1.	A service is something that you can buy which does not exist as an object.
2.	Haircuts, operations, legal advice and secretarial services are example of services.
3.	A service which processes information using an information system and can be provided from anywhere in the world is known as a Global ICT Service.
4.	For global ICT services, the location of the service purchaser and the service supplier is irrelevant. They can be located anywhere in the world.
5.	A global ICT service takes some information from you, processes it in some way and then returns the outputs of this processing to you.
6.	The information to be processed by a global ICT service (inputs) are usually sent to the service supplier electronically (e.g. by FAX, email) by the service purchaser. It is then processed by the service supplier. The results of processing (outputs) are are returned electronically to the service purchaser.
7.	This table lists some example global ICT services : Service Details Inputs Outputs   Secretarial Services A secretary anywhere in the world can receive rough notes or sound recordings of information by email and turn this into a professionally presented document. Rough Notes Typed Document Bulk Data Entry Large volumes of data can be entered into computer databases in foreign countries and then sent to the UK. Workers in some countries will do this in return for lower wages than workers in the UK. Completed Data Collection Forms Data in Database Web Design A plan describing the layout of a web site together with information to be contained on the web site can be collected in one country and emailed to a web designer in another country who can produce the web site. Specification For Web Site Web Site

(C) P Meakin 2004