Maaas info

1. La historia de “Electronic Mail”:

At the end of the 80s the email boom started, using the functions the Arpanet was offering. The email service was not a planned function, as Lawrence Roberts stated that the use of exchanging text would not be of a high value. But in the year 1971 there was already more data transfer caused by emails than by file transfer, for example.

In the same year, 1971, Ray Tomlinson released 2 programs, used for electronic mail. Therefore some people also see him as the real founder of “emails”. In the following years, systems to send text messages over a network were being establsihed (e.g.  X.25 and BTX). Special protocols were used to transfer text, whereby RFC 822 was the first one to transfer text in Arpanet. Due to the development the protocol changed and so did the name. In 2001 the protocol was called RFC 2822 and in 2008 it changed to the name it has now – RFC5322. This protocol defines the format of the email, the other parts of the email only consist of pure text, written in 7bit ASCII letters.

Nowadays it is also possible to send html emails, normally using a web interface or an email program (Outlook, TheBat e.g.) to design and “read” html emails.

It is also possible to attach files, such as pictures or sound to emails. Although this might be limited by the space provided by the email provider.

Emails bring some advantages, which are for example:

Fast way of communication, 24 hours – 7 days a week, worldwide, “offline” messages possible, saving paper, mobile information (laptop, smartphone), cheap (sign up for free, all you need is an internet connection).

Also, using an exchange server with a windows mobile/blackberry smartphone brings huge advantages, as you get your emails pushed to your mobile device.

2. News groups

News groups such as google groups can be seen as a huge archive collecting posts and information about certain topics.

Users have the option to read posted messages and ,depending on the group, often write posts themselves. Nowadays, it is also possible to have forums in groups, where people can discuss about certain things.

Companies, for example, are often using groups such as google groups to improve their CRM and to be able to see what the customers think, where they would like improvements and to analyze existing problems.

This brings us to some advantages already: Lets have a look at the marketing!

Due to google groups companies can post information about their new articles in the specific forums, for example a “Tech Forum” for logitech hardware. Also, they can make a positive use of the feedback the products are receiving.

As asked, I created a google group, it is to be found here:

http://groups.google.de/group/alexinba

Still pretty empty, but who knows, it might actually change at some point!

3. P2P

Peer to Peer is something almost every young person with an internet access is using nowadays, without even knowing it. Mostly they are using it due to filesharing. Programs such as Bittorrent or mtorrent make it possible for users to exchange files, mostly music and videos (movies). This, of course, is often not legal as there are copyrights on music and movies.

Basically, the P2P system works as a direct interchange of information between users in a network. Looking at filesharing, the P2P network is the internet, and the users are downloading AND uploading data.

This kind of data exchange is hard to stop, even if illegal, because the homepages offering torrent files (which lead the users to the same point, basically) are not doing anything illegal. They are just a map for users to get together, but they are not actually offering something forbidden by law.

One of the most famous and first programs for filesharing using the P2P system was “Napster”, which was mostly used for downloading music.

In some countries the government is already trying to prevent P2P filesharing, as in Germany for example the music industry is fighting against the illegal way of obtaining music. Quite a number of germans have already received a bill, stating the damage they did because of obtaining and storing music without actually having the necessary copyright.

Peer to Peer also brings legal advantages, in this case for companies: Marketing. You could for example inspire customers to buy their products by offering preview versions – which the users can get using P2P.

4. Instant Messaging

Known as a form of direct communication between 2 or more users. It is based on transferring data, once again, but this time it is text messages that are instantly received by the other end. The other end might be 1 user or many. The main difference to email is that the message arrives instantly, mostly the same second.

To use this kind of communication you need programs which are designed for exchanging text. Nowadays there are a few known programs available online, most of them for free. For example, a lot of people around the world are using MSN, the messenger microsoft is offering. Another option would be ICQ, which is basically the same thing by a different provider. Skype also offers the option of instant messaging.

Most programs used as instant messengers also offer other things today, such as voice communication or video-conferences.

Personally, im using a program called “Miranda” which has the benefit of putting different networks together. I could use the very same program to connect to an IRC netword (Internet Relay Chat), talk to friends using the msn network as well as communicating via ICQ. As my friends from london are all using MSN and my german friends mostly ICQ, this makes the program very attractive.

A way to make use of instant messaging in the marketing sector is the commercials the programs are using, for example. Using the real ICQ program, not only their network, you have an advertisement in form of a banner in every single conversation. Using this kind of advertisement, companies could try increasing sales for a product. This is especially interesting as mostly young people are using instant messaging services still, so you have a special target group already.

5. FTP

FTP, also known as FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL is used for transferring files, obviously. I use it personally to exchange files with other people, perfectly legal files of course. Anyone with an internet connection can open up a FTP-Server, as long as he has the program and the rights (intranet) to do it.

As we already know, every user connected directly to the internet through his ISP has his own IP address. This would serve as the direction for the client, once the FTP-server is running.

FTP servers are mostly used for file storage, either for backups, homepages, or just downloads. But as mentioned, every user can set up a server to offer any kind of information to another user.

Programs used talking about FTP have to be differentiated in client and server side: G6 would, for example, allow you to open a server.

FlashFXP and FileZilla would allow you to connect to a server, whereby FileZilla is opensource and therefore free. Even the Explorer that comes with windows is able to connect to FTP-Servers, so no program is really needed at all, but for additional options it really is recommended.

Marketing benefits in a few indirect ways in my opinion: You can store files there that are being accessed, as a banner that is being displayed on a homepage. Everything people see on a page is stored somewhere, so without a storage like a FTP-server there would need be any information at all.

Also, using the file transfer, companies could offer preview versions of their new game (demos) for download.

6. Telefonia IP

Using the Internet Protocol to communicate with landlines or other users connected to the internet. Very useful is for example “Skype”, especially for us having the family abroad. A call from a normal landline would cost a lot of money, using Skype it costs either nothing (if the other person has an internet access, a computer and the needed program) or a lot less when calling a landline.

This, obviously offers the benefit to make calls for very low costs, resulting in companies selling their products over the phone, for example. Also the CRM would come in a lot cheaper, as things like outsourcing are a possibility.

 

 

Enough for today, I will probably edit this once I read it again and add a few things.

Still playing with wordpress! Polls~~

Test – Audioplayer