Strategies and Policies in Digital Convergence

Citation

Keary, M. (2009), "Strategies and Policies in Digital Convergence", Online Information Review, Vol. 33 No. 5, pp. 1015-1016. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520911002034

Digital convergence is already having a wide impact on economies, politics and our daily lives, as well as fostering new opportunities and challenges in private and public sectors. This guide and reference source, with contributions from many authoritative writers, may help us understand some of the problems requiring resolution for digital convergence to succeed. It provides a comprehensive overview of the technological aspects of digital convergence, and the papers are well grouped into three topical sections.

Issues on the deployment of broadband technology are considered in Section 1, beginning with an examination by Jussawalla of the struggles between carrier/ content interests in using internet technologies for control of the global network. This is followed by Hanson, who analyses the core components of VoIP, explains how it facilitates communication, and outlines some of the controversies surrounding it. The next two papers deal with the allocation of radio spectrum resources. Oniki looks at a new system called “modified lease auction” to solve the problem of increased demand, whilst Katsianis discusses business strategies, regulation and policy issues for Mobile Virtual Network Operators as an alternative way to efficiently utilise radio spectrum and increase competition in the mobile communication industry.

In Section 2 there are four papers that look at new business opportunities generated by digital convergence and related issues in business strategies and public policies. Park's paper examines internet auctions, such as e‐Bay and Yahoo, and offers intuitive views on the evolution of e‐commerce, whilst Nam reports on policy implications for mobile payment issues in Korea. Bunduchi and Berar analyse Nokia's innovation strategy, based on Abernathy and Clark's (1985) classification, to build sustainable competitive advantage in an emerging digital home market. Krechmer then explores the different meanings and criteria suggested by the term “open systems” and the many ways openness is viewed.

The final section raises governance issues in digital convergence. Zhong provides a useful overview of key aspects of content governance and looks particularly at intellectual property rights on the internet. Chochliouros comments on the major European regulatory challenges for the development and effective provision of audiovisual or other forms of digital content services, in parallel with other related issues such as IPR, copyright, digital rights management, privacy issues, e‐commerce, etc. Tian reviews and compares copyright history in the USA and Canada, whilst Bagby explores the key political, legal and regulatory methods for resolving conflicts between privacy rights and security methods to encourage convergence success.

This guide provides a critical overview of the issues in business strategies and public policies of digital convergence from the perspective of the early 21st century. It aims to offer a better understanding of the many facets of digital convergence presently in use, and to assist future development. In large part it succeeds in this aim.