E-Government

E-government: The use of information technology and e-commerce to provide access to government information and delivery of public services to citizens and business partners.

The Electronic Government initiative was launched to lead the country into the Information Age. It will improve how the government operates internally, as well as how it delivers services to the people of Malaysia. It seeks to improve the convenience, accessibility and quality of interactions with citizens and businesses. At the same time, it will improve information flows and processes within government to improve the speed and quality of policy development, coordination and enforcement.

There are four types of e-government services which consist of Government-to-Citizen (G2C), Government-to-business (G2B), Government-to-Employee (G2E), and Government-to-Government (G2G).

IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF E-GOVERNMENT PROJECT IN MALAYSIA

Generic Office Environment (GOE) – the aim of GOE is to introduce a fully integrated, distributed and scalable office environment that leverages use of multimedia information technology.

Electronic Procurement (eP) Project – the aim is to re-engineer, automate and transform current procurement system.

Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS) – it provide single interface for government employees to perform human resource functions effectively and efficiently.

Project Monitoring System (PMS) – it create a mechanism to monitor project implementation throughout various government agencies and statutory bodies.

Electronic Services Directory (eServices) – it is a pilot project that allows citizens to engage in transactions with government and utilities payments.

Electronic Labor Exchange (ELX) – it improves the mobilization of human resources and optimizes work force utilization through systematic matching of job seekers to job vacancies.

E-Syariah – to improve the quality of service in Syariah.

Other Applications – online tax

CITIZENS ADOPTION

The public sector is facing with three categories of challenges in adopting eGovernment

Operation

- Government reform
- Improve efficiency and effectiveness
- Adoption of technology
- Automating government
- Readiness of the citizens
- Infrastructure development
- Accessibility
- Digital divide

Policy Making

- Policy changes
- Responsible body
- National vs State
- Security
- Transparency
- Privacy

Regulatory

- To keep up with technology
- To standardize regulatory framework

Article from ecommerze.blogspot .com

Another sms scam

After the recent SMS scam attack on Digi subscribers, now is the turn for Maxis subscribers to experience the similar SMS scam.Subscribers will be informed through SMSes that they had won some cash worth a few thousands from Maxis. In order to withdraw the money, they were required to call a foreign 15 digits phone number to provide then with the bank account number.A Maxis spokeperson beside denying their involvement, also reminded the subscribers to ignore SMSes with foreign or weird codes.

Source: TheStar, 14th July 2007.

Personal Opinion:Seems like the SMS scams is getting bolder and innovative. A lot of new tricks are being implemented to trick the subcribers to disclose some crucial financial and personal information. How could the government and telcos help to stop this scam from spreading on? May be they can consider the actions taken by SC in closing down the illegal fund investment websites - blocking all the weird or foreign codes? The government also should control the licenses for mobile services operators which are related to SMS.

source: http://ecommerze.blogspot.com/search/label/Legal

Blogger's comment

If you never gotten a piece of SMS scam you should consider yourself lucky. As reported by the Malaysia’s National ICT Security Emergency Response Center (NISER), the top 10 originating countries in the case of SCAM in Malaysia are:

>>USA - 59.09%, China - 5.56%, Korea - 4.46%, Canada -3.33%, Japan - 2.12%, Taiwan - 2.09%, UK - 1.66%, France - 1.60%, Germany -1.30%
>> Local - 3.15%

example of sms scam

According to Wikipedia, mobile phone scam is a form of spamming directed at the text messaging service of a mobile phone. It is described as mobile spamming, SMS scam or SpaSMS but is most frequently referred to as m-span. Most of these scam SMS are sent through the internet to your Email-to-SMS address (10-digit mobile number@carrier.com) which is virtually free of cost rather than sending it directly to your mobile number via the operator/carrier’s SMS gateway which would result in a cost to the sender.








As a mobile phone user, what action shall we take to stop unwanted SMS scam?


If you receive any unsolicited scam SMS and get billed for it, report to the Malaysian Multimedia and Communication Commission (MCMC). Of course, mobile attacks are growing worldwide, but it's hard to imagine users adopting mobile security until the problems become both widespread and unavoidable.


SMS Cpam Manager blocks the unwanted SMS messages without producing any sound or light indication. There are 6 different types of filters to block unwanted SMS. You have the freedom to choose whether to reject all incoming messages or to accept messages only from people listed in your phonebook. You can also choose to block incoming SMS messages from a defined phone number, from a defined prefix number and even messages that contain a defined phrase. With SMS Cpam Manager you can effectively filter all your incoming SMS messages. It is an effective way to stops the junk and unwanted SMS messages.



Malaysia-based mobile services operator Maxis Communications Berhad has launched a new service that enables Malaysia's largest mobile user base of 10 million customers to control, personalize and automate their short messaging services (SMS), including blocking unsolicited SMS, or Scam SMS. Even subscribing the service doesn’t mean it will totally prevent us from receiving sms spam but at least it can help to control it.

Communication through mobile devices is no longer treated as a new phenomenon. Text messaging is currently the best way to keep in touch when the environment is not conducive to talk and this the main reason why sms scam is getting more serious recently. Thus, as a mobile phone user, it is our responsibility to take corrective action to stop this unwanted phenomenon.

Electronic-currency

Just in the last quarter of 1999, dozens of business-to-business e-commerce sites have popped up, and most are experiencing swift activity on their sites. Practices like bartering, trading, and exchanging, which are now taking place at these new sites, have been embraced by buyer and sellers in the automotive, construction, advertising and media, printing, and retail markets. Experts say these practices are going over well because they help users to increase sales and market share, decrease cash expenditures, reduce surplus inventory, take advantage of underutilized capacity, and increase cash flow.

Bitpass is a prepaid account that allows you to purchase digital content and services in a couple of clicks. It was founded in December, 2002 and partnered with major technology and financial services companies such as Microsoft, PayPal, the Royal Bank of Scotland and First Data.

Bitpass provides an innovative commerce, loyalty, promotions and commerce that bundles authentication, payment and access control. Bitpass enables a la carte- and subscription-based purchases at any price point. Their products are designed to be easiest way to promote and sell digital content, required very little time or technical expertise to get started. For the content buyer, Bitpass worked like a pre-paid telephone card. The buyer just needs to sign up for the service and put money into an account using a credit card or PayPal. This stored-value amount could be used to purchase digital content or service.

On January 19th, 2007 Bitpass announced that they were shutting down, and operations officially closed on Junuary 26th, 2007.

Credit Card Debts: Causes and Prevention

Top 5 causes of debt

1. Reduced income / same expenses
Too often we delay bringing expenses in line with a reduction in income for a host of good reasons and let debt fill the gap. The sooner you adjust to your new reality, whether it be temporary or permanent, the better off you'll be.

2. Poor money management.
A monthly spending plan is essential. Without one you have no idea where your money is going. You may be spending hundreds of dollars unnecessarily each month and end up having to charge purchases on which you should have spent that money. Planning is no more difficult than writing down your expenses and income and reconciling the two. You will be surprised at how powerful you'll feel when you are making thoughtful decisions about where and when to spend your money.

3. Banking on a windfall.
Spending tomorrow's money today is very tempting. Especially if you believe that tomorrow will come no matter what. A planned job bonus may not be a sure thing. The inheritance that you believe will come your way may not. The lesson is don't spend the money until the check clears.

4. No money communication skills
It is important to communicate with your spouse or significant other and your children about finances. Keep the lines of communication open and discuss financial goals and spending styles. If you are married to a spender and you are a saver, you will want to map out a strategy for you both to get what you want. Know what credit accounts you each have and promise each other to be honest about what each other spends. Many people find out that their spouses have racked up thousands of dollars in credit card debt and they had no idea that the accounts even existed.

5. Financial illiteracy.
Many people don't understand how money works and grows, how to save and invest for a rainy day, or even why they should balance their checkbook. The schools don't teach it, your parents may not have sat you down and explained it. It doesn't matter. You are responsible for your life and your money anyway. Financial mistakes are increasingly expensive and complicated to resolve. Get educated and get in control.

sources : G:\Bankrate's Guide to Managing Your Debt Top 10 causes of debt.mht

Prevention Of Credit Debts

5 simple rules to prevent credit card debt

1. Establish a budget and then follow that budget exactly. In other words, don't be tempted to charge that plasma TV to your credit card on a whim when you haven't budgeted for it this month.

2. Carry a credit card balance for no longer than six months. Skaggs explains that beyond that point, the compounding of simple interest can produce a very expensive balance to pay off. If it helps, think of your credit card balance as a snowball that grows larger as it rolls downhill.

3. Know what you're doing with reward credit cards. Holders of these can end up spending more than the reward itself is worth if they don't pay attention to the fees and interest associated with their credit card.

4. Get a low interest credit card if your credit card's interest rate is excessive. The better your credit, the lower the rate for whichy you will qualify.

5. Be aware that balance transfer credit cards' teaser rates won't last forever. Six months is common now. The "normal" rate will return sooner than you think, so use that interest-free period to aggressively pay down balances.

Sources : mhtml:file://G:\5%20simple%20rules%20to%20prevent%20credit%20card%20debt.mht

Article from ecommerze .com

Buying clothes online that fit your measurement

Have you ever buy clothes online? If yes, do you manage to get the measurement accurately?According to the Forrester Research, the Internet consulting firm, a total of US$ 9.6 billion worth of apparel was transacted over the Internet in 2006. However, none of the buyers tried the apparel on first before buying it. This resulted in almost 30% return on the apparel bought online due to incorrect measurement.

Screencapture of myShape.comnow, you can try myShape.com - a website where users can provide their basic body dimension and style preferences. Through this e-commerce business model, shoppers are able to purchase personalised clothing collection matched to they style and fit preferences and body dimensions. This helps to reduce the rate of return experienced by the online shoppers.May be the guys with the big tummy can try this site too in order to get the right size of the preferred apparel.Current, it does not provide any international shipping. I believe this e-commerce business model will be available soon for worldwide customers.The NewYork Times has an interesting story on this.

source:http://ecommerze.blogspot.com/search/label/e-Tailing

Blogger's comment

Tired of fighting traffic at the mall? Are you looking for plus size clothing or vintage clothing? Forget the hassles of parking and pushy salespeople, shopping for clothing online provide more options than ever before.

It is become possible to purchase clothes through online which are match to your shape, preference and measurement nowadays. Thus shopping for clothing online has become more and more popular especially for the true busy mother who can find what they need exactly without leaving their house: they can track their shipments, and have them delivered to their front door.

Despite the growth of e-commerce, most consumers still prefer to buy clothing and apparel in retail stores especially in Malaysia. Online shopping in Malaysia is in its infancy. In a survey of more than 7,000 adults, it has been found that only 9% prefer to buy apparel online.The most common reason given for not shopping online is that it is not possible to try on the clothes. Thus, it is found that buying clothes online still cannot replace the experience of actually touching, trying on, and using the product before purchasing, which allows brick-and-mortar stores to continue to be the true retailing experience.

Consumer attitudes and behavior have a big influence on making the decision to buy from the Internet. In Malaysia, the majority of buyers like to do brick-and-mortar shopping. One of the shopping malls located in Kuala Lumpur, Suria Mall has 450,000 visitors per week. To visit a shopping mall has become a kind of Malaysian “weekend activity”. A growing number of shopping complexes are opening in Malaysia which might be the major competitor to the Internet portal sites.

Malaysia has a huge potential for Internet procurement. However, it is hard to Malaysians to adopt online shopping due to cultural inertia. This culture will change for Malaysian consumers as they become aware of the advantages of online shopping. If the consumer can be convinced that it is safe and reliable to purchase online, the potential will be unleashed.