Technologies and Communication Services for the Online Society

After 150 years of telecommunications development and just a few decades after the introduction of modern information technologies mankind is entering into an era of so-called »online society«, where the delivery of any data to anyone has become a reality. Building up the online society on the verge of the third millennium is not so much a technical problem as it is a question of economics. This is even more true for Slovenia and the surrounding CEE countries situated between the European leaders of new developments in telecommunications and the areas, where the existing economic position could severely threaten the plans for transition to the online society.

Due to different technical levels of infrastructure, regulatory framework, and financial capabilities in these countries it is quite likely, that the introduction pace of innovative telecommunication technologies and services will not be adequate. We can even expect that some states will try to maintain their direct influence on the deployment of information and telecommunication technologies to the extent inappropriate for fast transformation from online to information society.

With the above context in mind we are inviting all potential authors to send in contributions presenting their experience, their views, their suggestions, and their plans on the following topics:

• Access to services
• Blending networks and services
• Changes in the provision of services
• Challenges of the online society