Communication 5

Courier Services

These are services where a service provider receives transports and delivers parcels or important documents to destinations specified by customers in return for payment of fees or charges.

Examples; Akamba bus service, Securicor courier services e.t.c

ii)Telephone services

• Landline/fixed line services

• Cellular (mobile)phone services

i) Land(Fixed)line services

Telkom Kenya, through the post office, provides telephone services which offer direct contact between people who are far apart.

It makes conversation between people at any distance possible, as long as there are
transmission facilities between them.

Urgent matters can be discussed and consultations can take place so that instant decision or actions are taken.

The telephone assists organizations to establish a fast and convenient machinery for its internal and external communication network.

ii) Cellular(mobile) phone services.

These are hand held telephones with digital links that use radio waves.

They are sometimes called cell-phones since they use power stored in a dry cell

In Kenya mobile phone services are provided by safaricom Ltd.(a subsidiary of Telkom Kenya)and Airtel communications Ltd(formally Kencel Communication Ltd)which is a joint venture between a French company and a Kenyan company, yu mobile services and Orange mobile
services.

This sector therefore greatly benefits from foreign investment to improve services.

The use of this service is popular. Apart from the provision of telecommunication service, cell phones have different attractive features or
services such as short messages service (sms) whereby a caller can send a written message.

Recent models of mobile phones enable the user to access the internet and send e-mail messages.

Advantages

• They are portable

• Written messages can be transmitted easily and cheaply through the short message service(sms).

• Enables both local and international communication.

• The cost of acquiring the equipment is relatively affordable.

• Direct feedback is possible.

• Has memory for storing written messages.

• Has got e-mail capability.

Disadvantages

• Some kinds of mobile phones are expensive to buy

• Maintenance expenses of a mobile phone are high. They are also susceptible to damage and repair can be very costly.

• Users are greatly inconvenienced in case there is no network coverage.

• A special facility where the callers identity is known(displayed onbscreen)can be abused where recipient does not wish to answer the call.

• Mobile phones are a security problem. They are easy targets for thieves.

• There is a danger of the radioactive rays or emissions negatively affecting the users health, if such emissions are not adequately controlled.

iii) Broadcasting services

Communication commission of Kenya is a regulatory body that receives applications and issues licences for radio and television broadcasting stations.

a) Radio stations

Radio broadcasting is a very important mode of giving news and information to people in the whole world.

The liberalization of the communications sector in Kenya in 1999, Kenya has witnessed a mushrooming of F.m. Stations which are owned by private sector operators e.g. Kiss Radio, Easy fm,Classic fm,Family fm,Kameme e.t.c.

They have helped to spread news and information countrywide. Before liberalization, Kenya Broadcasting corperation (KBC) radio was operating as a state owned monopoly.

b) Television Stations

Television broadcasting (telecasting) does not reach as wide an audience as radio broadcasting in Kenya.

It however serves the same purpose of relaying news and information to Kenyans. Both radio and television stations are widely used for advertising purposes.

The T.V subsector has been liberalized since 1999 and a number of privately owned stations have emerged e.g. Kenya Television Network (KTN) Nation Television, Family T.V etc. Prior to that time KBC television was in operation as a state owned monopoly.


Other services that facilitate communication

i) Telex

ii) Facsimile

iii) Paging

iv) E-mail

Current trends and Emerging issues in communication With the advancement of information technology (I.T) there has been a lot of
revolution in communication.

The following are some of the current trends and emerging issues in communication;

i) Telephone Bureaux (Bureaus)

These are privately owned kiosks where telephone services are sold.

The owner of the kiosk must get authority from the service provider in order to run the bureau.

The individual wishing to use the services of the bureau makes payments to the owner of the service. Other services offered by the bureau
include selling of scratch cards for mobile telephones and credit cards

for landline telephone services.

ii) Mobile phones (cell phones)

These are hand held telephones with digital links that use radio waves.

They have become an important business and social tool.

This is because most people and traders want some flexibility to be able to communicate whenever they are.

Other reasons that have led to the popularity of cell phones include:

• Pre paid services which enable the owners to control communication costs.

• Most cellular phones now allow the owners to browse the internet, check and send mail. This allows business people to communicate research and even place orders.

• Cellular phones have short message services (sms) which enables the owners to send written messages.

iii) E- mail ( Electronic Mail)

This is a service provided through the internet for sending messages.

It is similar to sending a letter through the postal system only that it is done electronically.

-Messages can be sent to anyone on the network, anywhere in the world.

For this to take place, computers have to be connected to each other to form a network.

-To communicate, one is required to have an email address e.g. raeform2@ yahoo.com. Messages arrive at the e – mail address immediately they are sent.

-It is only the addressee of the message who can retrieve the message since a password is required to access the mailbox.

-E – mail can also be used to send documents and photographs like certificates by scanning and attaching.

- More and more businesses are using e- Mail to communicate with other businesses, their customers and suppliers.

* Question: Outline the Advantages of Using E- Mail As a Means of Communication.

iv) Internet

The internet links computers all over the world. Written and oral information is transmitted on the internet through the use of telephone wires, fibre- optic cables and wireless devices.

The internet has changed the way people communicate in the following ways;

• Increased use of electronic mail (e-mail)

• Quick access to information from all over the world.

• Development of home offices and remote offices.

• Use of teleconferencing and video conferencing.
• Development of e-commerce.

v) Move towards a paperless office

The future office will rely largely on computers. Most of the communication will be done through computers. This may result in less use of paper, hence the use of the term “the paperless office”.

Vi ) Decline in the use of postal services

Decline in the use of postal services is a result of the impact of the internet.

Email has become a popular and preferred mode of communication since it is fast and cheap. However, ordinary mail/ use of postal services may not be completely phased out since the government, businesses and people do not regard an e-mail as a binding or formal communication.

Vii) Transformation of language

The language used to pass and receive messages has evolved through time.e.g the youth have adopted the use of “sheng” in exchanging messages. such language is largely understood by its youthful users.

There is also the use of cell phones to send short text messages; which are highly abbreviated and may use slang whose meaning is only known to the users e.g ‘av a gr8 day’.

Communication Revesion Questions

1. Define the term communication

-Communication is the process by which information is passed from one person or place to another.

.2. Outline the role played by communication in any given organization.

a) It is used to give instructions on what should be done at work and during work.

b) It enhances good relations among workers thereby promoting and enhancing their efficiency.

c) Through communication most organizations have been able to improve their image, for example through advertising.

d) It used to improve the relationship between the organization and the customer or clients.

e) For co-ordinating purposes, communication is used to ensure all departments work in harmony.

f) The feedback got from the clients or customers helps to improve an organization’s reliability and quality of goods and services offered.

g) Communication is used as a tool for management.

h) Good decisions are made as communication helps one understand all the necessary matters.



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