African Americans and Hispanics are the most frequent users ofenhanced mobile phone features such as texting and downloadingringtones.With mobile phones turning into complete personal entertainmentcenters, in addition to functioning as phones, some 52 percentof Hispanics and 48 percent of African American cell phoneowners say they sent a text message in the past month. Theoverall average is just 29 percent. For African...

A critical task in the succession planning process of anyorganization is identifying candidates. Traditionally,candidates have been identified based on past performance. Whilethis seems logical, it is problematic in practice.Past performance always measures success in a lower-levelposition. What is needed in succession planning is a system toidentify potential for success in a future higher-levelposition. The best predictive...

With all the hype about IP Centrex, youd think that every business in American had switched to IP telephony. Analyst firm Ovum estimates that IP Centrex and hosted VoIP revenues will amount to around US $6.6 billion worldwide by 2008, up from US $255 million this year. Frost & Sullivan puts a US $7.9 billion valuation on the market by 2009. It expects, conservatively, that IP Centrex will account for at least 15...

A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that can indicate a partnership is in trouble. Competitive, Not Complementary Action James Carville and Mary Matlin are public relations spokespeople for the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively. They are each articulate, sharp and feisty. Sparks fly when they debate in favor of their parties, so much so that they seem like arch enemies who couldn’t...

When you meet someone for the first time, you probably search for some common denominators as a link during the course of the conversation. Why? One reason is to find an issue or topic that will make the first conversation a little less uncomfortable, as the first conversation can be. Another reason is to find a common bond that can serve as the basis for friendship. The more similarities you have with another person...

Everyone at the office thought that using the company e-mailsystem to share jokes and funny stories was great fun. That is,until one offended employee decided to sue his employer forhaving helped to create a hostile work environment.Employee access to E-mail and the Internet can help tostreamline communication among employees, and between employeesand customers. But, just like conversations or informationcommunicated...

The idea of a fully ‘connected’ and integrated digital city,with a plethora of online services for its citizens, soundsultra-futuristic and like a pipe dream. The local telecoms andIT industry has its own views. The notion of a digital city, where all citizens haveaccess to public services through broadband Internetconnections, has long since been in the minds of government andthe private sector. The reality...