Information Policy

Russia Agrees To Shut Down AllOfMP3.COM

Russia has agreed to shut down Allofmp3.com and other music sites based in that country that the U.S. government says are offering downloads illegally. The nation has struck the agreement with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as it seeks entry to the World Trade Organization. The U.S. has suggested that it would hold up Russia's acceptance in the WTO unless leaders there took action against illegal digital activities.

http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-6139350.html

TeliaSonera Projects End of Fixed-Line Telephony in Next Ten Years

The challenge for traditional telecoms operators is to adapt their strategies to the fast-changing business environment and explore new growth opportunities.

Nordic telecoms group TeliaSonera forecasts the death of traditional fixed-line telephony in the next decade.

The key for telecoms operators is to embrace new growth opportunities in the wireless and broadband sectors.

New opportunities for fixed-line incumbents include mobile services, IP-based services, OSS/BSS (operational support systems/business support systems) and geographical expansion in high-growth emerging markets.

http://www.telecomdirectnews.com/do.php/120/21363?7649

Is Old-Media Influence Really Declining?

ICOM asked its member agencies whether any traditional media choices were on the decline with no chance of recovery as a result of new ways of reaching audiences. Of the responding agencies around the world, 42% said that newspapers were in decline, more than twice as many that named any other media type.

http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?1004229

E-government estimated to contribute to GDP growth at 2% in the European Union in 2005-2010.

Corsi et al. (2006), in a study commissioned by the European Commission for the e-government unit, note that ‘Given the large share of PS in European countries’ GDP, efficiency in PAs is an objective per se and a major driver of international competitiveness and economic welfare.’ (PS=public sector, PAs=public administrations). According to them, e-government enhances GDP growth through four channels: (i) growth of PS productivity, (ii) growth of PS total output, (iii) efficiency of public administration (contributes directly to the efficiency of the economy as a whole and to the productivity of the private sector in particular), and (iv) as part of aggregate demand (ibid.). They estimate the overall GDP growth attributable to e-government in the period 2005-2010 at 2%

http://217.59.60.50/eGEP/Static/Contents/final/D.3.3_Economic_Model_Final_Version.pdf

Wikistudy

Wikistudy is the home to free textbooks published by the Wikibooks project that are directed towards specific syllabi and academic exams. The main part of Wikistudy is for books dealing with core subjects. There is also a section for non-core subjects.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Wikistudy