Profile of Serial Killer William Bonin, The Freeway Killer

William Bonin was a serial killer suspected of sexually assaulting, torturing and killing at least 21 boys and young men in Los Angeles and Orange County, California. The press nicknamed him the  The Freeway Killer, because he would pick up young boys who were hitchhiking, sexually assault and murder them, then dispose of their bodies along the freeways. Unlike many serial killers, Bonin had multiple accomplices during his murder spree. Known accomplices included  Vernon Robert Butts, Gregory Matthew Miley, William Ray Pugh, and James Michael Munro. In May 1980,  Pugh was arrested for stealing cars and while in prison provided detectives details connecting the freeway murders to William Bonin in exchange for a lighter sentence. Pugh told detectives that he accepted a ride from Bonin who bragged that he was the Freeway Killer. Later evidence proved that Pugh and Bonins relationship went beyond a one-time ride and that Pugh participated in at least two of the murders. After being placed under police surveillance for nine days,  Bonin was arrested while in the process of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in the back of his van. Unfortunately, even while under surveillance, Bonin was able to commit one more murder before his arrest. Childhood - Teen Years Born in Connecticut on January 8, 1947, Bonin was the middle child of three brothers. He  grew up in a dysfunctional family with an alcoholic father and a grandfather who was a convicted child molester. Early on he was a troubled kid and ran away from home when he was eight years old. He was later sent to a juvenile detention center for various small crimes, where he allegedly was sexually molested by older teens. After leaving the center he began molesting children. After high school, Bonin joined the U.S. Air Force and served in the Vietnam War as a gunner. When he returned home, he married, divorced and moved to California. A Vow to Never Get Caught Again He was first arrested at age 22 for sexually assaulting young boys and spent five years in jail. After his release, he molested a 14-year-old boy and was returned to prison for an additional four years. Vowing never to get caught again, he began killing his young victims. From 1979 until his arrest in June 1980, Bonin, along with his accomplices, went on a raping, torturing  and killing spree, often cruising California highways and streets for young male hitchhikers and school children. After his arrest, he confessed to killing 21 young boys and young men. Police suspected him in 15 additional murders. Charged with 14 of the 21 killings, Bonin was found guilty and sentenced to death. On February 23, 1996, Bonin was executed by lethal injection, making him the first person to be executed by lethal injection in California history. Freeway Killer Victims Thomas Lundgren, age 14, murdered on May 28, 1979. Accomplices Vernon Butts and William PughMark Shelton, age 17, murdered on August 4, 1979Marcus Grabs, age 17, murdered on August 5, 1979. Accomplice Vernon ButtsDonald Hayden, age 15, murdered on August 27, 1979. Accomplice Vernon ButtsDavid Murillo, age 17, murdered on September 9, 1979. Accomplice Vernon ButtsRobert Wirostek, age 16, murdered on September 27, 1979John Doe, age 14-20, murdered on November 30, 1979Dennis Frank Fox, age 17, murdered on December 2, 1979. Accomplice James MunroJohn Doe, age 15-20, murdered on December 13, 1979Michael McDonald, age 16, murdered on January 1, 1980Charles Miranda, age 14, murdered on February 3, 1980. Accomplice Gregory MileyJames McCabe, age 12, murdered on February 3, 1980. Accomplice Gregory MileyRonald Gaitlin, age 18, murdered on March 14, 1980Harry Todd Turner, age 15, murdered on March 20, 1980. Accomplice William PughGlen Barker, age 14, murdered on March 21, 1980Russell Rugh, age 15, murdered on March 22, 1980Steven Wood, age 16, murdered on April 10, 1980Lawrence Sharp, age 18, murdered on April 10, 1980Darin Lee Kendrick, age 19, murdered on April 29, 1980. Accomplice Vernon ButtsSean King, age 14, murdered on May 19, 1980. Confessed accomplice William PughSteven Wells, age 18, murdered on June 2, 1980. Accomplices Vernon Butts and James Munro Co-Defendants: Vernon Butts: Butts was 22 years old and a factory worker and part-time magician when he met Bonin and began participating in raping and murdering at least six boys. He hung himself while awaiting trial.Gregory Miley: Miley was 19 years old when he got involved with Bonin. He pled guilty to participating in one murder for which he received a sentence of 25 years to life. He is currently in prison.James Munro: Bonin was Munros boss and landlord when Munro participated in the murders of two boys. In a plea bargain, he pled guilty to one murder and received a sentence of 15 years to life. He is still in prison but trying to appeal claiming he was tricked into a plea bargain.William (Billy) Pugh: was the most active accomplice who was charged with one murder, although he confessed to killing two victims. He received  six years for voluntary manslaughter in a plea bargain. Arrest, Conviction, Execution After William Bonins arrest, he confessed to killing 21 young boys and young men. Police suspected him in  an additional 15 other murders. Charged with 14 of the 21 killings, Bonin was found guilty and sentenced to death. On February 23, 1996, Bonin was  executed by lethal injection, making him the first person to be executed by lethal injection in California history. During Bonins murder spree, there was another active serial killer by the name of Patrick Kearney,  using the California freeways as his hunting ground.

Latin America Revolutions Essay - 775 Words

In the years following the Congress of Vienna, revolts plagued many European countries as well as several areas in Latin America. France was driven from Haiti, Portugal lost control of Brazil, and Spain was forced to withdraw from all its American empire except for Cuba and Puerto Rico. Colonial government in South America came to an end. Three countries where revolts were successfully established were Haiti, Venezuela, and Brazil. The countries in Latin America benefited from the revolts because they became free from colonial rule, but, except for Brazil, they were left with many consequences. One of the first countries to achieve independence in Latin America was Haiti. Haiti gained its independence from France in 1804. Haitis†¦show more content†¦Bolivar was exiled in Columbia and Jamaica. In 1816 he launched an invasion against Venezuela with help from Haiti. He captured Boyota, the capital of New Granada, to secure a base for attack on Venezuela. This tactic worked, as Bolivar and San Martin captured Carcas and he was named president by the summer of 1821. In July of 1822, armies of Bolivar and San Martin moved to liberate Quito. They disagreed about the political structure of Latin America. San Martin wanted monarchies, but Bolivar advocated republicanism. San Martin went into exile in Europe and retired from the public life. Bolivar allowed the political situation in Peru to be confused, and he sent troops to establish his control. In December of 1824, the Spanish royalist forces suffered a defeat at the Battle of Ayacoucho at the hands of liberating army. This battle marked the conclusion of the Spanish effort to retain the American Empire. In contrast to the independence movements of Spanish Latin America, Brazilian independence came simply and peacefully. The Portuguese royal family took refuge in Brazil in 1807. This transformed Rio de Janiero into a court city. The prince regent Joao addressed complaints of the locals that were similar to t hose of the Spanish Creoles. He made Brazil a kingdom in 1815. Soon, Brazil was more prosperous than Portugal. In 1820, a revolution occurred in Portugal and its leaders demanded that Joaos return to Portugal and Brazils return to colonial status. Joao, who becameShow MoreRelatedComparison of Two Personal Narratives1264 Words   |  6 Pagessystems is often written on. For this assignment I have chosen to compare two personal narratives; The Myth of the Latin Women by Judith Cofer and Outcasts in Salt Lake City by James Weldon Johnson. Both essays cover the struggle of ethnic minorities and individuals who are at the lower end of the social spectrum, as they struggle to integrate themselves into the mainstream. Though both essays have a common theme the struggle that is encountered by Johnson is a lot more trying as he lived in an era whereRead MoreNeo-Colonialism In Latin America Essay1210 Words   |  5 Pagesgrowth of Latin America. Latin American elites managed to open free-t rade among other countries such as the United States and Great Britain. This influx of trade expedited the Industrial Revolution allowing South America to trade with other countries more efficiently, thus, marking the start of Neo-Colonialism. Neo-Colonialism is defined as â€Å"the economic and political policies by which a great power indirectly maintains its influence over other areas or people† (Merriam-Webster). In the essay â€Å"Born inRead MoreThe Major Economic Problems That Have Plagued Latin America1497 Words   |  6 Pages1. What are the major economic problems that have plagued Latin America in the 20th century? 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Many people would say this is where inequality in Latin America began, with colonization. However, colonization is just a small piece of the roots of inequality of the region, which actually started with the natives of the lands such as the Incas, Aztecs and Mayans. These three empires ruled most of the Latin American region and did so by conquering other native groups or tribes. The Empires had a ruling class or king that wasRead More The Boom in Latin American Literature Essay examples987 Words   |  4 PagesThe Boom in Latin American Literature Simply defined, the Boom refers to the period in Latin American literature in which a number of writers achieved international acclaim for their work. It is primarily associated with the novel, although a few of the Boom writers were recognized for work in other forms as well. The Boom was in full swing throughout the 1960s and the early seventies, though precursors to the Boom, most notably Jorge Luis Borges, were internationally known as early as theRead MoreSocial Consequences During The Industrial Revolution923 Words   |  4 Pages The Industrial Revolution was the transmission process of manufacturing, this took place in the 1700s and the 1800s. Before this time, manufacturing was done in a small level, usually done in people’s homes, using the truest and basic forms of machinery. But in the Industrialization age, there was a shift to powerful, multi-purpose machines, and big factories. This Industrial age brought forward thousands of jobs for the men, women, and children. The Industrial Revolution did bring a surplus and

Assignment on Brand Building Nike Marketing free essay sample

Nike markets its products under its own brand as well as Nike Golf, Nike Pro, Nike+, Air Jordan, Nike Skateboarding and subsidiaries including Cole Haan, Hurley International, Umbro and Converse. Nike also owned Bauer Hockey (later renamed Nike Bauer) between 1995 and 2008. In addition to manufacturing sportswear and equipment, the company operates retail stores under the Niketown name. Nike sponsors many high profile athletes and sports teams around the world, with the highly recognized trademarks of Just do it and the Swoosh logo. By 1980, Nike had reached a 50% market share in the United States athletic shoe market, and the company went public in December of that year. Its growth was due largely to word-of-foot advertising (to quote a Nike print ad from the late 1970s), rather than television ads. Nikes first national television commercials ran in October 1982 during the broadcast of the New York Marathon. The ads were created by Portland-based advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy, which had formed several months earlier in April 1982. Together, Nike and Wieden+Kennedy have created many print and television ads and the agency continues to be Nikes primary today. It was agency co-founder Dan Wieden who coined the now-famous slogan Just Do It for a 1988 Nike ad campaign, which was chosen by Advertising Age as one of the top five ad slogans of the 20th century, and the campaign has been enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution. San Franciscan Walt Stack was featured in Nikes first Just Do It advertisement that debuted on July 1, 1988. Wieden credits the inspiration for the slogan to Let’s do it, the last words spoken by Gary Gilmore before he was executed. Throughout the 1980s, Nike expanded its product line to include many other sports and regions throughout the world. What does the brand stand for? Nike stands for VICTORY. In Greek mythology, Nike was a goddess who embodied triumph. She assumed the role of the divine charioteer when Zeus was assembling allies for the Titan War; she flew around battlefields rewarding the victors with glory and fame. And the whole brand has been build around it, to convey one and only message, the one of the Victory, with a big V. While Nike started up its business selling sneakers, it reasonably hit the tipping point when the strong and sticky message which has directs impact on humans subconscious worn by top athletes and runners. The Nike logo  «Ã‚  swoosh  Ã‚ » was not only developed from the wing of the Greek Goddess Nike, it was also developed to impact again the subconscious of the consumer as well. How? Nike logo has the shape of a tick, and through life and education we get some automatism with tick which means right and the cross which means wrong. Nike,  «Ã‚  Just Do It  Ã‚ » happens to be the stickiest tagline ever. It wins over the hearts of hundred of millions of Nike fans, psychologically, subconsciously, imperceptibly, deadly. So the Nike brand stands for victory, and more precisely: Competency: as we used to quote the Nike co-founder Bill Bower mane who made this observation  «Ã‚  If you have a body, you are an athlete. High performance : Nike promotes its products by sponsorship agreements with celebrity athlete, professional and athletic teams, they sponsor Cricket in India an Football in France for example, the most popular sports they focus only on winners Achievement : the message is pretty clear when you see champion in Olympics wearing Nike its just like the Nike sneakers brought him or her to achievement thanks to the spirit of the Victory Godess of Greek Ne ver say Die attitude : the mission statement of Nike that the 30 000 employees across 6 continents make their own contribution to fulfill is to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world Nike’s changing Logo The Nike Swoosh embodies the spirit of the winged goddess, which the legend says inspired the most courageous and chivalrous warriors at the dawn of civilization. The first shoe to wear the swoosh logo was launched in 1972. In 2006, Nike has also experimented in its advertisements by removing the woosh altogether amp; Nike written in a new font, and this the old swoosh was toned down a bit. Nike Logo history Products by Nike Nike produces a wide range of sports equipment. Their first products were track running shoes. They currently also make shoes, jerseys, shorts, baselayers etc. for a wide range of sports including track amp; field, baseball, ice hockey, tennis, Association football, lacrosse, basketball and cricket. Nike Air Max is a line of shoes first released by Nike, Inc. in 1987. The most recent additions to their line are the Nike 6. 0, Nike NYX, and Nike SB shoes, designed for skateboarding. Nike has recently introduced cricket shoes, called Air Zoom Yorker, designed to be 30% lighter than their competitors. In 2008, Nike introduced the Air Jordan XX3, a high performance basketball shoe designed with the environment in mind. Nike sells an assortment of products, including shoes and apparel for sports activities for men, women, and children. Nike is well known and popular in youth culture, chav culture and hip hop culture as they supply urban fashion clothing. Nike recently teamed up with Apple Inc. to produce the Nike+ product which monitors a runners performance via a radio device in the shoe which links to the iPod nano. While the product generates useful statistics, it has been criticized by researchers who were able to identify users RFID devices from 18 m away using small, concealable intelligence motes in a wireless sensor network. Brand personality Nike has staked out a stylish, high-performance, innovative position in contrast to its competitors. It conveys the ideas of victory, puissance, sport attitude and masculinity. All these elements are emphasised by famous and successful sportive endorsement. With Just do it Nike has promised its audience that the company is committed to the competitive spirit. Nike proposes that it will help people feel empowered, successful and best equipped to tackle the challenges of athletics. The company uses shades of gray and blue, which gives the brand a casual, unpretentious feeling. Nike’s famous swoosh creates feelings of movement and speed. Nike, the brand name itself, was once better known in Greek mythology as the goddess of victory. All these things and more give Nike its brand personality. How Does Nike maintain/communicate it’s intended brand image We shall concentrate on the marketing strategy of Nike by studying it’s 7 P model. Also, in the model itself we shall consider the integrated marketing communication adopted by Nike to enhance brand equity. Product Nike mainly concentrates on sportswear. The main product categories sold under Nike brand name include:http://gallery. clickthecity. com/albums/userpics/10006/pic56012. jpg Sports Footwear http://norcalsaversnest. com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/cole-haan-coupons-discounts. jpg Apparels Bags (Handbags and bagpacks) Sports accessories Sports equipment In other words, all product categories sold under the Nike brand name are directly or indirectly related to sports and athleticism which in turn is the core brand image/ identity of Nike. Other Nike Brands include Cole Haan which is into casual footwear amp; dresses, Nike Team Sports which sells headgear amp;Bauer Nike Hockey Inc. which specializes in hockey and skating equipment. Hence, Nike sells unrelated categories under other brand names thus preventing confusion in the minds of the consumer Tune Your Run: The recent venture between Apple and Nike integrates your iPod and running shoes. The main innovation is that your speed amp; distance data can be recorded in your iPod and then synchronized with your PC to keep a tab on your progress Nike has always strived for innovation which inturn shows in their product research and development. Strategic partnerships and alliances with the most innovative partners ensure Nike is the global leader when it comes to sportswear innovations. Some of the famous innovations include: 2. House of Hoops : Partnership with Footlocker to promote the basketball line of Nike productshttp://blog. luon. com/public/Nike. JPG 3. Mass customization: Use of flexible computer-aided manufacturing systems to produce custom output. Those systems combine the low unit costs of  mass production  processes with the flexibility of individual  customization. Price Nike’s pricing is designed to be competitive to the other fashion shoe retailers. The pricing is based on the basis of premium segment as target customers. Nike as a brand commands high premiums. Nike’s pricing strategy makes use of vertical integration in pricing wherein they own participants at differing channel levels or take part in more than one channel level operations. This can control costs and influence product pricing. Promotion Promotion is largely dependent on finding accessible store locations. It also avails of targeted advertising in the newspaper and creating strategic alliances. Nike has a number of famous athletes that serve as brand ambassadors such as the Brazilian Soccer Team (especially Ronaldino, Renaldo, and Roberto Carlos), Lebron James and Jermane O’Neal for basketball, Lance Armstrong for cycling, and Tiger Woods for Golf. Nike also sponsors events such as Hoop It Up and The Golden West Invitational. Nike’s brand images, the Nike name and the trademark swoosh, make it one of the most recognizable brands in the world. Nike’s brand power is one reason for its high revenues. Nike’s quality products, loyal customer base and its great marketing techniques all contribute to make the shoe empire a huge success. Place Nike shoes are carried by multi-brand stores and the exclusive Nike stores across the globe. Nike sells its product to about 20,000 retail accounts in the U. S. and in almost 200 countries around the world. In the international markets, Nike sells its products through independent distributors, licensees and subsidiaries. Independent distributors need not adapt to local pressures because the 4Ps of marketing are managed by distributors. In terms of product differentiation, NIKE is also leading the market. The only competitor nearly has an identical business is Adidas-Solomon. Product differentiation is healthy in the footwear industry and allows the company to increase its profits through the sale of different products. Another advantage of manufacturing a number of product lines is the reduction of risk in that if one product fails there are numerous other products to compensate for this loss. Companies in the apparel and footwear industry that concentrate on manufacturing a single product are at a great disadvantage since their revenues depend exclusively on the sales of only one type of product, therefore, increasing the potential default risk. NIKE designs most of its footwear for athletic use; however, in order to diversify its products, a large percentage of their products come from sales of footwear, apparel, and accessories for casual and leisure purposes. The company segments its products in variety of ways. First of all, it manufactures sports goods and accessories for three different groups of people: men, women and children. Each segment is carefully examined in terms of physical capabilities, sociological needs, and design preference. Another type of segmentation used by NIKE that helps to increase product diversification is achieved by offering footwear, apparel, accessories, such as NIKE watches or gym bags, as well as performance equipment, including sport balls, timepieces, eyewear, skates, bats, gloves, and others in virtually every type of sport: running, basketball, tennis, golf, soccer, baseball, football, bicycling, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading, aquatic activities, hiking, fencing, and others. Besides the two segmentations described above, NIKE also has agreements for licensees to produce and sell NIKE brand items aside from athletic footwear and apparel. In part, this product differentiation is accomplished through strategic management planning by having the company sell NIKE brand timepieces, children’s clothing, school supplies, electronic media devices, and other items. NIKE subsidiaries, such as Bauer NIKE Hockey Inc. , are yet another way the company segments its product lines. Specifically, the Bauer NIKE Hockey Inc. subsidiary manufactures and distributes ice skates, skate blades, in-line roller skates, protective gear, hockey sticks and many other licensed apparel and accessories that make NIKE stand out in its industry. Communication Gaps in Branding of Nike Nike brand stands for: Competency Achievement High performance Never say Die attitude Nike was present in India since 1996 but didn’t rezlied the Indian potential till 2005. In Dec 2005, Nike was tied up with BCCI amp; then later went on to become the official kit sponsor of Indian Cricket Team. In 2007, Nike released its first Cricket related advertisement in India(1). Globally Nike is a sports brand targeted to youth (mainly 15-35 yrs of age), but in India the brand is not restricted to youth or sports enthusiasts only. The brand is seen as a daily wear brand amp; the customers ranging from youth who like to wear it to college to the old people who may just wear it when they are going out of their homes. The future roadmap for Nike – To Increase their Brand Equity Nike has faced a lot of international criticism due to its Sweatshops in 3rd world countries like Pakistan, Vietnam, Bangladesh etc. So, to convert this into an opportunity Nike should act as a socially responsible company amp; devise certain rules amp; regulations about the working conditions of their subcontractors. And if possible then Nike can also go for backward integration, and buy some of these subcontractors to increase their ownership amp; reduce their costs. The competition in the market in terms of Athletic goods is very high with major players like Adidas, Reebok, Puma, Fila etc. all growing their importance. To hedge its risk, Nike can also expand on its clothing line like currently in India Nike cotton T-shirts are available but they are available in very limited designs. So, Nike can grow a sports apparel maker to a fashion brand. The apparels division is the cash cow (according to BCG matrix) for Nike and thus, diversifying in this area will help Nike increase its bottomline. Thus, Nike can expand their business by expanding amp; adding a Daily wear clothes line to their portfolio. Nike can also sell the sports related product items which also have attributes like style amp; cool, something like Nike sunglasses, which are available in some countries but not in India. Nike is also under a lot of fad because of the plastics amp; other materials used in their shoes. So, rather than spending huge chunks on the celebrities, they can divert a small part of this advertising fund into Ramp;D to produce green shoes i. e. environment friendly shoes. This would given them a heads up in the market in terms of innovation, would also give them a unique position in the minds of the responsible consumer, and of course an opportunity for free PR. Indian market being the world’s second largest (2) footwear manufacturer of the world has a huge opportunity of footwear sales. Thus, Nike can attack the middle amp; the lower end market by buying a current brand like Columbus or Welcome shoes and then manufacturing amp; marketing them in India. They can also, launch a complete new brand for the country amp; thus cater to the middle amp; lower segment. This way they can also cater to the vastly growing rural market of India. They have used the similar strategy by entering Walmart by buying the Starter brand, which is an apt brand for the value end of retail business. Read more:  http://www. ukessays. com/essays/marketing/assignment-on-brand-building-nike-marketing-essay. php#ixzz2O0SDwz7o

Using Skype in the Work Place

Introduction With advancement in technology, contemporary communication has gained a new dimension. One of the ways in which this communication has been influenced is through the introduction of Skype, which is commonly used in businesses, workplaces and even in learning institutions (Rosen 2009).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Using Skype in the Work Place specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This report discusses the use of Skype and its impact at workplace, when used by either the management, employees or everybody in business to connect with the outside world. Among other things, the report gives definition of Skype and how it is used in business as a telecommunication tool. Moreover, it covers the disadvantages and disadvantages of Skype at workplace together with its future in the business world. Skype technology Skype is a type of telecommunication technology that allows voice and video communication in the world with an estimate of over three million registered users today. Video calling is a way of communication that allows people to talk to each other while viewing live video of both parties (Woodall 2011). Unlike traditional communication, which heavily relied on a system of transmission cables, Skype uses the internet to connect people around the world as long as they have access to the internet. Its VoIP software makes it unique and outstanding among all voice communication services offered by different service providers around the world. It has in-built application software though most people believe that it is in the category of common software, thus missing its important functions (Vaughan-Nichols 2011). With its adoption in businesses and different workplaces, it is doubtless that a host of communication barriers have been eliminated. In traditional communication, people were more cautious about time spent on call. This has changed with most Skype users spending a lot of time on calls than before (Gurlà © 2011). Skype calls made between PC connections attract no charge apart from the normal monthly internet bill. This has been the main â€Å"pull† factor as registered users are able to significantly reduce their monthly communications cost (Abdulezer, Abdulezer Dammond 2007, p. 234).Advertising Looking for report on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Notably, this communication is not limited to any part of the world as long as those who intent to communicate have a personal computer that has internet connection. Based on the availability of webcams, Skype also allows video calls, which gives it a â€Å"reality-touch† since users are able see each other regardless of the distance between them (Kreibich Jahnke 2010, p. 97). Discussion Voice communication using Skype is no longer a new idea at workplace. Several company managers use this technology to pass messa ges to colleagues, employees or even customers (‘Conferencing Device Brings Skype to Living Rooms’ 2012). In the same manner, they receive voice calls on their personal computers from different people as long as they are related as friends through Skype. Even as the world continues to enjoy voice communication through the internet, many people including business managers and employees are concerned with challenges that are associated with this technology (Johnson 2006). Challenges of Skype Like other communication methods and technologies, Skype presents an array of challenges to users especially at workplace. What are some of these challenges? As mentioned above, voice and video communication through Skype requires having the right equipment and internet connection (Saporito 2011). Additionally, Skype communication may expose a company to some online security threats by bypassing corporate firewalls (Jahankhani, Watson Me 2010, p. 113). Other challenges include but no t limited to poor voice quality, charges on some communication services, slowing of computers when the program is running and inability to access customer care services promptly (Poupard 2009). Communication equipment Unlike emailing or landline calls, voice and video communication using Skype requires one to have a computer with average specifications for the program to run with minimum interruptions (Schieltz 2011). Besides this, Skype users need webcams and microphones especially when using desktops, which do not have inbuilt features. Additionally, a stable internet connection is very important since the entire communication depends on online connectivity. All these requirements are not free; they are costly. Companies and organizations, which adopt this mode of communication, incur expenses that can be avoided if other means of communication are given preference (Glauser 2011). In the same line of thought, computers highly depend on power supply.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Using Skype in the Work Place specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is a major challenge especially when communication is needed in the absence of power or when the PC is off. Aside from these equipment, Skype-enabled phones are costly since most manufactured phones do not support this services. It would therefore be expensive for companies to acquire such sophisticated phones (Vaughan-Nichols 2011). To address this, Skype should consider adopting more affordable and effective equipment to attract more people. Another challenge of using this mode of communication is the risk involved. By the fact that Skype allows users to develop their profiles, including names, emails and phone numbers, it poses a serious security threat (Winzenburg 2012). The risk of internet hackers and bullies cannot be ignored in the context of online communication. Coupled with videos and images of the user, it is possible to track a pe rson either physically or electronically with malicious intentions (Stadler 2009, p. 44). This is also possible because Skype bypasses some internet protocols while in use, exposing its customers to cyber threats. With regard to video calling, it is possible to expose excess information than expected (Fitchard Reedy 2010). In other words, this kind of calling may expose the organization of the workplace, which may include surrounding people, gadgets and available writings. As a result, a client or customer may have a negative feeling about the company or organization based on the background video of the call (Harwood, Goncalves Pemble 2010, p. 320). In cases where the surrounding has other people such as arguing employees, it would be possible for the person on the other end to capture the events at a given workplace without the conscience of the other person. It therefore suffices to mention that video calling has an array of challenges (Evers 2007). Benefits of Skype The most at tractive aspect of Skype is its low cost on services. For instance all its voice and video calls are free of charge as long as the call is from PC to PC (Skype 2012). Additionally, calling landlines and mobile phone numbers is quite affordable. This implies that a company can significantly cut down the cost of paying monthly telephone bills if this technology is adopted effectively (Sheppard 2006, p. 33).Advertising Looking for report on business communication? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Another advantage of using Skype at workplace is that it allows access and use of audio and video aspects of communication. In other words, a manager can call a departmental head to have an idea of how the business is running at any given moment. Similarly, employees can call each other and experience different working environments through video calls (McIlwain 2011). With the coming of this technology, it is possible to link different people at the same time and discuss an issue that would have required a notice for physical meeting (Advantages of Skype n.d). This therefore saves time as managers can engage in other productive activities instead of attending boardroom meetings. Despite the fact that Skype faces threats concerning internet vulnerabilities, it remains a safe mode of communication through the internet. It uses credible digital certificates and proper encryption, which guarantees communication safety of its users (Sheppard 2006, p. 33). Moreover, Skype allows users to customize their settings that determine their privacy. This feature allows one to filter his callers at any given time. It therefore means that Skype can be used among managers or a given group of employees (Blue Coat Systems 2007). Future expectations It is true that technology exits in a continuous and evolutionary state. This means that several changes are expected with regard to the use of Skype in voice communication. These changes are likely to address its pitfalls including, internet security threats and connectivity. In addition, more companies are likely to adopt this method, especially after existing challenges are minimized. By 2020, Skype will probably be different especially after Microsoft’s acquisition. Windows 7 phones may incorporate more of this technology (Brodkin 2012). Report evaluation This report is quite significant in addressing issues surrounding the use of Skype as a method of communication at workplace. Its findings are based on current trends and events in various workplaces around the world. The findings of this report are important to businessmen who use Skype or those planning to adopt this method of communication. Conclusion and recommendations The use of Skype in the workplace remains a debatable issue around the world. With millions of people registering, there is concern over its challenges and benefits in organizations, institutions and other workplaces (Joisten 2007). Despite the fact that it has a host of advantages, Skype equally presents an array of challenges. It is paramount for interested organizations to weigh the two sides of this technology before adopting it as a method of communication. References Abdulezer, L, Abdulezer, S Dammond, H 2007, Skype for Dummies, John Wiley Sons, New Jersey. Advantages of Skype n.d., http://www.ehow.com/list_5939079_advantages-skype.html. Blue Coat Systems 2007, Best Practices for Controlling Skype within the Enterprise, www.bluecoat.com/doc/644. Brodkin, J 2012, Skype†™s future under Microsoft: integration everywhere, http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2011/10/skypes-future-under-microsoft-integration-everywhere.ars. ‘Conferencing Device Brings Skype to Living Rooms’ 2012, PC World, vol. 30 no. 3, pp. 48. Evers, J 2007, Skype to partner for security in the workplace, http://news.cnet.com/Skype-to-partner-for-security-in-the-workplace/2100-7355_3-6155228.html. Fitchard, K Reedy, S 2010, ‘Operators Embrace Skype, But At Arm’s Length’, Connected Planet, pp. 16-19. Glauser, W 2011, ‘The Skype solution’, CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal, vol. 183 no. 12, pp. 798. Gurlà ©, D 2011, An Exciting Keynote for Skype at Enterprise Connect and News with Citrix, http://blogs.skype.com/enterprise/2011/03/an_exciting_keynote_for_skype.html. Harwood, M, Goncalves, M Pemble, M 2010, Security Strategies in Web Applications and Social Networking, Jones Bartlett Publishers, Massachusetts. Jahankhani, H, Watson, D Me, G 2010, Handbook of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics, Singapore. Johnson, S 2006, ‘Skype and Hype’, Discover, vol. 27 no. 5, pp. 25-27. Joisten, M 2007, Renegotiating Interaction Routines: Adoption of Skype in the Workplace, http://mc.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/konferenzbaende/mc2007/konferenzband/mc2007_41_joisten.pdf. Kreibich, C Jahnke, M 2010, Detection of Intrusions and Malware, and Vulnerability Assessment: 7th International Conference, DIMVA 2010, Bonn, Germany, July 8-9, 2010, Proceedings, Springer, New York, NY. McIlwain, A 2011, The Advantages of Skype in Business Communications, http://financialsocialmedia.com/facebook/the-advantages-of-skype-in-business-communications/. Poupard, V 2009, Reasons Why Companies Should Cancel the Use of Skype in the Workplace, http://voices.yahoo.com/reasons-why-companies-cancel-2913926.html. Rosen, J 2009, ‘To Skype or Not to Skype?’, Publishers Weekly, vol. 256 no. 50, pp. 22-23. Saporito, B 2011, ‘Skype’, Time, vol. 177 no. 21, pp. 21. Schieltz, M 2011, Disadvantages of Using Skype, http://www.ehow.com/list_5907068_disadvantages-using-skype.html. Sheppard, A 2006, Skype hacks, O’Reilly Media, Inc., California. Skype 2012, http://www.skype.com/intl/en/home. Stadler, J 2009, An Investigation Into Skype Technologies S.A., GRIN Verlag, Munich. Vaughan-Nichols, S 2011, How Skype does, and doesn’t, work, http://www.zdnet.com/blog/networking/how-skype-does-and-doesnt-work/1051. Winzenburg, S 2012, ‘How Skype Is Changing the Interview Process’, Chronicle Of Higher Education, vol. 58 no. 18, pp. 9-10. Woodall, M 2011, The New Living Workplace, http://blogs.skype.com/enterprise/2011/04/the_new_living_workplace.html. 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