lized providers. Many enterprises want to keep in-house control over sensitive or mission- critical communication resources. Still, the largest part of communication resources and services can be outsourced, especially as security functions such as firewalls, encryption and anti-virus programs are continuously evolving. See further discussions in Section 2.3.4 below. The Internet The Internet represents a globally anywhere and anytime information and communication resource. A main use is for information retrieval in databases and Internet portals all over the world. Initially only text was transported, later still pictures, and now multimedia combining text, sound and still or moving pictures are used. Another main use is for e-mail. In the evolving IP-telephony or voice over IP (VoIP) service, voice or rather sound information in telephone calls is transported as IP packets within Internet. Major forces are changing the scene for enterprises There are some major market trends that are now having a great impact on business operations and consequently the type of applications and communication needed. These trends are themselves spurred by the worldwide Internet and mobile communication, also called 'mobile Internet'. In principle, any person or any database-stored information can be reached independent of time and geographical position. Globalization Most enterprises are today working in a global environment, with suppliers and/or cus- tomers in other countries; in some cases the company itself becomes a global entity, directly or with partners in an international cluster. Restructuring, Outsourcing and 'Clustering' Increased competition forces enterprises to focus on their 'core business'. On top of this we see the drive to keep capital costs low with 'just-in-time' logistics strategies. This creates many more intercompany connection points, with an increased need for quick, efficient, reliable and information-heavy communication, between people and between systems. End-User Needs and Demands Towards Knowledge-B