Some implications of an overly used word: convergence
by DongBack Seo, Mostafa Hashem Sherif
International Journal of Technology Marketing (IJTMKT), Vol. 4, No. 4, 2009

Abstract: Telecommunications and information processing are increasingly adopting the same digital technologies, and the boundaries between the two are shifting. The expression 'convergence of information and communications technology (ICT)', initially used to describe some technical aspects of this phenomenon, was later expanded to cover many other technical and political agendas. In this paper, we show that in western countries, technological convergence provided an apparently neutral justification for changes in the regulatory regime so that market forces would create the industrial environment, instead of political or democratic forces. However, in Korea and Japan, governments and companies have used the theme of convergence to mobilise efforts towards a global ICT leadership. We explain how the word 'convergence' in the context of the network layer has different implications than in the other layers of the ICT industry. The use of an appropriate terminology or, if this is not possible, an understanding of the context, is the first indispensable step to comprehend and analyse the complex phenomena of ICT evolution today.

Online publication date: Mon, 15-Mar-2010

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Technology Marketing (IJTMKT):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com