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Chapter 7 Telecommunications, the Internet, and Wireless Technology 317

Improving Decision Making: Using Spreadsheet Software to Evaluate
Wireless Services

Software skills: Spreadsheet formulas, formatting
Business skills: Analyzing telecommunications services and costs
In this project, you’ll use the Web to research alternative wireless services and use spreadsheet software to
calculate wireless service costs for a sales force.
You would like to equip your sales force of 35, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, with mobile phones that have
capabilities for voice transmission, text messaging, and taking and sending photos. Use the Web to select
a wireless service provider that provides nationwide service as well as good service in your home area.
Examine the features of the mobile handsets offered by each of these vendors. Assume that each of the
35 salespeople will need to spend three hours per weekday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on mobile voice
communication, send 30 text messages per weekday, and send five photos per week. Use your spreadsheet
software to determine the wireless service and handset that will offer the best pricing per user over a
two-year period. For the purposes of this exercise, you do not need to consider corporate discounts.

Achieving Operational Excellence: Using Web Search Engines for Business
Research
Software skills: Web search tools
Business skills: Researching new technologies
This project will help develop your Internet skills in using Web search engines for business research.
Use Google and Bing to obtain information about ethanol as an alternative fuel for motor vehicles. If you
wish, try some other search engines as well. Compare the volume and quality of information you find with
each search tool. Which tool is the easiest to use? Which produced the best results for your research? Why?

Video Cases

Video Cases and Instructional Videos illustrating some of the concepts in this chapter are available. Contact your
instructor to access these videos.

Collaboration and Teamwork Project

In MyMISLab, you will find a Collaboration and Teamwork Project dealing with the concepts in this chapter.
You will be able to use Google Sites, Google Docs, and other open source collaboration tools to complete the
assignment.

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