.Today, we are surrounded by a multi-level convergent media world where all modes of communication and information are continually reforming to adapt to the enduring demands of technologies, "changing the way we create, consume, learn and interact with each other".
Convergence in this instance is defined as the interlinking of computing and other information technologies, media content, and communication networks that have arisen as the result of the evolution and popularization of the Internet as well as the activities, products and services that have emerged in the digital media space.
Convergence is not just a technological shift or a technological process, it also includes shifts within the industrial, cultural, and social paradigms that encourage the consumer to seek out new information. Convergence, simply put, is how individual consumers interact with others on a social level and use various media platforms to create new experiences, new forms of media and content that connect us socially, and not just to other consumers, but to the corporate producers of media in ways that have not been as readily accessible in the past.
Convergence for me as an Information Technology student, it refers to combining technical tasks of specific gadgets into one multi-level gadgets or technology. Human intelligence and curiosity made this far for the world to be more comfortable to live and it increases the quality of life that we had. It became part of our society and daily life specifically in business, education, government. The fact that we are now working with information era and computer age had passed, innovation has been taking into action. Computers whether it is a special computer or a general purpose computer were excellently developed and innovated to provide optimal functionality of their products and services. In old days, cellular phones were created basically to provide communication such as voice calls and SMS (Short Messaging System) for the people to communicate but now a day, cellular phones stepped up into a multifunctional media. Images, videos, music, television, camera, and multimedia of all types were all converged with mobile phones. Including video recording, GPS receivers, data storage, and security mechanisms were also integrated into traditional mobile phones for past years. It means more features in less space, remains competitive. This is a concrete example how convergence affects the society and its major components. In this case, I can say that convergence could be a part of an innovation or vice versa and it contributed a lot in maintaining competitiveness between business institutions. Business concepts and improvements were now primarily focused on innovation and convergence. Why the word innovation is involved here? Simply because all of those gadgets, machines, devices, and etc. were already created and invented. Now, people were just innovating and converging this items or products to supply the level of wants and needs of the end users and to fit to the life style that we had. Back to the concept of business, they focused on innovation and convergence because consumers and users want something fresh and new that will most likely improve their quality of living.
WHY Convergence happens?
The information and communication technologies (ICT) sectors are in a process of
technological convergence. Determinant factors in this process are the liberalization of the
telecommunications markets and technological change. Many firms are engaged in a
process of mergers and alliances to position themselves in this new framework. Technological and demand uncertainties are very important. Convergence happened because a consumers and prosumers tend to want more out of something that they had. And by that, convergence should flow with trends to be updated to consumer’s wants and needs and to establish strong competitions between business competitors.
By technological convergence is meant that any type of terminal can access any
type of data, which in turn is able to be transmitted through any kind of pipe. Internet
has been the catalyst of this process. The technology that has been responsible for
platform-independence in the Internet is the IP protocol, which is the basis of a set of
protocols that allow routing and transmitting any kind of data (text, image, and voice).
Convergence has implications both for demand and supply. First, businesses and home
users may have access to a lot of information in an interactive way using any type of
terminal. Second, information that is transmitted is platform-independent. This means
that there are several alternatives to transmit a given content. For instance, it is possible
(or will be in the near future) to obtain local phone connection through the traditional
copper wire, wireless, cable or television antennae. It is expected that in a few years just
digital data will circulate through the pipes. Some of these data will be telephony voice
(which requires low bandwidth), but other content, like digital films, will require more
transmission capacity. But many problems must be solved; for instance, the current
copper networks, which are the main asset of the TOs, are not wide enough to carry the
bulk of information that is needed to broadcast a film. Hence, a telecommunications
operator that wants to compete with, say, a cable company, must make the necessary
infrastructure upgrades to provide broadband services. But problems may arise because
neither the new technology nor the market may be mature enough. When will the
demand size allow the firm to recoup the money? Besides, how will this demand be? Ifthe services provided are close to a competitor’s offer, consumers will choose the
solution that fits their budgets best. So, it is difficult to bet on a concrete technology
when the most popular uses of that technology are not clear yet. Leaving the demand
aside, who can tell that the investment that is made today will not be obsolete tomorrow because a more cost-effective technology has appeared?
Technological convergence has both a technical and a functional side. The technical
side refers to the ability of any infrastructure to transport any type of data, while
functional side means the consumers may be able to integrate in a seamless way the
functions of computation, entertainment, and voice in a unique device able to execute a
multiplicity of tasks. The convergence affects those industries that are concerned with the delivery of data and content, as well as those that take care their displaying, and will affect their market power because, as already noted, it implies the merging of different markets.
Opportunities in Convergence
Technology convergence offers massive opportunities for the development of new value-added
services, convenience, efficiency and the expansion of markets and consumer choice. It also raises a number
of issues of adjustment to the new environment by telecom operators, service providers, policymakers,
regulators, and users.
The term technological convergence is often defined in a very generalized and simplified terms as a
process by which telecommunications, information technology and the media, sectors that originally
operated largely independent of one another, are growing together.
Technological convergence has both a technical and a functional side. The technical side refers to
the ability of any infrastructure to transport any type of data, while functional side means the consumers may
be able to integrate in a seamless way the functions of computation, entertainment, and voice in a unique device able to execute a multiplicity of tasks.
Convergence Increased Market Competition
Convergence has lowered barriers of entry to the market for new operators and service providers.
The emergence of new market players intensifies competition, giving consumers an extensive pool of
providers and services to choose from and lower communication costs.
Additionally in a technological convergent environment industry boundaries become blurred,
allowing service providers to offer services in multiple markets. For example, besides access to television,
cable operators can also offer voice telephony and internet services.
Content providers can now easily access consumers with no need to own the distribution network.
For example, a company may produce TV content and distributed it through cable networks without havingto own it..
Emergence of New Services and Applications
Established companies will find in convergence an opportunity to operate more efficiently, increase
returns on technology investments and realize other business benefits through development of new services
and rapid market expansion. Convergence opens up new sales markets for companies, a case observed in
mobile operators. As the market saturates, they look to non-voice services, such as video streaming, portals,
messaging, information services, and gaming, to drive future revenue growth.
New applications have given rise to new ways of entertainment (i.e. online gaming) and
socialization (i.e. chat rooms). The convergence of voice, video and data gives consumers new ways of
communication as we can all talk, send text and video over one single network, using one single application
at much lower costs than before.
Convenience and Simplicity
At device level, consumers find in convergence an opportunity to enjoy the convenience of having
many devices all in one, saving on both size and ownership costs. For example, a single mobile phone device
can receive television programmes and play videos, thus enabling simplicity and convenience in device
ownership as one device can be used to access multiple services
Challenges in Convergent World
Technological convergence has raised a number of issues of adjustment to the new environment by
telecom operators, service providers, policymakers, regulators, and users.
New Regulatory Framework
The combination of services over the same platform is challenging common perceptions about the
best means to license and regulate providers. Traditionally, regulatory frameworks were designed for an era
when clear functional differences existed between services and infrastructure, but these regulations are
increasingly inadequate for dealing with today’s world. At first glance, interoperability, interconnection,
consumer protection and universal access appear as the most relevant challenges.
Existing interconnection mechanisms focus basically on interconnection of telecom networks based
on circuit switching technologies, while for instance broadcasting networks are either unregulated or subject
to different types of regulation. Additionally, in a convergent environment, which relies greatly on packet
switched networks, circuits are neither connected nor provided. In this way distance and time become less
determinants as cost factors, requiring adoption of new units of measurement.
Bandwidth Shortage and Infrastructure Upgrade
Convergence gives rise to new services and applications which are bandwidth intensive, requiring
an existence of broadband infrastructure. Only with broadband access is the use of complex services (e.g.
multimedia services) attractive or possible in the first place. While developed economies may not face a
bandwidth shortage dilemma, the same may not be said about most of the developing economies where
telecommunication infrastructures are still relying on narrowband technologies. These countries face the
challenge of having to upgrade their infrastructure or miss on the benefits of the technological convergence.
In meeting this challenge, as it was in the past, financial constraints will continue to be a problem.
Strategic Alignment by Operators and Service Providers
As barriers to market access are significantly reduced, allowing an increased number of new players
to enter the market and provide a wide variety of different service packages, established operators and
services providers are required to reassess their business models and strategies not only to face these new
providers, but also to upgrade their networks to integrate it into their own offering. Another challenge lies in
convincing consumers of the value added by the new services for which they must pay.
Privacy, Security and Reliability
As society becomes increasingly interconnected and dependent of ICT networks, cybercriminals
continue to invent increasingly cunning ways to exploit human and computer vulnerabilities to their
malicious benefits. This, challenges operators, service providers and users to take measures to minimize risks
of network intrusions, attacks and viruses. In a similar way, as technologies and systems become complex,
the higher is the risk of their instability. Product designers, manufacturers and operators are challenged to
guarantee the reliability of these new technologies.
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