For Submission-Kang Loong

Title-The Growth of Ubiquitous Internet in Malaysia

Introduction on Research topic
Nowadays, internet has become a new channel for e-commerce. Many organizations have built their own website, blog or forum for online marketing, advertising, customer relationship services, and etc. With the emerging technologies in internet infrastructure and telecommunication, the internet can be upgraded to ubiquitous.

Ubiquitous internet means connection between virtual internet and physical world at anytime by anything and anyone. Thus, ubiquitous internet will provide more opportunities to organization to do e-commerce. In this report, I will discuss on the advantages and disadvantages of ubiquitous internet, challenges face by ubiquitous internet and facilities which can support the growth of ubiquitous internet in Malaysia.

In conclusion, ubiquitous internet in Malaysia allows all Malaysian connected to the global world and updated with the latest knowledge and technology.

Scope of Research
Ubiquitous internet is a new issue which may be applicable and available in near future. The changes in ubiquitous is unpredictable as it concern on the changes of human needs and wants. Advantages and disadvantages of ubiquitous internet will be included in this research paper. The growth of ubiquitous internet will be concentrate in Malaysia with the use of other countries as reference.

Objectives of this Research topic:
• What is the meaning of ubiquitous internet?
• What are the advantages of ubiquitous internet?
• What are the disadvantages of ubiquitous internet?
• What are the challenges to Ubiquitous internet in Malaysia?
• What are the facilities to assist Ubiquitous internet in Malaysia?

Literature Review
The ubiquitous internet means an internet that is everywhere and can be easily assessed from variety of devices not just personal computer. According to Mark Weiser, “The internet revolution has barely started. It won’t be done until everything is on the Web. Light switches, pagers, copiers, printers, as well as PCs, benefits from Web connections” (Weiser, 1996). International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has predicted the new era of ubiquity will have billions of internet users and most of the traffic will flow between devices, creating a much wider and more complex “Internet of Things”.

The Ubiquitous internet can provide business opportunities for ecommerce. Capitalists have always wanted to convince people that their product is everywhere, that everyone is doing it (irregulartimes.com, 2008). Therefore, telecommunication companies such as TM touch, Digi, Celcom and Maxis will try there best in the technology to provide ubiquitous internet. Electronic devices manufacturer will innovate products which can be used in ubiquitous computing. Web service programmers such as Microsoft and Dell will develop new software that can satisfy the needs of internet users.

The flows of information and contents become more flexible as the digital media exploding (Lockhorn, 2006). Besides, people can interact with each other easily via internet as the ubiquity increase. Most of the teenagers in the new generated are well educated in computer technology and internet. Thus, they will be able to benefit from the convenience of internet in their daily activities.

As more internet users store their personal information in the internet, by themselves or companies who they transact with, the privacy and securities of the information are threaten. The activities which may reveal personal information can be found in an article entitled “Traveling in Cyberspace Safety” (PrivacyRight, 1995). Besides, the disadvantages of ubiquitous internet include virtual monopoly as mention in “The Growth of the Ubiquitous Internet”. (Irregulartimes.com, 2008)

In order to implement ubiquitous internet successfully, Malaysia needs to outcome the challenges of substantial gap between poor n rich, country development, geographical limitation and the vision, “Ubiquitous Society”. An example of ubiquitous society in Japan can be found in an article written by Jack Turner entitled “The Transition to a Ubiquitous Internet Society”.

In this research paper, the facilities to support ubiquitous internet in Malaysia will be tested on the infrastructure, devices and technology. Jack Turner had mentioned few latest technologies such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Voice over IP (VOIP) and Wireless Network (Wi-Fi) that can improve the performance of internet connection.

In my research paper, I would include 2 case studies that potentially contribute to ubiquitous internet. The first case studies will be the Digi EDGE plan which allows Digi customers to surf internet using Streamyx and mobile phone. The second case studies will be the Microsoft program that provides chat services and check mail box via mobile phone.


Structure of Paper
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Definition of ubiquitous internet
1.2 Purpose of research paper
1.3 Background of ubiquitous internet(Malaysia)
2.0 Advantages of ubiquitous internet
2.1 Opportunities for ecommerce
2.1.1 Telecommunication company
2.1.2 Electronic devices manufacturer
2.1.3 Software and hardware developers
2.2 The access to rich electronic information and content
2.3 Personalized connection between people
2.4 Convenience daily activities
3.0 Disadvantages of ubiquitous internet
3.1 Securities and privacy concerns
3.2 Virtual monopoly in internet operating system and web browser market
4.0 Challenges for ubiquitous internet
4.1 Substantial gap
4.2 Country development and geographical limitation
4.3 “Ubiquitous Society”
5.0 Facilities to assist ubiquitous internet in Malaysia
5.1 Extensive infrastructure for wireless networking
5.2 Microchip, microprocessor and mobile devices
5.3 Updated internet software and technology
6.0 Case studies
6.1 Digi Edge
6.2 Messenger Goes Mobile
7.0 Conclusion
8.0 Recommendation
8.1 Solutions to disadvantages of ubiquitous internet
8.2 Well planning to prevent failure
8.3 Steps to increase more ecommerce opportunities
9.0 Reference

List of References

Irregular Times, “The Growth of the Ubiquitous Internet”, viewed on 9 October 2008
http://irregulartimes.com/ubiquitous.html

Lockhorn J, “Are You Ready for Ubiquitous Interactivity?”, viewed on 9 October 2008
http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=3624090

Privacy and the Internet, “Traveling in Cyberspace Safely 2008”, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, viewed on 9 October 2008
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs18-cyb.htm

ITU 2007, ‘Ubiquity: Here, There and Everywhere’, viewed on 9 October 2008
http://www.itu.int/newsroom/features/ubiquity.html

Burbey, I 1996, ”Ubiquitous internet computing”, viewed on 9 October 2008
http://ei.cs.vt.edu/book/chap24/chp24-01.html

Turner, J 2005, “The new internet: the transition to a ubiquitous internet society”, BNET, viewed on 9 October 2008
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NTN/is_65/ai_n15797829/pg_4?tag=artBody;col1

Susanne Huttner, “The Internet economy: Towards a better future”, OECD Observer, 2008, viewed on 9 October 2008
http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/233

PhpBB, “Digi EDGE going unlimited a month”, viewed on 9 October 2008
http://mobile.mypdacafe.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=17424&start=45

Digi,” High Speed Mobile Access powered by EDGE”, viewed on 9 October 2008,
http://www.digi.com.my/data_services/gprs/datagprs_overview.do

Digi,” Technical Specification”, viewed on 9 October 2008,
http://www.digi.com.my/data_services/gprs/datagprs_technicalspec.do

Window Live, “Messenger Goes Mobile” viewed on 9 October 2008,
http://www.messengergoesmobile.com/