Trade Kings A Zambia Consumer Company Marketing Essay

Trade Kings A Zambia Consumer Company Marketing Essay For a firm in its initial internationalisation, it will have to use indirect export strategies where it uses intermediary organisations that have the necessary experience in handling export sales on behalf of experienced or low level exporting organisations. As the firms export grows and the firm acquires knowledge in the export market including the preparations of the export documents, it may now opt to use the direct export strategy with less use of intermediaries Most companies would prefer to remain domestic if their domestic market were large enough. Managers would not need to learn other languages and laws, deal with volatile currencies, face political and legal uncertainties or redesign their products to suit different customer needs and expectations. A higher degree of involvement in the domestic market and the company may need a larger customer base to achieve economies of sale. As Trade Kings expanded in Zambia, its marketing pesonnel was able to collect information on the potential opportunities in Malawi. It was actually observed that travelers going to Malawi had introduced the brand maheu there and was a popular brand. This information provided the basis for conducting formal market research which revealed that the brand would successfully sale in Malawi. The company eventually entered the Malawian Market in 2001 through an indirect export strategy. LEARNING CURVE REQUIREMENTS Firms which intend a heavy future involvement might need to learn from the experience that close involvement in an overseas market can bring, some companies may not have any major resources and experience in international trade. Trade Kings did not have any experience in international marketing as it was initially only selling its brands in Zambia. RISKS Some risks such as political risks or the risk of the expropriation of overseas assets by foreign government encourages firms entering into overseas markets to persue an indirect exports strategy as it is safer. On the other hand, the risk of losing touch with customers and their requirements would encourage a direct export strategy. There is political stability in Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa and this provided opportunities for Trade Kings to enter these foreign markets. The lack of experience in export marketing meant that Trade Kings would have to use already experienced exporters, although it would not be in touch with the customers in these countries. CONTROL NEEDS Control over the export operations, particularly over the marketing mix and the distribution channel varies between indirect and direct exporting strategies. Indirect export strategy offers virtually no control to the exporters. Trade Kings had no control over indirect exporters. These were willing to sale on behalf of Trade Kings. However, Trade Kings later opted to use direct export strategy which allowed for greater control over its export operations in Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa. HOW MANY MARKETS TO ENTER The company must decide how many foreign markets to enter and how fast to expand. The risk is the substantial resources needed and the difficulty of planning export strategies into many diverse markets. (Kotler 2004, Page 640). EVALUATING POTENTIAL MARKETS It is important to evaluate the potential of several foreign markets. Many companies prefer to sell to neighbouring countries because they understand these countries better and can control their costs effectively. Most Zambians are familiar with Malawi due to historical and political factors. Trade Kings would not find it difficult to enter the Malawian Market. DECIDING HOW TO ENTER THE MARKET Once a company decides to target a particular country, it must determine the best mode of entry. Its broad choices regarding export strategies include an indirect export strategy and a direct import strategy. A firm internationalizing for the first time has no experience in export documentation, lack local knowledge in the foreign market and valuable distribution contacts. Trade Kings had to depend on the experienced exporters. In this case it would have to use indirect export strategy. EXPORTING STRATEGIES Exporting is the easiest, cheapest, and most commonly used route in to a new foreign market. Many firms become exporters in an unplanned haphazard and reactive way, simply by accepting orders from the potential customers who happen to be based overseas. However it was common for a firm to take a proactive approach to exporting by the systematic planning and the identification and the selection of target markets for its exports. This gives rise to several advantages over those entry methods which require greater involvement in the overseas market. 3.1 ADVANTAGES TO THE EXPORTER 3.1.1 The principal benefit is that the exporters are able to concentrate production in a single location, in order to achieve economies of scale and consistency of product quality. Trade Kings would produce the Maheu brand and distribute it to its foreign markets in Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa. The demand as at now does not require the setting up of a plant in these countries. However Trade Kings is considering a plant in Malawi that will produce a range of consumer products similar to the ones produced in Zambia. 3.1.2 Firms lacking the know-how and experience can try internationalization on a small scale. Trade kings had started exporting maheu brand on a small scale until the brand gained popularity in 2002. The demand for the brand had increased in Malawi. 3.1.3 Exporting enables firms to develop and test their plans and strategies. Trade Kings had to attain the learning curve effect and eventually was able to persue a more expansionary export sales to Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa by persuing direct export strategy. 3.1.4 Exporting enables firms to minimize their operating costs, administrative overheads and personnel requirements. 3.2 INDIRECT EXPORT STRATEGY 3.2.1 EXPORT HOUSES Export house are firms which facilitate exporting on behalf of the producer. There are three main types of export houses: EXPORT MERCHANTS These act as export principals, they buy goods from a producer and sell them abroad. Trade Kings was able to sell its maheu brand to export merchants in Lusaka who where exporting a range of consumer products in Malawi. ADVANTAGES OF EXPORT HOUSES The producer gains the benefits of the export houses market knowledge and contacts. Trade kings was able to use a major export house ABC international export that was able to buy a range of consumer products from various suppliers in Zambia and transport them to malawi, Mozambique and South Africa. As business continued with ABC company, Trade Kings acquired knowledge that was helpful in setting its own export market department. Except in the case of export agents the producer is relieved of the need to do the following: Finance the export transaction Suffer the credit risk Prepare export documentation Trade Kings was not able to incur any promotional and distribution expenses. This was borne by ABC Company. All export documentation was done by the exporter. In some cases export merchants receive preferential treatment from foreign institutional and organisational customers. ABC International Exporters is a large company that has been in the export marketing of consumer products to Malawi including supplying goods to government institutions and organizations. It has developed strong relationships with valuable contacts in the country that it exports to. DISADVANTAGES OF EXPORT HOUSES Ultimately, it is not the producer but the marchants decision to market a product and so a producer is at the Merchants mercy. At this time the merchant was buying less Trade Kings brand in preference to their company brands. Any goodwill created in the market usually benefits the Merchant and not the producer. As with all intermediaries, an export house or Merchants might service a variety of producing organization. An individual producer cannot rely on the Merchants exclusive loyalty. Trade kings brands has created strong loyalty in Malawi, However ABC Company was not effectively marketing the brand. It was also over -pricing the brand leading to lower sales. The exporter also was also increasing stock of Trade Kings Competitor. This lead to the creation of Trade Kings export marketing department. Export houses are not normally willing to enter into long term arrangements with a producer. Trade King had entered with a 2 (two) year contract with ABC International Exporters as they did not want a 5 (five) year contract initially.However as demand for the brand increased in Malawi, the exporter wanted a long term contract. Trade Kings entered in to contract with a specialist export management firm, International Distributors Limited, a specialist export Consultancy and logistics firm. DISADVANTAGES OF SPECIALIST EXPORT MANAGEMENT The drawbacks of using the specialist export managers include:- As the export manager is an independent organisation, it can leave the producers service and the producer will have gained as inhouse expertise. The contract was not renewed because the international distributor firm lacked the resources to fully exploit the foreign markets. As the producer does not learn from experience of exporting, this may adversely affect future options by restricting those available. The Trade Kings did not benefit any export knowledge from the distributors as all export management functions were done by the firm. The specialist export manager may not have sufficient knowledge of all the producers in the market. International distributors proved to lack adequate knowledge in the foreign markets in which Trade Kings could increase its sales. 3. COMPLIMENTARY EXPORTING Complementry exporting or piggy back exporting occurred when one producing organisation refered to as the carrier uses its own established international marketing channels to market the products of another producer referred to as the rider as well as its own. ADVANTAGES OF COMPLIMENTARY EXPORTING There are advantages to both the carrier and the rider as follows: The carrier earns increased profit from a better use of distribution capacity and can sell a more attractive product range. The rider obtains entry to a market at low cost and low risk. Trade Kings did not use this mode of indirect export strategy. 4. TURNKEY CONTRACTS Turnkey contracts may also provide opportunities for complementary exporting. A single firm engaged in a particular project overseas such as construction, petroleum refining, pharmaceutical and civil engineering projects will often acquire products and services from other firms in the home country for the project. (Hill 2005, page 485) Trade kings did not use much of indirect export strategy. DIRECT EXPORT STRATEGY Direct export strategy occurs where the producing organisation itself performs the export tasks rather than using an intermediary. Sales are made directly to customers overseas who may be wholesalers, retailers or final users. Sales may increasingly be made via e- commerce on the internet. As the volume of sales increased and a forcast of demand showed that Trade Kings brand were steadily growing including detergents, candles, match ticks. Sweets , snacks and bathing soaps. Marketing in this environment is similar to the marketing in the domestic market, although there are the added problems of distance product regulations language and culture.(Hill, 2005 Page 488) OVERSEAS AGENCIES Overseas export agent is an overseas firm hired to effect a sales contract between the principal (i.e the exporter) and a customer. Agents do not take title of goods, they earn a commission. Trade Kings entered into a contract with Malawi export agent, Malawi export Limited. THE ADVANTAGES OF OVERSEAS AGENTS An exporter may use overseas agents due to the following reasons:- They have extensive knowledge and experience of overseas market and the customers. Malawi Export Limited, an indeginous local firm, large importer was able to increase the sale of trade Kings products. Their existing product range is usually complementary to the exporters. This may help the exporter penetrate the overseas market. Unlike ABC international exporters who were able to stock Trade Kings Competitors brands. The exporter does have to make a large investment outlay. Trade Kings did not have to spend resources in building a depot and managing it. This was all done by the Malawi Export Limited. The political risk is low Malawi export Limited is an indigenous Malawian firm and has vast local knowledge and local contraact. It is able to withstand any political challenges in Malawi. DISADVANTAGES OF USING OVERSEAS AGENTS The disadvantages of using overseas agents and these are: An intermediarys commitment and motivation may be weaker than the producers. The Malawi export Limited was still able to market others brand by different suppliers and was based towards brands whose turnover was very high compared to Trade Kings brands. Agents usually want steady turnover using an agent may not be the most appropriate way of selling low volume, high value goods with unsteady patterns of demand, or where sales are infrequent. Trade Kings brand were of average turnover and Malawi Export Limited failing to meet the expectations of Trade Kings. This led to the formation of a Trade Kings branch office in Malawi. This would also deal with Mozambique and South Africa. Many agents are too small to exploit a major market to its full extent. Many service only limited geographic segments. As a market grow large it becomes less efficient to use as an agent. A branch office or subsidiary company will achieve economics of scale. The demand for the Trade king brands kept on growing since 2004 and management had to commit its resources in developing an overseas branch office in Malawi. A careful analysis was done by Trade Kings prior to the selection of the Malawi Export Limited Company to act as an overseas agent for the Malawian market. COMPANY BRANCH OFFICES ABROAD A firm can establish its own office in a foreign market for the purpose of marketing and distributing its product. ADVANTAGES OF A COMPANY BRANCH OFFICE The advantage of Companys branch office in setting its own distribution office, a firm may have the following advantages: When sales have reached a certain level branch offices become more effective than agencies. A Trade King Branch was finally opened in the capital city, Lilongwe in Malawi on 1st June, 2005 with most staff being Malawians. Sales performance will improve as the commitment and motivation of a producers own staff should be more effective than those of an agent. Trade Kings Staff were committed to ensure that they attained the sales targets. The level of motivation was high leading to surpassed sales targets in 2006, this lead to the expansion of the branch to also effectively manage sales in Mozambique. The producer retains complete marketing control. Trade Kings had now a strong presence in Malawi and in Mozambique.The branch was now able to pursue aggressive marketing of Trade Kings brands through advertising campaigns, sales promotions campaigns and participation in trade exhibitions in Malawi and Mozambique. DISADVANTAGE OF COMPANY BRANCH OFFICES ABROAD Trade Kings experienced the following drawbacks when it set- up firm setting an overseas Company branch in Malawi Higher investment overhead and running costs are entailed. There can be a political risk particulaly expropriation of assets. The firm will be subject to local staff legislation which it may not welcome. CONCLUSION Mode of entry has implications for the distribution channel. Although in domestic markets firms often give some control over distribution to intermediaries this problem is magnified in international terms. Trade Kings later experienced distribution problems through its indirect export strategy in Malawi. The distributors had earlier on provided Trade Kings with higher sales. However it started to over stock a range of products from various competing firms. This led to a decline in Trade Kings maheu brand despite the product having established brand loyalty on the Malawian market. It can be observed that, for many overseas operations means they are forced into the aims of intermediaries even though this may not be the ideal means of the satisfying the needs of the end consumers. Trade kings enventually had to opt for investing directly in the Malawian market through a direct export strategy.

Analyse a Business Plan Essay

Quality Training Quality Training has been operating as a Registered Training Organization for 12 months. The objectives of Quality Training are to generate a profit, grow at a challenging and manageable rate and to be a good corporate citizen. The mission of Quality Training is to exceed our customers’ expectations by providing them with effective training and development services, relevant to their needs and in line with national quality standards. Critical Analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the business plan Quality Training has  been operating as a Registered Training Organization for 12 months. Below is the critical analysis of the business plan of the organization including its business weaknesses and strengths? Strengths of Quality Training: A new organization with no history Flexible and adaptable to clients needs Low start-up costs Personalized service, people conduct training who own the company Able to visit trainees and clients more regularly Knowledge of the local political situation and potential areas of growth Attractive business incentives threats: New organization, so unknown in the market place No references from former clients Limited sources Owner – operated Limited operation Lack of funding for large marketing campaign Targeting local area so limited clients base Analysis of the strengths and weaknesses: Quality Training should adopt the following strategies to overcome perceived threats and weaknesses. It should expand its network with friends and acquaintances to source business opportunities as this is local business organization. It has limited clients base it should develop strong personal relations. The organization must develop its marketing materials including a website so that clients can get themselves registered online. The organization should look for opportunities to deliver non-accreted training prior to becoming established as an RTO. This will bring in some additional income and will assist in developing our client relationship. The organization is very new so it should be flexible its working policies and procedures. It should be up to date with relevant legislation and industry requirements. The organization should look for new business opportunities to develop mutual beneficial partnership with other RTO’s or businesses. By keeping the business diversified and offering a variety of training and development programs, the risk of losing government funding will be  minimized. Quality training should consider the marketing trends to penetrate into the local market. Schools are emphasizing the importance of gaining recognized qualifications to their students. Quality Training should intend to take advantage requirement for business to comply with state and Federal Legislation in the area of occupational health and safety. It is suggested to the organization that it should utilize the following marketing strategies is its marketing approach; Personal contacts: Quality Training should expand its circle of business by increasing personal contacts to increase its business opportunities. This can be done by e-mails, cold calling, Internet ads, yellow pages, and networking. The organization must develop its marketing material in form of brochures professionally produced, outlining its mission, values and the training services provided. This thing will also include a professional website which must be updated regularly. The organization is required to formulate its business plan with regard to financial forecasting. Quality Training should review its business plan on an annual basis. Business plan 2: Workout gym business Plan Sport therapy business plan Workout gym business Plan: Pump fitness centre is situated in wentworthville. It is good business plan to run our business. At Pump Fitness we offer modern, clean, air-conditioned facilities with the latest equipment from Life Fitness and Hammer Strength. Pump Fitness pride themselves on good old fashioned customer service where everyone is more than a membership number and caters for the beginner to the experienced gym user. We provide a modern, non intimidating environment in which our members can enjoy the very best in lifestyle and fitness facilities. All members receive individual health assessments and fitness programs which are updated every eight weeks and qualified staff that are always available on the gym floor to assist you with your workouts. Our results based programs are guaranteed to be cost effective and will help you achieve great results regardless of your age, shape or fitness level. Strength of workout gym business plan: 1. Money made business plan. 2. Received fees on time from customer. 3. Currently in a good financial position (few debts, etc) 4. Skilled workforce (little training required) 5. Latest machinery installed 6. Own premises (no additional costs for renting) 7. Excellent transport links (ease of access to/from the Company) 8. Little/non-threatening competition Weakness: 1. Currently in a poor financial position (large debts, etc) 2. Un-Skilled workforce (training required) 3. Company name not recognized on a National/Regional/Local level 4. Machinery not up to date (Inefficient) 5. Rented premises (Adding to costs) Sport therapy business plan: Massage may be the oldest and simplest form of health care dating back to ancient civilizations and it is a therapy that continues to thrive today. Put simply, Massage is the manipulation of the layers of muscle and connective tissue in the body to enhance function and to aid the body in healing itself, increasing your health, vitality and well being in the process. There are many different types of massage but they all have the same basic intention, to heal the body and soothe the mind. A therapeutic massage is a great way for you to relax, but do not expect it to take the place of good nutrition, proper rest, and regular physical exercise. Strength can be viewed as a resource, a unique approach, or capacity that allows an entity to achieve its defined goals. A weakness is a limitation, fault, or defect in the entity that impedes progress toward defined goals (e.g., the limited field of view and resolution in a head-mounted display can limit usability and perceptual realism).

Gsm Specification & Air Interface

[pic] WHAT IS GSM GSM: GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications: originally from Groupe Special Mobile) is the most popular standard for mobile telephone systems in the world. The GSM Association, its promoting industry trade organization of mobile phone carriers and manufacturers, estimates that 80% of the global mobile market uses the standard. GSM Specifications-I RF Spectrum GSM 900 1. Mobile to BTS (uplink): 890-915 MHz 2. BTS to Mobile (downlink):935-960 MHz 3. Bandwidth: 2* 25 MHz GSM 1800 1. Mobile to BTS (uplink): 1710-1785 MHz 2. BTS to Mobile (downlink) 1805-1880 MHz 3. Bandwidth: 2* 75 MHz GSM Specification-II 1. Carrier Separation : 200 KHz 2. Duplex Distance : 45 MHz 3. No. of RF carriers : 124 4. Access Method : TDMA/FDMA 5. Modulation Method: GMSK 6. Modulation data rate: 270. 833 Kbps ADVANTAGES OF GSM: 1. GSM uses radio frequencies efficiently & due to the digital radio path the system tolerates more intercellular disturbances. 2. The average quality of speech achieved is better than in existing analogue systems. 3. Data transmission is supported throughout the system. 4. Speech is encrypted & subscriber information security is guaranteed. . Due to the ISDN compatibility, new services are offered compared to analogue systems. 6. International roaming is technically possible within all the countries concerned. 7. The large market toughens the competition & lowers the prices both for investments & usages. GSM SPECIFICATIONS The main idea behind the GSM specifications is to define several open interfaces which then are limiting certain parts of the GSM system. Because of this interface, openness the operator maintaining the network may obtain different parts of the network from different GSM network suppliers. Also when an interface is open it defines strictly what is happening through the interface & this in turn strictly defines what kind of actions/procedures/functions should ne implemented between the interfaces. STRUCTURE OF GSM: [pic] GSM Specifications: Before looking at the GSM specifications, it is important to understand the following basic terms: * Bandwidth —the range of a channel's limits; the broader the bandwidth, the faster data can be sent * Bits per second (bps) —a single on-off pulse of data; eight bits are equivalent to one byte * Frequency —the number of cycles per unit of time; frequency is measured in hertz (Hz) Kilo (k) —kilo is the designation for 1,000; the abbreviation kbps represents 1,000 bits per second * Megahertz (MHz) —1,000,000 hertz (cycles per second) * Milliseconds (ms) —one-thousandth of a second * Watt (W) —a measure of power of a transmitter Specifications for different personal communication services (PCS) systems vary among the different PCS networks. Listed below is a description of the specifications and characteristics for GSM. * Frequency band — the frequency range specified for GSM is 1,850 to 1,990 MHz (mobile station to base station). * Duplex distance —The duplex distance is 80 MHz. Duplex distance is the distance between the uplink and downlink frequencies. A channel has two frequencies, 80 MHz apart. * Channel separation —The separation between adjacent carrier frequencies. In GSM, this is 200 kHz. * Modulation —Modulation is the process of sending a signal by changing the characteristics of a carrier frequency. This is done in GSM via Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK). * Transmission rate —GSM is a digital system with an over-the-air bit rate of 270 kbps. * Access method —GSM utilizes the time division multiple access (TDMA) concept. TDMA is a technique in which several different calls may share the same carrier. Each call is assigned a particular time slot. * Speech coder —GSM uses linear predictive coding (LPC). The purpose of LPC is to reduce the bit rate. The LPC provides parameters for a filter that mimics the vocal tract. The signal passes through this filter, leaving behind a residual signal. Speech is encoded at 13 kbps. GSM Subscriber Services There are two basic types of services offered through GSM: telephony (also referred to as tele services) and data (also referred to as bearer services). Telephony services are mainly voice services that provide subscribers with the complete capability (including necessary terminal equipment) to communicate with other subscribers. Data services provide the capacity necessary to transmit appropriate data signals between two access points creating an interface to the network. In addition to normal telephony and emergency calling, the following subscriber services are supported by GSM: * Dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) —DTMF is a tone signaling scheme often used for various control purposes via the telephone network, such as remote control of an answering machine. GSM supports full-originating DTMF. * Facsimile group III —GSM supports CCITT Group 3 facsimile. As standard fax machines are designed to be connected to a telephone using analog signals, a special fax converter connected to the exchange is used in the GSM system. This enables a GSM–connected fax to communicate with any analog fax in the network. * Short message services —A convenient facility of the GSM network is the short message service. A message consisting of a maximum of 160 alphanumeric characters can be sent to or from a mobile station. This service can be viewed as an advanced form of alphanumeric paging with a number of advantages. If the subscriber's mobile unit is powered off or has left the coverage area, the message is stored and offered back to the subscriber when the mobile is powered on or has reentered the coverage area of the network. This function ensures that the message will be received. * Cell broadcast —A variation of the short message service is the cell broadcast facility. A message of a maximum of 93 characters can be broadcast to all mobile subscribers in a certain geographic area. Typical applications include traffic congestion warnings and reports on accidents. * Voice mail —This service is actually an answering machine within the network, which is controlled by the subscriber. Calls can be forwarded to the subscriber's voice-mail box and the subscriber checks for messages via a personal security code. * Fax mail —With this service, the subscriber can receive fax messages at any fax machine. The messages are stored in a service center from which they can be retrieved by the subscriber via a personal security code to the desired fax number. Supplementary Services GSM supports a comprehensive set of supplementary services that can complement and support both telephony and data services. Supplementary services are defined by GSM and are characterized as revenue-generating features. A partial listing of supplementary services follows. * Call forwarding —This service gives the subscriber the ability to forward incoming calls to another number if the called mobile unit is not reachable, if it is busy, if there is no reply, or if call forwarding is allowed unconditionally. Barring of outgoing calls —This service makes it possible for a mobile subscriber to prevent all outgoing calls. * Barring of incoming calls —This function allows the subscriber to prevent incoming calls. The following two conditions for incoming call barring exist: baring of all incoming calls and barring of incoming calls when roaming outside the home PLMN. * Advice of charge (AOC) —The AOC service provides the mobile subscribe r with an estimate of the call charges. There are two types of AOC information: one that provides the subscriber with an estimate of the bill and one that can be used for immediate charging purposes. AOC for data calls is provided on the basis of time measurements. * Call hold —This service enables the subscriber to interrupt an ongoing call and then subsequently reestablish the call. The call hold service is only applicable to normal telephony. * Call waiting —This service enables the mobile subscriber to be notified of an incoming call during a conversation. The subscriber can answer, reject, or ignore the incoming call. Call waiting is applicable to all GSM telecommunications services using a circuit-switched connection. Multiparty service —The multiparty service enables a mobile subscriber to establish a multiparty conversation—that is, a simultaneous conversation between three and six subscribers. This service is only applicable to normal telephony. * Calling line identification presentation/restriction —These services supply the called party with the integrated services digital network (ISDN) number of the calling party. The restriction se rvice enables the calling party to restrict the presentation. The restriction overrides the presentation. * Closed user groups (CUGs) —CUGs are generally comparable to a PBX. They are a group of subscribers who are capable of only calling themselves and certain numbers. AIR INTERFACE In cellular telephone communications, the air interface is the radio-frequency portion of the circuit between the cellular phone set or wireless modem (usually portable or mobile) and the active base station. As a subscriber moves from one cell to another in the system, the active base station changes periodically. Each changeover is known as a handoff. A cellular connection is only as good as its weakest link, which is almost always the air interface. Radio-frequency (RF) circuits are subject to many variables that affect signal quality. Factors that can cause problems include: * Use of the handheld phone set or portable wireless modem inside buildings, cars, buses, trucks, or trains * Proximity to human-made, steel-frame obstructions, especially large buildings and freeway overpasses * Abundance of utility wires that can reflect radio signals and/or generate noise that interferes with reception * Irregular terrain, particularly canyons and ravines * Inadequate transmitter power in phone set or wireless modem Poorly designed antenna in phone set or wireless modem In addition to these variables, some cellular networks have inadequate coverage in certain geographic areas. Usually this is because there are not enough base stations to ensure continuous communications for subscribers using portable (handheld) phone sets. As a network evolves, more base stations may be installed in a given region, and in that case, this problem will dim inish with time. Conversion of a network from analog to digital can result in dramatic improvement.

Requesting Immigration Relief The Department Of Homeland...

Requesting immigration relief, as portrayed by the Department of Homeland Security, seems to be a humanitarian and easy process, described as follows: 1. The applicant presents to a immigration office or checkpoint requesting immigration relief. 2. An immigration officer, a social worker and if needed an interpreter that are trained in cultural sensitivity, go through some paperwork 3. The immigration officer conducts an extensive interview to the applicant 4. The immigration officer analyzes the case and decides if the story is coherent with the evidence. 5. The immigration officer approves asylum and schedules the audience with an immigration judge OR the immigration officer denies asylum because his story lacks credibility, and sends to†¦show more content†¦He and ten more people (men, women and a child) were put handcuffs, so tight that at a point his hands were â€Å"purple† and then they were transferred to a detention facility. He spent almost two weeks in the detention facility; he remembers that the first night, they gave him food, he finished everything and even licked the plate, because he was still hungry. He remembers the officers laughed for a while after seeing him. He tells the place had cells and a couple of beds per each. They were uncomfortable, but anyway he fall asleep; the cell-keepers woke him up really early, and he was placed in a small room with people he had never seen before. At first, he felt comfortable speaking in Spanish with them, but after a couple of minutes it got freezing inside. After a while an officer came in and said (in Spanish) something like â€Å"it can get colder, and all of you will be here for a while, unless anyone of you feels like talking about deportation†. He remembers, that despite being so cold, he began sweating, he had avoided even thinking on that word since he left El Salvador, after his brother was murdered for defending him against gang