The world is entering a new information age driven by such things as technological convergence, multimedia, social changes, globalisation of business and entertainment, developments in consumer electronics, the emergence of e-commerce and the rise of the, so-called, information workers. There are already signs that the information age is beginning to overtake the traditional industrial age in terms of investment and output. The rise of the Internet, with its ubiquitous, global communication and the Web that provides a common and simple interface, has caused a paradigm shift in the conduct of trading by the introduction of e-commerce, that is, the selling/purchasing via an electronic communications medium. This can be via TV, fax, online networks and the Internet, particularly when facilitated by the ease of use made possible by the World Wide Web (WWW). The efficiency of trading is enhanced because much of the transaction processing is automated, for example, e-mail, online directories, trading support systems, customised services and goods, ordering and logistic support systems, settlement support, management information systems etc. It has also caused a paradigm shift from the traditional telecommunications function of providing a communications channel between a caller and recipient, which is evolving to connecting a buyer to a seller. Thus, perception of QoS will depend on a user's experience of the transaction in addition to that of the tradition telecommunications service. This chapter considers the evolution of the telecommunications environment and speculates on its impact on QoS.

Inspec keywords: telecommunication network management; quality of service

Other keywords: telecommunication quality of service management; online directory; WWW; settlement support; electronic communications medium; QoS; e-commerce; management information system; e-mail; communication channel; logistic support system; trading support system; ubiquitous global communication; world wide Web; Internet

Subjects: Network management