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This work shows the evolution regarding regulation of location services in both the USA and the EU. The article explains why these services were first regulated and the regulation itself is then explained. Two of the most important issues regarding location information are privacy protection and unsolicited communications. Shown here is the huge commercial value of location information and how the user’s approval can be manipulated to obtain consent to process and use as much information as possible.

Commercial non‐solicited communications are a growing problem bringing calls for tighter anti‐Spam legislation. This paper compares the advantages and disadvantages of opt‐in and opt‐out schemes. An opt‐in scheme would provide the best protection for citizens’ privacy and property. However, the fragmented way in which EU legislation is being implemented shows how the geographic limitations of the legislation may make opt‐in partially useless and harmful for competition. This paper therefore concludes that opt‐out with “public” international lists are the best compromise.

The purpose of this paper is to call for integrated regulation for in‐car systems to ensure privacy and prevent citizens from having to choose between accepting the loss of privacy or losing out on services.

This paper highlights the ways in which in‐car communications systems can contribute to the web of surveillance that is beginning to pervade society. More and more frequently, intelligent transportation systems compute location data, in‐car services for drivers and passengers are becoming more popular and in‐car systems are incorporating other control features that may threaten privacy. In particular this study describes the existing regulations regarding location, and the advisability of allowing access to electronic health records in emergencies.

The study presents different threats to privacy within telematics and raises concerns about the financial value of the aggregated information. It recommends that not only the user's location information but also the user's health records be transferred to emergency services.

These new views on telematics data processing should be considered by stakeholders and policy makers to ensure security and services to the citizens.

3G in Europe faces not only the challenge of recouping the huge cost of licenses, but also the possibility of being overtaken by the emerging new broadband and wireless technologies. These may coexist or even compete with 3G. IPTS carried out two studies that looked at the milestones for future mobile communications systems, taking into account both the short‐ and the long‐term prospects. The first study addressed success factors for 3G networks, gathering insights from successful experience in other regions of the world, notably Japan. The second covered the influence that alternative technologies might have for the diffusion and uptake of 3G. This paper concludes that, despite competition, universal mobile telecommunications system will lead the future of mobile communications in Europe. It presents the final recommendation to stimulate 3G commercialisation by consolidating 3G as a solid platform for 4G development, integrating co‐existing applications and continuously incorporating emerging standards.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the contribution that information communication technology (ICT) can make in development and education, covering different application fields.

This work looks into the practical application of ICTs covering the application possibilities, the limitations and the methodological application. Information has been taken from multiple real experiences.

The paper finds that there are significant opportunities for improving the benefits of integrating ICTs within development programs. Limitations should be accepted at present while a holistic approach should be taken to consider the real local needs.

ICTs should be taken into account within multiple development programs as a tool to improve their efficiency. Limitations are covered in the paper, as well as recommendations about the deployment of ICT infrastructures with other development targets.

This paper aims to present the results of a research project that the Institute for Prospective Technology Studies commissioned to research the possible effects of information and communication technologies (ICT) on a set of environmental indicators in 2020.

The project adopted an innovative methodology combining qualitative scenario‐building and quantitative modelling.

The general conclusion was that the impact of ICT is roughly between −20 and +30 percent. Therefore there are significant opportunities for improving environmental sustainability through ICTs, which can rationalise energy management in housing (or facilities), make passenger and freight transport more efficient, and enable a product‐to‐service shift across the economy.

The impact of ICT should accordingly be taken into account by environmental policies in order to ensure that ICT applications make a positive contribution to environmental outcomes, and, at the same time, to suppress rebound effects.

This article is based on a report to the Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament by IPTS, addressing increasing concerns about the impact of emerging information and communication technologies and services on security and personal privacy. This paper presents the findings on location‐based services from the above report. It explores in more depth the effect that the processing of location data (for use in services supported by mobility and integrated within the ambient intelligence context), will have on the future balance between security and privacy.

Questioning gender is about taking an active, critical role in the technological design of our daily behaviour. It is a deconstruction of the oppositions that exist in the discourses of Ambient Intelligence designers, the ICT industry and computer scientists. What underlies the assumption that Ambient Intelligence will, by disappearing into our environment, bring humans both an easy and entertaining life? The gender perspective can uncover power relations within the promotion and realisation of Ambient Intelligence that satisfy an obvious wish for a technological heaven. The deconstruction of the promise of progress and a better life reveals what is overvalued, what is undervalued and what is ignored. This paper is a deconstruction of the view, currently prevalent in the discourses of Ambient Intelligence; a view of humans and the way they live. A view that will influence the way women and men will be allowed to construct their lives.

Many of the papers that analyse human resource management (HRM) in merger and acquisition (M&A) processes focus on the last two stages (integration and implementation). Then, the purpose of this paper is to propose an HRM model for the first stage of the process (planning) with four key factors: the due diligence process, the integration plan, the communication plan and the learning plan.

From the theoretical model, the authors analyse a case study of a multinational company that operates in the mechanical engineering sector.

The results show the special importance of HRM in the success of the M&A process. And, the main actions implemented in human resources (HRs) contributing to the success of this process are identified.

Subsequent investigations could conduct similar analyses for the rest of the stages of the M&A process (integration and implementation), with the objective of presenting a complete HRM model in M&A processes.

The case study allows researchers to learn from professionals and business leaders while also offering a theoretical model that can help managers make decisions and improve the management of these processes.

The main contribution of this study has been to observe how HRs are managed in the planning stage of M&As.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a human resource management model for the integration stage of mergers and acquisitions (M/A) process with four key factors: leadership and integration team; change and restructuring process; human resources (HR) resistance; valuable HR retention.

The authors analyze a case study of a multinational company that operates in the mechanical engineering sector.

The results show the special importance of human resource management in the success of the merger and acquisition process. And, the main actions implemented in HR contributing to the success of this process are identified.

Subsequent investigations could conduct similar analyses for the planning and implementation stages of the merger and acquisition process, with the objective of presenting a complete HR management model in merger and acquisition processes.

The case study allows researchers to learn from professionals and business leaders while also offering a theoretical model that can help managers make decisions and improve the management of these processes.

The main contribution of this study has been to observe how HR are managed in the integration stage of M/A.