-E.CoMmErzE-

Corporate Blogging : A New Marketing Communication Tool For Companies

2009-07-12T06:57:00.000-07:00

Youngsters used to have a blog, they love to reflect their memories and share their grandmother stories with their loved ones.

Same things goes to companies, they also have their own stories to share and unhappiness to cried out. Therefore, corporate blogs serve this purpose.

Companies nowadays are struggle for customer and need to shore up their corporate message in any way they can. Traditionally, companies usually advertise or organized events as grand as they can just to let customers know about their corporate message.

Now, Corporate blogging is another communications and marketing channel apart from what are being used in the past. However, unlike a press release, advertisement in a magazine or a listing in the Yellow Pages, corporate blogs are two-way communications. Corporate blogging has the opportunity to reach thousands of interested people without large advertising budget, yet can significantly strengthen your client-customer relationship.

They are quite similar in with the personal blog. They deliver on-point messages to anyone who reads it. Since blog entries often have a personal touch, they tend to reach readers in ways a company homepage cannot. A blog is not a venue for the hard sale but instead resources where readers can stay informed or sign up for newsletters and e-mailings.

The top 10 Corporate Blogging available worldwide : ( As at Sept 2008)
1. Google
2. Adobe
3. Yahoo! Search
4. Fecebook
5. Dell
6. Yahoo!
7. LinkedIn
8. Southwest Airlines
9. General Motors
10. Flickr

Dell is definitely one of the prime examples and will qualify both under corporate blog as well as customer service blog and department blog.
The Dell blog currently receives 1 million pageviews per week.

The twitter blog.

Even Linked In also have their own corporate blog :a two-way conversation with users. User education was the primary goal.

What makes Corporate so great until everyone else loving it so much?

The blog not only helps you build stronger relationships with important target groups such as clients, the media, the general public and shareholders. It also:

It helps company to run low cost public relationship.

It provides companies’ customers wit information they might need. In other words, they see you as an expert.

Company's customers given human interaction in the website, they allowed to leave comments.

When everyone keep visiting your blog, it actually makes your web’s popularity very highs and thus rank higher in the search engines.

Company’s business given a chance to get instant feedback for new products or ideas

Human need to bond and communicate authentically in order shape the business world.
So, Corporate blogging serves this purpose.

Review a local, transactional e-commerce site : www.luvclothez.com

2009-07-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

Online boutiques have become amazingly popular nowadays. It doestn’t take a lot of capital nor manpower. A Malaysian fashion and lifestyle ezine(electronic magazine), www.luvclothez.com. have offer clothing and accessories of different types and sizes and target the female web community mostly.

LuvClothez(www.luvclothez.com), the trusted online fashion store in Malaysia. It sell the latest fashion stuffs from Taiwan and korea and running the business globally. This website consists of 2 languages, Chinese and English. User can choose to their own suit languages. Besides, It also have a currencies version to convenient those foreigner user! User can concert the price (RM) to USD or even Singapore rate. LuvClothez not only selling fashionable clothes but also some bags, accessories and gifts and allocated them in different category. It is the strategy that LuvClothez use to attract customer.

The product have show with picture, price, product material and the dimension of the product. By disclose this type of information, LuvClothez can enhance the confidence of consumer and avoid misunderstanding information too. Next,you have to sign up as a member first before shopping. The payments option can be credit cards, online banking, direct bank in by ATM or even cash deposit. Customer have to fill in their details as name, contact, email address, amount of transaction ,product description and the payment type. Delivery options can be courier service which is skynet or poslaju and pos Malaysia.

LuvClothez is a successful e-commerce site in Malaysia. It sells fashionable ladies stuffs in good quality and low prices. They provide customer the latest and most fashionable item. Today, LuvClothez business has gradually bigger and bigger. It attracts not only Malaysia customer but
other countries too. However, it still needs to be improved to make it preferable in order to attract more customer to visit and shop in its website.

PROS AND CONS ON E-LEARNING FROM THE STUDENTS PERSPECTIVE

2009-07-09T11:06:00.000-07:00

E-LEARNING is knowledge passed through the internet, network, or standalone computer. E-learning is the transfer of skills & knowledge. Any technology mediated learning using computers whether from a distance or in face classroom setting (Computer Assisted Learning).

Pros and Cons of eLearning

There are many advantages to online and computer-based learning when compared to traditional face-to-face courses and lectures. There are a few disadvantages as well.

Pros of online or computer-based learning

Class work can be scheduled around work and family
Reduces travel time and travel costs for off-campus students
Students may have the option to select learning materials that meets their level of knowledge and interest
Students can study anywhere they have access to a computer and Internet connection
Self-paced learning modules allow students to work at their own pace
Flexibility to join discussions in the bulletin board threaded discussion areas at any hour, or visit with classmates and instructors remotely in chat rooms
Instructors and students both report eLearning fosters more interaction among students and instructors than in large lecture courses
eLearning can accommodate different learning styles and facilitate learning through a variety of activities
Develops knowledge of the Internet and computers skills that will help learners throughout their lives and careers
Successfully completing online or computer-based courses builds self-knowledge and self-confidence and encourages students to take responsibility for their learning
Learners can test out of or skim over materials already mastered and concentrate efforts in mastering areas containing new information and/or skills

Cons of online or computer-based learning

Learners with low motivation or bad study habits may fall behind
Without the routine structures of a traditional class, students may get lost or confused about course activities and deadlines
Students may feel isolated from the instructor and classmates
Instructor may not always be available when students are studying or need help
Slow Internet connections or older computers may make accessing course materials frustrating
Managing computer files and online learning software can sometimes seem complex for students with beginner-level computer skills
Hands-on or lab work is difficult to simulate in a virtual classroom

E-government in Malaysia:Its implementation so far and citizen's adoption strategies

2009-07-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

The implementation of electronic government starts since the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) has launched by Malaysia government. The vision of e-government is to transform administrative process and service delivery through the use of IT and multimedia.

The myGovernment Portal (www.malaysia.gov.my) acts as the one-stop source of Malaysian government information and services for the citizens.

In Malaysia, E-Government is experienced at three levels: government to-government (G2G), government-to-businesses (G2B), and government-to-citizens (G2C). The G2C interactions involve Electronic Services (e-Services), Electronic Labour Exchange (ELX), and e-Syariah projects. Project Monitoring System (SPPII), Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS), and Generic Office Environment (GOE) are G2G interactions while Electronic Procurement (e-Procurement) is G2B relation.

1. Electronic Services (e-Services)

Enables citizens conduct transactions with government through a one-stop service window, for example summons payment and bill payment & inquiry 24 hours, 7 day a week.

2. Electronic Procurement (e-Procurement)

Allows the government conduct procurement activities electronically via desktops and on-line Suppliers’ Registration. It can reduce the time required in processing procurement transaction, reduce the cost and increase transparency procurement transactions.

3. Generic Office Environment (GOE)

An electronic office environment that enhance productivity through better information management, communications and collaboration. It can provide fully integrated, distributed & scalable paperless environment via open system platform. It ensures right information gets to the right people at the right time and encourages effective collaboration across agencies.

4. Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS)

It provides a single interface for government’s employees to perform human resource functions to achieve effective staffing and rightsizing of the civil service. It can build up-to-date consolidated HRM information for effective planning among agencies.

5. Project Monitoring System (SPPII)

SPPII is an on-line end-to-end project monitoring system creating a collaborative environment for better management of development projects. The system can provides a mechanism for monitoring the implementation of development projects across agencies. It can provide timely and accurate project development status to the related person who in charge the project.

6. Electronic Labour Exchange (ELX),

A one-stop centre for labour market information and systematic matching of job seekers to job vacancies.IT can improve the mobilisation of the nation’s human resources and to provide one-stop centre for labour market information.

7. E-Syariah
It is aim to integrate the processes related to management of cases for the Syariah Courts. This service can improve quality of services of the Syariah courts and the increase effectiveness of JKSM in coordinating and supervising related agencies

Citizen’s adoption strategies.

To attract the people using the e-government, the interface and design of websites must be user friendly and easy to navigate. Government also can launch web sites with multi languages to enable the old generation also are able to using the e-government services. Better and affordable internet service infrastructure is important to enable more people to use to e-government services. Moreover, make sure the security of the website is good enough to avoid the confidential information and details of transaction are leak out or hacked.

Electronic Currency

2009-07-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

What’s electronic currency? It refers to money or scrip which is exchanged only electronically. Typically, this involves use of computer networks, the internet and digital stored value systems. With all the tremendous technology, everything can be done electronically. You no longer have to drive out to buy but just click click click and everything DONE!

An example of digital stored value systems is Hong Kong Octopus Card which was the first contactless smart card system in the world and has since grown into a widely used payment system for virtually all public transport convenience stores, supermarkets, fast-food restaurants, on-street parking meters, car parks, and others.

Now, even Malaysia also has his very own touch n Go’ Touch n Go card, famous for its usage as a pre-load cash card used mainly for transportation and toll collection, is now expanding their applications and services towards the retail purchase, starting with particularly the fast-food industry like A&W, 7 eleven ant etc.

Pay Pal is one of the famous electronic currency which allows shoppers purchase through line. Exhibit below illustrate how Pay Pal is work.

Electronic currency is the most innovation products developed in financial and Internet circles recently, it has many advantages compare with the convention and offline medium of transaction.

1 Faster than a check

Online payments with PayPal’s Mass Payment are instant. Never again do you have to say "the check is in the mail."

2. Simple record-keeping

Minimize your accounting paperwork with a downloadable transaction history. Reconcile exceptions easily by automatically returning unclaimed funds.

3. All in One

Typically, Hong Kong Octopus Card is all in one. As a tourist, you will find Octopus indispensable for getting around Hong Kong's sights and shops as you won't need to buy individual tickets for different transport systems

4. Everyone can involve in conducting electronic currency

It doesn’t matter who you are. So long you have a computer and an account, you can start the transactions.

5. Convenience and low transactions cost

Electronic currency eliminates the usage of man power. This result in lower transaction fees compared to fees charged to a walk-in customer.

However, electronic currency will bring us benefits as well as problems. There are:

1. Privacy and security

The most obvious potential disadvantages about the concept of electronic currency are privacy and security issues. Although electronic currency is highly secured, it is not guarantee that the transaction information will not leak, if this happen, the information about individual purchasing patterns, financial information and health status might be sold to marketing companies. Worse, since the electronic currency is still a relative new technology, the high securities might not cover every possibility which a hacker can break into the system and illegally make purchase using other consumers’ identity.

2. Not widely accepted

Nowadays electronic currency is still not widely accepted by the public. This may be due to the fact that most people are still don’t confident and familiar with it .In addition to that, most consumers from non-developed countries or old generation are still more comfortable with present centuries-old medium of transactions – paper notes and coins.

3. Availability and interchangeability

The other potential disadvantages are availability and interchangeability of the electronic currency. Again, since it is still new as well as there are a number of companies which provides solutions for electronic currency, there is no one standard electronic currency that applies to all online cash transactions. For example in EBay, the most popular e-auction site, there are some categories of auction only accept Paypal for payments medium.

Credit Card : Causes and Prevention

2009-07-06T07:16:00.001-07:00

WE get to apply credit cards everywhere, it’s just too simple. You may even sign up credit cards at shopping mall. Thanks to our banks for promoting their cards so hardly.

However, do we really know how to swipe our cards well?

Have you ever imagine you end up with flooding with lots of credit cards debts?

Can you imagine many young people at your age declaring bankruptcy?

So, what makes them to end up with this?

1. People not working out a budget and they tends forgetting about occasional items such as school expenses, Christmas, Chinese new year or Hari Raya.

2. Having too many credit cards. Some people having too many cards on hand, not 1 but perhaps 5.

The more credit cards a person has the more likely they are to use them.

3. Missing payments. Some people tend to forget to pay for their credit cards debts when due. It’s too late when they recall to pay as the debts are too heavy to pay with all the interest payments.

4. General overspending.Girls especially with shopaholic attitude tends to grab things whenever they shopping. They end up buying things that are not necessary and overspending.

5. Clients being loyal to credit card providers. Customers being loyal to their credit card providers although they’re offering higher interest rate compare to others.

6. Not prioritizing debts. The credit cards debt is built up by not paying expensive credit card debt first.

7. Getting advice from the wrong places. Some credit cards providers try to persuade the customers by asking them to apply for other cards to pay for the existing debts.

So, how we can prevent this from happen to us?

1. It’s essential to develop a monthly budget and stick with it so that we can track is there unnecessary purchase
.

2. You’ve to clear in mind that you only use this credit card when you are sure you can pay the balance off at the end of the month.

3. Not to hold more than 2 cards at a time, hold only the number of cards that you comfort with.

4. Customers are advised to apply for direct debit to avoid any missing payments.

5. Credit card holders advice to change your credit card provider oftenly once the low or interest free period is over. Remember credit card companies have no loyalty to you so don't be loyal to them.

6. If you do not have enough money to pay for full credit cards debts for that period, always keep in mind to pay debts with costs highest in prior.

7. Avoid getting advice from credit card debt advice firms who advertise on TV, Radio or in the tabloids. They may be cheating.

So people, clear your credit cards now before it's too late.

Cheers.

Mobile payment systems in Malaysia: Its potentials and consumers’ adoption strategies

2009-07-05T01:24:00.000-07:00

What is mobile payment?
Mobile payment is design to address the limitations and bottlenecks created by cash, cheques and credit cards. It unlock the power of the mobile phone to make payments, allowing registered users to pay for goods and services at anytime, anywhere using only a mobile phone. This gives the freedom to consumers to buy products online and pay the merchant using his/her mobile phone without being physically present at the store.
The mobile payment can used to purchase digital product or physical. Digital products for examples are ring tones, games, themes or even booking cinema tickets and air tickets! Its usually make the transaction via GPRS/WAP or SMS.

Potentials
With the launches of mobile payment system, Maxis alliances with Nokia, Visa, Maybank and Touch’n Go, few powerful financial organizations start the world’s first contactless system, has great huge potentials market. This system helps consumers enjoy the benefits of speed and convenience, similar to their Visa payWave cards on their mobile phones. Besides, this services works on any mobile and it eliminates the trouble to queue up on paying the electric bills. With those advantages, it believes that the services will enhance their satisfaction and confidence and continuing attract more customers to use it.

Strategies
Company can advertise it with the function and benefits attractively on magazines, newspaper, or even in cinemas. Each movie has few minute on advertising before the movie start. It can attract the attention of public. Besides, company can setting booth in shopping mall by giving promotion with extra credit or gift. Company need to continuing enhance the function to increase the confidence of users.

Reference:
1. http://mis-asia.com/news/articles/worlds-first-contactless-mobile-payment-system-launches-in-malaysia
2. http://www.neowave.com.my/mobilemoney_overview.asp

THE APPLICATION OF PRE-PAID CASH CARD FOR CONSUMERS

2009-07-03T01:06:00.000-07:00

Many people are rejected after filling out a credit card application because of poor credit. The problem with this is that a major credit card is needed to make reservations for hotels, motels, car rentals and airline flights. Credit cards are also necessary when placing orders online or over the phone. Does this mean a person with bad credit can't do any of these things? Not if that person has a prepaid cash card.

A prepaid cash card account is opened by depositing money into that account; much in the same way you would make a deposit to open a checking or saving account. Once you have money in your account, you're issued a prepaid cash card that can be used anywhere one would use a regular credit card. The best part of the prepaid credit card is that you can charge to your heart's content and you won't be in debt. The money is yours and once it's gone, you can't spend any more until you make another deposit. There are no bills and no interest charges.

These cards are perfect to give to teenagers or children who are heading off to college. And employers are finding that giving prepaid credit cards to employees who travel or who entertain clients is an excellent way to control costs while away from the office.

The prepaid cash card can be used for:

Purchases - Shop anywhere

Money management for young adults

Travel including reserving a hotel, flight and rental car

Emergency needs

Cash access at ATMs

Employee wages & expenses

Electronic payments

Gift-giving

Pay for toll – eg: Touch n GO

Transfer money

Pay bill

The application of 3rd party certification programme in Malaysia

2009-06-27T11:09:00.000-07:00

Are you have done any online transaction before? To make us feel free and safe to make any transaction in online, the security is the most important factor.

3^rd party certification programme is way that can ensure the security in the online transaction. A trusted third party (TTP) is an entity which facilitates interactions between two parties who both trust the third party; they use this trust to secure their own interactions. Certification Authority (CA) is an entity that issues digital certificate for use by other parties. A public key certificate (also known as a digital certificate or identity certificate) is an electronic document which uses a digital signature to bind together a public key with an identity — information such as the name of a person or an organization, their address, and so forth

In Malaysia, MSC Trustgate.com Sdn Bhd is a licensed CA operating within the Multimedia Super Corridor. Trustgate is licensed under the Digital Signature Act 1997 (DSA), a Malaysia law that sets a global precedent for the mandate of a CA. As a CA, Trustgate’s core business is to provide digital certification services, including digital certificates, cryptographic products, and software development. They are providing several of services and products for example SSL Certificate, Managed PKI, Personal ID, MyKAD ID, My TRUST and other

MyKey, is the MyKad PKI solution that works with our physically MyKad, allowing us to authenticate yourself online and to digitally sign documents or transactions and is accepted by the Malaysian government. Therefore we can do you transaction online with government safety and reliably.

Managed PKI (MPKI) service allows company to quickly and cost-effectively develop a robust PKI and Certification Authority (CA) system with complete control over security policies, PKI hierarchies, authentication models, and certificate lifecycle management. Therefore the company need not develop the PKI by themselves from the scratch.

When we do the online transaction, we will always send out the highly confidential information such as credit card details, IC number, and password. Such information can be easily viewed or altered in transit if not properly encrypted. To avoid our confidential information be modify or view in transit, we can use Digital ID to sign & encrypt your transactions. Digital ID from MSC Trustgate.com is governed by the Digital Signature Act 1997. Without a legitimate Digital ID in your electronic transaction, ourcontract is not admissible in court in the case of dispute.

With MyTRUST, we can turn a SIM card into a Mobile Digital Identity for secure mobile banking and other financial services. Mobile digital signature provides non-repudiation on transactions under the Digital Signature Act, 1997. It runs on Wireless PKI platform and Mobile Operator infrastructure. PKI-enabled SIM cards are preloaded with MyTrust application and a digital certificate from a licensed Certification Authority. Users are able to digitally sign any transaction with ease and convenience via their mobile phone.

SSL Certificate a digital certificates which is an electronic file that enable secure confidential communications and identifies individuals and web sites on the internet uniquely by serving as sort of a digital passport or credential. It can ensure that information traveled over the Internet reaches the intended recipients and is safe from intruders. Trustgate has provided 2 type SSL Certificates to its customers.

First, Global Server ID, it adopts today's strongest encryption commercially available for secure communications via Server Gated Cryptography (SGC) technology. GSID authenticates the customer’s web sites and enables 128- or 256-bit encryption to secure communications and transactions between the site and its visitors. Every purchase of GSID comes with a VeriSign Secured Seal that the customers can display on their web site. The seal is an instant proof that the web site is genuine because customers have been verified by the World Leader of SSL Provider.

Second, Secure Server ID , it protects the transfer of sensitive data on Web sites, intranets, and extranet s using a minimum of 40-bit and up to 256-bit encryption. It also includes VeriSign Secured Seal.

Reference:
http://www.msctrustgate.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_third_party
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_authority

Phishing : Examples and the Prevention Methods

2009-06-26T06:03:00.000-07:00

Basically, Phishing is just like fishing, except instead of fish you are trying to capture people’s personal information such as passwords, account details, or credit card numbers.

Phishing” is actually a tactic used

by conman to pose as the actual bank, requesting for your login information, so

that they can access your account.

Usually, they do that by sending you

emails and asking you to click on the links. The page will look like the actual

login page, but it is really not.

Here are some examples of how these conman fished. It looks as if it is REAL!

This e-mail which to-be-said send by e-bay requires user to register a new account, and by such a way, they're able to steal his private informations.

This is facebook-Phishing. It's not facebook.com!

It actual originated from an e-mail where people asking you “click here” in an

email or Facebook message, asking you to log in through here to verify your account, otherwise it'll close down.

No bank, or legitimate organization will

ever send you an email and say “click here” to login - they are

“fishing” for you to bite.

Looking on all the Phishing attack that we facing everyday. Don't you afraid that you are their next fish

So, here are some of the tips for you and me to prevent this to happen.

1. Trust No Email or

Web-Site

Creating an email message that looks like it came from a

credit card company and even including their logo is not a difficult thing for

hackers to do. Some of these can be detected easily with a little detective

work, but why take the chance? When connecting to a web-site, verify that the

connection is encrypted by making sure the URL is https:// and not http. If

unsure, verify the URL by calling the institution with a verified phone number.

2. Do

not click on those links that attach on the e-mails. There are a wide

variety of phishing methods:

You have been reported for abuse.

Do I know you?

Do you know her / him?

Congrats! You’ve won 1,000,000,000 free poker chips!.

Represent your country in playing poker!

So,

Just ignore them!!

3. Anti Phishing Software

Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 3 have built in software for the detection

and warning against phishing links. You can enable the browsers options with

proper configuration. You can also consider the anti phishing tool bar in the

browser. Some of them can check online lists of web-sites with known problems.

4. Password Privacy

The individuals will be able to get the services an information by rendering

a trusted institution. Sometimes you might have received an email from back

about the confirmation of your password. In this case you should verify from

the email sender who they are. It might be some virus which will get your

personal data by automatic installation.

Prevention is better than cure, be smart and don't fish by them!

THE THREAT OF ONLINE SECURITY: HOW SAFE IS OUR DATA?

2009-06-25T21:40:00.000-07:00

Although we can't promise that these tips will keep you 100 percent safe from hackers, but they’ll certainly make it a lot harder for interlopers to read your e-mail and IMs, fill your computer with spyware and track your Web-surfing habits.

Tips to Windows Online Security & Privacy
There are a few tips such as solutions for various popular applications which should make your system more secure and less prone to viruses. The tip has been prepared with Windows 2000 and XP users in mind, and there are a lot of the stuff that are contained here can also be applied to earlier versions of the OS to Internet Explorer and Outlook Express.

Update, Update, Update

It is very important to apply patches to your system, particularly in the case of Windows itself and Internet Explorer (most certainly if it’s your default browser) which has security holes found, usually patched soon afterward. A complete listing for Windows 98 SE, ME, 2000 and XP versions can be found on updated page.

Another extremely worthwhile download would be PivX Qwik-FIX, which adds further protection against various Windows/Internet Explorer vulnerabilities. Certainly if Internet Explorer is your browser of choice it will be worth getting.

If you' re using Windows 2000 or XP, Microsoft has an extremely useful utility available that can scan your system for potential vulnerabilities and updates as well, called Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer. We even have a guide for using:

Guide 1: Networking components

MBSA requires several Services installed & activate in order to ensure it can operate correctly. To account for any Windows 2000 differences please see information in brackets. To ensure these Services are available click on Start, (Settings) Control Panel, Network Connections (Network & Dial-up connections) & right click on your Internet connection & select Properties. Finally select the Networking tab.

Ensure that, as shown above, that Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) (Protocol), File & Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks (Service) & Client for Microsoft Networks (Client) are installed. If any of these are not installed then select the Install button & select the Client/Service/Protocol & select the respective component to be installed.

Guide 2: Services

Now click on Start, (Settings) Control Panel, Administrative Tools & select Services.

Whenever you intend to run MBSA load this utility, right click on & select Start for the following Services: Server & Workstation - You may find it more convenient to set these to Automatic instead, to do so right click on the respective Service & select Properties then the General tab & change the Startup type accordingly.

The Remote Registry service may also be required for some systems, though most likely not on stand-alone PCs (At least not on mine).

For more detailed information on adjusting Windows 2000/XP Services be sure to check out the Windows 2000 or Windows XP Services Guides. This can also aid you in better securing your system.

How to safeguard our personal and financial data?

2009-06-25T06:34:00.000-07:00

How to protect our personal and financial data is primary issue nowadays. Criminals are looking for easy ways to get people’s personal and financial data to commit identity theft. It is important for us to secure our data by out of suffer loss, damage and misuse.
The most frequent safeguard tool is through a username and password. We need it when we want to access in our own pages. When we selecting our password, should avoid using that are easy to guess, such as your name, date of birth and etc. Besides, change the password frequently to increase the safeguard level. Some of websites(eg. Public Bank, Maybank2u, etc.) will suggest or strict you to set the password with the mix of number and alphabet. This also a best way to secure your data too! The most important is not disclose to others and clear the cache after log out.
Next, we can use the biometric device for protection. Nowadays, biometrics is used as a form of identity access management and access control. It measuring and analyzing human body characteristics, such as fingerprints, eye retinas, irises, voice patterns, facial patterns and hand measurements. It is for authenticate purpose to verify your identity. Biometric device is become popular nowadays. We can found this device on our laptop too!
Antivirus, firewalls, spyware is common security software. Uses a strong antivirus and firewalls also can help in enhance the security level. It protect your computer by unallowable those unauthorized intrusions. In additions, never ever respond to spam as it will bring them malicious software such as Trojan Horses and many more viruses that will cripple your computer and retrieve your information.

These are the most common and easier way for us to protect our data. Don’t make the thieves’ jobs easier anymore!

Link:
1. http://www.fool.com/personal-finance/general/2006/09/23/safeguard-your-financial-life.aspx
2. http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_gci789799,00.html

Identify and compare the revenue model for Google,Amazon and ebay

2009-06-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

A revenue model is a description how the organization earn their revenue. There are 5 main revenue model, Sales, Transaction fees, Subscription fees, Advertising fees, and Affiliate fee.

The main revenue of Google is advertising fees, accounted 97% of its year 2008 revenue

Google AdWords is a program that enables advertisers to place advertisements in Google's search results and the Google Content Network. Most of AdWords advertisers pay on a cost-per-click basis or on a cost-per-impression basis.

Google AdSense refers to the online programs through which Google distribute their advertisers’ AdWords ads for display on the web sites of their Google Network members.Google will share most of the advertising fee generated with that member.

Besides, Google also earn money through subscription fee, for example Google Apps Premium Edition which includes such extras functions like more disk space for e-mail, API access, and premium support, for a price of US$50 per user per year.

The primary source of Amazon’s revenue is the sale of a wide range of products and service to customers, accounted 97%of its year 2008 revenue.

Besides, Amazon generates revenues by subscription fee, for example Amazon Prime, which offers customers unlimited expedited shipping with no minimum purchase amount for $79 per year. Furthermore, Amazon also generates revenue by advertisement fee, but it just accounts a small percentage of Amazon total revenue

Amazon also will receive commission on certain percentage of sales from its WebStore service, which allow merchants create e-commerce websites using Amazon technology. They can customize their sites using their own photos and branding.

EBay generates most of its revenue from transaction fee (Marketplace, Payments, Communications), which accounted 97% of its year 2007 revenue. In marketplace, EBay generates revenue from a number of fees, for example list a product (Insertion Fee), fees when the product sells (Final Value Fee).For payment, it earn transaction fees from the PayPal which is main payment means use in the EBay transaction..

Advertising fee and other accounted the other 3% of the EBay revenue.

In conclusion, each of these 3 companies derived most of their revenue by different way,

Google has a strong presence in the online search engine advertising market; Amazon is a top e-retail site which sells a wide range of product. And EBay is a leader in online auction site which earn revenue from transaction fee.

Reference

http://ecommercesite.wordpress.com/2008/06/12/identify-and-compare-the-revenue-model-for-google-amazoncom-and-ebay/

http://www.modeeworld.com/forums/paypal-discussions/220-paypal-overtaking-ebay-revenue-model.html

http://ecommerze.wordpress.com/2008/06/13/revenue-models-of-google-ebay-amazon/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EBay

Boo.com and the causes of its failure

2009-06-19T22:09:00.000-07:00

Do you love fashion? Do you love to dress up nicely?

I guess the answer would be YES.

Let me introducing to you one of the FIRST to be the typical scenario for dotcom businesses at the turn of the Millennium: Boo.com

Unfortunately, Boo.com actually burst century ago.

So, what’s Boo.com actually?

Boo.com was actually an online consumer fashion Web store which founded by Ernst Malmsten and ex-model Kajsa Leander in 1998, and launched in 1999 with approximately $125million of funding provided by investors like

Bernard Arnault, chairman of LVMH, Europe’s largest luxury goods group.

Boo.com had not only become the most heavily funded Internet start-up in Europe, but

had also become the most high profile.

All eyes were on Boo.com.

However, Boo.com gives us a boo!

Boo!

So, what makes Boo.com burst ?

1. Problems with the user experience

Boo.com website was poorly designed for its target audience, going against many usability conventions. The site relied heavily on JavaScript and Flash technology to display pseudo-3Dviews of wares - Miss Boo, a sales-assistant-style avatar.

The first publicly released version of the site was fairly hefty—the home page alone was several hundred kilobytes which meant that the majority of users had to wait minutes for the site to load (56k modem could see it without waiting a minutes for it to load as broadband technologies were still not widely available at that time).

Can u imagine people in the early 9o’s, there’re less likely people will serve on the net, or even have such high speed to log for the website. With such high requirement of connection speed, customers tends to leave rather than stay with this website.

2. Bad Marketing

One thing good about Boo.com is that it enabled shoppers to view items in 3-D and to view items in 3-D and gave a distinct visual feel of the products.

Boo marketed itself as a premium sports, urban street wear and fashion retailer, stocking quality products for the fashion conscious young individual.

Premium products = expensive charges.

Normally, customers are attracted to buy over internet is because of the cheaper pricing.

Boo, still didn’t won customer’s heart as it never ever offer any discounts.

3. Overstaff, Overpaid, Over here and there.

Boo.com try to create a perfect working environment for its employee, with approximately 400 staffing including a call centre of 8 people, which proved to be excessive and expensive; But it actually only actually needs 30 of them.

Perhaps that's why eight weeks before its demise in mid-2000, Boo.com had only managed to generate £200,000 in turnover from 300,000 customers.

The most terrible things is that the company needed countless millions in additional funding, and as the tech stocks were plummeting like a pigeon shot mid-flight, the doors of banks were slammed, locked and welded shut.

4. Bad Planning

Its founders were too ambitious in their business plan, instead of starting small and then expanding slowly, Boo wanted to dominate the market immediately!

So, if you’re a traditional shopkeeper, would youplan to launch a NEW chain of stores in EIGHTEEN COUNTRIES SIMULATANEOUSLY!

The answer would be definitely, NO !

Obviously, Boo.com doesn’t have any ‘brick and mortar’ knowledge at all.

Maybe Boo.com really open up too early, too soon!
I bet if Boo.com do stand up again today, it does make a profit, a thousand times than when dotcom boom at the late 1990.

So, everyone, should we just take boo.com as an example before we do make a decision,do plan ahead before you take any actions.
Afterall, you will fail easily if you didn't plan wisely.

So, do you remember BOO?

Cheers.

The History and evolution of e-commerce

2009-06-18T07:05:00.000-07:00

Internet shopping is the most popular activities especially during the busy holiday season. It is also easy yet convenient because you can shop anytime you want. Through search engine shopping services, it is possible to find the lowest prices for any product that you want and your product will be delivered right to your door step. Every year the numbers of online holiday sales rise to higher and higher levels.

E-commerce began before personal computers were prevalent and has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. In year 1984, EDI, or electronic data interchange, was standardized through ASC X12. This guaranteed that companies would be able to complete transactions with one another reliably. In 1992, the CompuServe offers online retail products to its customers which give people the first chance to buy things off their computer. While in year 1994, Netscape arrived and it provides users with a simple browser to surf the Internet. It is a safe online transaction technology which called Secure Sockets Layer. Then in year 1995, the two biggest names which are Amazon.com and eBay.com in e-commerce were launched. In year 1998, DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line provides fast, always-on Internet service to subscribers across California. This prompts people to spend more time, and money, online. In year 1999, according to Business.com, retail spending over the Internet reaches $20 billion.

Furthermore, in year 2000, the U.S government extended the moratorium on Internet taxes until at least 2005. In year 2007, fortune magazine have ranked Dell as the 34th largest company in the Fortune 500 list and 8th on its annual Top 20 list of the most successful and admired companies in the USA in recognition of the company’s business model. Besides that, Amazon Payments has announced the launch of a promotion for online merchants and integration with 25 leading shopping cart and ecommerce solution providers. Moreover, Amazon Payments has declared a free payment-processing promotion through September 30, 2009. In order to participate in the program the businesses and organizations have to have begun accepting Amazon Payments using Checkout by Amazon and Amazon Simple Pay on or after April 29, 2009.

The growth of Internet has a special significance in the growth of e-commerce. It has the potential to involve general people into the process, thereby increasing its reach far beyond large companies.

An example of an E-commerce success and its causes

2009-06-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

Dell.com is a successful online trading around the world. It directly serves their customer and meets their needs. Dell is a famous brand in computer industry. It is the first company who start up their business through internet. Dell designs various types of computers and supported software. It classifies their computer to different type of sector as large business, small & medium business and public to meet different sector needs. Consumers can choose their favorites product and make payment through online banking and automatic delivered the computer to consumer required location.

What causes Dell success?

Dell Company applies customer-driven innovation approach. They listen what consumer demanded, solve customer challenges and influence industry trends. It remains steady commitment to delivering new and better solutions that directly address customer needs. Next, Dell provides 24 on-side services for their warranty. Consumer can fix their problem by phone call to customer service centre or visiting by technician. Dell provides worldwide technical support too.

In addition, Dell’s success ways begin and end with its culture too. It creates a disciplined culture by focus on operation, respond to its customers’ needs and sustain a self-motivated workforce. Information is a powerful strategic weapon in Dell Company. It widely distributed, analyzed and acted upon on those information. People know where Dell business units stand any time because Dell made focus on understand its customers’ activity in real time and then uses this information to build its business and its winning culture.

Dell enables to provide assurance quality products and guarantee for all consumers. It offers low cost manufacturing and fast-cycle product development by focus on end-to-end operational excellence. This combination enables the cost-effective selling of build-to-order computers directly to customers.

Lastly, Dell’s commitment to customer value and direct to operating responsibly to differentiate them from other companies. They believe that their customers, investors and others will found unique on their story.

Hey there!

2009-06-11T06:15:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

I am Wei Hun, 21and half years old today, going to reach 22 years old this coming August, pursuing Accounting Course in UTAR, currently in Year 3 Trimester 1.

Just a brief of me to all of you there, my hobby is reading, I love reading books, magazines and newspaper as it may help me to broaden up my knowledge and get to know things around the world. My reading scope is unlimited; it may include business, economic, automobile, sport, health and even entertainment news. Besides, I also interested in watching movie and drama, I always looking for the latest movies and drama through the internet. Apart from that, I also love listening to music by searching on the internet. This allows me to enjoy music all around the world.

I spend most of my time surfing internet, one of the top 5 website that I visit is http://sports.sina.com.cn , and it allows me to get to know the latest news of NBA, football, F1, tennis and so on. Besides, I also like to visit www.youtube.com as I can look for many funny videos and interesting things there. Moreover, I also always login into www.hotmail.com to check my mailbox, sometime I will forward the useful or funny massage to my friend.

I also require the latest announcement, tutorial and lecture notes in the http://wble.utar.edu.my. Lastly, I also do visit www.facebook.com to update my profile and get the latest news of my friends.

We can have a lot of activities while surfing on the internet. For me, I spend most of my time to look for latest information. Besides, I will check my email frequently. I also will sign in to MSN messenger to chat with my friend. I also like to listen and search for the music in the internet. Sometime I also watch the live match (NBA, football) through the internet.

Well, that’s all from me, I’ll be sharing more with all of you there in the near future.

Me, myself and I...

2009-06-10T07:02:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,
I am Heloise Tan, 22 years old and currently I’m taking Bachelor of Commerce (HONS) Accounting in UTAR. Well, I’ m a newbie here in blogging.
To start things off, my hobbies that I love is to take pictures of beautiful places, delicious food, and get to know different people around the world who share the same interest with me. Besides that, I love to travel around the world as it can help me to broaden up my knowledge and gain more experiences in life. During my recent semester break, I’ve travelled to a Malaysia’s hot spots namely Pulau Redang with my friends. Pulau Redang was a nice place for vacation as it was one of the hottest spot in the world for scuba divers and underwater photographers. Many people from all walks of life can be seen there just enjoying and relaxing themselves overlooking the beautiful scenery and the crystal clear ocean. I took a lot of beautiful pictures in Pulau Redang which I would like to share with everyone here. Well, most of my pictures were uploaded in the websites that I spend most of my time at. The website that I visit most of my time to keep myself updated and share my experiences with my friends is www.facebook.com. Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them.
Apart from travelling, I love shopping too. When I shop, it can help me to keep myself updated with the latest fashion. I get myself updated with latest fashion through fashion magazines, window shopping, online shopping and etc. There were a few websites for online shopping which I love to visit during my free time. One of the websites was www.ladylicorice.com .Besides visiting this shopping websites; I also have friends that venture into online shopping business. This is also one of the ways that I kept my self updated in fashion.
Everyday I kept myself updated with the latest News by reading newspaper. But since I went to UTAR to further studies I seldom buy newspapers. Most of the time I get my latest news from my frequent visit to www.thestar.com.my .It is very important to read the news everyday to keep myself updated and to improve my English.
Next, I always visit www.google.com to get information for my assignments and projects. This websites really give us a lot of benefit by providing us most of the information we cant find in books. Everytime I don’t understand a certain term or definition I will visit this website. It really helped me a lot in my studies.
There are too many websites to list out. I visited a lot of websites to keep myself updated and to gain my knowledge. Another website I visit the most was www.youtube.com. YouTube is a video sharing websites on which users can upload and share videos. Sometimes, some of the videos shared by others were quite interesting. YouTube is not just all about entertainment but is also a website for us to learn something new in the form of videos.
There are many more activites I can do by surfing the internet. The top five activities I usually do are chatting, connects with friends through social utility, checking mails, get updates information, and finally download songs and movies.
I think that is all about me. Thanks for reading my blog and feel free to comment if there is any mistakes or error. And for those who shared the same interest about travelling and shopping remember to stay with me for more interesting stuffs.
Have a nice day =)

Just a brief of myelf.

2009-06-09T10:06:00.000-07:00

Hi there people!
My name is Nelly Lee, 21 years old this year end.
I came from Sabah, a place where we can really sit back, relax, leaves all your heavy workloads behind and feel the nature.
I’m currently pursuing my tertiary studies in University Tunku Abdul Rahman, taking Bachelor of Commerce (HONS) Accounting. Another year for me to graduate and throw my mortar board and leaves my study life permanently. A lot of people ask me, Why Account? Well,I have a strong feeling with this accounts and numbers or maybe I do influence by my father’s “accounting philosophy”.

I spend way of my free times listening to music, just to relax my mind or maybe to release my tension after all university stuffs. My taste of music may vary according to my mood; I do listen to soft music when I’m in need of peaceful mind or maybe a helping hand for making me to sleep. I prefer R&B music when I’m frustrated.
Apart from that, I also interested in cooking. Looking your loved ones to finish the food you prepare making me feel great.
Besides, I have an ongoing love affair with the history of places and peoples, which making me eager to get to know what’s happen on the past.

One of the top 5 website I visited is www.facebook.com, it allows me to keep in touch with my friends everywhere and every time. Apart from that, I used to visit www.hotmail.com to check mails and forward mails to my loved ones. Besides, I also do visit www.airasia.com.my quite often so that I can grab cheap fare to go back hometown. I also do visit www.utar.edu.my to keep update with the latest activities and announcements happening around the university. Lastly, I also do visit http://mp3.sogou.com/ to download the latest songs available.
The top 5 Internet activities that I did usually includes chit-chatting with my friends through Windows Live Messenger, checking e-mails, looking for new songs, checking information on the historical part around Malaysia and checking out new movies.

That's all from my part, do feel free to leave any comments.
Cheers.

About Me-Jiaw Ling XD

2009-06-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Welcome to visit our blog! My name is Jiaw Ling, 21 years old from Kepong, Kuala Lumpur. I am currently pursuing Bachelor of commerce (Hons) Accounting and starting my 3rd year study in UTAR. My hobby is reading. I like to read magazine and newspaper to update my global knowledge. Next, I also like to watch animations. It is a relaxing time for me to have fun on those funny animations. Besides that, I like to interact with my friends by the ways of shopping, singing karaoke, travelling and chit-chat during my free time too. It brings me a lot of fun because I believe that it is a chance for me to gather together with my friends during our college career. It is because there may be less time for us to chit-chat again after college.

Due to the advanced technology nowadays, surfing the net is the most frequent activities to me as I can get a lot of news although I never stride over my doorstep. The website I have visited the most is www.chinapress.com. It is local newspaper website and it provides a lot of global, society and entertainment news. It is convenient to me to update my knowledge and save my newspaper fees too.(haha) The second website I always visit is www.facebook.com. It is the most popular website nowadays. You can communicate with your friends in the global world by looking their recent picture they uploaded or the recent news they posted. It includes a lot of applications and interesting games. Next website I like to visit is www.google.com. I mostly use it when I am doing my assignment. It is the fastest and biggest search engine and allows to me search whatever information that I need during my assignments. Furthermore, I will check my mail box at www.hotmail.com and www.yahoo.com every day. Lastly, I also keep updating myself with my course’s announcement at http://wble.utar.edu.my. It is an intranet and allows me to communicate with lecturers and tutors and check whether there are any updated posts or notes.
Finally, I do many activities through internet, as there is chitchatting, generating information, learning, gaming and of course obtaining knowledge.
That is all about me. Have a nice day! =)