"Convergence offers the reader an insightful guide to the digital transformation of the communication landscape. Elegantly written, the text clearly articulates how the telecommunications landscape has undergone a metamorphosis in the age of digital technology. Broadband communications, compression, and network integration are key concepts in this groundbreaking book. Students, scholars, communication professionals, and policymakers will find this book an invaluable resource for understanding the nature and consequences of the new information infrastructure." --John V. Pavlik, Director, School of Communication, San Diego State University Convergence is the central symbol of communication for the future--where broadcasting, cable, and telecommunications services band together to form the new media world of the future. Convergence: Integrating Media, Information & Communication is the first book to provide a comprehensive analysis of the conditions that have led to the convergence of the media and communication industries. The authors explore the remaining obstacles to convergence and the consequences of convergence for society, the individual, and businesses involved. This timely volume examines the impact of convergence on interactive information and entertainment services and their management and marketing, economic and public policy concerns, and the effects of multinational development and hackers--linking them to the changes we experience in our culture and daily existence. Convergence: Integrating Media, Information & Communication is a multifaceted analysis that will be of great interest to those interested in future media developments and their impact. This informative book can be used as a primary text in courses in communication technology, mass communication, telecommunication, organizational communication, and international communication.