Revision with unchanged content. Media support of communication has
dramatically changed during the last decade. This trend is especially
driven by new media technologies, like e. g. "Voice-over IP" (VoIP).
VoIP provides a solid converged network, combining voice, data, fax and
video transmissions into a cohesive networking infra-structure centered
on the Internet Protocol (IP). Permanent innovations in the
telecommunication and computer industry enable these new kinds of media
support. Since media support of communication changed so much, recently
it seems to be necessary to prove if the existing media-theories which
worked for older media are still valid for the new media as described.
This question stands in the foreground of this book and this question is
elaborated in the book by presenting an alternative in the sense of a
comprehensive media theory-based framework. VoIP-based
Skype(TM)-technology are used as an example throughout the whole book.
After discussing the different traditional media- theories and
approaches the new perspectives "room-metaphor" and "virtuality" for the
topic is suggested and explained. This book addresses primarily the
communicating business-community on the one hand and teachers, students
and interested people in communication and information science.
