Computer & related services

Computer & related services

Outline•1. How Defined? •2. Why Important for ecommerce?

•3. Government Measures

1.How Defined? GATS Services Sectoral Classification List Doc.

• A sub-sector of business and professional services

• includes 5 sub-categories under the United Nations Provisional Central Product Classification (CPC)

CPC Descriptions• 1. CPC 841 Consultancy Services

Related to the Installation of Computer Hardware:

(assistance services to the clients)

•2. CPC 842 Software Implementation Services:

(all involving consultancy on, development and implementation of software, e.g. different programmes developed for special applications.)

2.1 CPC8421 System & Software

Consulting Services:• Services of a general nature

prior to the development of data processing system and applications.

• e.g. management services, project planning services

2.2 CPC 8422Systems Analysis Service• Analyzing the clients’ needs• Defining functional specification• Setting up the team • Project management • Technical coordination and

integration • Definition of the systems of

architecture

2.3 CPC 8423System Design Service

•Technical solutions: methodology, quality-

assurance, choice of equipment software packages or new technologies, etc.

2.4 CPC8424Programming Services

• The implementation phase:

• Writing and debugging programmes

• Conducting tests• Editing documents

2.5 CPC 8425System Maintenance

Services• Consulting & technical

assistance services of software products in use

• Rewriting or changing existing programmes or systems

• Maintaining up-to-date software documentation & manuals & specialist work, e.g. conversions

3.CPC 8431Data Processing

Services

• Input preparation services:• Data recording • e.g. key punching, optional

scanning, other methods for data entry

3.1 CPC 8432Data Processing &

Tabulation Services• Data processing • Tabulation service• Computer calculating

services• Rental of computer time

3.2 CPC 8433Time-sharing Services

•UNCPC: no big difference with data-processing and tabulation services

3.3 CPC 8439: Others• Manage the full operations

of a customer’s facilities under contract:

• Computer-room environmental quality control services

• Management services of in-place computer equipment combinations, computer work flows, distributions

4. CPC 844Database Services

• All services provided from primarily structured databases through a communication network

• Esp. exclude ‘data & message transmission services’ & ‘documentation retrieval services’

5. CPC 849Other Computer

Services

•Data preparation services•Other computer services: e.g. Training staff of

clients

What Uncertainties Arise Between the Software & Services under GAT??

• If: Package software is treated as a good.

• ? Consultants hired by a firm producing package software covered by GATS Mode 4 commitments?

• ? Served on-line, a service or a good?

• Maybe customized software – a service

Any Overlap With Telecommunication Service?

• h. Electronic mail• i. Voice mail• j. On-line information and data

base retrieval• k. electronic data interchange (EDI)

• l. enhanced/value-added facsimile services, incl. store and forward, store and retrieve (CPC 7523)

2. Why Important For E-commerce?

• Facts: 1985-1995 IT market structure changes:

• 1. Importance of hardware Software/ services 47% 52% 2. PCs & workstations 21% 31% Large-scale computer systems, mini-computers 30% 13%

3.importance of customized software the use of system integration

services4.the continuing trend of corporate

reorganization, IT services, consultancy services are more needed.

5.outsourcing of information systems becomes a common element of corporate strategies.

Reasons:• 1. worth US $161 billion in OECD

in 1995• 2. grow by 10% since 1987• 3. the 2nd largest contributor to IT

market• 4. high growth in export & import

• 5. lead to new employment, of skilled, well-paying jobs esp.

• 6. increase labor costs in IT industry by 35%-50% by 2000

• Labor-demand characteristics• The GATS mode of movement of

natural persons

3. Government Measures

• Relevant areas: • Labour policies• Research & development support• Technical standards• Tariffs on computer equipment• Government procurement on

information services

Government procurement on information services :

Rules:1.GATS XIII 2.WTO Agreement Annex 4

Agreement on Government Procurement

Thank You ;)

The End