E-Goverment
E-Government:
Various countries, including
E-government is one of the seven flagship applications introduced in MSC. There are seven main projects that were identified to be the core of the e-government application under the e-government flagship, including Generic Office Environment (GOE), Electronic Procurement (eP), Electronic Services Delivery (e-Services), Human Resources Management Information System (HRMIS), Project Monitoring System (PMS), Electronic Labor Exchange (ELX) and E-Syariah.
The myGovernment Portal acts as the one-stop source of Malaysian government information and services for the citizens in
Citizen's adoption strategies:
Education and publicity
To promote the use of e-government, schools and colleges can equip people of the country to know better about the e-government services, systems and procedures. Marketing tools like newspaper articles or the World Wide Web would help boost the convenience and services of e-government offered to the public in the citizens’ eyes.
Service quality
Service quality impacts satisfaction and, ultimately, adoption as the quality of service generally plays a very important role in online business environments. It is extremely crucial to understand the needs of the customer and tailor service to cater to those needs. Short processing time and ease of use and control, reliability of services provided can attract more citizens choose to use e-government. E-government should provide a high level of service by catering to the specific needs of people and ensuring availability of relevant and reliable information that is highly correlated with satisfaction.
Website design
Great attention is often required to ensure the attractiveness of a website, as it is influential to the online marketing strategy. Some important features of a website would be the ease of navigation, aesthetics, content, accessibility, and other attributes, namely personalization, customization, customer self-care, and communities. The synergy of these key attributes will affect the way the users perceive a given website.
Corporate Blogging: A new marketing communication tool for companies 
Many people may ask what is corporate blogging?
Corporate blogging is a great marketing tool and Wikipedia simply define a corporate blog is published and used by an organization to reach its organizational goals. Nowadays, many organizations have started to create their own corporate blog, but how can a particular organizational goal be achieved by just using a corporate blog?
A corporate blog is used to disseminate all sorts of information about the organization; this includes organizational goals for that particular year, any news update of the company, latest news or information about some new launched product or events and etc. For instance, the top management posts the date, venue and time of the company’s annual dinner and they may also request all employees to give some feedback if they can attend. Corporate blogging allows potential customers, suppliers and staff to easily get tracked of a company recent news and event.
There are basically three types of corporate blogging : Internal blogging, External blogging and CEO blogging.
1. Internal blogging – It’s generally accessed through the corporation’s Intranet and it is also a weblog which allows every employee to view. Internal blogging may not be as formal as the external and CEO blogging and this informal nature of blogs may encourage employee to participate more, free discussion of possible issues, collective intelligence and lastly, a direct communication between various layers of an organization.
2. External blogging – It’s a weblog which publicly available to employees, teams, or spokespersons to share their views. It is more likely to be used by the organization to announce when their new products and services be launched, explain and clarify policies, or to react on public criticism on certain issues. In some corporate blogs, all posts go through a review before they're posted. Some corporate blogs, but not all, allow comments to be made to the posts.
3. CEO blogging – Blogging among CEO is getting popular in the recent years. CEO blog is meant for a weblog whose the blogger is only CEO of the organization. CEO can use their personal blog to announce the future planning of the organization.
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There is a very well-known corporate blog in Malaysia-http://blog.airasia.com/. This corporate blog consists of many elements, for instance, customers can give whatever feedback which they think it’s important for Air Asia to improve on it, or, anyone is welcome to share their travel experiences in the blog so that people may get to know more information and ideas on where to travel next time.
E-learning
When the World Wide Web was introduced to the world back in 1991, there was a huge interest in the chances of electronic learning (or e-learning). It is a very general term for all types of technology-facilitated educational process, where technology is used to assist the learning process. It is common the computer technology is used as the medium of instruction, especially those involving digital technologies. In most tertiary education centers, e-learning is used to define a pre-determined option to participate in a subject where the students were rarely present physically because the imparting of knowledge is done online. The e-learning has taken a step forward lately, as teachers and students become more familiar with the technology.
E-learning is good option in education, particularly when there are challenges to traditional learning situations. The advantages for students who learn online are as follows:
1. Convenience and Portability
· There are no time and place constraints
· Online learning does not require physical attendance
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· Courses can be accessed anytime
· The speed of learning depends on the learner
2. Cost and Selection
· Ability to choose any range of course desired
3. Flexibility
· Online learning allows prioritize on student preferences and needs
· Availability of alternatives on self-study or instructor-led learning process
· Focus only on topics students wish to learn
· Students may use tools they wish that suits their learning process
4. Higher Retention
· Online learning will lead students to the topics they like. Therefore their attention will be captured throughout the process of learning
5. Greater Collaboration
· Most projects involve collaborative efforts. As such, the online environment is convenient to work in since physical presence and face-to-face communication is not required.
6. Global Opportunities
· Students can gain access to multiple resources and information where there is no such opportunity when studying in a classroom.
Despite having the advantages as mentioned, e-learning also has disadvantages. This includes:
- Learners with low motivation may fall behind the learning process
- Students may have extra excuses that their coursework is not completed (e.g. internet connection failed)
- Students may get lost or confused about programme activities
- Students may have no teachers to lead or guide them when they are in need
- The learning process may only cover theoretical works rather than hands-on experience
- Students may feel isolated and miss social interaction, barring them from learning to communicate better
- Slow or unreliable speed of Internet connection may lead to frustration for students
- Students with poor computer skills may find it difficult to handle to study via the computer and internet.
Review a local, transactional e-commerce site
As time goes by, transactional e-commerce site has been incredibly rising up and in the meanwhile it has becoming more and more popular in Malaysia. One of the local transactional e-commerce sites is Tanjong Golden Village Cinemas, which is also known as the TGV cinemas, http://www.tgv.com.my/.
They are providing a friendly-oriented webpage to all Malaysian users, the webpage design is just understandable, good color matching, simple and yet impressive. All users can search for any information about the movie they enquire, e.g. the time, date availability, price for the movie tickets, seats reserved for online booking and payment method. They may also check out all TGV’s branches through the website so that customers know which branches will be the nearest to them.
The most important thing, all customers can enjoy the convenience of online purchasing ticket to avoid queues by just a few clicks. Prior to this, users have to register to become members. During the transaction, members are required to select the location of the cinema, movie, date, show time and the method of payment; whereas, for reservation, members can either choose to pay online or to pay at the counter 45 minutes before the show. For those who have paid online, they are not restricted to certain time to collect their movie tickets. The payment could be made by M-Money or credit card such as Visa cards or Master cards. Once the transaction is success, RM1 transaction fees will be charged and is non-refundable.
Nevertheless, this membership system is also one of the drawbacks. This system highlighted only members are entitled to purchase or reserve e-tickets. For non members? They can’t even purchase online (movie tickets) directly. In case the user is rushing to buy movie tickets, they still have to register to be a member before any transaction made. It is a bit time-consuming and may chase some last-minute customers out.
Overall, TGV cinemas website is convenience and well-designed. However, there are certain areas which they still need to improve in order to attract more users to visit its website and indirectly to generate sales to the company.
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News update: Check and book TGV Cinemas E-ticket from mobile phone
TGV is the main subject on Flavert Media Lab latest attempt of creating useful mobile content application based on what most people use regularly and frequently.
Everyone loves movie, but very few of them like standing in the long queue to buy ticket, if you happen to see your favorite star movie just been released, without you even noticed it earlier .This is where this application become very handy.
This application allows users to check movies availability, showing time, synopsis and booking the ticket on all TGV cinemas across Malaysia right on mobile phone. No more queue. It require just an internet connectivity via WIFI or the mobile’s telco service which require additional charges to function properly.
With a phone, a proper network and a few clicks, everyone can enjoy movie more conveniently.
Electronic Currency
Electronic currency (also known as e-money, electronic cash, electronic money, digital money, digital cash or digital currency) refer as substitutes money in the form of notes or coins and transferred or exchanged electronically.Example system sell electronic currency: PayPal and WebMoney will sell their electronic currency directly to the end user but Liberty Reserve is only selling through third party digital currency exchangers.
Type of E-money:
Identified E-money
Contains information revealing the identity of withdrawer which withdrew money from the bank. Enable bank to track money as it moves through the economy.
Anonymous E-money
In cryptography, e-money refers to anonymous e-money. There is unlink between withdrawal and spend transactions, once withdraw from account it can spent without leaving transaction trail.
Varieties of each type E-money:
Online E-money
Online means that we need to interact with a bank (via modem or network) to conduct a transaction with third party. Online scheme is based in the blind signatures and keys cryptography.
Offline E-money
Offline means that we no need to interact with a bank (via modem or network) to conduct a transaction, instead we can collect multiple coins/notes Spent by users and Deposit them later with the bank, i.e. merchant could go to the bank with our storage media to exchange e-money to cash.
References:
Electronic Money, or E-Money, and Digital Cash
Electronic money
The application of pre-paid cash card for consumers
• Withdrawing- can withdraw the amount which has been deposit into the account from the ATM machine, like an ATM card.
• Online Purchase- can purchase any product or make payment through online
• Toll payment- Tough & Go card can pay the toll fee through touch & go counter or smart tag
• Top up mobile phone- can use to top up or transfer the mobile phone credits
• Virtual traveler’s check- can having a low cost alternative to paying for goods and services abroad, also provide safety for bring much cash on traveling.
• Bill payment- can use for pay insurance, packing fees, rental fees, electricity bill, water bill, loan, etc. Eg. UTAR student using PB Debit Card pay student bill
• Transportation fees- can use on the bus, LRT, railway station and etc in Malaysia
References:
Prepaid card
The cash plus prepaid gold MasterCard
Guide for prepaid card
Credit Card debts: Causes and Prevention
Credit cards are convenient and great budgeting tool, but when we abused use, the years-long nightmare is started and unbelievable stress. Nowadays, millions of people are getting stuck in the seemingly endless cycle of debt stemming from misuse of their credit cards.Many people believe having many credit cards in wallet is an essential sign of prosperity. But, they were forget that every single used from credit card has to repay and if carrying with balance there is some interest will charges on whole amount (minimum 1.5%). So, too many credit cards will translate into too many credit card debts.
To avoid credit card debt the first thing is to have only those credit cards which absolutely essential.
2. OverspendingSpending too much on things is likely the most common cause of amassing credit card debt. This is because card owner are spending with the future money, they taking out that credit card and swiping it through to get what they want. Spending beyond their income will cause them to quickly become buried in debt.
To avoid overspending, should make a budget for each month necessary expenses, beside that make an own record for each time using the credit card so can easily calculate the amount for expenses before overspending.
3. Poor financial managementMany people will using credit card for setting up an automatic bill pay, transfer saving and investment contributions. Some time the payer miss paying monthly credit cards bills, the bank or financial institute will charge them late payment penalty or more higher interest. The charge mostly is higher than the interest what the received.
To avoid this problem, we can keep a calendar (electronic or hard copy) for record down the payments due date so each time can remember us when we using the calendar.
Saving account is very important part of money management. Without saving or litter savings, we will likely reach for unable cover credit cards to unexpected or emergency expenses. This is a common mistake that can easily cause us to rack up credit card debt.
To avoid this problem is set up an automatic monthly transfer from our checking/current account to a saving account. The saving contribution will taken care for us, and in emergency, we won’t have to add charges to our credit cards.
5. Medical ExpensesNowadays many doctor clinic or hospital is accept credit cards payment. Medical problem is accidental happen without warning, we can’t predict when such problem will or will not occur. Since like that paying medical bills on credit cards is the most common ways to get trapped in debt.
To avoid this unforeseen medical bills we should maintaining an emergency saving fund to protect us. These bills may be unplanned for, but they are unavoidable. When problem arises, we able to draw a fund from the account to pay instead of racking up credit card debt.
Ways to safeguard personal and financia data
As Internet criminals grow smarter and sneakier in this digital age, it's increasingly difficult to keep your credit card and personal information safe. With spyware, viruses as well as hackers, if there are no basic steps to be taken to protect your information, you may find yourself a victim of online fraud or identity theft.
The following are a few approaches on how to safeguard your data:
1. Be cautious about providing personal information.
Establish a limit of the amount of personal information that you enter to a site. You should avoid in providing personal financial information or personally identifying details to organizations that appeared to be unknown.
2. Avoid accessing sensitive information in public.
These measures provide protection against thieves who look over your shoulder in which they might have installed sophisticated software on the public computer that records every keystroke and then e-mails that sensitive personal information back to them.
3. Be aware of the merchants with which you deal.
Ensure that it is a legitimate site, and not just a spoof of a real site. You are advisable to only do business with reputable companies in order to safeguard personal data.
4. Install and update anti-spyware and anti-virus programs
5. Do not use the same password for every last thing on the Internet
Once a hacker figures out a password, they’ll go ahead and try to see if it works on any other site. You have to make sure that the passwords are different a more complicated. Just throwing in a number or symbol at the end will make it hundreds of times harder for a person to crack the password.
6. Connect to secure wireless networks
Connecting to non-secure wireless networks is asking for trouble, for instance, constantly connecting to insecure wireless network will causes spyware to be appeared.
Additional Information:
Mobile payment systems in Malaysia: Its potentials and consumers’ adoption strategies
• Faster checkout process with single click
• Replace cash transaction
• Charge direct to mobile phone bill or deduct from pre-pay credit/bank account
• Real time payment processing
• Transparent billing
There are four primary models for mobile payment:
1. Premium SMS based transactional payment – consumer send a payment request via SMS text message to a SMS shot code and a premium charge is applied to their phone bill.
2. Direct mobile billing – consumer need 2 authentication PIN and One Time Password for purchase through their mobile account. The payment will charge through the mobile phone bill.
3. Mobile web payment (WAP) – consumer uses web pages displayed or application download on his mobile phone to make payment. This will directly charge through mobile phone bill or credit card or pre- registration at online payment.
4. Contactless NFC (Near Field Communication) – consumer uses a special mobile phone equipped with a smartcard waves phone near a reader module, the payment will directly deduct from pre—paid account or charge to mobile phone bill or bank account.
Currently the most famous mobile payment device engaging in Malaysia – Maxis FastTap
Maxis FastTap is an integrated mobile payment service that uses near field communication (NFC) technology, with partners such as phone company Nokia, financial services companies Visa and Maybank, and Malaysia’s Touch ‘n Go card.NFC is a short-range wireless technology that allows communications between devices at close range. As an open platform technology, NFC offers high levels of interoperability between devices and readers and is now the global standard for contactless mobile payments, with a wide range of features that allows credit card, debit card, ticketing and transportation payments to be integrated into a mobile phone.
Maxis FastTap is the first global commercial launch for integrated credit card and transit payment applications on a Nokia 6212 classic device. Consumers who sign up for Maxis FastTap are now able to use their Nokia 6212 classic phones to purchase goods and services at more than 1,800 Visa payWave merchant locations as well as pay for toll, transit, parking and theme park charges at more than 3,000 Touch ‘n Go points nationwide.