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Business News Business Roundup: Europe An update on Europe's information technology community Online Advertising- Is There any Relief? Internet Crimewave UK faces Brain Drain   Online Advertising - Is There any Relief? An integral part of every e-tailer's business is having an attractive presence on the Web and keeping users on their site, but just how far will companies go to achieve this? There are a number of 'tricks of the trade' emerging in the new era that hover precariously on the border between underhandedly deceiving tactics and acceptable advertising. Techniques include the overused pop up ads, 'mouse trapping' (the process of denying the user the ability to use their back button to escape) and framing (making the user think they have left the original site by loading a second in the same frame). It is predicted that over 25% of the Web's top companies are using some sort of misleading technique to increase stickiness. When considering the status of the current new media market, it is clear to see the motivation behind this change of advertising. The market continues to fall, taking with it a large number of new media businesses. Survivors are panicking and looking for ways to remain in business and attract a larger share of the consumer market. Previously advertising free, the Web is under pressure to make money and paid-for web content looks to be the future. However, all we are really seeing is a mirroring of the off-line market that has been advertising to us for many years, with techniques ranging from subtle to intrusive. When was the last time you opened a newspaper or walked down a shopping street without seeing some form of advertising? The real offensive is that we now have no escape from advertising in our daily lives, and the reality is that it works, therefore it continues to form a key part of every business. Of course being a new medium, online advertisers have a lot to learn and we should look forward to a future of more informed, subtle and relevant advertising. Return to top Internet Crimewave New technologies provide an outlet for increased globalization, efficient transfer of information and new opportunities that shape our world; they also bring an environment ripe for computer related crime. The French political lobby group, Council of Europe (COE), is calling for a crackdown on Internet crime by setting up a series of global cyber crime units. The aim is to synchronize European law with regard to computer-related crimes, such as hacking, fraud and copyright infringements. Countries such as Canada, Japan, South Africa and the US will also be involved on the basis that most of the Internet traffic originates or travels through the US at some point and the largest ISPs are based in the US. The global cyber-crime units will set up 24/7 network points for all international law enforcement officials, allowing the interception of communications at any time. The COE insist that every point of the treaty is in-line with the human rights act, therefore quelling any initial concerns amongst the global councils. It is hoped that the treaty will be passed and in effect from September 2002. Return to top UK faces Brain Drain The UK could be facing its worse IT skills shortage by 2003 unless immigration laws are relaxed and incentives heightened for overseas workers to relocate. Residing Asian technology consultants in particular are being lured away by the promises of success and bright lights in the US. It is predicted that within 18 months there will be a potential shortage of 1.7 million high tech professionals. Traditionally, the UK looked to Asian countries to provide relief from IT skills shortages, and initially this worked. However, the focus of this relocation has changed and many Asian businesses, now looking to globalize, are setting up sales operations in the UK and leaving the technology pool at home where the conditions are more favourable for development. What can be done to increase the flow of skilled IT professionals to the UK? Immigration would be a good starting point and the UK government is looking at relaxing the immigration laws further to bring the UK in-line with the US in terms of ease of access. The pool of skilled resource workers, made up of entrepreneurs, scientists and high tech professionals, represent the future of the global economy, so competition is fierce. Writer: Sara Vincent © Copyright 2002. Galt Western Personnel Ltd. Unless otherwise specified, you may reprint this article, quote from it, use it in research or projects, duplicate it or distribute it. Credit of authorship and source MUST be given to galtglobalreview.com. Ownership of Copyright remains with Galt Western Personnel Ltd. Return to Top    Business News / Business Roundup - Australia / Canada / Europe / United States / Careers / Classified / Information Technology / New Technology / Education News / World Facts / Book Reviews / Archives/Research