity : communications industry. <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="color: #5f4607; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">4- <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #5f4607; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Content <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #5f4607; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 144%;">industry <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5f4607; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 144%;">.
 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">- There are 4 waves of IT development: **


 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 180%; text-align: center;">WAVES OF IT (Information Technology) **


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">Outlines of the future are clear: a world of near <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">universal <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">, <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">online <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">, <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">on-demand <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;"> and <span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">personalized information services <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">; from <span style="background-color: #00ff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">text messaging <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;"> to <span style="background-color: #00ff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">games <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">, <span style="background-color: #00ff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">education <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;"> & <span style="background-color: #00ff00; color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">entertainment <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">. **

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">**<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 120%;">- The early manifestations of the convergence in internet & technology are as following: ** <span style="color: #5f4607; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">_ Telephone networks are merging into the internet. _ Cellular phones are becoming internet access devices. _ Handheld storage devices are emerging as potential portable game and entertainment centers. _ Internet-connected PC is moving toward a role as home entertainment control center. _ The traditional markets & distribution channels are weakening; and new markets are being created.


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Courier New',Courier,monospace; font-size: 130%;">- In business -that is enabled by or based upon digital networks-, there are 3 terms: **
 * <span style="color: #5f4607; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> e-business (Electronic business) : It includes activities for internal management, & coordination with suppliers and other business partners , so it helps to use the internet & digital technology; in order to execute all of the activities in the enterprise.


 * <span style="color: #5f4607; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> e-commerce (Electronic commerce) : It deals with the buying and selling of goods and services electronically with computerized business transactions, using the internet, networks and other digital technologies . It also includes activities supporting those market transactions.

>> electronically with other citizens.
 * <span style="color: #5f4607; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> e-government (Electronic government) : It's the applications of the internet and related technologies to: first; digitally enable the government and the public sector agencies' relationships with citizens, businesses and other arms of government . Secondly; to improve the delivery of services , and not lastly; to make the government operations more efficient , and empower citizens by giving them easier access to information and the ability to network