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Economic structure; introduction |
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"Globalization is to no small extent based upon the rise of rapid global communication networks. Some even go so far as to argue that "information has replaced manufacturing as the foundation of the economy". Indeed, global media and communication are in some respects the advancing armies of global capitalism."
(Robert McChesney, author of "Rich Media, Poor Democracy")
"Information flow is your lifeblood."
(Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft)
The usefulness of information and communication technologies increases with the number of people who use them. The more people form part of communication networks, the greater the amount of information that is produced. Microsoft founder Bill Gates dreams of "friction free capitalism", a new stage of capitalism in which perfect information becomes the basis for the perfection of the markets.
But exploitative practices have not disappeared. Instead, they have colonised the digital arena where effective protective regulation is still largely absent.
Following the dynamics of informatised economies, the consumption habits and lifestyles if customers are of great interest. New technologies make it possible to store and combine collected data of an enormous amount of people.
User profiling helps companies understand what potential customers might want. Often enough, such data collecting takes place without the customer's knowledge and amounts to spying.
"Much of the information collection that occurs on the Internet is invisible to the consumer, which raises serious questions of fairness and informed consent."
(David Sobel, Electronic Privacy Information Center)
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AT&T
AT&T
Corporation provides voice, data and video communications services to
large and small businesses, consumers and government entities. AT&T
and its subsidiaries furnish domestic and international long
distance, regional, local and wireless communications services, cable
television and Internet communications services. AT&T also
provides billing, directory and calling card services to support its
communications business. AT&T's primary lines of business are
business services, consumer services, broadband services and wireless
services. In addition, AT&T's other lines of business include
network management and professional services through AT&T
Solutions and international operations and ventures. In June 2000,
AT&T completed the acquisition of MediaOne Group. With the
addition of MediaOne's 5 million cable subscribers, AT&T becomes
the country's largest cable operator, with about 16 million customers
on the systems it owns and operates, which pass nearly 28 million
American homes. (source: Yahoo)
Slogan:
"It's all within your reach"
Business
indicators:
Sales
1999: $ 62.391 bn (+ 17,2 % from 1998)
Market
capitalization: $ 104 bn
Employees:
107,800
Corporate
website:  http://www.att.com
 http://www.att.com/
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