The E-Government and the digital divide are essentially interrelated. The article shows that Internet and computer literacy and application are growing much faster among the poor and marginal groups and the digital divide is narrowing rapidly. According to World Bank researchers Kenny and Fink, there is likelihood for poor nations to adopt information technology much faster than developed nations. They argue that the growth rate of information technology in developing countries is much more likely to expand than in the developed nations. To close the digital divide, developing countries’ governments should be actively involved in the efforts of bridging the gap (The Economist (2005). The digital divide in the United States has notably fallen. Fink and Kenny base their analogy on past growth rates of technology accessibility and diminishing accessibility gaps soon after establishment of new technology. The accessibility to the Internet does not contribute to the digital divide. Instead, the digital divide is influenced by the utilization of the Internet and literacy necessary to make use of the Internet. James (2008) in his article is against the notion that digital divide does not exist or is closing up. James argues that a global perspective should be adopted when considering the digital divide and that looking beyond America would be the way out to help others close the digital divide.

The Understanding Digital Inequality article by Keil et al (2008) argues that the general behavioral models user approval for the socio economically underprivileged and socio economically privileged exist and relate to the digital disparity. In their view, the authors of this article feel the digital divide is the gap separating the advantaged and the disadvantaged in terms of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and the utilization of information obtained from ICT. Being present in many countries, digital inequality differentiates the developed countries and the underdeveloped countries as concerns ICT.

The government’s move to present access to technology and creation of conditions under which the technology will operate are crucial. To make the project successful, the government must realize the citizen’s user acceptance. Understanding Digital Inequality research is conducted to determine the significance of the citizen’s user acceptance of information technology initiatives offered by the government.

Confidence measures the execution of ICT projects and a person’s behavioral organization and affects ICT application in the society. Low confidence affects more the socio economically disadvantaged than the socio economically advantaged making the less-privileged experience difficulties accessing ICT, hence the digital divide. Technology is more theoretical than practical in most government initiatives. Digital Inclusiveness by Lam and Lee (2006) is an article exploring methods of having efficacy in enabling older adults digital services accessibility. Training provisions on computer services and the introduction of computer centers in the community will guarantee computer access by everyone. Digital government and its effectiveness in public management reform by Asgarkhani (2005) highlights the usefulness of ICT education particularly on tertiary sector. Bélanger and Carter examine the affected and the effects of the digital divide at three levels; the individual level, organizational level and national level.

Internet and community researches show that ICT presents new chances for social interaction, as well as increasing privacy by enclosing people in their closets. Helbig et al (2009) article Understanding the complexity of Electronic government: Implications from the digital divide literature has it that theoretically and empirically, e-government and the digital divide are interrelated. Studies concerning the e-government and the digital divide carry crucial parallels and potential interactions essential in comprehending e-government initiatives and policies in a better perspective subsequently for enhancing efficient digital schemes. James, (2008) in his article Digital divide complacency: misconceptions and dangers discuss the global digital divide. The challenges of redressing the digital divide by Kvasny & Keil (2006) evaluates the works by Atlanta and LaGrange cities in redressing the digital divide. They analyzed how the target populations and service providers responded to the two initiatives, how these responses worked to reproduce the digital divide, and the teaching for future digital divide programs.

Black Telephones And Writing Pads

VoIP communication and information technology are fast becoming a must in the corporate and business enterprises of today’s market. The world and its industries are progressing, functioning and overpowering each other at break neck speed. Today’s technology is so powerful that a human brain is unable to keep up with the incredible feats accomplished by different programmes available. If a person writes a letter in America to their spouse in China, the letter is received instantly via email. Twenty years ago, there would have been no option but to send by post, telegram, or pay a fortune and send it via a courier company. In the past, technology moved, but not at speed. One of the key elements in the spread of knowledge and practice concerning information and new findings is thanks to communication and the subsequent progression in that area of technology. Twenty years ago a telegram was incomprehensibly quick; a pioneer of science and the progression of the world’s technological genius. A telegram used in today’s business enterprise would lose a company its clients due to being slow.

For corporate and business enterprises, staying at the helm of new technology related to communication and information is paramount to their success. If two companies are competing in an aggressive market, it is obvious that the company to deliver solutions on a faster scale will be the more successful. Keeping ahead of the times in terms of current events, new methods and practices is also a fundamental part of the success behind a company. Communication technology allows this success to happen, by delivering the information quickly and in time for planning and reaction. The catch 22 which faces businesses and corporations however, is having to pay exorbitant rates and fees for premium technology. Emails, faxes, high speed internet connection, international phone calls, video conferencing and other aspects of communication in a modern company are needed without question, yet manage to build up quite a bill of expenses.

A Solution With Results

What is the solution for the choice between expenses or bad technology? Voice over internet protocol (abbreviated to VoIP) is technology which enables users to transmit information over a broadband internet connection. Basically put, VoIP allows users to call, email, fax, conference call and much more over a high speed internet connection. The best part? Since the lines used are internet connections, the rates payable are extremely reasonable. Due to the internet being as worldwide commodity, a call from New York to Hamburg will cost the same as a call from London to Manchester – because the calls are made using the high speed broadband connection, unlike telephone line to telephone line.

Companies and corporations using VoIP services and internet protocol telephony have the ability to keep up with current trends in information and communication technology and can also keep up to speed with competing companies. As aforementioned, every second counts in the corporate environment, especially concerning competing markets. VoIP allows companies to be ahead of their game, finding information, making communication and basically being able to run their business more efficiently and practically. Everyone knows the results of an efficient and competent company: happy staff and most importantly, happy clients.

A company looking to make a step forward from the rest of their competitors, or perhaps a company who feel they are not as up to standard as other companies in terms of their service and reliability would benefit immensely from using VoIP communication and information technology. The benefits are extraordinary and the prices are low, the perfect combination for any successful company and workforce.

Every successful business needs to have the best communication equipment available on the market. It’s just a simple fact. If you can’t properly communicate with your different branches, then your efficiency will take a big hit. Communicating isn’t that hard though. There have been many advances in the past few years that grant great advantages to your efforts.

One of the easiest would be in the form of a simple teleconference through something like the polycom soundstation. You probably already know what this is. It’s basically just one big conference, except you don’t need to pack everyone into one board room. There are a number of advantages to this setup. The first is that you are in a perfect position to take full advantage of telecommuting. Any of your remote workers can just press a few buttons and log into the conference from their home phone. This also works for any remote branches who want to be involved. There are nearly countless benefits to having one installed. You will have greater function in your meetings and you’ll be able to include everyone without annoying travel plans. There is also the usual ability to tape the conference for better archiving. Avaya IP office phones will work in this capacity to make everything function a bit better.

It is important that you take the time to setup the connection properly though. There is no reason to buy an inferior product for your teleconference. If you go cheap and don’t have it professionally installed, then the static and poor pickup will effectively ruin any good conference. The good news is that you have a lot of options. The Polycom system works to give you a large microphone range which should be able to handle any small or medium room. There are other options though. Just a basic search online will show a number of companies who want your business.

You could go with a phone system through Avaya partner ACS. They offer similar setups for your conference needs. It’s really just about getting what you want from a reputable company. Check to see who has local branches and then see whether one of their products fits your capacity needs better. It’s hard to tell you what’s the best without understanding your exact situation. These two companies should be a good place to start though. Just one phone call could let you start having teleconferences that make everything run smoother and more efficiently.