Internet Trends and IT Industry News and Development [Archive] - Page 3

chixbebe

December 15th, 2006, 12:02 PM

CEBU CITY: Cebu businessmen are looking at possible business tie-ups with Indian firms after a bilateral agreement was recently signed by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and a counterpart business group in India.

Francis O. Monera, CCCI president, said the local chamber would meet with officials of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Business and Investment Summit (BIS), which closed last Sunday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

“We have been communicating with them and the summit is the opportune time for the two chambers to discuss on pursuing complementation initiatives on business between Cebu and India,” he said.

Monera said the CCCI got an initial request from ICCI for a meeting during the recent business summit.

The meeting will clarify areas of complementation with the CCCI focusing on harnessing India’s strength in the information and communications technology (ICT).

“There have been suggestions within the chamber to pursue initiatives with India that would push Cebu’s ICT sector,” Monera said.

During the Asean BIS, foreign economic experts have been projecting India to follow China as Asia’s next investment hub.

Cheaper cost of doing business and availability of skilled manpower especially in ICT has been cited as one of India’s driving force to globally attract investors.

Monera said Cebu and India has a lot of potential complementation initiatives to pursue besides ICT.

Besides India, CCCI is also working on arranging meetings with the private-sector leaders from other Asean member-countries.

“This will be the best opportunity for Cebu to forge linkages with other countries, especially in the field of ICT, tourism and SME [small and medium enterprises] development,” Monera said.

CCCI aims to gain strong industry partnership with countries like Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar, and with the addition of three countries, Japan, China and Korea

diehardbisdak

December 17th, 2006, 11:09 AM

...some IT companies in Cebu do not have offices in the IT Park...one of them is SYKES, becaue they are building their own facility... here's a photo of their soon-to-be-finished facility in Cebu: (pic by @markiiboi)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/MarkiiBoi/17_12_2006_153_001.jpg

sandrn

December 18th, 2006, 02:09 AM

Firm to push 'open source' curriculum system
http://technology.inq7.net/infotech/infotech/view_article.php?article_id=38803
Taps Catholic bishops
By Erwin Oliva
INQ7.net
Last updated 03:24pm (Mla time) 12/17/2006

A PUBLICLY-listed company is planning to make available an open sourced-based curriculum and e-learning system with the help of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), its CEO told INQ7.net.

In an interview, Arsenio Ng, chief executive officer of the Transpacific Broadband Group International Inc. (TBGI), disclosed plans to ride on an open source-based "wiki" system that is designed to deliver an interactive curriculum to public schools in the country.

A wiki is a web application that allows people to modify or edit content collectively. The most popular example is Wikipedia.

The executive said the plan will ride on "Curriki," an online community created to support the development and free distribution of world-class education.

Developed by Sun Microsystems under the Global Education and Learning Community project, this online community is intended to make education more accessible and collaborative.

"We want to use Curriki to distribute and improve e-learning in rural areas. We already have the infrastructure in place," Ng said, adding that TBGI has linked close to 200 Catholic schools nationwide for the past four years.

Ng said he also intends to help government implement Executive Order 266, an administrative order mandating the use of distance education to aid residents of far-flung areas and rural communities.

He stressed that government can save billions of pesos spent on acquiring books for public schools if they use open source-based curricula and educational materials. He added that the company plans to use Curriki to distribute electronic versions books that are already in the public domain.

"We will start with the private schools. But we want to work with the public schools. The biggest problem in books is really distribution," he said.

TBGI believes it is a "stakeholder" in the country's effort to provide better education for Filipinos.

"They say corporations going in the business of education will not make money. No. The intrinsic value in this is getting everyone to benefit from it. Education should be the center of our economic development because our students are our future," he said.

diehardbisdak

December 18th, 2006, 08:36 AM

...some IT companies in Cebu do not have offices in the IT Park...one of them is SYKES, becaue they are building their own facility... here's a rendering photo of their soon-to-be-finished facility in Cebu: (pic by @markiiboi)

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/MarkiiBoi/17_12_2006_153_001.jpg

diehardbisdak

December 19th, 2006, 05:17 PM

CONVERGYS EXPANDS CEBU OPERATIONS
By Erwin Oliva
INQ7.net
Last updated 04:24am (Mla time) 12/19/2006

CONTACT service provider Convergys Corporation is looking into possible locations for additional operations in the Philippines, an executive has told INQ7.net.

"We're constantly studying additional sites so long as the program demands it. We're doing the study all over the Philippines," Convergys Corp. director of client business development in the Philippines Jomari Mercado in a telephone interview.

Mercado who just flew in from Cebu City on Monday said the company was scheduled to open a 450-seat operation in Cebu, which will hire about 700 people initially by end of first quarter of 2007.

Convergys currently has more than 1,000 people employed in its Banawa site in Cebu City. With the new facility, Convergys will have eight operations in the Philippines, Mercado said.

The executive said Convergys is now heading towards areas in the country where there is an "availability of talent pool."

Asked why the company chose Cebu over Metro Manila, Mercado said there is a "challenge in getting" more people in the latter because companies like HSBC and Dell are also expanding their contact center operations in Metro Manila.

"We bring our operations to where talent pool is," he stressed.

Convergys now employs nearly 10,000 Filipinos in the country, with more expected to be hired due to the expansion in Cebu City.

The new facility will provide general support and advanced technical help desk services to a variety of Convergys clients through traditional voice calls, e-mail, and Web chat as well as "back office" application and document processing, the company said in a statement.

"The nearly 10,000 employees in our existing seven contact centers in the Philippines have reinforced our strong belief that the Philippines offers a motivated workforce of highly-dedicated, well-educated, English-speaking professionals and the infrastructure needed to deliver world-class customer care," Marife Zamora, Convergys' vice president and country manager, Philippines, added.

She said Convergys is currently hiring management and customer care professionals for the new operation.

The new contact center in Cebu City will be integrated with Convergys "Global Assurance Network," the company added.

"This gives Convergys control of its end-to-end operations and processes, just as the company has in the United States, Canada, and Europe, and assures 100-percent redundancy in case of an emergency. In the new Cebu City contact center, Convergys will deploy this network via international private leased circuits (IPLC) to avoid unnecessary duplication and expense," it said.

diehardbisdak

December 19th, 2006, 05:18 PM

diehardbisdak

December 26th, 2006, 03:37 PM

edit

diehardbisdak

December 26th, 2006, 03:38 PM

PGMA Inaugurates Microsoft Cebu Facility

here's the full report: news.balita.ph (http://news.balita.ph/html/article.php/20061226124001931)

diehardbisdak

December 26th, 2006, 03:39 PM

PGMA Inaugurates Microsoft Cebu Facility

here's the full report: news.balita.ph (http://news.balita.ph/html/article.php/20061226124001931)

great184

December 26th, 2006, 05:35 PM

Impressive how the call center industry is booming in Cebu. This is good, callcenters= office space = office buildings :)

schaner

December 27th, 2006, 09:14 AM

I think Cebu's a good choice. Madaming areas that aren't too far from the centers of the city itself where these companies can put up their offices. Manpower isn't a problem, and dahil mas mababa ang cost of living sa Cebu, the salaries of those who'll work in BPOs will make it all worthwhile.

Baguio would be my next choice, but with the limited resources of the city --- plus the growing population, I'm wondering if Baguio can handle it.

RCXsickboy

December 27th, 2006, 04:16 PM

for me... i gez cebu is reaLLy d next IT hub... other cities wiLL of course have their share oLtho not now but sureLy magkakaroon din...
here in cebu, the cooperation of the gov't and the private sector, even educationaL institutions - refLects the situation here right now... i don't know if that's what making it perfect... but reaLLY... IT WORKS!!!

nayki

December 28th, 2006, 12:01 PM

^^I wish microsoft will also consider philippines as one of their software development hub in near future.

rey_84

December 29th, 2006, 09:26 AM

yep it is cebu....what rcxsickboy said is really true. these sectors are making sure that people takes part of what is happening in their society...an example is making partnerships between schools and call centers...

diehardbisdak

January 4th, 2007, 08:41 AM

Cebu Asiatown IT Park (pic by @rage_cebu)

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j93/ragandacmichael/P1060958.jpg

whippersnapper

January 4th, 2007, 04:59 PM

clarkfield special economic zone
nothing follows

diehardbisdak

January 4th, 2007, 05:02 PM

MarkiiBoi

January 4th, 2007, 05:28 PM

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3746/344676361467fa86c62bcopsf0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cebu Asiatown IT Park
by [2]rokbot[2]y of Flickr

chixbebe

January 31st, 2007, 12:12 PM

BACOLOD City: This city is joining this year’s e-Services Philippines—Asia’s premier ITEs (information technology enterprises) global sourcing conference and exhibition next month in Manila.

Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, chair of the Bacolod IT Focus Team, has officially been designated by Mayor Evelio Leonardia along with the Investment and Promotions Officer Ardis Jaculina to join the local Department of Trade and Industry representatives in Manila on February 15 and 16.

This annual summit gives companies contemplating outsourcing relationship, investors and ancillary industries with the opportunity to meet, network and build partnerships with the Philippines ITEs providers.

The summit aims to make the Philippines a neutral ground for countries to discuss geopolitical, economic, legal, cultural and IT infrastructure competencies—important factors affecting global sourcing.

Batapa-Sigue believes that the information age leaves local governments with no choice but to consider laying the foundation for a strong a knowledge-based economy in their areas.

Based on the IT Focus Team’s research, government projections show 1.3 million jobs in the “cyberservices” sector from 2006 to 2010.

During the e-Services launching last week, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila said the outsourcing business is forecasted to rake in $12.4 billion by 2010 after $3.63 billion in 2006.

There are 244,675 workers in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector and this is expected to jump to 920,764 in 2010 on top of the most popular voice service, call centers, that brought in $2.69 billion in 2006.

At the A.T. Kearney Global Services Location Index of 2005, the Philippines ranks third among the top preferred locations for business process outsourcing, scoring high in both financial and human resource indexes.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/jan/31/yehey/prov/20070131pro2.html

Gibb

February 2nd, 2007, 04:24 AM

more constructions coming up soon at the Asiatown IT park...

dabert

February 2nd, 2007, 04:27 AM

Cebu Asiatown IT Park
all others will follow

tj_brewed

February 2nd, 2007, 05:02 AM

AsianTown IT Park! My home!

yeeeepeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the rest? are just my neighbors! ahihihihihihihihi toinkz.....

yepeeyo

February 5th, 2007, 11:12 AM

Cebu Asiatown IT Park (pic by @asedyamjr1 of flickr)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/160/377971823_7b4580b8a9.jpg

habagatcentral1

February 5th, 2007, 11:25 AM

AsianTown IT Park! My home!

yeeeepeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the rest? are just my neighbors! ahihihihihihihihi toinkz.....

oist! andam ka lang TJ ha, kami mga Arcenasnon ay basi mobalhin sa IT Park, hehehehe!!! :D

joseph_dobles

February 5th, 2007, 12:53 PM

next few years Clark na and may pinaka malaking it industry....

fundraiser

February 6th, 2007, 05:31 AM

next few years Clark na and may pinaka malaking it industry....

wow! this would be nice for clark, anyway, i just wanna share this...

4 RP cities among best BPO sites
Business Mirror (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/1107-Tue/front02.php)
By Max V. de Leon
Reporter

FOUR Philippine cities made it to the Top 15 of the world’s most competitive business process outsourcing (BPO) destinations, according to the study of services globalization adviser NeoIT.

The 2006 Global City Competitiveness (GCC) report of the California-based firm had Manila ranked No. 9, while Cebu, Clark, and Davao were listed at No. 13, 14 and 15, respectively.

As expected, the list was dominated by Indian cities, with Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, and Kolkata taking the top seven spots in that order.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Shanghai, China; Moscow, Russia, and Guangzhou, China complete the Top 15.

NeoIT used the generic or basic factors that include human capital, which carried a weight of 40 percent, cost of doing business, with 20 percent; business and living environment with 20 percent, risk factors with 10 percent, and infrastructure, also 10 percent, in coming up with this ranking.

What were not figured in on these ratings are the enterprise-specific factors. These include the language-proficiency requirements, which depends on the companies’ client-base; physical proximity to the head office, industry-specific BPO capability, and the enterprise’s own offshoring maturity (as a company that is just starting to globalize its services operations would tend to choose Tier 1 cities).

NeoIT noted that these generic and enterprise-specific factors are used by companies in shortlisting to about three or four cities the probable sites where they would outsource some of their services requirements.

“The decision after this point, more often than not, hinges on a subjective deep dive into the characteristics of the location. The management uses its discretion to arrive at the “one” location which has the perfect fit with its objectives,” said NeoIT.

The study said Manila is ideal for English voice-based activities and back-office processing activities like payroll and accounting. Manila was ranked among the best in terms of cost of doing business and moderately in human capital, environment and risk.

Although Manila’s infrastructure was noted as not having a competitive advantage, the area’s air connectivity with the rest of the world was taken positively. The report said Manila is a very popular offshoring location, especially for voice BPOs serving US clients.

“Because of the presence of the US Army in the Philippines up until a few years back, the people are well-versed with the American accent and culture.

Manila is also a shared services hub for many global corporations. The city has a good talent supply, thanks to a large number of universities in the region,” said the NeoIT report.

Offshoring today, the firm said, is no longer limited to the top cities in India, the Philippines, China, Poland, Hungary, Mexico and Malaysia as it is already making inroads into lesser-known, smaller cities in these countries. Fuelling this trend are the overheating of established locations and evolving client needs.

Considering these factors, NeoIT came up with a forward-looking assessment of the competitiveness of major cities and predicted their would-be ranking three to four years from now. In this future attractiveness ranking, Manila went down to No. 12, while Cebu and Clark went up to No. 3 and No. 5, respectively.

Bangalore, India and Budapest, Hungary would take the Top 2 spots and Delhi would drop to No. 6.

NeoIT said the overall attractiveness is contingent upon two kinds of parameters: the “extrinsics” such as infrastructure, business environment, and government support; and the “intrinsics” such as labor pool, inherent risks and costs of operation.

dabert

February 6th, 2007, 05:36 AM

^^ wow.. great article.. good to know that 4 of our cities made it... :)

HER

February 8th, 2007, 03:33 AM

IT security summit ’07 to be held in Cebu

GLOBAL Knowledge Associates Inc., together with EC Council Malaysia and Trend Micro, will hold the “First Cebu IT Security Summit 2007” on Feb. 27 and 28 at SM City Cebu.

The summit, the first of its kind to be held outside Manila, will tackle various issues, including intellectual property theft, corporate espionage, hacking, computer forensic investigation, wireless and network security.

One of the main outputs of the event is the formation of the Cebu Knights of the Web-Visayas, which will address cyber crimes, threats and terrorism.

Knights of the Web is the first and only security organization in Asia that is recognized by the EC Council, an international e-commerce organization. To date, the Knights of the Web have 250 active members.

Secure DNA PI, the event organizer, said the summit will also include demonstrations of various tools and techniques in information technology security.

tj_brewed

February 9th, 2007, 05:55 AM

oist! andam ka lang TJ ha, kami mga Arcenasnon ay basi mobalhin sa IT Park, hehehehe!!! :D

dili kamo tanan oi..eheheheheh ang inyo rang account! ehehehehe..kaw jud noh..taga IT Park baya jud ka daan! naging prodigal lang! eheheheh toinzk

dive-cebu

February 9th, 2007, 01:24 PM

^^ ako neither asiatown or arcenas... dako ug chance, cebu business park... pang CBP man gud ako itsura! bwahahaha!

diehardbisdak

February 19th, 2007, 04:14 PM

:)

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/it%20park/DSC01023.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/it%20park/DSC01021.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/it%20park/DSC01019.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/it%20park/DSC01024.jpg

i2

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/it%20park/DSC01030.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/it%20park/DSC01031.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/martiano/it%20park/DSC01032.jpg

asiatown it park

photos by: [2]rokbot[2]y and sugbuanon

SugarFreak

February 22nd, 2007, 01:09 PM

2 more sites in Bacolod proclaimed as IT zones

Two more information technology zones in Bacolod City were recently proclaimed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, bringing to four the number of IT zones in the city.

These include a parcel of land in Brgy. Estefania, declared as an IT park, and a building in 22nd-Lacson Sts., as an IT building, Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, chairperson of the Bacolod IT Focus Team, said yesterday. The Estefania property, owned by Sunimoh Inc., was created an IT zone by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1220 dated Jan. 18, 2007. It has been accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority under the name Bacolod Information Technology Park.

The facility in 22nd-Lacson Streets, proclaimed an IT zone through Presidential Proclamation 1223 dated Jan. 23, 2007 and accredited by the PEZA under the name Monfort Information Technology Center, houses the first site of Focus Pacific in the Philippines, a US-based call center company. Batapa-Sigue said the approval of more IT zones in the city makes the Bacolod IT Focus Team more confident in promoting it as the next IT hub in the Philippines.

Among mid-sized cities in the country, she said, Bacolod now has the most number of IT zones. The first two IT zones in Bacolod are the East Block, which houses a medical transcription firm, a locally-owned call center, and several food shops, and the Robinsons Metro Bacolod, the site of contact center company Teletech.

These two locations are first IT park and the first IT building in Western Visayas, respectively.

Other PEZA-accredited sites in Bacolod that are still waiting for presidential proclamations are Luxor IT Center, a hotel and a call center site of Teleperformance, and the Lopue's East IT Center. Batapa-Sigue said IT companies that will locate in these IT zones in Bacolod can avail of all the national tax incentives aside from those granted by the local government.

For IT locators, the government, among others, provides an income tax holiday or exemption from corporate income tax for four years but can be extended up to a maximum of eight years. After the ITH period, they have the option to pay a special five percent tax on gross income, in lieu of all national and local taxes. Of the five percent, the host local government will have a share of two percent. source (http://www.visayandailystar.com/2007/February/06//businessnews1.htm)

SugarFreak

February 22nd, 2007, 02:03 PM

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/robinsonsmetroitcenterbacolod.jpg
Occupied by TeleTech

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/eastblockitcenterbacolod.jpg
the Western Visayas first IT Park. Occupied by I/O Asia and with some cafes and restaurants.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/teleperformanceluxurplacebacolod.jpg
Luxur Place IT Center occupied by Teleperformance

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/bcgcomputertechnologisbacolod.jpg
BCG Computers Technologies Bldg

ExcelAsia has become the fastest-growing call center training center in the country since it opened in August 2005. Being eyed are spaces in Libis in Quezon City, Alabang in Muntinlupa City, Ortigas Center and BACOLOD. source (http://tucp-ph.org)

e-PLDT unit to increase presence. CALL-CENTER operator e-PLDT Ventus said it may increase the number of its centers in the country and double the number of seats. He added that they plan to locate the new sites outside Metro Manila, possibly in Dumaguete City, BACOLOD, Baguio City and even Batangas. source (http://www.manilatimes.net)

KABANKALAN CITY has a plan to put up a Call Center to their city. they need a frontliners operator. May kilala ba kayo? Just contact @ www.kabankalancity.gov.ph

FrancisXavier

February 22nd, 2007, 02:24 PM

cool! ang luwag ng office nila..

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t226/cosmosnegros/robinsonsmetroitcenterbacolod.jpg

diehardbisdak

February 24th, 2007, 04:30 PM

:)

Asiatown IT Park... Brgy. Apas Cebu City...

i2...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m303/michaelragandac/P1110029.jpg

i1...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m303/michaelragandac/P1110031.jpg

Globe Isla building...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m303/michaelragandac/P1110033.jpg

skyrise...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m303/michaelragandac/P1110035.jpg

e.office1...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m303/michaelragandac/P1110034.jpg

sandrn

March 13th, 2007, 12:17 AM

Advocates press FOSS use in government
http://www.itmatters.com.ph/news.php?id=031307a

A cyber battle has been going on in recent years, with neither side willing to surrender. The battleground is virtual, but the preparation for the war is very real and arduous.

The war is between commercial software companies and advocates of open source software, in which the source code is available to users royalty-free and can be modified, developed and redistributed.

Commercial or proprietary software, on the other hand, is typically sold or licensed, with a company providing support and updates to efficiently use the software. The source code is normally not publicly distributed and may not be copied or modified. In fact, source codes of commercial software are also the subject of frequent intellectual property rights battles.

In an effort to promote open source in the Philippines, the Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD) and open source advocates from the European Union held a national conference on free and open source software (FOSS) and e-Governance on March 7 and 8 at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel in Ortigas.

The conference is the culmination of IPD’s one-year project with the European Commission-Philippine Delegation under the Small Projects Facility, said IPD, a nonprofit research and advocacy institute, on its Web site.

The conference, organized by project manager and IPD deputy director for operations Gregorio Luis Igaya, put together information technology (IT) professionals and local government unit (LGU) officials, and demonstrated open source applications designed to help LGUs perform tasks such as resource mapping, revenue collection and local legislation.

Proprietary software provides all of these already, but open source advocates claim two distinct advantages to their open source: they are free, and they are more reliable.

"All systems have flaws. With proprietary software, all you need is a lazy system administrator to allow others to take advantage of them. Some companies don’t even inform users about flaws even when the word is out. But with open source, since the code is visible, people can submit patches to correct flaws instantly," said Johan Janssens, lead developer of Belgian open source system Joomla.

He noted that open source software also give programmers the ability to share their knowledge with one another with the free distribution of products.

But Mr. Igaya said the lack of a clear government policy on open source is preventing faster proliferation of FOSS.

"Open source has a grass-roots character to it, since it’s cost-free and it’s developed and improved by the community. The Philippines is rich in human capital to develop software, but we need to build a curriculum for our schools that teaches students how to develop open source software.

"We want to have it as a default option for people or at least to speak with members of the Congress to put it on the agenda," said Mr. Igaya.

House bill

In Congress, party-list Rep. Teodoro A. Casiño (Bayan Muna) is currently pushing a bill to promote FOSS by recognizing the legitimacy of their licenses and mandating government communication and public data to be encoded in open standard formats.

Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT) Chairman Ramon Sales has expressed support for the bill, saying that it could contribute to lessening the cost and risk in government systems.

The CICT is even now talking with technology providers to test and deploy computers worth P10,000 or less to government agencies and schools nationwide. The computers use open source software such as Linux, Mozilla Firefox and OpenOffice to cut down on costs.

But commercial software companies have long denied that open source software is more secure than licensed products.

"Software security is an industry-wide concern, and vulnerabilities are not more or less prevalent for software developed under either an open source or commercial software model," said Business Software Alliance (BSA) director of software policy for Asia Seow Hiong Goh.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) said the government cannot order the use of a single technology over another since its role should be to form ties with the private sector in creating a business environment that promotes innovation and creativity.

"The bill [of Mr. Casiño] will limit the development and skills [of users] if the government will use only one technology," it said in its position paper.

In Brazil, it’s the government, with no less than President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva himself, openly promoting Linux.

Nevertheless, both sides to the war continue to promote the relative strengths of their respective products. While some proprietary software companies such as Microsoft maintain the upper hand in market share, it remains to be seen how far open source software will eventually go.

Jimbu

March 13th, 2007, 06:08 AM

Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Global BPO firms eye Cebu
By Malou M. Mozo
Sun.Star Staff Reporter

CEBU’S positioning as the next information technology (IT) hub in Asia has proven to be a magnet for big names in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, as they are now contemplating on expanding their operations in the province.

Joel Mari Yu, Cebu Investments Promotions Center managing director, announced the entry of Fluor Corp., Accenture, and IBM’s outsourcing firm IBS Philippines, indicating an employment of about 3,000 Filipinos.

In an interview, Yu said he could not determine a specific timetable when the companies will begin operations in Cebu, as things are currently under negotiations.

He assured, though, that “it will be anytime soon.”

US-based Fluor Corp., which Yu described to be “the world’s largest construction company” will need between 500 to 700 software engineers, among others.

Skills in computer-aided design may come as an advantage, he said.

Yu added that Fluor Corp. is considering opening its Cebu branch either at the Cebu Business Park or at the Asiatown IT Park.

The Cebu office is an expansion of its Alabang operations in Luzon, which currently operates with over 1,500 people.
Fluor Corp., is one of the world’s largest, publicly owned engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance service companies.

The company’s primary objective is to “develop, execute, and maintain capital projects on schedule, within budget and with operational excellence.”

It maintains a network of offices in more than 25 countries worldwide.

According to its website, Fluor is a Fortune 500 company that emerged as “number one” in the “engineering and construction” category among America’s largest corporations.

Human supply

Accenture, on the other hand, will be operating in a 700-seat facility at the Cebu Business Park, Yu said.

He added that the company will be occupying six floors of a high-rise building that is currently under construction.

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company.

It aims to identify new business and technology trends and developing solutions to help clients worldwide enter new markets, increase revenues in existing markets, improve operational performance and deliver products effectively and efficiently, its website said.

Meanwhile, computer technology giant IBM, is planning to open a 1,500-seat outsourcing facility in Cebu, through IBM’s transformation outsourcing operations in the Philippines, the IBS (IBM Business Services), Yu said.

However, the number of job openings will depend on the human resource supply in the province.

In November last year, IBM opened its Cebu office at i2 Building in Asiatown IT Park.

Earlier, IBM business services president Renato Jao admitted that the company is in talks with Cebu officials to explore the possibility of its opening a BPO arm.

If the plan pushes through, he said the venture will initially handle “eight, mostly global, clients.”

Sinjin P.

April 12th, 2007, 08:03 AM

Internet connection: a right or privilege? (http://sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/04/12/bus/toral.internet.connection.a.right.or.privilege..html)

By Janette Toral
Digital Filipino

BEFORE taking the Holy Week break, I got a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection for our home. I figured that it will be more affordable and practical rather than subscribing to the more popular mobile Internet connection nowadays.

To my surprise, the installation process happened so quickly. With the installation of one small black box plugged to the phone line, we were up and running. Best of all, the bill is just tied in to the phone service charges.Our Internet connection these days can now be considered as competitive with our neighbor countries, such as Thailand. I hope more efforts can be done so that Internet stations can be made available in malls, through phone booths, for quick e-mail without necessarily going to the Internet café.

This is especially true for cities like Manila where you could hardly find free wireless Internet available. In fact, cities like Cagayan de Oro and Davao are more progressive or even generous in providing free Internet services to its customers.

While I was in Adelaide, Australia for the past 10 days, I was amazed to find free Internet services available in public libraries.

Perhaps, our local libraries should consider offering such services to get more Filipinos to go to libraries to do research, read books, and surf the Internet at the same time.

As far as airports are concerned, you can find free Internet services in Kuala Lumpur and there is a free wireless Internet connection as well. So, waiting for your boarding schedule does not need to be boring after all.

I guess my point in this column is that we need to be progressive in evaluating the usefulness of the Internet and we should start making it more accessible to people.

Being restrictive is also dampening its adoption by more Filipinos. Do we see providing Internet access to Filipinos a right that effort must be taken to make it accessible and affordable to as many as possible? Or do we still see it a privilege that only those who can afford should be entitled to use it?

I remember there was a time, a few years back, when we were debating on the carrier’s pricing scheme for text messaging.

The argument zoomed in on making text messaging as pervasive as possible, as some see it already as a right and not just a privilege by paying mobile phone subscribers.

In Australia, I’ve seen how parties now include wiring or connecting the country through high speed Internet as a party agenda or program. I do hope that the coming elections will also allow us to see the perspective and vision of our future leaders with regard to the country’s Internet infrastructure. Do your local politicians see the Internet connectivity of their constituents as a right and will strive to make it accessible to as many Filipinos as possible?

schaner

April 12th, 2007, 09:11 AM

Perhaps when the Internet was new, it was more of a privilege. Nowadays, the Internet is an outlet where we can practice our rights: free speech, expression, learning... to name a few. As we progress and as technology grows, I won't be surprised if it becomes a right rather than a privilege.

diehardbisdak

April 12th, 2007, 10:27 AM

^^ here in Riyadh, all the coffee shops and in the central business districts have free wi-fi services. Also, there is a free dial-up internet access kingdom-wide...

jgacis

April 12th, 2007, 02:22 PM

I just noticed also here at McDonalds near my home (Los Angeles area) there is now wi-fi service in the dining area.

It seems like internet is still not easily accessible for most filipinos in the Philipppines. Here in the states, almost everyone has an internet connection at home. Internet cafes don't really thrive here, mostly for the coffee instead of the keyboard. And you won't see many of them crowded and packed like the ones in the PI.

Wind Shear

April 12th, 2007, 03:59 PM

Privilege. After all, it's just a want not a need. We have still more issues to tackle though.

In my opinion, the internet technology is lagged far behind from our SEA neighbors, well except for some.

bitoy

April 12th, 2007, 05:12 PM

Pag libre, it is a privilege, pag binabayaran mo, it is a right. :nuts:

OtAkAw

April 12th, 2007, 06:20 PM

In this world, if there is no pain, there is no gain. Nagpapakapagod tatay ko sa Saudi just to provide money for the connection that I use so I therefore conclude that it is a privilege that many of us should appreciate because not everyone most especially the poor can avail of such great human invention.

stephencua

April 13th, 2007, 08:40 AM

even if internet is free, not everyone has access to a computer.. or knows how to use one.. it is still a privilege

garzland

April 13th, 2007, 11:16 AM

As of now, it's still a privilege but as time goes by it's becoming a right...

SugarFreak

April 13th, 2007, 12:46 PM

^The McDonald in Bacolod also has a Wi_Fi service.

Also launched the McDonald's Bacolod Online Order System website (www.mcdobacolod.com), the first McDonald's store in the Philippines to go online and make ordering facility available for local customers via the Internet.

I don't know if it is both a currently under operation because even their system website is not available and offline for a several passed years na.

For me it is more on privilege than compare to right. If you have a money you can able to access the internet connection, but if have no you cann't.

Lili

April 14th, 2007, 10:02 AM

Right now, there is that digital divide between those who can afford it and those who cannot. At some point, it would be good to aspire for access of this medium for everyone such that it is not only a privilege of the few but a right of everyone. Just like public education -- e-learning, e-communications and internet are the new modes of information exchange and learning.

flesh_is_weak

April 14th, 2007, 03:00 PM

but of course, strict censorship and regulation must be practiced, we all know that the internet is a powerful tool...and a potential weapon...

sandrn

April 14th, 2007, 06:25 PM

The PLDT DSL in Diliman QC has been glitchy for more than two weeks now. The telephone connection has been installed back after Holy Week but the DSL is still a total black out. In that case, PLDT does not have the right to bill subscribers with a full charge in both telephone and dsl lines

Thunderflip

April 15th, 2007, 10:32 AM

I think the internet is a right everyone should have for common information and intelligence servies that makes the world more united as one...eevryone should have this, especially in this country as well. We don't want to get left behind.

zeejay

April 16th, 2007, 11:00 AM

I think the internet connection is a privilege. Not every person here in our country has a personal computer. Not even every household has one. And if we refer to internet connection, we need phone lines. Not every household has a telephone, almost everybody has a cellphone so they don't bother to have a landline phone anymore. If we talk about wireless connection, not everyone has a laptop. Putting all these together, internet connection is just a privilege.

April 16th, 2007, 01:40 PM

electricity was invented 100's of years ago many groups and organization insist people have to right to electricity or have the right to clean water but still these things aren't meet because there are always people who wanted to make profit out of everything... xD

As for internet well.. in the 1st world it maybe it is almost becoming free and accesible everywhere when ur in the city u see free wi-fi in the streets.. cafes.. malls etc.. but here in 3rd world it is very different which is kinda weird... it should be the opposite right?? xD

Risk Taker

April 16th, 2007, 02:23 PM

time will come when the internet will become one of the basic rights of each individual but for now we have to accept the reality that it's only an opportunity for those who can afford to pay the bills:colgate:

Askal82

April 17th, 2007, 05:34 AM

Risk Taker

April 17th, 2007, 05:52 AM

In the future, a new business will emerge out of need to breath clean fresh air in the same way with bottled water.

we have this kind of business already, i don't know what's the term in english but i think it looks somewhat like a dehumidifier or aircondition appliances

Lili

April 17th, 2007, 06:47 AM

There used to be hip oxygen bars dotting NY and California before. People pay for a sniff of oxygen in small oxygen pumps. Some even have some slight scent or flavor (i.e. eucalyptus, pine, fruit, etc.) These have already lost hype. Who knows if these will be revived.

OtAkAw

April 17th, 2007, 05:55 PM

There is also quite a few number of oxygen bars in the Philippines, they were featured in TV years back. Most were located inside clinics of some sort.

death327

April 17th, 2007, 06:33 PM

At this point I think it must be a privilege. Right now the Philippine government had not sufficed yet the right of evey Filipino on Education.

amigo32

May 9th, 2007, 04:12 PM

Philippines: Where experience counts
By Eileen Yu, ZDNet Asia
Friday , April 13 2007 09:38 AM

IT professionals in the Philippines may be the lowest paid and least certified, but those with the right amount of talent are still in hot demand.

According to research house IDC, almost 70 percent of companies in the country anticipate an increase in IT spending this year. Expenditure in IT and telecoms products and services are expected to increase by more than 10 percent, while hardware is forecast to top the shopping list of most of the companies IDC polled in the Philippines.

The forecast increase in IT spending should also spell good news for IT professionals in the country.

In a survey conducted last year, ZDNet Asia polled some 401 respondents in the Philippines, and discovered that executives with more extensive work experience pulled in fatter paychecks.

Respondents with more than 10 years of experience earned 993,454 peso (US$19,879) a year, 85 percent higher than the overall country average of 536,241 peso (US$10,730). They also earned 205.8 percent more than the 324,814 peso (US$6,500) annual income for respondents with fewer than five years' experience in the workforce. IT workers with between five and 10 years of work experience had an annual income of 491,534 peso (US$9,836).

http://www.zdnetasia.com/insight/specialreports/itemployment/0,39055182,62003714,00.htm

odyssey

July 21st, 2007, 12:37 AM

Pinoy venture capitalist sees open-source software business
By EDU LOPEZ

A Filipino businessman who has been successful with several technology firms in the US has cited the potential of software development in the country through the open source community.

Winston Damarillo, executive chairman of DevZuz, an open source marketplace company, said that if he was successful in the software business in the US, there’s no reason why the Filipino software community would not succeed in open source software.

"Open source is a grassroots initiative powered by the people.

There’s a lot of initiative in open source in developing software on a collaborative environment," says Damarillo.

The desired outcome is a new industry that would be created and represents a new paradigm in software and business development, he added.

Damarillo is optimistic that developing new software through the open source would be successful in Asia and the Philippines.

Citing a Gartner Group study, Damarillo said that by 2010, 25 percent of the global enterprises would be using open source that could impact on consumerism and entrepreneurship.

If open source would be adopted by hardware companies and the original equipment manufacturers (OEM), it would accelerate technology innovation in Asia, he said. "This means that we can leverage global innovation and could be a great economic driver."

For instance, through the open source, the design of a software would allow creators access to devices, bridge the gap of the digital device and enable Linux operating system a mass market support, said Damarillo.

Founder and chairman of Exist Global, a strategic software engineering services company, Damarillo together with two of the leading organizations in the open source community — Apache Software Foundation and the Eclipse Foundation — are organizing Asia’s largest open source community conference in Hong Kong on Nov. 26 to 30 at the Cyberport IT development zone.

With open source software rapidly growing in popularity in the region, this community summit, the first joint conference between Apache and Eclipse and the first in Hong Kong and China, is expected to be a vibrant event, encouraging a lively exchange of ideas between all those involved in OSS, including developers, vendors and users.

Damarillo, co-executive producer of the OS Summit said, "As Asia moves to become the largest consumer of Open Source technologies, it is increasingly important that the region is able to experience the Open Source community process in action."

He is excited to be able to demonstrate this in the context of the collaboration between Eclipse and Apache. Local communities and associations have been a tremendous help in supporting us and providing the best possible venue to launch this initiative.

According to recent research from Evans Data Corporation, the number of developers using open source software in Asia has jumped by 40 percent over the past three years.

The popularity of the Linux operating system has also boomed in recent years, providing the region’s developing countries with a free and robust alternative to leading commercial operating systems.

http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2007072198235.html

odyssey

July 22nd, 2007, 10:43 PM

US software maker Lawson opens RP office
By Leah B. del Castillo

US-based Lawson Software on Thursday announced the entry of Lawson Software Asia-Pacific into the Philippines.

The announcement was made by David Hope, the company’s regional managing director for Japan and Asia, at the Lawson Philippine Solution and Services Center (PSSC) at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

The entry of Lawson Software into the country, specifically the setting up of a direct sales and marketing organization, signals a more aggressive stance the global enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions and applications provider is taking in the country.

“As a global business, Lawson is aligning its resources around the world to make it easier for customers to do business with us,” said Hope.

“Lawson’s new sales and marketing, and PSSC operations is a clear example of how we are achieving that goal. Asia including the Philippines is an important regional market where Lawson has invested significantly.”

In the region, Lawson has some 400 customers. In the Philippines, where it currently has 12 key customers, Lawson intends to tap mid-tier companies—or those with revenues of $20 million to $1 billion—in the manufacturing and trade industries, specifically those in food and beverages, fashion and distribution businesses.

In November 2006, Lawson Software established the Lawson PSSC, which is one of its three key global support centers, providing direct customer support to its 4,000 customers globally. The other two global support centers are in St. Paul, Minnesota and Stockholm, Sweden.

The PSSC has the largest pool of ERP professionals in the Philippines, said Edwin Chow, Lawson PSSC general manager during the same briefing.

As of end-June this year, PSSC employed 425 ERP professionals, with the number projected to increase to 955 be end-March 2008, said Chow. Lawson PSSC started with 10 employees in March 2006.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0720&212007/headlines09.html

Rajah_Soliman

July 23rd, 2007, 01:25 AM

re:thread title... mero ba? :dunno:

odyssey

July 28th, 2007, 10:14 PM

I don't understand why Filipinos would even want to work there.

PSIA deplores hiring practice of Singaporean firms in recruiting Pinoy software engineers[

By MELVIN G. CALIMAG

In what could possibly become an irritant in an otherwise cordial relations between two neighboring countries, an organization of Filipino software companies has criticized the way Singaporean companies have been recruiting software talents from the Philippines.

In a position paper released recently, the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) has expressed its disapproval and alarm over the growing number of agencies from Singapore that send representatives to Manila to recruit software engineers.

"Their representatives usually fly in and stay for the weekend, during which period they aggressively sign up dozens of senior software engineers, most of whom are employed," Fermin Taruc, president of PSIA and managing director Gurango Software Corporation, said in a statement.

Once hired, Taruc said these engineers are immediately offered flight bookings. "They are usually given less than a week’s notice, which leaves them with no opportunity for proper resignation and transition. Much as they would like to ensure a smooth transition, these engineers are often compelled to breach their existing contracts for these ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ opportunities," he said.

According to the statement, this hiring practice has been detrimental to the local software industry as local software companies end up struggling with limited time, resources, and project information to deliver their clients’ requirements.

This often results in unsatisfied clients, even lawsuits against software companies that fail to deliver mission-critical projects according to the service level agreement.

Thus, the group has urged the Singaporean government to clamp down on these "fly-by-night" recruitment firms.

The PSIA said it is requesting the Singapore government to impose additional requirements on those who are securing work visas. These requirements should include a copy of their resignation letter, duly received, dated and signed by the company representative, and a clearance from the company, stating that the visa applicant has no pending contractual or legal obligation with the company, and is thus free to enter into any employment contract with any other company.

"The world looks to Singapore as a role model in terms of law and order, discipline, and progressive government policies. This is why the PSIA believes that, in the spirit of fair trade, the Singapore government can make improvements in regulating the hiring and recruitment process in the Philippines," Taruc said.

"The PSIA understands that overseas employment is a strong driver of national economy. We also know fully well how promising these foreign job offers can be to our local software engineers. In fact, we encourage them to continuously seek professional growth, whether locally or internationally," Taruc added.

"However, it is the PSIA’s position that these recruitment agencies should be responsible enough to ensure that the hiring process is fair to all affected parties. For one thing, it is clearly hurting the business of local software companies. On a bigger scale, it is putting the Philippines in a bad light from the clients’ perspective. The global software industry recognizes the Philippines as a source of world-class talent. But if this practice goes on, we might ultimately earn a reputation for not meeting clients’ expectations.

http://www.mb.com.ph/INFO2007072998703.html

kiretoce

October 26th, 2007, 09:46 PM

Korean firm to open more high-end Internet cafés in RP (http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view_article.php?article_id=96259)

MANILA, Philippines -- Korean firm Sabiclub Corp. is putting up more high-end Internet café branches in the Philippines as it targets the growing demand for online gaming in the country, an executive told INQUIRER.net.

"I want to go for gaming first in the Philippines," said Don Hun Lee, CEO and president of Sabiclub Corp., owner of the Station 168 Internet cafés and the newly established i-Hooked Internet café in Recto Avenue, a university belt in Manila.

I-Hooked is the first Internet café network gaming branch of the Korean company that features desktops running on Intel's latest Core 2 Quad processors. The company has installed more than 50 desktop PCs that are running on the powerful Intel processors.

Configured like Korea's famous "PC Bangs," roughly translated as PC rooms, i-Hooked offers a spacious area, reclining leather seats and a high-end setup for gamers who play a lot of online or networked games, said Hun Lee.

"The Philippines is a third-generation PC bang, which usually feature more PCs for gamers. In Korea, we already have fifth-generation ‘PC bangs’ that are called multiplex. It is a one-stop shop for everything, including Internet, a convenience store, video, among others," he said.

Hun Lee said that he expects the Korean version of “PC bangs” to emerge in the country next year.

The Sabiclub executive said the company is building more i-Hooked Internet cafés in the country, with one currently being constructed in Cainta, Rizal and one being negotiated in Makati.

Sabiclub has been running a chain of Internet cafes in the Philippines for at least six years. Its first Station 168 branch opened in Makati City, one of the country's financial districts, in 2001.

Sabiclub aims to put up about 100 branches in two years. Currently, the i-Hooked is its 10th branch in the country. Next year, the company plans to set up 50 branches.

Hun Lee stressed that its branches follow local government regulations disallowing high school and elementary students from playing during school hours.

"We follow the local government rules," he added.

Over the years, Hun Lee said that the profile of their customers were mostly students playing online games. Only about 30 percent go to their braches to use the Internet and related applications, such as chat and browsing.

He pointed out that throughout those years, the company has maintained standard pricing. For the first i-Hooked branch, it intends to peg prices at P40 to P50 per hour to attract more students from nearby universities. There are close to 20 known universities and colleges in Recto Avenue alone.

"We really don't want to ignore the needs of the market," the executive said, when asked if prices would be adjusted due to local competition.

diz

October 27th, 2007, 06:08 AM

I love internet cafes. cheap and lots of games.

OtAkAw

October 29th, 2007, 09:13 AM

^^Me too, downside is, insert a flash disk or any removable storage device tapos pagpasok sa PC mo sa bahay, susmaryosep sangkatutak ang impeksyon!

amigo32

October 29th, 2007, 09:19 AM

hehehe, dito sa shop, it's the other way around. yung mga customers may dala laging beasts, free scan lumalabas, pag uwi malinis na, bukas may dala na naman. hehehe

infection also comes from unsafe websites.

odyssey

February 18th, 2008, 01:32 AM

CYBER DISPATCH
By Ike Suarez
Pay dirt finally for software houses
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/feb/18/yehey/techtimes/20080218tech1.html

Philippine software houses now have a foothold in the global market: $359 million in sales in 2007 and a projected 30-percent growth in sales revenues this 2008.

This development announced last week at the two-day Eighth e-Services Philippines conference and exhibit at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.

Since 2001, the Center for International Trade Exhibitions and Missions of the Department of Trade and Industry has been holding this event each February to promote the Philippines as a global supplier of offshore and outsourced e-services.

The Philippines appears to have begun hitting pay dirt finally and this includes software development.

True, the nuggets software houses here have been getting vis-á-vis sales revenues are still small when examined in the context of the overall market globally for computer programs as this is worth several billions in US dollars.

Nevertheless, a beginning has been made and the future promises even bigger rewards.

Tech Times had the chance to speak with Philippine Software Industry Association President Ma. Cristina Coronel during the e-Services conference and exhibit. She admitted the country’s software houses today still derive their export revenues from the value-end segment of this global tech market.

This niche consists of custom-built applications for the computer systems of large US firms and other organizations. Maintenance and support for these programs often form part of the packages.

There is nothing sexy about these programs. No geek would ever drool about them and rush to make a review about how they were coded. And unlike in the case of off-the-shelf packages bought in large numbers by consumers and corporate customers, players in this niche have little chance of becoming global software behemoths ala Bill Gates’ Microsoft or Larry Ellison’s Oracle.

But as the PSIA president pointed out to this reporter, this market is worth at least $3.6 billion yearly. Hence, even now, when export earnings are beginning to come in, Philippine software houses still have to tap its full market potential.

Moreover, this is how India started on its path to becoming a global software powerhouse, which is now exiting this niche, the Philippines stands a very good chance to take over this segment.

But Coronel did admit that Philippine software houses will have to move up the value chain to truly earn more revenues. Such would have to take place even as more opportunities in the applications development and maintenance niche are seized.

Movement up the value chain would mean venturing into knowledge processing, according to Coronel. In doing so, Filipino software houses would have to develop applications for the collection, analysis, and synthesis of information. It was this reporter’s impression that such development would involve in good part the writing of programs with artificial intelligence.

Inevitably, the subject of political destabilization attempts cropped up in our conversation with Coronel. This reporter asked if these would affect the further progress of software houses.

Her reply: “Such attempts now factor into the business continuity plans each software house has drawn up. This is in addition to contingency plans for natural calamities such as earthquakes, floods, and supertyphoons.”

One example would be Pointwest Technologies, the very company where she is president. Its office is near the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City.

On November 29, it promptly shifted operations to its backup site in Ortigas Center. This was when Senator-elect Antonio Trillanes 4th led a band of disgruntled soldiers who occupied the hotel and from where he issued calls for the Philippine President’s overthrow. Despite the tumult, it was business as usual for Coronel’s software development house.

Recession or not this 2008, the PSIA president expressed confidence software houses here would continue to thrive. She pointed out that outsourcing to the Philippines would be a cost-effective way for US firms to weather any economic downturn.

True, political events indicate that the Philippines may again find itself in interesting times. But software houses will most likely remain unaffected. As one other top executive of an e-services firm remarked, “Let the politicians play their games. We will stick to our business while they do so.”

chocolato1000

February 22nd, 2008, 10:19 AM

Intel eyes RP ‘whitebox’ market for new server

MANILA, Philippines -- Intel is going after the “whitebox” market for servers in the Philippines, regional and local executives said.

Hoping to attract more small and medium enterprise businesses to purchase an all-in-one server that already includes networking and storage components, Intel is now bent on pushing its new server architecture to local system builders, said Jermyn Wong, channel account manager of the server and mobile products of Intel Technology Philippines Inc.

“We’ve been in product segment for quite some time. But we have not been very loud about it,” Wong admitted.

Intel is now pushing more standard server specifications certified by the Server Systems Infrastructure (SSI) organization, Wong said. SSI is an international organization that writes specifications for modular servers. This move to standardize server components intends to push costs down, the Intel executive explained.

“We’re going to stretch the price point down further,” he stressed.

Intel Technology Philippines intends to work with local system builders in pushing this server product in the country.

Wong said this server is not an Intel-branded server.

“It’s going to complement existing branded servers,” the executive said, pointing out that the branded servers are designed more for enterprise use.

In a briefing, Govan V.P, Intel Technology India product marketing manager for the server platform group in Asia Pacific, said the server is more than a blade server since it also combines the storage and networking technologies in one machine.

“It’s an integrated platform,” he stressed.

Quoting figures from the Access Markets International Partners, Intel said global small and medium business market server spending is set to hit $19.8 billion in 2008.

By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net

icarusrising

February 22nd, 2008, 10:33 AM

RP-made Intel processor powers
newly launched MacBook Air

By Victor Sollorano
Senior Editor
The Business Mirror

SINGAPORE—Intel processors that power the MacBook Air launched by Apple Corp. last month are assembled and tested in the Philippines.

The silicon wafer that is at the heart of the Intel Core 2 Duo processor of the notebook computer is made in Israel and the US. They are then shipped to a plant in Gateway Business Park, General Trias City in Cavite, where Intel Corp. runs an assembly and testing facility, said William TY Wu, regional marketing manager of Intel Technology Asia Pte. Ltd.

Wu said the processor for the MacBook Air was custom-built by Intel to specifications ordered by Apple Corp. MacBook Air is the thinnest notebook computer in the world today at a thickness of 0.16 inch to 0.76 inch.

Wu spoke to BusinessMirror late Wednesday during the closing dinner for Microsoft’s Asia-Pacific launch summit that introduced the software giant’s Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 to reporters in the region.

An executive of Intel Technology Philippines Inc., who spoke on condition that he not be named, said in January that 96 percent of the manufacturing process of the Intel Core 2 Duo for the MacBook Air “go through the hands of Filipino assemblers in Intel Cavite.”

Filipino assemblers refer to the processor as the Santa Inez, a code used specifically for the processor that Apple has ordered.

“[The Filipino assemblers] didn’t have a clue what they were building at that time, until Apple unveiled the MacBook Air,” the Intel Philippines executive said.

The Santa Ines is about 50-percent smaller than the normal Intel Core 2 Duo other notebook makers like Acer, Compaq and HP use in their laptop computers.

Intel, however, can sell the Santa Inez to other laptop makers as “Apple lets us sell to other notebook manufacturers,” Wu said.

The Core 2 Duo for the MacBook Air has an on-chip Level Two cache that runs at full processor speeds of 1.6 Gigahertz (GHz) and 1.8 GHz, according to Apple documents available to the public.

Intel Cavite also hosts facilities for product engineering and design, apart from the assembly and testing aspects of the manufacturing process for computer processors.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0222&232008/headlines05.html

luzviminda

February 22nd, 2008, 05:34 PM

Arroyo orders release of P750M for GSIS, SSS ID system
February 19, 2008 — Rev. Fr. Jessie Somosierra, Jr.
Arroyo orders release of P750M for GSIS, SSS ID system
By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the release of P750 million to speed up the implementation of he Unified Multi-purpose Identification (UMID) system, her spokesman said Tuesday.

The UMID, which is different from a national ID, aims to unify the ID systems of the National Statistics Office (NSO), Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), and Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth), Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

Arroyo ordered Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya to release the amount at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday after SSS president Corazon dela Paz briefed the President on the status of the UMID.

“The President ordered Secretary Andaya to release P750 million to complete the requirements so that the UMID will be implemented,” Bunye said, “This will further accelerate the implementation of the unified multi-purpose ID system.”

Source: http://frjessie.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/arroyo-orders-release-of-p750m-for-gsis-sss-id-system/

This project was initially assigned to NEDA but unfortunately, there wasn't much progress made for the past 2 years.

icarusrising

February 27th, 2008, 11:44 AM

JEDI places RP among world’s top 10 Sun SW project developers

Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Manila Bulletin

The Philippines now ranks number eight worldwide in Java software (SW) developer network activity and production, while at the same time counting fourth fastest growing country.

This is the report card bared to local IT media by Matt Thompson, senior director, Technology Outreach and Sun Developer Network, Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Sun) during a break at the recently held PSITE 9th National Convention in Pasay City. It is also the third implementation year of the Java Education and Development Initiative (JEDI), a collaborative project of Sun and University of the Philippines – JRDC in partnership with PSITE.

Thompson reported as to date, seven courses have rolled out of JEDI, three additional ones are being developed (namely, Sun SPOT, Scripting and JavaDB), 2 courses in alpha (Security and OOADP), one course in development (Web Services). There are now 273 JEDI member schools, 2,790 teachers with 730 trained, and over 114,939 students to benefit from it.

A plus factor is that the proponents of Philippine JEDI are coordinating with at least 8 countries for implementation, e.g. Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brazil and France.

"The reach (of JEDI) has become far more than expected," he said, adding "JEDI being an open source technology (project) is co-owned by the Philippine education community. Anybody can add to the curriculum."

The aims of JEDI are to make information technology and computer science course materials available for free to colleges and universities, to achieve objective of improving quality of IT and CS graduates, to enhance teaching and learning experience, to contribute to the attainment of national goal of being known for software development expertise and finally to make the Philippines the project developer and pilot country in Asia.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/INFO20080227117866.html#

icarusrising

March 7th, 2008, 10:53 AM

Software group to push Philippines as a brand

By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net

Posted date: March 07, 2008

MAKATI CITY, Philippines -- The Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA) is working on a consortium to help sell the Philippines as a brand.

A subcommittee of the PSIA met Friday to discuss the planned consortium that is also expected to sell Filipino-made software abroad.

Coming together to sell the Philippines, the still unnamed consortium intends to work closely with the Department of Trade and Industry to give the country's local software industry a bigger push in the global software market.

The PSIA said that the local software industry is now worth $300 million.

PSIA director Ito Gruet said that the local software companies hope to strengthen ties, instead of competing with each other.

“We’re coming together to bring local software firms to the global market,” she said.

The planned consortium will initially work on building an inventory of skills in the country, and develop a better brand for the Philippines. The group is also eyeing to join a government mission to New York this year.

Winston Damarillo, executive chairman of Morph Labs, said that the consortium also hopes to help local firms to sell software as a service.

“We want to market Filipino-made software abroad,” Damarillo said.

PSIA currently has 110 members.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080307-123377/Software-group-to-push-Philippines-as-a-brand

icarusrising

March 7th, 2008, 11:22 AM

Local businesses more aware about IT, says IBM chief

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net

Posted date: March 07, 2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Aside from hardware and software, IBM sees a good market for "high-value" services as local businesses depend even more on IT for growth.

James Velasquez, IBM Philippines country manager, believes local companies are mature enough and are going beyond buying more computers or piling up software.

"It's no longer just a matter of a client wanting a server or storage," Velasquez said in an interview. "There is better awareness among local companies on what IT can do for their businesses."

These high-value solutions point to current buzzwords as virtualization or business intelligence, which generally rely on software.

Like its rivals, IBM is also touting these concepts to allow businesses to derive more benefit from existing IT infrastructure and, more importantly, the data that sits on these systems.

"It's about helping them come up with solutions on how to optimize current infrastructure, and get them to a stage where they have better use of technology," according to IBM's top local official.

Velasquez also believes local end-users are not just thinking about costs when it comes to IT.

"Cost will always be a consideration and a lot of the solutions today aim to address that," he noted. "But more than cost, the discussion now among our local clients is the same with global trends…how to grow their businesses, reaching out to more markets and so on."

IBM believes the market is also growing largely due to the so-called small and medium businesses or SMBs, which IBM categorizes as "general businesses."

Due to the volume of companies that fall under this category, Velasquez cited the importance of having enough presence to address this particular market."

"We make sure we are there where they are. We have an office in Cebu and partnerships in major cities," he said. He added that IBM has also extended its financing to allow even smaller companies to buy its products.

"In the past, IBM has been perceived as expensive but we now actually have solutions for start-up companies, which can scale up as they grow their businesses," he said.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080307-123380/Local-businesses-more-aware-about-IT-says-IBM-chief

odyssey

March 7th, 2008, 07:08 PM

Morph Labs to invest P250M for mentoring program
03/07/2008 | 11:25 PM
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/83847/Morph-Labs-to-invest-P250M-for-mentoring-program

Morph Labs, Inc., a local Web 2.0 technology company, is going to invest P250 million on a mentoring program for independent software vendors (ISVs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The three-phase initiative dubbed Morph Code: SaaS Boot Camp, which will be launched on March 29, is an Asia-wide initiative that should produce innovative ideas from students and prospective technopreneurs.

The series of workshops will start with a one-day training at the Ateneo de Manila University that is open to teams consisting of three to five members.

Morph Labs chairman Winston L. Damarillo said that half of the P500-million proceeds from the SaaS marketplace company’s initial public offering (IPO) would be invested in the program.

"This is a great opportunity for creative IT professionals and students with Web 2.0 ideas to obtain funding and technology support for the development and deployment of their concepts, particularly in the areas of e-Government, e-Health, and e-Learning," Mr. Damarillo said.

On the sidelines of the press conference, he said the firm which is under the portfolio of venture capitalist Global Gateway is going to proceed with its scheduled listing in the local bourse by mid-April.

Morph is looking to sell about 33% of the company for a purchase price of P5 to P10 per share.

"We are going to proceed as planned. Now, people are looking for more cost-effective ways of doing business and that’s where we come in," Mr. Damarillo said.

On April 5, the second phase of the program will commence with participants pitching their ideas to a panel of expert judges in three- to four-minute sessions.

Teams that advance to the final stage will be asked to deliver a closed-door oral presentation detailing how they plan to execute and deploy their Web 2.0 ideas.

The winning team will receive up to two years worth of operating capital and SaaS infrastructure, as well as mentoring and global marketing support. - Marian Grace S. Ramos/BusinessWorld

bismara

March 8th, 2008, 02:24 AM

Does anyone here work in IBM Philippines? I work in IBM here in Brazil...

Weina

March 13th, 2008, 11:24 AM

HP eyeing support from local telcos for 3G-enabled laptops

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 16:01:00 03/13/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- HP is looking to sign up local service providers to support embedded wireless broadband service in its notebooks, a local executive said.

Some of the new laptops launched last year by HP carry embedded support for HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access), a 3G standard for delivering wireless broadband Internet on mobile devices.

Local telcos like Smart Communications and Globe Telecom have introduced a similar service that uses external devices to connect wirelessly to the Internet.

Embedding wireless WAN (wide area network) connectivity into the notebooks eliminates the need for an external device. The user needs only to insert the SIM card into the laptop itself.

"We're in discussions with telcos but this is very preliminary and nothing is final yet," according to the HP representative.

HP has been shipping multiple HSDPA-embedded notebooks in New Zealand and Australia as part of a global partnership with operator Vodafone began in 2006.

HP also has similar partnerships with mobile operators in Hong Kong and Taiwan. There are more than 30 HSDPA network service providers in Asia-Pacific, according to HP.

Weina

March 18th, 2008, 06:26 AM

Filipino scientists developing digital library to stop biopiracy

TO PREVENT foreign researchers from pirating the health practices of indigenous communities, Filipino scientists are developing a national digital library that will contain data of the locally-developed medicines and health practices.

Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) said in a health forum held last week, that the P10-million system is being developed to protect the country’s biomedical indigenous knowledge.

"Through this system, we can document health practices that work and protect these [practices] from unscrupulous foreign researchers. We can then choose possible technologies that can be created in commercial form and generate income," he said.

Mr. Montoya said the PCHRD has started documenting indigenous health practices all over the country and expects to finish its research and the digital library by 2010.

The PCHRD is an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that seeks to strengthen research and development studies in the Philippines.

Mr. Montoya said some foreign researchers who come to study the indigenous health practices claim them as their own when they return to their countries.

He cited as an example India’s turmeric plant, a member of the ginger family, which was developed in the US for a patent.

The Indian government blocked the patenting as it claimed it owned the right to the compound which is used as an antiseptic in India.

"We should do what India did. We have a wealth of raw materials. We just didn’t know how to maximize our potentials," he said.

Mr. Montoya said that there are suspicions that the ingredient used to make the allergy drug erythromycin came from Iloilo in the 1970s, although he added that there has yet to be "formal documentation" on the claim.

"Our government’s science, research, and health departments should take advantage of [our raw materials] to develop medicines that can make the country self-reliant [when it comes to] life-enhancing drugs."

The Department of Health is promoting 10 medicinal plants that are already available in commercial preparations. These are lagundi, verba buena, sambong, tsaang gubat, ampalaya, niyug-niyogan, bayabas, akapulko, ulasimang bato, and bawang.

LordCarnal

March 23rd, 2008, 05:11 PM

My IBM laptop's Harddrive is made in the PHilippines, specifically in Mitsumi Phils. in Danao City, Cebu ...

Most of the harddrives and optical/floppy drives are made there, hehe

diehardbisdak

March 23rd, 2008, 05:55 PM

^^ bai @nold, i've read somewhere that one of the components of a Nokia cellphone is manufactured in one of the companies at MEPZ...i don't know the name of the company though...

LordCarnal

March 24th, 2008, 07:40 AM

^^

I'm not sure.. Diba there's an NEC in Mactan? I remember there was an NEC cellphone before.. hehehe..

amigo32

March 24th, 2008, 11:08 AM

^^ bai @nold, i've read somewhere that one of the components of a Nokia cellphone is manufactured in one of the companies at MEPZ...i don't know the name of the company though...

most cellphone/computer parts are assembled by subcontracting companies.

I was with Amkor technology ( a semiconductor subcontracting company) for almost 15 years and we did assembled intel processors (pentium2).

There's a big possiblity that Fairchild/NEC is a subcontractor of Texas instruments (manufacturer of single-chip processor for cellphones).

LordCarnal

March 24th, 2008, 11:33 AM

^^

Yup yup that's it, Fairchild and NEC ....or are they just one?

amigo32

March 24th, 2008, 11:46 AM

^^

Yup yup that's it, Fairchild and NEC ....or are they just one?

they are two different companies. from what I've learned NEC was closed down and the facilities/operation was bought by Fairchild.

LordCarnal

March 25th, 2008, 09:47 PM

^^

ahh ok.. so perhaps they closed down their manufacturing? because there's still NEC specifically at the I.T. Park, mostly programming..

red_jasper

April 3rd, 2008, 02:35 PM

Survey finds RP ICT labor pool wanting

By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 18:22:00 04/03/2008

MAKATI CITY, Philippines – The Philippines still lacks the necessary information and communications technology (ICT) skills to sustain growth in the local high-tech industry, a study that looked at several leading Asian offshoring markets showed.

The study conducted by market research and consulting firm XMG focused on China, India, Malaysia, and the Philippines during the first quarter of 2008.

The survey said the ICT labor pool in the country has remained at a 10-percent growth rate for the past five years. It is expected to grow by another three percent in the next two to three years.

It also pointed out that the current labor pool for local ICT skills is not enough to address the steady growth of the local ICT industry, which is pegged at 30 to 35 percent every year until 2010.

The study also said it is evident that fresh talents are still coming from Metro Manila, as it noted that about 22 percent of the estimated 50,000 to 60,000 graduates every year are from this region.

Full story @ inquirer.net (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080403-128176/Survey-finds-RP-ICT-labor-pool-wanting)

absinthe_888

April 3rd, 2008, 07:56 PM

Intel rethinking RP options
BY MARIA KRISTINA C. CONTI
http://bworld.com.ph/BW040408/content.php?id=001

MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR INVESTOR INTEL, concerned with the growing requirements of its domestic business unit, is weighing "options" for a final decision to either stay in or leave the Philippines.

Intel Technology Philippines Inc.’s senior management discussed its long-term options with employees last Wednesday night, in a meeting initially expected to be about financial results.

"In an effort to keep employees informed, Intel has updated its employees that significant investments would be required to ensure the long-term viability of its factory building in Cavite," a statement Intel released yesterday quoted its media relations manager, Ma. Teresa L. Pacis, as saying. "Intel would like to reiterate that it has made no decision on this matter and is currently exploring multiple options."

When called, Ms. Pacis declined to elaborate on the options, but admitted that the company has been hounded by allegations it will pack up and go to more viable sites elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

"We don’t want to talk about it now. But the important thing is [that] we are open to our employees," she told BusinessWorld, referring to Intel’s 2,900-strong work force at its Cavite assembly site.

Inside sources said the company set a six- to nine-month timeline for the decision.

Intel, the first American semiconductor company in the country, has sinked over $1.51 billion in investments into the Philippines. The local subsidiary is the group’s second offshore assembly operations center in Asia.

Its local manufacturing unit operates at a 20-hectare site inside the Gateway Business Park in General Trias in Cavite, south of Metro Manila.

But the 18-year old facility can produce only "old generation" Pentium processors — an enterprise that will potentially be overtaken by operations at a $300-million plant in Vietnam.

"Intel has many factories in the region which it operates on a single platform, with the same model. Hence, only the manufacturing costs vary across these factories," said Arthur J. Young Jr., chairman of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI), which counts Intel as a member.

Mr. Young, who said he does not think Intel will leave, said power costs and other required investments would affect the competitiveness of any electronics company. "Power is only about 30%-40% of the costs, depending on the company, so I doubt if it was for this reason alone," he said.

SEIPI President Ernesto B. Santiago agreed, saying, "If ever Intel makes a decision, it will be because of many factors."

When asked how high power costs in the country affects their business, Ms. Pacis said, "We are one in wishing the power costs were lower."

SEIPI said in a study recently that power costs in the Philippines are at the high end, at $0.11 per kilowathour (kWh) to $0.12/kWh, compared to China’s $0.05/kWh-0.06/kWh.

Intel recently closed its office in Bangkal, Makati, and shipped out part of its financial and accounting team to its Malaysian offices for undisclosed reasons.

"We [consolidated] our business in Cavite," said Ms. Pacis. "But we still have an office in Makati, which handles marketing. These talks [Intel’s pull-out] will affect our Cavite office, if ever."

Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila refused to comment when told of Intel’s announcement. Board of Investments Executive Director Celeste B. Ilagan, who reportedly met with Intel officials recently, could not be reached for comment.

In a 2004 study that Intel commissioned, the University of Asia and the Pacific estimated that every P1 of Intel exports adds P2.8 to total exports. Every P1 increase in export demand for Intel products translates to a P1.52 increase in national output, the study read.

Intel employs a total of 5,000 employees in the Philippines, and generates some 36,000 jobs indireclty in allied services.

Last January, Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo asked Intel’s chairman to consider the Philippines as the site for a remote diagnostics medical project. Ms. Arroyo told Intel’s Craig Barrett, on the sidelines of the Davos conference, that the local information technology sector can support Intel’s new project now being tested in Lebanon. The project uses sophisticated computers linked via the Internet to enable doctors in urban centers to diagnose of patients in rural areas.

Alberto A. Lim, executive director of the Makati Business Club, was anxious about the news. "I hope it’s not the beginning of an exodus. I hope it’s the exception and not the rule, because, as I understand, they’ve been complaining about power rates. But, anyhow, that’s the complaint of every business in the country."

He added any negative decision by Intel, even if only a small part of its global road map, will have a lasting impact on the Philippines. "Electronics accounts for two-thirds of our exports," Mr. Lim explained.

odyssey

April 3rd, 2008, 09:22 PM

The quality of Toshiba Laptop was lauded during the time when it was being produced in the Philippines. My friend bought her first Pinas-made Toshiba laptop in 1999. And though she hasn't used it as often nowadays, it is still running in good condition. She bought another Toshiba laptop in 2004 - this time it's manufactured abroad because Toshiba moved their production facility out of the country (she kept her 1999 laptop in the closet). Guess what, just a few monthas ago, the foreign-made Toshiba 2004 laptop died due to hard drive failure while her Philippine-made 1999 Toshiba laptop with Window's 98 software keeps on going until now. Even the repair shop here in the states was suprised with the 1999 Pinas made Toshiba laptop and how it out-lasted the 2003 foreign-made one. Talk about quality issue.

red_jasper

April 5th, 2008, 08:34 PM

Intel 'ramps down' assembly in Philippines

Mark LaPedus

EE Times (http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207002023)
(04/05/2008 12:08 PM EDT)

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Intel Corp. is said to be "ramping down" its IC-assembly and test facility in the Philippines, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Intel denied that it is shutting down the entire operation, according to the report, but it is ''ramping down'' its assembly effforts in the processor arena.

If Intel were to shut down the operation, it would be a huge blow to the Philippines. Intel Technology Philippines Inc. (ITPI), a subsidiary of Intel, is one of Intel's major assembly operation centers in Asia. The others are located in China and Malaysia.

Established in 1996, ITPI is located in the Gateway Business Park, Javalera, General Trias Cavite. The operation assembles processors, chipsets and other products.

It employes around 3,000 employees, according to Intel. To date, Intel's total investments in the Philippines is $1.51 billion.

Juan Pilgrim

April 10th, 2008, 05:05 AM

b'z2;19467894"]Intel 'ramps down' assembly in Philippines

Mark LaPedus

EE Times (http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207002023)
(04/05/2008 12:08 PM EDT)

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Intel Corp. is said to be "ramping down" its IC-assembly and test facility in the Philippines, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Intel denied that it is shutting down the entire operation, according to the report, but it is ''ramping down'' its assembly effforts in the processor arena.

If Intel were to shut down the operation, it would be a huge blow to the Philippines. Intel Technology Philippines Inc. (ITPI), a subsidiary of Intel, is one of Intel's major assembly operation centers in Asia. The others are located in China and Malaysia.

Established in 1996, ITPI is located in the Gateway Business Park, Javalera, General Trias Cavite. The operation assembles processors, chipsets and other products.

It employes around 3,000 employees, according to Intel. To date, Intel's total investments in the Philippines is $1.51 billion.

I Just want to share this about INTEL in the Philippines:ohno::(>(

Tuesday, April 8, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Philippine Silicon Valley
By DENNIS POSADAS

The real price of a pullout (Part I)
The headline of the April 4-5 issue of BusinessWorld last Friday read "Intel rethinking RP options." As a former engineer and technology business analyst for the technology development group of Intel, I must admit that I read the news with some regret both from a country perspective and from a personal one. Intel has been here for more than 30 years, sticking with us through the Pinatubo eruption, various coup attempts, People Power revolutions and the like.

However, as a newspaper columnist I have to say that in a way the writing has been on the wall for some time. Multinationals (including Intel) locate here not because they particularly like us — though a lot of their expat and corporate managers really do like the Philippines personally — but because we have met their cost-benefit models. Play around with those cost models, and off they go to some cheaper destination. The cause can be power ($0.11/kWh vs. $0.5/kWh), pilferage, tax issues and a host of other issues.

We cannot continue using the cheap manufacturing destination argument. We will lose to other countries like China and Vietnam. What we need to figure out is how to attract these large companies, exert as much value from them as they do from us (so that both parties win) and offer them a total package that entices them to stay even if we are not the cheapest in Asia. How do we do that? Let me offer a few suggestions.

As of press time, I do not know what Intel plans to do — if they will really push through with the pullout or decide to give us a chance and stay. But what I would like to do today is give you a sense of what we could have done and what a pullout of a big technology company like Intel really means to us. I would say that the same comments apply to the pullout of any large industrial firm, such as when Toshiba pulled out a few years ago, or if other companies of the same magnitude do the same.

I believe this is important because the semiconductor and electronics industry is said to be worth $31B annually in terms of exports and employs around 456,000 direct employees. The indirect spillover impact may be incalculable, but in General Trias, Cavite alone where Intel operates, a 2004 commissioned study by the University of Asia and the Pacific estimated that every P1 worth of Intel export adds P2.8 to total exports. Every P1 increase in export demand for Intel products translates to a P1.52 increase in national output.

If you have not been to General Trias, Cavite recently, it is already starting to look better than some suburbs in Metro Manila.

Intel alone has sunk over $1.5B in investments in the Philippines, and employs 5,000 direct workers and around 36,000 in indirect labor (e.g. janitors, security personnel, suppliers, etc.). A large part of our exports is due in part to the semiconductor industry.

A common concern is that the pullout of a company like Intel will send a signal to others that they should start to go elsewhere. And if we have been getting $31B annually out of an industry valued at over a trillion dollars, where will something like a pullout get us?

Cost is a ’70s variable

In the ’70s, the balance of power in the semiconductor industry began to slowly shift from military markets (which could pay exorbitant prices for chips) to commercial markets. Therefore, cost became the primary driver to locate factories in Asia. Companies like Intel and Texas Instruments began looking for factories in countries such as Malaysia and the Philippines. We began setting up the first of the export processing zones. The objective of these zones was to minimize cost for the multinationals. Universities and our scientists were far distant from these zones, as the main consideration was access to cheap labor.

Pioneer local companies like Stanford semiconductor in Pasig City began manufacturing memory cores here until they were forced to shut down because of labor problems that resulted in violent clashes. Thirty years later, of course, the same model is being used for the services industry. Factories and call centers are primarily here because of cost. Once someone else becomes cheaper, these foreign companies will pull out.

I must stress that cost in the technology business is still extremely important and we need to manage it. But my point is that we cannot make cost (e.g. cheap labor) the only reason why companies will want to stay here.

Taiwan goes homegrown

Taiwan on the other hand saw the writing on the wall early enough. As early as the ’70s, they already made a decision that they would begin to enter the higher value added field of electronics and semiconductors and not just be known as a cheap manufacturing destination. Taiwan at that time already felt that they needed to create their own big names in electronics/semiconductors. Attracting the likes of IBM, Motorola, HP, etc. was important, but what they really wanted was to create their own Taiwanese high tech brands. If these American names located to Taiwan, then that was great. If they moved out, that was fine as well. They were not the center of attention.

Dennis Posadas worked as an engineer and technology analyst for the technology development group of Intel Philippines from 1995 to 2005. He is the author of Rice & Chips: Technopreneurship and Innovation in Asia (Singapore: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007). He is currently the Deputy Executive Director of the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE). E-mail the author at dennisposadas@yahoo.com.

LordCarnal

April 10th, 2008, 11:57 AM

Lexmark Research and Development Bldg. in Cebu Business Park, another building by Lexmark (22-floors) is rising in the background where there's a crane...

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/arnoldsa/IMG_3228.jpg

LordCarnal

April 10th, 2008, 12:05 PM

Cebu may rise as Asia’s IT, BPO hub in next 2 years

By Willy Rodolfo III
Reporter

CEBU as Asia’s hub for information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) will get a boost when six major projects are completed within the next two years in the 25-hectare Asiatown IT Park.

Developer Cebu Property Ventures Development Corp. said in a statement that four buildings would be completed by the third quarter of 2008. Cebu Property Ventures is a unit of Cebu Holdings Inc., an affiliate of Ayala Land Inc. The unit is also partly owned by the Cebu provincial government.

Set for completion are the 11-story Skyrise 2; 15-story TG Tower; 17-story i3; and 12-story eBloc Tower. The projects combine for more than 50,000 square meters (sq m) of leasable space.

“These buildings will offer more office spaces, retail shops, entertainment bars, additional 24/7 food shops and restaurants to accommodate Cebu’s new round-the-clock business and entertainment lifestyle,” Cebu Property Ventures president Francis O. Monera said in the statement.

Cebu Property Ventures is developing its own BPO building, eBloc Tower, to house IT and IT-enabled firms thru Asian i-Office Properties Inc., a special purpose vehicle composed of the combined investments of Cebu Property Ventures and Ayala Land Inc.

e-Bloc Tower is a mid-rise office condominium that will have 21,000 sq m of leasable space and 1,700 sq m of ground floor retail space. The construction is due to be completed by September 2008.

Asiatown’s fast-paced development along with the entry of locators such as NKC Conveyors Philippines Corp., Tsuneishi Heavy Industries Inc. (Cebu), Morph Rapid Solutions Inc., Micro D International, Cordia Philippines and Convergys Philippines have generated more job opportunities and tremendously contributed to the growth of Asiatown.

Asiatown currently houses BPO giants eTelecare and PeopleSupport.

Another development in the offing is Asiatown as retail hub, in an area that was before occupied by The Village. This will soon be a 24/7 district of affordable restaurants, cafés, convenience store, salon and spa and specialty stores for music, books, gifts and body care.

The retail complex sits in a 1,860-sq m area with 32 parking slots, and is set for a soft opening on May 1.

Asiatown is in Cebu’s former Lahug Airport. BPO and software firm locators currently employ close to an estimated 12,000 people there.

Below: IT Buildings under construction in Asiatown

eBlock
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m303/michaelragandac/P1220851.jpg

TG Tower and I2-Annex
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s223/arnold_carl/IMG_1040.jpg

Skyrise 3 - now working on foundation
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s223/arnold_carl/cebu_travel/asiatown_05.jpg

Skyrise 2 and Skyrise 1
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s223/arnold_carl/cebu_travel/asiatown_02.jpg

I2-Annex and I2
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s223/arnold_carl/cebu_travel/asiatown_04.jpg

TG Tower - now working on the 11th floor
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s223/arnold_carl/cebu_travel/asiatown_03.jpg

I2-Annex, TG Tower and the commercial complex beside it
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s223/arnold_carl/cebu_travel/asiatown_01.jpg

LordCarnal

April 11th, 2008, 02:27 PM

100T jobs available

A Cebu-based foundation revealed that Cebu will need close to 100,000 people to fill in vacancies in the information technology (IT) sector, as well as in other IT-enabled services, by the year 2010.

Bonifacio Belen, executive director of the Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (Cedfit), said that this projection is just 10 percent of the nationwide requirement forecasted by the Business Process Association of the Philippines (BPAP).

Belen explained that in the global setting, IT and IT-enabled services are expected to earn $450 billion in revenues, $130 billion of which are from specific industries that the Philippines has capabilities in. These industries include the business process outsourcing sector, transcriptioning, software development, engineering design and back-office management.

“We’re a far-away second to India, which aims to get 60 percent of the total global revenues,” he said.

BPAP projected that in 2010, there will be a need for 75,000 software developers and 950,000 workers in the BPO industry nationwide.

MORE FROM HERE, http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2008/04/11/bus/100t.jobs.available.html

Seagate Global to invest $100M in RP
By Max V. de Leon
Reporter

CALIFORNIA-based asset manager Seagate Global Advisors LLC is placing $100 million in direct investments in the next six months.

Its top executive said the country’s economy will continue to improve in the coming years.

William J. P. Lawton, Seagate Global chairman and chief investment officer, said they would invest in alternative energy, mining, real estate and services—particularly business process outsourcing and tourism.

Lawton recently visited the country. His company is now in the process of establishing a representative office here.

He said the Philippines was able to establish strong economic fundamentals in the past 10 years and this would enable the economy to keep on growing.

“Our forecast for the Philippines is it will continue to improve because its long-term fundamentals are strong,” he told the BusinessMirror.

Seagate Global manages funds of endowments, pensions and investments of high net worth individuals from London and Geneva, as well as the US.

Lawton said the Philippines will be its next concentration in Asia after China, where it has invested over $600 million.

“Our focus country in Southeast Asia is the Philippines,” he said.

Lawton said China’s growth has helped the Philippines grow because the country is providing the Chinese with mineral needs “and other things it can provide like tourism.”

Here, Lawton said the company is particularly interested in Cebu because of the provincial government’s strong support to the private sector in terms of infrastructure and over-all business environment.

Aside from the $100 million, Lawton said its soon-to-be established representative office will also be managing multiple funds.

This is a good time to focus on the Philippines while most people haven’t yet noticed the positive developments here.

That is why prices of shares traded on the Philippine Stock Exchange are still relatively low, he added.

LordCarnal

April 12th, 2008, 01:09 PM

More growth, jobs

AS it marks the completion of one of its two buildings in Cebu, Lexmark Research and Development Corp. (LRDC) said they need more engineers and other technically-skilled people to fill up positions in the company.

Stan Combs, president and chief executive officer of Lexmark, a manufacturer and developer of printers and printing solutions with worldwide operations, said the company will continue to grow in Cebu.

“And (with the way this building is built) we would still be here a few hundred years from now,” Combs said, during a press conference where the company announced the facilities housed within the newly completed Lexmark Plaza 2 at the Cebu Business Park.

Combs, however, admitted that the shortage of a qualified work force has slowed down Lexmark’s growth in Cebu. This is why the company is recruiting personnel from all over the country.

Lexmark has also forged partnerships with various universities to tap qualified graduates.

Not new

“But that (shortage of qualified recruits) is not something new. It’s been there for three or four years,” he said, adding that the company has noted a shortage among skilled programmers, engineers, software developers and technical writers.

“But we still manage to grow the business,” he assured.

Lexmark’s labor needs are expected to grow further with the recent completion of Lexmark Plaza 2.

“We anticipate hiring 300 to 400 more in this area over the next three to four years,” Combs said.

Chris Burdette, general manager of Lexmark’s hardware development, said the company’s Cebu operation is now able to conduct full product development.

Lexmark Plaza 2 houses most of LRDC’s technical functions that include product development, printer software development, embedded code and networks, packaging and system test.

Cebu’s first

The building also features acoustic and packaging laboratories, temperature and humidity chambers, and an EMC (electromagnetic capability) chamber, which is the first in the Philippines. These facilities are used to perform several tests to ensure that Lexmark products conform with international standards.

Burdette said Lexmark “plans to expand and grow the capability” of its Cebu operation, which involves the development of derivative designs based on those developed by the company’s corporate headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky.

He stressed, though, that the Cebu technical center “can do everything” that the US corporate center does.

“We can develop a product here from start to finish,” he said.

Combs said completion of Lexmark Plaza 2 and the ongoing construction of Plaza 1 indicate the company’s commitment to grow in Cebu. Lexmark Plaza 1 is expected to be completed in December this year.

He also revealed that Lexmark is considering the possibility of a third building that will house its shared services or business process outsourcing unit, which handles the company’s accounting, finance, supply chain management and sales support functions, among others. At present, though, with its current size, the unit is housed at the Innove IT Plaza.

He said Lexmark’s Cebu operations, including its manufacturing arm in Lapu-Lapu City (Lexmark International Philippines), is becoming the second biggest unit worldwide, next to its US corporate headquarters. He added the Cebu operations house 29 percent of Lexmark’s total work force worldwide, equal to the company’s corporate headquarters. (LAP)

Christendom

April 18th, 2008, 08:19 AM

April 18, 2008
Bacolod to receive IT award (http://www.visayandailystar.com/2008/April/18/topstory3.htm)

The Bacolod IT Program has been cited as Best Local Government Practice in Western Visayas and Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue will receive the award at the Iloilo Grand Hotel in Iloilo City today.

Presidential Management Staff chief Serge Remonde will be the guest of honor at the awarding ceremonies.

The Bacolod Information Technology Investment Program won first place in the 2006-2007 Best Public Sector Projects Awards for Western Visayas for the local government category as adjudged by the Regional Development Council.

The program was implemented by the Bacolod City government through the Bacolod City IT Focus Team chaired by Batapa-Sigue, which was created through Executive Order No. 8 Series of 2005 issued by Leonardia.

Adopting the multi stakeholder approach, Bacolod City embarked on a comprehensive set of programs geared towards the direction of the Philippine Cyberservices Corridor in order to gain from the rapidly growing information and communications technology (ICT) industry, Batapa-Sigue said in a press release from her office.

Before 2006, Bacolod City has no major outsourcing companies, the press release said.

The development generated about 2,000 jobs between 2006 and 2007 and by this year, will eventually hit about 4,000 jobs, it said. With this number, an average of thirty to forty million pesos a month in terms of direct salaries is locally circulating, the press release added.

Leonardia said “This is very inspiring. I am very pleased that the program has become a big boost to the economy in Bacolod City,” he said. This has given thousands of jobs to the people, has changed the complexion of the city and given Bacolod a new image, he added.

“This is the kind of business that tells us that, indeed, Bacolod City is among the premier cities in the country,” Leonardia said. The award is extra special because it comes on the heels of the announcement from the MoneySense survey, that was based on the Asian Institute of Management and United Nations Development Programme surveys, that Bacolod City is number one in the list of 20 “best places to live” in the country, he said.

Leonardia said he credits Batapa-Sigue and the members of the Bacolod IT Focus Team who have participated and worked hard in a joint effort with government to bring in the big time investors to Bacolod City.

“This is one very good example of how far we can go when the private sector and government join hands,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Marine Engine Swap to Reforestation Project of Negros Occidental landed second place, and the Guisi Community-Based Heritage Tourism Project of Guimaras third place in the 2006-2007 Best Public Sector Projects award in Western Visayas.*CGS

red_jasper

April 28th, 2008, 06:21 AM

Survey shows rising number of IT graduates

By DAVID DIZON
abs-cbnNEWS.com (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=116359)

The number of college graduates of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) related courses increased this year as more students took up ICT certificate courses, according to a survey conducted by research firm Consumer Vibe Asia.

Joyce Luth Casiño, research director of Consumer Vibe Asia, said a total of 30,053 ICT students graduated this year from 145 schools offering ICT related courses that were included in the survey. The number is up from the 26,429 ICT graduates of the same schools in 2007 and more than double the total 14,451 ICT graduates in the same schools in year 2000.

Casi said the study interviewed 266 respondents including deans, academic heads and IT heads of schools offering ICT courses. Most of the respondents (76%) are holding teaching positions in Metro Manila, seven percent came from Balance Luzon, 10 percent from the Visayas and seven percent from Mindanao.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/images/news/newspics/abs/20080428it_graph.jpg

Casiño said that while majority of ICT graduates took up full ICT courses for school year 2007-2008, "there is also an increasing number of students who are taking up vocational and certificate courses that are ICT related."

She said that of the 30,053 ICT graduates in the respondent schools, 19,788 finished full four-year ICT courses; 9,550 finished vocational courses and 715 finished certificate courses. In 2007, the respondent schools had 18,687 full, 7,122 vocational and 620 ICT certificate graduates.

Casiño said the top courses offered in the respondent schools are Computer & Information System (40%), Programming & Application Development (40%) and Network Design & Administration (38%).

Casiño said a separate study among technology driven companies showed that the country is producing more full ICT graduates than the industry demands. She said the study showed that most IT jobs available locally can be easily filled by ICT vocational course graduates.

She said the study also showed that ICT schools "are doing a very good job in providing technical knowledge for its graduates but fail to help them develop business skills."

"This means that the quality of graduates is quite fine for entry level ICT posts as most of the graduates have high technical inclination but quite weak business sense," she said.

She said that to address this weakness, schools and the ICT industry should forge partnerships for a more relevant curriculum design and pave the way for appropriate placement of graduates in IT companies.

[dx]

April 28th, 2008, 01:06 PM

Embarcadero IT Park to rise in Legazpi City
Monday, April 21, 2008

With an 8,000-seat call center, the Embarcadero IT Park in Legazpi City, Albay is expected to generate 24,000 jobs for its 24/7 operations. To be managed by HSAI Raintree, which also runs the Discovery Suites Ortigas, Discovery Shores Boracay and Discovery Tagaytay, the Embarcadero de Legazpi is targeted as the smaller version of the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, inspired by the Fishermen’s Wharf in San Francisco, California and master planned by world-renowned BN Group Pty. Ltd. of Australia.

With a few months left prior to its launching in August, Embarcadero is conducting extensive outsourcing of BPOs both for the IT park and the commercial center. Cheaper power due to its direct connections to Napocor and TransCo is enough to ascertain the sustainability of Embarcadero as a perfect place to do business — with about 30 percent cheaper power than that of the local electric cooperative — with a backup generator set and a wind turbine that is now undergoing extensive study.

Embarcadero’s sustainability is supported by tax holidays that it would be enjoying as a tourism economic zone with an IT component, as certified by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. Many fiscal and non-fiscal incentives would benefit the locators of both the IT park and commercial center.

The Embarcadero IT Park realizes the long-time dream of every Bicolano for a better life. It is expected that the 24,000 jobs to be generated by the IT park alone would be more than enough to change the macro and micro economic picture of the province of Albay and the Bicol region in general. The P1.8-billion investment for Embarcadero’s Phase 1 alone will surely be a catalyst for the much-awaited economic boom.

A hotel is also being planned at the Embarcadero complex to house expatriates and visitors to resorts and other tourist spots in the Bicol region, in addition to the existing Hotel Venezia and the new Hotel St. Ellis (formerly La Trinidad Hotel).

The Embarcadero project is highly supported by local government units, especially Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal who has been enthusiastic in promoting the Embarcadero. Rosal lobbied for the Embarcadero IT Park, as Legazpi is one of the eight cities in the country that are actively promoting information and communications technology investments.

Legazpi City was awarded as the most business-friendly city in Southern Luzon in 2007 by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In his eagerness to support the project, Rosal launched a flagship program which offers scholarship for prospective call center agents for the Embarcadero. An initial batch of 130 students is undergoing 356-hour training as call center agents to cope with the manpower requirements of the IT park.

“We are 101 percent supportive of this world-class investment in our city. We are eagerly anticipating the actual operations of the Embarcadero, most especially the IT park. We are preparing for its full operation by means of scholarship training programs for call center agents,” Rosal said.

“Embarcadero will create a stir on Bicol’s economy and would literally facelift Legazpi’s image as the new economic tourism haven in the Philippines,” he added.

This is apart from the scholarship training being granted by Albay second district Rep. Al Francis Bichara who is offering 200-hour intensive training and from the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) near-hired scholarship program that is backed by Sen. Ed Angara.

The multibillion-peso investment will be infused by a full-blooded Bicolano, Elizaldy Co, chairman of the Sunwest Group of Companies, who shares every Bicolano’s dream of a progressive Bicol.

source: http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Networks&p=49&type=2&sec=32&aid=2008042017

;19969208']24,000 new jobs seen in commerce, IT park (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20080412-130005/Newsbriefs)
Ephraim Aguilar, Inquirer Southern Luzon

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—The mood is upbeat in this city as 24,000 new jobs are expected from plans to build an 8,000-seat call center. The new call center is being built at the Embarcadero Commercial Hub and IT Park at Victory Village.

“This translates to approximately P240 million to P480 million in monthly salaries at P10,000 to P20,000 monthly wage for call center employees,” according to Mayor Noel E. Rosal.

Rosal said the Embarcadero was granted the status of a “Tourism Economic Zone with IT Component” by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority on Nov. 28, 2007, and is now awaiting presidential proclamation as a tourism economic zone.

From the Legazpi City thread

kiretoce

May 7th, 2008, 08:07 PM

Certified epidemic: Viral videos on the loose (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/may/08/yehey/life/20080508lif1.html)

They are viral—so contagiously funny, embarrassing or outrageous that you just have to share them with others and spread the word. Filipinos are gaining both fame and notoriety on the Internet with video postings on the YouTube.com. In the process we are showing the world both our wit and our embarrassment.

Dance floor behind bars
Like ants in a perfectly aligned rows and columns, more than a 1,500 inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center reenact Michael Jackson’s Thriller music video with a gay inmate playing the role of Whacko Jacko’s date. And they’re all actually quite good at it. With more than 14,000,000 views, Time Magazine ranked it fifth in the “Top Ten Most Popular Viral Videos.” Byron Gracia, security consultant for the local government, documented the video.

“My family… oh my God!”
Beauty and brain are two different things. Janina San Miguel was crowned the 2008 Binibining Pilipinas-World despite this answer:

Beauty contest judge Vivienne Tan: The question is, what role did your family play to you as candidate to Binibining Pilinas?

Song from a mother’s heart
Madonna Decena, a 32-year-old single mother who went to the United Kingdom to work, wows the audience and the judges of the talent search Britain’s Got Talent. Her rendition of the song “I Will Always Love You” not only earned her a standing ovation from the audience, a firm yes from the judges, and more than 200,000 views in YouTube, but it also spoke of her great love for her two daughters in the Philippines.

What doctors should not be
A disturbing violation of privacy, the Cebu Doctors scandal video has garnered more than 500,000 views and counting. The three-minute scandal video shows how a canister can was pulled out from a male rectum during a medical operation. As if in a party, doctors and medical staff took pictures with camera phones. There were also loud cheers and one shouted “Baby Out!” while the medical practice was going on. No wonder one might have a second thought on entering hospitals.

Keys Me
Who doesn’t know Alyssa Alano? Her famous rendition transformed Sixpence None the Richer’s hit song “Kiss Me” into “Keys Me.”

Rising Diva
Over one million Internet surfers around the globe have seen this YouTube video showing Charice Pempengco being a guest in the American show Ellen DeGeneres. Truly a source of Filipino pride, in the video, the 15-year-old young singer receives a standing ovation from the Ellen DeGeneres audience after singing “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” and “I Will Always Love You.”

The Super in heroes
Maritess versus the Superfriends is web designer Dino Ignacio’s LOL [laugh-out-loud] 2002 short animation feature on the life of a Filipino domestic helper working for the Justice League of America. She postulates on the possibly gay relationship between Batman and Robin, how hard it is for Wonder Woman to find where she parked her invisible jet plane and how Aquaman—a hero mostly useless except for underwater battles—hates it every time she cooks fish.

“Bords”
In this series of YouTube spoof, the movie 300 is dubbed in Ilonggo. The original plot is twisted, and the characters talk about texting, haircut, and other things that are familiar to the Filipino audience. With the different videos garnering 100,000 to one million views, they are a must-see for anyone who wishes to have a good laugh.

Reporting ‘round the bush
You turn on the television for some serious news, but you soon find yourself laughing on your couch because of how Michael Fajatin screwed up his reportage of a prayer march in Manila. Or maybe you just raise one of your eyebrows and say, “what is this guy talking about?” Whether or not his report made sense to the viewers, this video on YouTube.com gave over 90,000 YouTube viewers 33 seconds of humor at Fajatin’s expense.

"Papaya" is not just a fruit
Bend your back and point your fingers. It’s papaya time. With more than 500 versions of papaya dance video uploaded in the net including Edu Manzano’s very own, the ‘Papaya Song’ has definitely conquered the world. Good Morning America hosts Diane Sawyer and Charles Gibson were among the ones who got hooked by the fruity juicy dance craze.

Christendom

May 22nd, 2008, 11:41 AM

Thursday, May 22, 2008
Bacolod-Negros Occ. IT group launched, links with CICT, PLDT SME (http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Cities_And_Towns_23/Bacolod-Negros_Occ_IT_group_launched_links_with_CICT_PLDT_SME.shtml)

BACOLOD CITY, May 22 (PNA) -- The unified information and communications technology (ICT) sector in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental is one of the latest milestones in the country’s ICT landscape, as local stakeholders forged partnerships with key players in the telecommunications and the national government.

Bacolod–Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology, Incorporated (BNEFIT) will be officially launched Tuesday, May 20, with a formal tie-up with the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) and PLDT Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Nation Group, according to BNEFIT chairwoman and Bacolod councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue.

Batapa-Sigue told the Philippines News Agency that CICT Commissioner Monchito Ibrahim will be the keynote speaker.

She said Ibrahim will declare the thrusts of CICT Secretary Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua as the country’s “outsourcing czar” with the governance of ICT’s moving to the forefront of global and national policy discourse.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to this also issued Executive Order 269 in 2004, creating the CICT and placing it directly under her office.

She added that PLDT SME Nation Head Katrina Luna-Abelarde will sign a memorandum of agreement with her as chair, for the conduct of programs to encourage and develop readiness and success in small and medium enterprises (SME’s) using ICT, as complementary to the vision of making Bacolod City and Negros Occidental as viable locations within the Philippine Cyber Corridor.

"BNEFIT aims to continually pursue ICT- readiness and competitiveness by sustaining and strengthening the network and various linkages with all academic, formal and non-formal, technical and vocational training institutions in Bacolod and Negros Occidental and to design programs that will assist and complement the educational system and integrate ICT therein to produce more competent professionals and entrepreneurs," she said.

Batapa-Sigue said attending the launching as inspirational speakers are Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Negros Occidental Governor Isidro Zayco and Vice Governor Emilio Yulo III "since BNEFIT’s goal is also to assist the local government units."

"The CICT’s mandate is to be the government’s primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing, regulating,and administrative entity and to develop integrated and strategic ICT systems and reliable and cost-efficient communication facilities and services," she explained. (PNA)

kiretoce

May 22nd, 2008, 09:35 PM

Filipinos still make up big chunk of Friendster users (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080522-138062/Filipinos-still-make-up-big-chunk-of-Friendster-users)

A third of the traffic going to social networking site Friendster are contributed by Filipinos or at least the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses are from the Philippines, an executive told INQUIRER.net.

Of the 39 million unique visitors recorded in March 2008, about 13.2 million unique users are from the Philippines, said David Jones, vice president for global marketing of Friendster, in an interview.

Jones said that if there are 14 million Internet users in the Philippines as of 2007, about 98 percent are going to Friendster.

These figures indicate that Filipinos make up the biggest population of Friendster users in the world, even surpassing the United States, where the service was originally launched.

Such numbers have prompted the social networking site to consider the Philippines as a major market for its services, including its mobile service, Jones said.

Typically, Filipino Friendster users are in the age range of 16 to 30 years old, with 55 percent of them being female.

There are 15 countries around the world where Friendster is now popular. They are the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United States, Singapore, Canada, India, Australia, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, China, Taiwan and Korea.

Jones said Friendster was launched in Vietnam recently.

Asia remains the biggest market for Friendster, considering it has over 50 million registered users and 34 million monthly unique visitors coming from this region according to the social networking, citing figures from the comScore Media Matrix worldwide data in March 2008.

Until September 2007, Friendster was an English-only social networking website. Today, it now supports seven languages.

Jones said Friendster is currently getting much of its business from advertising on the website. But recently, the company has moved to the mobile phone space, allowing people to access their profile using their mobile handsets.

He said there are now over 450 social networking websites in the world. Friendster currently has over 68 million registered users.

bartstrife99

May 24th, 2008, 04:07 PM

well sound good to read! i am hoping that the Philippines will be the next center of attraction in investment after china despite the global oil, prices growing up! and hoping the sustainability of recorded 7.3% GDP last year! until 2010 despite volatility.

garzland

May 26th, 2008, 09:58 AM

This thread makes my day complete!

red_jasper

May 27th, 2008, 06:32 AM

RP software firm Gurango to expand in Middle East, China

MANILA, Philippines--Gurango Software Corp. (GSC) has announced plans to expand in the Middle East and China this year and hinted at acquiring local companies in these markets.

"Our goal is to become the leading Microsoft Dynamics partner in the world by 2011," Joey Gurango, the company's founder and CEO, said during a luncheon meeting with reporters Monday.

GSC sells original software--Smarter and Dynamic-Pay--targeted at businesses running on the Microsoft platform.

Last year, GSC acquired South Africa-based Absalom Systems, extending the company's global presence in Singapore and Australia.

The company said it intends to grow globally by establishing its presence abroad while consolidating development and customer support resources from out of its headquarters in the Philippines.

As a Microsoft partner, Gurango said his company's expansion will be based on where Microsoft sees positive market opportunities.

"Microsoft spends millions of dollars in emerging markets that are growing and as a partner, we have access to that information," said Gurango. "We do depend on Microsoft to point the way."

Asked whether the company intends to make further acquisition, Gurango did not mention specific plans.

"It will depend on Microsoft's readiness to work with us in these areas. Our preference is to work with local firm and total acquisition gives us more control of the business in these markets," Gurango said.

The company reported P36 million in total revenues for the first quarter. Half of the company's revenues came from software licenses sold, said Fermin Taruc, GSC's chief operating officer.

"We are expecting further growth with the integration of Absalom's clients while also expanding our product portfolio," said Taruc. Prior to the acquisition last October, Absalom Systems already had a client base of around 300 end-users worldwide, he said.

( www.inquirer.net )

LordCarnal

May 27th, 2008, 09:52 AM

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m195/diehardbisdako/lexmark1.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m195/diehardbisdako/lexmark3.jpg

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m195/diehardbisdako/lexmark2.jpg

bacolodchamp

May 27th, 2008, 01:10 PM

:applause::applause::applause:

Askal82

May 27th, 2008, 01:44 PM

^^ This is something to be truly proud of.

bacolodchamp

May 27th, 2008, 02:59 PM

Arroyo launches Philippine leg of 550-million-dollar cable project

Manila - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo inaugurated on Tuesday the Philippine leg of a 550-million-dollar fiber optic cable network that will connect several South-East Asian countries with the United States. The 20,000-kilometre Asia American Gateway (AAG) network will link Malaysia to the US via Singapore, Thailand, Brunei,Vietnam, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Guam, Hawaii and the US West Coast through an undersea cable system.

The network is scheduled to be completed within the year.

"The AAG network is expected to meet the foreseen explosive growth in bandwidth requirements for new and revolutionary broadband applications such as Internet Protocol, video, data, and other multi-media services," a government statement said.

"The project will provide much needed direct access and diverse routing between South-East Asia and the US and will have advantages over the traditional Trans-Pacific routes in that it would avoid some of the areas most prone to seismic activity," it added.

The AAG network has the potential to extend capacity to other locations in North-East and South-East Asia, India, Australia, Africa and Europe.

The network is owned by a consortium of 10 parties - the Brunei government, Telstra of Australia, AT&T of the US, Bharti of India, CAT of Thailand, PLDT of the Philippines, PT Telkom of Indonesia, Telekom Malaysia, StarHub of Singapore and VNPT of Vietnam.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/208093,arroyo-launches-philippine-leg-of-550-million-dollar-cable-project.html

this one's more detailed....

$550-million AAG cable network gives Cyber Corridor big boost

BRGY. BACCUIT, BAUANG, La Union -- The Cyber Corridor super region that cuts across the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle down to Mindanao got a big boost today with the launching of the Philippine leg of the $550-million, 20,000-kilometer Asian American Gateway (AAG) fiber cable network in this barangay.

In her message after she pulled the cable and haul in the symbolic '''Partnership Buoy'' that signaled the formal inauguration of the 2nd International Landing Station of the AAG, the President said the information and communications technology sector in the country would now be provided with resiliency and redundancy of service that is not easily disrupted by natural disasters.

'What a great international partnership,'' the President said of the AAG network, which is owned by a consortium that include the government of Brunei, Telstar of Australia, AT &T of the United States, Bharti of India, CAT of Thailand, PLDT of the Philippines, PT Telkom of Indonesia, Telekom of Malaysia, StarHub of Singapore and VNPT of Vietnam.

The President said the award-winning communications system will support the rapidly growing business process outsourcing (BPO) and call centers industry, and strengthen the country's bid as the most favorable investment destination for BPOs and call centers.

''The AAG international cable system and landing station represent a big boost to the continued growth of our ICT-related industries, especially off-shoring and outsourcing which depend on reliable international broadband services,'' she said.

''Our call centers cannot afford a few seconds of redundancy,'' the President said, as she stressed that the AAG fiber optic cable network would ''provide us with a resiliency and redundancy of service that is not easily disrupted by natural disasters, such as the Taiwan earthquake of December 2006,' she added.'

''The IT companies can breathe easier now,'' the President said.

The President recalled that in her 2007 State of the Nation Address (SONA), she mentioned that “no Taiwan tremor can cut off our cyber services from their global clients, PLDT and Globe are investing P47 billion in new international broadband links through other regional hubs.''

''And here it is,'' the President said, as she underscored the need to invest in vital transport, digital and human infrastructure which ''remains central to the ability of our nation to break the historic cycle of despair and to meet the challenges of the future.''

As of last year, 300,000 Filipinos were employed in the BPO industry, which also generated $5 billion in revenues.

The industry target is to create one million new jobs and generate $13 billion in revenues by 2010.

The President vowed that the government would continue investing heavily in new infrastructure, as she cited the help and support of private companies in building vital infrastructure projects.

With the private sector like the AAG Network spending on vital infrastructure, the government is spared the need to undertake the construction of these facilities, thus boosting its goal of balancing the budget.

The AAG project will link Malaysia to the US via Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Guam, Hawaii and the US West Coast through an undersea cable system.

Scheduled to be completed this year, the project will provide the much-needed direct access and diverse routing between Southeast Asia and the US.

Geof Holland, Alcatel-Lucent survey and engineering manager, said the undersea cable will be embedded two and a half meters below the surface of the seabed to avoid any damage from fishermen and typhoons.

He said a geographic mapping was done before they chose the Bauang location because of its good coastline and bay.

red_jasper

May 28th, 2008, 09:08 AM

Philippines Gaining Momentum as Offshore IT Development Alternative (http://www.itbusinessnet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=403654)
Alpharetta-based Solv Corporation Celebrates One Year Anniversary in Manila
By PR Newswire

ALPHARETTA, Ga., May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpharetta-based Solv Corporation recently celebrated the first anniversary of the opening of its Global Software Development Center in Manila. The facility opened in 2007 with two American managers and six software developers. They now employ fifteen Microsoft Certified developers, and recently earned the title of Microsoft Certified Partner.

This Development Center is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Solv, and is managed there by an American Team. Over the last fifteen years, Solv has offered clients an option for software development by using an offshore partner. But, it was apparent that many companies in the United States were becoming frustrated with language barriers, cultural issues and the lack of stability within offshore project teams.

Since English is the official language for business and education in the Philippines, opening an office in Manila was the perfect solution. Solv's Manila Team capitalized on the lack of language and cultural barriers and added a no-nonsense American management team into the recipe. "Having Microsoft Certified Developers and American managers has been a formula for success," says Phil Fasone, the Company's President and CEO. "Our costs remain fixed and extremely competitive for the industry, while client acceptance has been excellent."

odyssey

May 29th, 2008, 05:16 AM

Smart, Intel team up to provide ‘Internet for All’
http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=200805285
Thursday, May 29, 2008

Smart Communications, Inc. said yesterday it is strengthening its ‘Internet for All’ initiatives by collaborating with Intel Technology Philippines Inc. to make the Internet available to all through low-cost, easy-to-use and widely accessible products, services, solutions and devices.

”Since ‘Internet for All’ is not just about connectivity, but also about affordable and reliable devices, we are delighted to team up with Intel, whose technology innovations have resulted in the production of low-cost PC devices that will bring the World Wide Web closer to more people,” said Smart chief wireless adviser Orlando B. Vea.

”Just as we democratized the mobile phone, Smart hopes to bring Internet connectivity down to the grassroots – a vision that we share with Intel,” he added.

Ricky Banaag, Intel Technology Philippines country manager, said the collaboration with Smart is aligned with Intel’s ‘World Ahead’ program, where the giant chipmaker works with governments, development organizations, community groups, and other technology leaders to empower billions of people worldwide through access to technologies best suited for local needs, connections to the world via high-speed technologies, education that prepares them for the future, content and services that improve their lives and healthcare improvements via technology.

”Intel is proud to be a partner in this endeavor to fast-track technology adoption. For the past years, we’ve focused on developing low-cost platforms to lower the cost of PCs, knowing fully well that price has been a major obstacle to our vision to bring connectivity to millions of users,” he said.

Smart, the country’s leading wireless services provider, and Intel, a semiconductor giant with main offices in the US, are combining strengths to make ‘Internet for All’ a reality in the Philippines. The country continues to have one of the lowest Internet penetration among its peer countries in the region – with un-served demand for Internet access estimated at 15 million connections.

Smart, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Smart Broadband, Inc. (SBI), has started putting the Internet in the hands of a broader segment of the population with Smart Bro, a revolutionary high-speed broadband Internet service that uses the nationwide network of Smart to wirelessly connect computers to the World Wide Web.

Through its Smart Schools Program, Smart is also providing Internet access, content and training to faculty and students of 150 public high school and 30 public elementary school partners nationwide.

Maxxclip

May 30th, 2008, 07:16 AM

^^Accessibility of internet...for all...sounds good;)

sana gamitin lang sa may makabuluhang bagay :D

amigo32

May 30th, 2008, 09:56 AM

^^Accessibility of internet...for all...sounds good;)

sana gamitin lang sa may makabuluhang bagay :D

like sex education?:D

Juan Pilgrim

May 31st, 2008, 08:14 PM

Inquirer Money / Breaking News
http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20080531-139914/Japan-BPO-firm-chooses-Philippines-over-India

Japan BPO firm chooses Philippines over India

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Posted date: May 31, 2008

MANILA, Philippines—Tokyo-based Transcosmos Inc., said to be the biggest contact center company in Japan, has chosen the Philippines over India as a launch pad for its entry into the English-language market, its chosen Philippine partner said.
The local partner is the medium-sized call center firm, Logicall Inc., based in Makati City.

“The objective of this partnership is for the Philippines and Logicall to become the primary English delivery location that will answer the existing demands of Transcosmos Inc.’s client base,” Logicall chief executive Archie Rodriguez said.

He said Transcosmos would invest P120 million to help Logicall expand its capacity in the Philippines from 300 to 3,000 seats by 2011.

The partnership also enables Logicall to offer more value-added services such as multilingual support, digital marketing and analytics, he added.

Transcosmos and Logicall officials said at a news briefing Friday that Transcosmos would leverage its strength in the Japanese electronics market to offer technical support and after-sales call center services in North America, Europe, and Australia.

They said the Philippines in general and Logicall in particular had the right values, quality of labor, scalability and culture to cope with value-added work.

Transcosmos officials said the company recently registered revenue of $1.6 billion. They said Transcosmos had an international footprint that concentrated on the Japanese market.

They said the company’s existing network of 22 delivery centers and IT support facilities in Japan, China, South Korea and Thailand supported some of the world’s biggest blue-chip companies.

Logicall officials said their company specialized in customer relationship management.

It provides customer management solutions for technical support, communication, travel, health care, insurance, human resource and financial services for American and European clients, they said. Riza T. Olchondra; edited by INQUIRER.net

http://members.tripod.com/~bbls/Ev014.gif

:horse:
J.P.

Igsuonnimo

May 31st, 2008, 09:19 PM

Cebu to host Asian open source summit in October

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net

First Posted 17:16:00 05/31/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Public and private sector representatives from 21 countries will sign an open-source agreement at a regional summit in Cebu this October.

Cebu will host the bi-annual Asian Open Source Software Conference, founded by Japan-based Center for International Computerization and Cooperation (CICC).

Started in 1983, CICC assists developing countries in their computerization efforts under the auspices of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The Philippines is a member of CICC and is represented by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT).

Representatives from 21 member-countries will sign a memorandum of agreement on open-source, said Anson Uy, president of local software services firm Touch Solutions, which was tapped by CICT to organize the conference.

"What this means is that each country is agreeing to share resources with the others to advance and support open-source," Uy told INQUIRER.net via phone.

More than a government-led initiative, Uy expects the summit to benefit private businesses especially those engaged in open-source.

"Developing countries like the Philippines are usually represented by government bodies like CICT. But in developing markets like Hong Kong and Singapore, it's the private sector groups that are active in the CICC," said Uy.

Japan, in particular, is sending a delegation composed of executives from government and also private sector companies. Uy sees the summit as an opportunity for local open-source companies.

"We are looking at it as an outsourcing opportunity. Hopefully, we will be able to strike deals with companies who participate in the event," he said.

The conference will be held on October 28 to 29 at the Hilton Hotel in Cebu City. An earlier conference was held in China earlier this year.

:applause:

:horse:

:cool:

Igsuonnimo

June 2nd, 2008, 01:47 PM

Take Note:

The 17 areas are as follows: Bacolod, Bacoor, Baguio, Batangas City, Cagayan de Oro, Cainta, Naga City, Cebu, Angeles, Davao, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lipa, Manila, Sta. Rosa and Dagupan.

CICT reports outsourcing investments in 17 areas

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:46:00 06/02/2008

MANILA, Philippines--Seventeen areas in the country now have investors from the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, according to the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT).

CICT has identified a total of 22 areas in its drive to establish so-called ICT hubs ideal for BPO investors, according to Commissioner Monchito Ibrahim.

The commission is now working on adding Tagbilaran and Tuguegarao the list, he told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview.

"Out of these, 17 already have locators and most of them have created their respective ICT councils to take care of HR [human resource] issues," said Ibrahim, who is heading CICT's efforts to establish ICT hubs in partnership with the private sector.

Quezon City, which already has BPO locators in areas like Eastwood City, is the latest to form an ICT council. Metro Manila, which comprises Quezon City and other cities like Makati and Mandaluyong, is considered as just one area or ICT hub.

Ibrahim also cited the growing awareness about BPO in cities outside of the Metro Manila. He also noted increased enrollment in ICT-related courses in these areas.

The local BPO industry today generates estimated revenues of $5 billion and the industry is targeting to more than double that in less than three years.

Call centers continue to be the biggest revenue contributor although there are non-call center investments as well, even in areas outside Metro Manila.

In Bacolod, for example, major US operator Convergys is opening a call center, the fourth operator to locate. The latest investments in Bacolod also include a software company, and BPO companies that handle services for medical billing and investment banking customers.

"Total employment in Bacolod is expected to reach 6,000 by the end of the year. That should result to about P60 million to P90 million in new investments getting in Bacolod's local economy," Ibrahim said.

The 17 areas are as follows: Bacolod, Bacoor, Baguio, Batangas City, Cagayan de Oro, Cainta, Naga City, Cebu, Angeles, Davao, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lipa, Manila, Sta. Rosa and Dagupan.

From inquirer.net
CICT reports outsourcing investments in 17 areas (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080602-140303/CICT-reports-outsourcing-investments-in-17-areas)

:horse: :rock: :hi: :wave: :cool:

LordCarnal

June 2nd, 2008, 08:22 PM

^^

what's open source all about? what benefits are we as consumers going to get from it?

odyssey

June 3rd, 2008, 03:56 AM

It will help small firms save on IT technology because the operating systems like Linux and Unix are free. The softwares that run on Linux and other open-source able OS are also cheaper.
It will enable the company’s IT department to modify and improve the OS according to their company’s needs and wants. Open Source technology is more flexible.
It will sharpen the creativity of Pinoy IT programmer because they have to think of ways to continuously improve the system.
It will minimize the company’s dependency on expensive patented/licensed software.

barrera_marquez

June 3rd, 2008, 01:05 PM

barrera_marquez

June 3rd, 2008, 01:13 PM

Bigyan ko kayo ng examples mga ate at kuya:

May free download ng Ubuntu OS para sa mga taong wala pa ring OS pero walang pambili para sa isang Windows license... at para na rin sa mga sawa na sa Windows... this OS is legally free to download and use. And as far as my experience is concerned dito mga kuya, this is the best Linux distribution ever and not to mention the most widely used... at hindi tulad ng Windows, may kasama na siyang complete at full-featured na office suite na comparable at compatible sa MS Office.

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

Ito mukhang matutuwa ang iba rito, para sa mga taong gumagamit ng pirated na Microsoft Office or wala pa nito pero still, wala pa ring pambili, subukan ninyo ang OpenOffice.org... compatible siya sa Microsoft Office (meaning read, write and even save in MS Office formats) kaya wala na kayong magiging problema sa licensing ng MS Office. Subukan ninyo, libre lang naman ito...

http://www.openoffice.org/

Sinong naghahanap ng Photoshop dito pero walang pambili or again, pirated? Well, mayroong isang program na open-source na pwedeng ipamalit sa Photoshop, ito ay ang the GIMP... magkasingdami sila ng features pero hindi tulad ng Photoshop, mas magaan ito sa system resources...

http://www.gimp.org/

Ang lahat ng programs na ito ay may source code na pwedeng i-download ng libre seperately... dahil nga pwedeng humingi ng kopya ng source code nito, pwede rin ninyong kalikutin ang software... (e.g. Palitan ang pangalan, icons, baguhin ang layout, etc.)

red_jasper

June 4th, 2008, 07:19 AM

^^ thanks for the links :cheers2:

dinabaw

June 4th, 2008, 08:08 AM

Davao to be a center for outsourcing companies
06/04/2008 | 10:40 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Davao City, the Philippines’ largest urban area in Mindanao, is expected to be a viable alternative information technology hub three years from now, a study said.

In a report, research firm XMG said organizations belonging to the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry are expected to lead the development of the area as a robust technology hub.

Citing a study it conducted between January to March 2008, the company said that outsourcing vendors who participated in the survey are very bullish about Davao City, primarily due to the area’s larger population of untapped qualified resources compared to Cebu City in the Visayas.

The study highlighted that competition in Cebu City is nearing saturation as the talent ramp-up continues.

The study also highlighted the population of Davao City as considerably higher than other Tier-2 offshoring cities globally. In the Philippine context, Davao City’s population is 71% higher than Cebu City, 499% larger than Olongapo-Subic City, 333% higher than the Angeles-Clark area, and 340% larger than Baguio City.

“The city’s estimated workforce is twice of Cebu, 9 times of Subic, and 7 times of Clark, and 6 times of Baguio. This has not even taken to account the manpower pool at the nearby cities and provinces of Davao City," the company said.

According to the study, Davao City has various educational institutions annually yielding a higher number of IT and BPO qualified graduates than Subic, Clark, and Baguio by 689%, 278%, and 40% respectively.

Telecom facilities, transportation networks, and public transport systems are already in place in Davao City, the study said. However, XMG indicated there is a need to further improve and modernize these services.

In addition, the existence of a public transport system in Davao City is noteworthy yet still needs improvement in order to expand locators’ recruitment reach and the transportation of people from various points in and out of the city.

The study said the attractiveness of Davao City is greatly affected by the negative perception about the Mindanao region as a whole.

On February 2008, a travel advisory was released by US Consular Affairs warning their citizens on the risk of traveling in Central, Western, and Southern part of Mindanao due to security and safety reasons, which includes terrorism.

XMG researcher Camille Lumbang said that although these travel warnings are empirically grounded from actual hostile incidents in Mindanao, it should be emphasized that these are only isolated incidents from specific areas.

“There is a challenge then to substantiate and prove that such occurrences do not pose a general security threat for Davao City," she said.

Lumbang admitted, however, “there is a crying need for both the government and private sector to act together in improving the overall image of Davao City to attract ICT locators."

Citing a previous study, XMG said Davao City has been upgraded to a level C2 rating from its previous level D standing as the city emerges as a viable site for captive and outsourcing services.

“While there are still a number of geopolitical, geophysical and infrastructure challenges, the large untapped manpower base in Davao City will give its allure and ‘staying power’ as a viable site in the years to come," Lumbang said

The report continues added: “Potential locators in Davao City must have a heightened awareness and should conduct their own formal and internal risks analysis rather than reacting to headlines about specific regions under consideration such as the problems happening in other parts of Mindanao."

Among the emerging alternative offshoring cities cited in the study were Montevideo in Uruguay, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Casablanca in Morocco. It focused on forecasting the global demand for offshoring and outsourcing services and the site optimization of emerging cities. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/99096/Davao-to-be-a-center-for-outsourcing-companies

odyssey

June 5th, 2008, 05:12 AM

Philippines' IT industry needs Money for Development!!!!! We also Need More Engineering Graduates. The OFW engineers who left the Philippines in the 1980's should retire early and go back to the Philippines to work as experienced Engineers, Consultants or Professors!

R&D knocking at our door
http://www.itmatters.com.ph/columns.php?id=posadas_060308

Two recent meetings during the past few days have changed my outlook on R&D in the Philippines. It is no longer simply a token thing we can ignore. It is happening in our midst. For both cases I will be discussing today, the parties involved are open to telling their stories but not their identities.

Case 1 is a big German electronics firm famous for automotive products and spare parts. I was invited to a briefing by the representatives of the firm. Initially, DoST Director Bernie Justimbaste, Dr. Norbert Que from the University of the Philippines and I briefed the representatives on what we could do (in terms of electronics R&D) in the country. The meeting went well but the interesting discussions began when we asked how many people they needed for their R&D center.

"We need 1,000 engineers."

I have never in my life heard of a 1,000-man R&D center in the Philippines. Even the R&D group of the multinational company I used to work for never reached that number. So we began to ask whether what they needed were mostly BS degree holders in engineering and science, and they replied mostly MS and some PhD.

Needless to say, all of us were floored. Even the proposed Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) alliance of seven universities across the country led by the University of the Philippines would really need to be super-sized if R&D centers of this type were to be set up in the Philippines.

We asked them who our competition was. After some time, it looks as if the competitor is Thailand. This is why I have not divulged the identity of this company. The selection is still ongoing.

We told them we hoped they would pick the Philippines. But really, if our sales pitches were to work, can we come up with the numbers?

***

Case 2 is a Filipino electronics manufacturing company (EMS), one of the first in the Philippines. Based in Laguna, the company has seven factories, one in China. The typical EMS takes an order from the big tech names (e.g. Nokia, IBM, Toshiba, etc.), follows their instructions in terms of settings for the machines that place the components, and basically takes the materials from the customer. In short, we are simply a job shop.

But this Filipino EMS has bigger plans. From being just a contract manufacturer, they are now venturing into Contract Device Manufacturing (CDM) which means that they are now designing their products locally, building them locally, and selling them to the big name tech firms already as products. So in effect, the foreign firms simply slap their brand labels on these gadgets, but these gadgets are locally developed.

The CEO of this firm personally took us around his factory and showed us the products he is manufacturing. He also showed us several of the products his designers have designed, built and prototyped locally. He said that we have the capability and capacity to build our own cellphone, but that the only thing stopping them is that Filipinos still have their loyalty to their branded cellphones (e.g. Nokia, Samsung, etc.).

Finally, he said that they originally planned to come up with a 1,000-man R&D team as well, but they could only keep 30 now. The reason? Once they train the engineers, they automatically leave. Canada immediately gives their families a green card, while Singapore and other nearby countries automatically pay top dollar.

***

So what is stopping us from building a local Silicon Valley? Is it money? There is a lot of money available locally, but it is not going into the right things. It goes into a lot of real estate projects, but not enough goes into technology. Perhaps that is because very few people understand how to make money off it.

But we need to act now and stem the flow of talent abroad or at least attract talent back home. The R&D opportunities are knocking at our doors. Our ’70s incentives drawn up from the days of Marcos and EPZA are no longer enough.

Programs like ERDT, where UP Diliman, De La Salle, Ateneo, CLSU, University of San Carlos, Mapua, MSU-IIT have agreed to collaborate on generating MS/PhD graduates really need to be super-sized. We need armies of engineers and scientists as the next wave of outsourcing, which is R&D outsourcing, is coming into full strength into Asia.

R&D needs to be written off under international accounting rules, and cannot be depreciated spending. Perhaps something that needs to happen is for government and industry to look at how to share in the burden of R&D so it looks more attractive to industry and not simply as something that can put a company’s books in the red.

Our neighbors, even Vietnam, have turned the corner into higher value added activities. We still consider these activities as theoretical discussions.

They are knocking at our door and we have no clue how to attract them here.

odyssey

June 6th, 2008, 04:46 AM

Open source ‘not a threat’- group
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/99571/Open-source-not-a-threat--group

CEBU CITY, Philippines - A group of computer manufacturers, distributors and dealers in the country believe the emergence of the open source software technology is not a threat to the industry.

Instead, the group considers open source technology as a source of “grassroots ideas."

“Expertise in the open source software technology is still very limited," said Wesley Ngo, director of the Computer Manufacturers, Distributors and Dealers Association of the Philippines (Comddap).

Another Comddap director, Salvador Lastrilla, also added that open source is still in the infancy stage although its growth potential is “very, very big."

“Open source has to be encouraged," said Lastrilla, adding that radical ideas will most possibly come from the use of open source software technology.

“The industry just has to find a (balance)," he said, referring to the use of both the open source software and the branded operating systems, like Windows, in the industry.

Although the best-selling ultra-mobile notebooks already come with free open source software, like Linux, Ngo said open source still lacks the needed technical support to address the problems encountered by companies.

Comddap, which aims to promote the sustainable development of the country’s information technology industry, is also taking steps to make computers more affordable to the masses.

This, considering that the country still ranks low in the personal computer penetration rate compared with other Asian countries.

The group has successfully lobbied for the removal of customs duties for computers and hardware imported by distributors and dealers to bring down their cost.

Reducing prices

“We are also looking into the removal of the Expanded Value-Added Tax," said Ngo, but added that the group understands that the government also needs to earn.

The group is also looking into the possibility of coming up with a financing scheme, with the support of the government, to allow more people to purchase computers.

Lastrilla said many countries, like Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia, are implanting such schemes.

The adoption of a policy similar to South America’s and China’s “one-laptop, one-person policy" was also suggested but Comddap said the country is not yet ready for this.

Instead, Comddap suggested that the government allow computer purchases to be credited from the income tax of the
buyer since this will also encourage the collection of the sales tax and the issuance of invoices.

Comddap is also bringing to Cebu its ninth exposition of over 500 products in the IT industry on July 3 to 5.

Six exhibitors are Cebu-based companies like CBX Corp., Cebu LMI Technologies and Thinking Tools Inc.

Aside from big discounts, the expo will also feature an auction hour, technology update sessions and projector shootouts.

The first leg of the second Google Earth Amazing Race contest will also start in Metro Cebu and will be participated in by some of Cebu’s top colleges and universities.- Sun.Star

red_jasper

June 6th, 2008, 05:34 PM

(Update) June is National ICT Month (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/99771/(Update)-June-is-National-ICT-Month)
06/06/2008 | 10:10 PM

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared the month of June as "National Information and Communications Technology (ICT) month."

This is embodied in Proclamation No. 1521, which she signed last May 28. Mrs. Arroyo said the proclamation seeks to consolidate the ICT plans of the government and the private sector.

"The government recognizes the need to harmonize and coordinate the government’s and private sector’s ICT programs and projects and other ICT-related initiatives to ensure their consistency with the government’s overall development goals as well as to encourage the principle of developing ICT that is private sector-led, market-based and government-enabled," the proclamation read.

The President ordered all departments to coordinate with CICT to implement the plans, programs, and activities that will fulfill the objectives of the Proclamation. - BusinessWorld

odyssey

June 7th, 2008, 09:43 PM

Public-private ICT partnership pushed
http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS20080608126809.html

By EDU LOPEZ

A strong public and private partnership is crucial in harnessing the opportunities brought about by the effective use of information and communications technology (ICT).

This was stressed by CICT Secretary Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III during the recently concluded 12th ICT Professionals’ Congress.

Organized by the Philippine Computer Society (PCS), the congress has once more successfully brought together stakeholders in the industry in the sectors of government, industry and the academe.

"CICT has always been supportive of the PCS. After all, both institutions have a mutual goal of enriching the ICT profession to realize an ICT-enabled Philippines," said Chua.

With human capital development as one of the most critical elements of the national ICT agenda, Chua said that, it is, similarly, one of the CICT’s strategic initiatives in the Philippine ICT Roadmap.

"Our focus is on transforming the Filipino human capital into a knowledge workforce, and creating employment opportunities for better economic and social well-being of Filipinos," Chua said.

Chua reported that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has allocated substantial funds for a scholarship program intended for the ICT professionals.

A collaborative effort of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines, the "PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Program" has been given P350 million funding to train human resource for the offshoring and outsourcing (O&O) sector.

Over 40,000 potential recruits will be benefited through training programs that will help them qualify to work in the O&O sector, a key component of the ICT industry.

"This will help us attain our vision of employing close to one million Filipinos, while generating up to US billion in revenues and capturing 10 percent of the global O&O market by 2010. We at the CICT believe that through this sterling example of ublic-private partnership, our lofty objectives are within our reach," said Chua.

The CICT, through CICT’s Human Capital Development Group, or HCDG, also helps uplift Filipino ICT competitiveness by integrating ICT in education through the eQuality Program for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and the iSchools and the eSkwela Projects.

The CICT supports the industry’s goal of professionalizing ICT practice. "Filipino ICT practitioners should seize opportunities to build up skills by availing the certification programs currently available from the CICT through its component agency, the National Computer Center. Anchored on international standards, these certification programs will impart competencies necessary for mobility in the local and global ICT markets," Chua explained.

CICT offers three major ICT Certification Programs. The International Computer Driving License (ICDL) is a world renowned end-user computer skills certification program which assesses an individual’s competency level in the use of personal computers.

The ICDL modules include basic concepts of IT such as using PCs and managing files, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation, Internet and email.

Secondly, the IT Proficiency Exam administered in coordination with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) consists of the Annual ICT (EDP) Proficiency Tests for Computer Programming and Systems Analysis and Design. Passers are issued a certificate of proficiency which will serve as basis for granting appropriate ICT (EDP) Specialist Eligibility by the CSC.

The National ICT Competency Standards (NICS) Test specifies and defines the most basic set of competencies all non-professional or professional Filipino ICT practitioners in various organizations, industries and sectors should be able to demonstrate at given levels of proficiency.

Chua concludes that "government is doing its best to implement the national ICT agenda. Nonetheless, strong publicprivate partnerships continue to be an indispensable strategy in maintaining the country’s competitive edge in the global ICT scene.

Events such as this ICT Professionals’ Congress not only enhance Filipino expertise but also exemplify the importance of collaboration. Rest assured that government is one with the private sector in addressing the need to continually enhance the knowledge and skills of our students and ICT professionals which are key to addressing the new challenges of the information age, said Chua.

Igsuonnimo

June 7th, 2008, 11:01 PM

Iloilo gearing up to become ICT outsourcing hub (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080607-141355/Iloilo-gearing-up-to-become-ICT-outsourcing-hub)

By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080607-141355/Iloilo-gearing-up-to-become-ICT-outsourcing-hub)
First Posted 19:39:00 06/07/2008

MAKATI CITY, Philippines -- Iloilo is boosting its campaign to attract more business process outsourcing projects in the next few years, as it declared its own information and communications technology week this month.

Rolly Gambol, executive director of the Iloilo Federation for IT (IFIT), said this declaration was made to help promote the province as an alternative outsourcing destination other than Cebu.

"Studies show that Iloilo has a bright future if we can put our acts together," said Gambol.

Iloilo province produces about 18,000 graduates every year, with about 9 percent finishing IT-related courses alone, he said, noting a steady growth for the past three years.

The province has four state colleges and several big universities. At least four outsourcing centers have also set up shop in the province, including Teletech.

"We want to promote IT and uplift the manpower quality to become more attractive," he said.

IFIT was organized with the help of the Cebu Educational Development Foundation for IT, which is an organization representing government, the private sector and the academe.

Boni Belen, executive director of Cedf-IT, said IFIT was the first group it helped create three years ago.

Gambol said that a study has shown that Iloilo was rated as a competitive location next to Quezon City. This has been due to lower cost of living, peace and order, and a good supply of manpower from universities.

He said that the challenge for IFIT is to convince real estate developers to support its push to become an ICT outsourcing hub.

Gambol said Megaworld is planning to build a commercial and IT economic zone in Iloilo.

"We need more aggressive support from the real estate developers," he added.

Another major challenge of Iloilo province is power.

Gambol said there is a strong lobby against the setting up of a new coal fire-powered plant in the province, which hopes to generate about 100 Megawatts of power that will support the province for the next five years, considering the increasing demand from users.

Iloilo, he said, is currently getting power from the Visayas grid (sourced from geothermal plants) and its own diesel-powered plant, which is producing 80 to 90 Megawatts.

"We're banking on the potential of Iloilo to become the next Cebu,” he said.

From inquirer.net
Iloilo gearing up to become ICT outsourcing hub (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080607-141355/Iloilo-gearing-up-to-become-ICT-outsourcing-hub)

bartstrife99

June 8th, 2008, 12:48 PM

Public-private ICT partnership pushed
spacer

By EDU LOPEZ

A strong public and private partnership is crucial in harnessing the opportunities brought about by the effective use of information and communications technology (ICT).

This was stressed by CICT Secretary Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III during the recently concluded 12th ICT Professionals’ Congress.

Organized by the Philippine Computer Society (PCS), the congress has once more successfully brought together stakeholders in the industry in the sectors of government, industry and the academe.

"CICT has always been supportive of the PCS. After all, both institutions have a mutual goal of enriching the ICT profession to realize an ICT-enabled Philippines," said Chua.

With human capital development as one of the most critical elements of the national ICT agenda, Chua said that, it is, similarly, one of the CICT’s strategic initiatives in the Philippine ICT Roadmap.

"Our focus is on transforming the Filipino human capital into a knowledge workforce, and creating employment opportunities for better economic and social well-being of Filipinos," Chua said.

Chua reported that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has allocated substantial funds for a scholarship program intended for the ICT professionals.

A collaborative effort of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Business Processing Association of the Philippines, the "PGMA Training for Work Scholarship Program" has been given P350 million funding to train human resource for the offshoring and outsourcing (O&O) sector.

Over 40,000 potential recruits will be benefited through training programs that will help them qualify to work in the O&O sector, a key component of the ICT industry.

"This will help us attain our vision of employing close to one million Filipinos, while generating up to US billion in revenues and capturing 10 percent of the global O&O market by 2010. We at the CICT believe that through this sterling example of ublic-private partnership, our lofty objectives are within our reach," said Chua.

The CICT, through CICT’s Human Capital Development Group, or HCDG, also helps uplift Filipino ICT competitiveness by integrating ICT in education through the eQuality Program for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and the iSchools and the eSkwela Projects.

The CICT supports the industry’s goal of professionalizing ICT practice. "Filipino ICT practitioners should seize opportunities to build up skills by availing the certification programs currently available from the CICT through its component agency, the National Computer Center. Anchored on international standards, these certification programs will impart competencies necessary for mobility in the local and global ICT markets," Chua explained.

CICT offers three major ICT Certification Programs. The International Computer Driving License (ICDL) is a world renowned end-user computer skills certification program which assesses an individual’s competency level in the use of personal computers.

The ICDL modules include basic concepts of IT such as using PCs and managing files, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation, Internet and email.

Secondly, the IT Proficiency Exam administered in coordination with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) consists of the Annual ICT (EDP) Proficiency Tests for Computer Programming and Systems Analysis and Design. Passers are issued a certificate of proficiency which will serve as basis for granting appropriate ICT (EDP) Specialist Eligibility by the CSC.

The National ICT Competency Standards (NICS) Test specifies and defines the most basic set of competencies all non-professional or professional Filipino ICT practitioners in various organizations, industries and sectors should be able to demonstrate at given levels of proficiency.

Chua concludes that "government is doing its best to implement the national ICT agenda. Nonetheless, strong publicprivate partnerships continue to be an indispensable strategy in maintaining the country’s competitive edge in the global ICT scene.

Events such as this ICT Professionals’ Congress not only enhance Filipino expertise but also exemplify the importance of collaboration. Rest assured that government is one with the private sector in addressing the need to continually enhance the knowledge and skills of our students and ICT professionals which are key to addressing the new challenges of the information age, said Chua.

odyssey

June 9th, 2008, 03:26 AM

BPAP backs creation of IT department
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/june/09/yehey/business/20080609bus5.html

THE Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP) has thrown its support behind moves in Congress to create the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

In a position paper furnished Senator Edgardo Angara, who chairs the committee on science and technology, BPAP said it is giving full support to Senate Bill 920, authored by Senator Loren Legarda.

The paper, a copy of which was obtained by The Manila Times, said the DICT’s creation would serve as a catalyst for achieving Roadmap 2010, a plan drawn up by the BPAP that aims at capturing 10 percent of the global market for outsourced e-services by 2010. The plan also calls for earning at least $ 13 billion in revenues a year and generating 900,000 jobs.

”Countries with whom the Philippines is competing with in the ICT industry [such as] India, China, and Malaysia have all established their own ICT departments within their government structure and are fully empowered to lead the necessary initiatives to pave the way necessary for industry success,” the paper read.

It said the creation of the DICT would bring the country in line with regional neighbors and other countries in having a fully-empowered ICT ecosystem.

”If the Philippines should prove unable to cultivate a strong ICT environment, it would only be a matter of time before other less-developed countries can leapfrog over us,” the paper read.

The paper said that the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), the DICT’s precursor, is already considered a strong ally and supporter of BPAP and the whole information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) industry.

BPAP is the federation of companies that offer e-services, including call centers, medical transcription firms, animators, back-end office work providers, software houses, online editorial services providers, online game creators, and animators.
--Ike Suarez

CGYanon

June 10th, 2008, 05:27 PM

Philippine telco to offer Apple iPhone by year-end
Veronica C. Silva
06/10/2008 | 07:55 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Apple’s iPhone 3G will soon be offered to subscribers of Globe Telecoms Inc., allowing the company to gain an edge over its leading rival, industry leader Smart Communications.

Ayala-led Globe said the much-anticipated latest device will be available to both postpaid and prepaid subscribers but refused to release other details, such as pricing.

“We are very excited to be working with Apple to bring Filipino consumers iPhone 3G later this year," Gerardo C. Ablaza, Jr., President and CEO of Globe Telecom, said in a statement. “Our customers are our greatest passion and we’re constantly striving to offer them the most innovative products such as the revolutionary iPhone 3G."

Apple announced Monday that the 3G iPhone will be available in 22 countries by July 11 and up to 70 countries by yearend.

“We are thrilled to bring iPhone 3G to millions of mobile customers in the Philippines," said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO, in a statement. “We can’t wait to get this revolutionary mobile device in the hands of even more people around the world."

Although details of price plans have yet to become available, Ovum senior analyst Steven Hartley noted that “owning an iPhone may still be prohibitive to all consumers given the technology used."

“Given that they are 3G rather than EDGE data plans it is likely that they will be more expensive. Therefore, the total cost of ownership of the new iPhone could remain prohibitive to many," said Hartley.

Globe, which has 21 million subscribers, refused comment besides releasing the press statement.

Singapore Telecom, which owns a stake in Globe Telecom, said last month that it and its partners are distributing the iPhone in the region starting this year.

The new iPhone will be faster than the first generation iPhone and will support hundreds of third party applications already built with the recently released iPhone SDK.

Shares of Globe, the Philippines’ second-largest mobile phone company, fell P35 to P1245.00 during Tuesday’s trading at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). - GMANews.TV

Juan Pilgrim

June 11th, 2008, 11:16 PM

MABUHAY ANG PILIPINAS!!!

http://anton.blogs.com/flag/large.jpg

MABUHAY ANG PILIPINO!!

MABUHAY ANG ARAW NG KALAYAAN!!

:horse:

J.P.

odyssey

June 17th, 2008, 01:43 PM

Better late than never.

e-Government
House OKs bill splitting DOTC, creating new IT dept
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/june/17/yehey/techtimes/20080617tech1.html

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill proposing to install a totally new department that would look after and advance the country's information and communications technology (ICT) sector.

Under the bill, the new Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) would be spun off from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

All existing DOTC offices dealing with communications would either be built into or attached to the DICT. These include the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Philippine Postal Corp. The National Computer Center, now assigned to the Department of Science and Technology, would also be ceded to the DICT.

"The DOTC's administrative and jurisdictional foundations can no longer cope with the rapid advances in ICT. Thus, the need to establish a wholly new, full-grown department to deal with ICT matters exclusively," said Catanduanes Rep. Joseph Santiago, chairman of the House committee on ICT.

Santiago's panel, together with the committee on appropriations chaired by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and the committee on government reorganization chaired by Zamboanga City Rep. Erico Basilio Fabian, previously endorsed the bill.

Under House Bill 4300, Santiago said the new DICT would "ensure the provision of strategic, dependable and cost-efficient ICT infrastructures, systems, and resources as instruments for nation-building and global competitiveness."

Santiago, former chief of the NTC, said the new department would "promote a policy environment of fairness, broad private sector participation in ICT development, and balanced investment between high-growth and economically-depressed districts."

He said the DICT would likewise be mandated to ensure:

The accelerated development of convergent networks of ICT facilities;

Universal access and high-speed connectivity at fair and reasonable cost;

Ample ICT services in areas not sufficiently served by the private sector;

Widespread use and application of emerging ICT;

A strong and effective regulatory system;

Adequate consumer protection as well as free and fair competition;

Abundant human resources for ICT development;

Incentives to grow ICT industries;

Protection of the right to privacy; and

ICT support for culture, education as well as public health and safety.

The bill defines ICT as "the aggregate of all electronic means to collect, store, process and present information to end-users in support of their activities."

ICT consists of computer systems, office channels and consumer electronics, as well as networked information infrastructures, the components of which include the telephone system, the Internet and satellite/cable television.
-- Tech Times Online

Juan Pilgrim

June 17th, 2008, 04:09 PM

It's about time.
Better delayed than never.

:horse:

J.P.

kiretoce

June 19th, 2008, 06:56 PM

Filipinos are top Multiply users (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryID=122308)

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/images/news/newspics/abs/20080619pinoymultiply.jpg

A third of the traffic going to social networking site Multiply, or approximately 300 million page views, is coming from Filipino users worldwide, top Multiply executives said Wednesday.

Multiply president and founder Peter Pezaris said Multiply gets about a billion page views a month, a third of which comes from Filipinos in different parts of the globe. This makes Filipinos the number one users of Multiply, ranking higher than users in the United States where the site is based.

Pezaris said the Filipino culture's emphasis on family and relationships is the main reason why the social networking site is so popular in the Philippines.

"The reason why we are popular here, I think, relates to that notion of friends and family, the fact that our service is much more focused on connecting you with people that you know in real life rather than introducing you to people that you don’t know. It’s a site that really plays into the cultural phenomenon that’s here in the Philippines," he told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

David Hersh, Multiply vice-president for business development, also said the integration of unlimited photosharing in Multiply is very attractive to Filipino Internet users. Most Filipino Multiply users are female, in the 18-25 age bracket, and average about 160 Multiply page views a month.

"Filipinos are just rabid consumers of content. It’s amazing. Those 160 page views aren’t just fluff page views of people bouncing from profile to profile. It’s people consuming photos, videos and blogs from the people in their world. It’s meaningful activity. It reflects the deep level of engagement that we have with our user base especially here in the Philippines," Pezaris said.

Local partner

For the Philippine market, Multiply recently partnered with ABS-CBN Interactive to tap local advertisers and launch mobile services for Filipino Multiply users. (Disclosure: Abs-cbnNEWS.com is run by ABS-CBN Interactive.)

Paolo Pineda, ABS-CBN Interactive managing director, said the company is the exclusive reseller of advertising on Multiply for the Philippines. He said ABS-CBN Interactive will also be actively campaigning to build Multiply's user base in the country.

One of the successful Multiply communities launched by ABS-CBN Interactive centered on the Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition Plus show. The show now has two sites - the official one where profiles and schedules are posted and a Multiply site where PBB fans can go online.

Pineda said one local call center that advertised on Multiply was able to attract recruits through its Multiply community site.

"It’s more of these community building efforts online for Filipinos worldwide. We want to really try to populate the brand and get more people to understand it and work on the advertising and get the brands to see that this is really a safe place to put your brand in," he said.

Real-world relationships

Hersh said Multiply currently has nine million registered users worldwide, of which 2.2 million are Filipinos. He said that while the growth of Multiply has been slower compared to other social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, it is the real-world relationships in Multiply that sets it apart and ensures its longevity.

"If your online social network is full of people that you have no real world connection to, there’s very little reason to keep you there and it’s very easy for you to switch. But on Multiply, it’s your real-world social network online and your content and it’s the discussion that goes on around that content that’s going to keep you coming back," he said.

Adds Pezaris: "It’s closer, deeper relationships which enables the sharing of personal, meaningful content to you and the continuing sharing of that is the personal documentation of your life online. Over a period of time, you build up this history like a living scrapbook of what’s happening in your life and it’s a collaborative effort because while you add to it, all your friends and family add to it also and that’s what really develops the long-term value."

kiretoce

June 19th, 2008, 07:45 PM

Sun Microsystems wants to see the next Google coming from RP (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20080619-143604/Sun-Microsystems-wants-to-see-the-next-Google-coming-from-RP)

Sun Microsystems is placing its faith in the potential of Filipino software developers to create applications that would further revolutionize the Internet.

"There is a world of difference in the software ecosystem in the Philippines right now compared to maybe seven years ago when we first started our Java program here," said Matt Thompson, Sun Microsystems senior director for open source and technology outreach.

Java is a programming language created by Sun and used by developers to create software applications on the Web.

Thompson is in Manila for Tech Days, an annual event wherein Sun showcases its latest innovations on Java and other developer tools. More than 1,600 developers attended Wednesday's sessions, according to Sun, with a mix of students and professional developers participating.

"The software work coming from here (Philippines) has gone from being good regionally to being world-class. We want to see the next Google, Facebook or Yahoo come from here," Thompson said during a press briefing.

"We're seeing jobs (from overseas) move to the Philippines and we see that accelerating further in the next few years," he added.

Thompson, who heads Sun's open source developer programs, believes the local software industry's strengths lie in having a good mix of schools with skilled developers and likewise companies "willing to take risks" with Java.

Over the years, Sun has invested significantly in its Java programs in the Philippines. A program called JEDI (Java Education and Development Initiative) trains teachers and students. The program started in the Philippines and has been expanded and adopted in many countries.

"The Philippines is in the top four countries in terms of our investments in Jedi. The ROI (return on investment) for us here is extremely high," Thompson said.

He said Sun is exploring ways to expand the program further and add more courses related to creating Web 2.0 applications.

"A class I want to teach is how they (developers) can develop something like Facebook or eBay. How do we take this new generation of developers and move from arming them with technical and entrepreneurial skills," Thompson said. "That's going to be our strategy for the next 12 months."

venntro

June 20th, 2008, 12:09 PM

^^ I am an avid Multiply user.

papi_chulo

June 22nd, 2008, 05:32 PM

^^Me too, downside is, insert a flash disk or any removable storage device tapos pagpasok sa PC mo sa bahay, susmaryosep sangkatutak ang impeksyon!

get a mac;)

LordCarnal

June 28th, 2008, 08:35 AM

This thread will serve as a guide to Wifi spots in the Visayas.

As I am from Cebu, I and my fellow forumers shall only contribute Wifi spots in Cebu.

I leave it to forumers from other places in the Visayas to contribute to this thread.

Let's all help build this database (and update it from time to time) for the benefit of those who are visiting our beautiful Visayan cities and provinces and wanting to avail of free Wifi.

:banana::banana::banana:

LordCarnal

June 28th, 2008, 08:43 AM

This is my partial list for Cebu. Let this serve as a guide visiting the metropolis and province.

Some of the listings might not be accurate so just excuse me for any blunder committed.

FREE

Province

1.) Entire plaza of Boljoon town
2.) Entire plaza of Argao town

Metro Cebu

1.) Offroads, Panagdait
2.) All restaurants and shops in Sykes Building, Panagdait
3.) Paseo Center, Mabolo
4.) Calabria Coffee, Osmeña Blvd.
5.) Bigbucks Coffee, Ramos Street
6.) DaVinci's Pizza Fuente, Osmeña Blvd.
7.) Coffee Bean - SM City Northwing
8.) Starbucks Fuente, Osmeña Blvd.
9.) Starbucks Paseo Arcenas, Banawa
10.) Starbucks SM City
11.) Starbucks SM City Northwing
12.) Starbucks Ayala Center (inside)
13.) Starbucks Ayala Center (outside)
14.) Starbucks Asiatown I.T. Park
15.) iStore Ayala Center
16.) Cebu City Sports Center, Cebu Business Park
17.) All BO's Coffee shops
18.) Handuraw Pizza, Gorordo Avenue
19.) JCA Pizza, Lahug
20.) Waterfront Cebu City Hotel Lobby
21.) Marco Polo Plaza Hotel (signal can be tapped near the gate)
22.) Mactan-Cebu International Airport
23.) Environs of St. Peter Funeral-Cebu Cathedral-Cathedral Museum-Parian area (signal originating from St. Peter)
24.) Outpost
25.) Westpoint, near Chiong Hua Hospital
26.) Xiamen
27.) Kenya
28.) Bigby's Ayala Center
29.) Bigby's SM City Cebu

FREE BUT LIMITED

1.) Cebu City Hall (for employees only)
2.) Golden Peak Hotel (for guests only)
3.) Perpetual Succour Hospital (for patients/clients)

Not sure if free.. Not sure too if they have Wifi but basically all coffee shops and major establishments in Cebu offer Wifi. Still to confirm..

1.) All Gloria Jeans Coffee outlets
2.) All Coffee Dream outlets
3.) Some areas in major malls in Cebu such as Banilad Town Center, Ayala Center, SM City, SM Northwing, all Gaisano Malls, Parkmall, Robinsons, eMall, Mango Square, One Mango Place, Raintree and Cocomall, Mactan Marina, Crossroads, etc.
4.) Supercat Terminal

NOT FREE, NEEDS SUBSCRIPTION

1.) Cebu City Marriot Hotel (P960 for one day)
2.) Dominion Wireless (covers the entire area of Fuente and Capitol)
3.) JY Square Mall (at least three signals exist)
4.) Smart Bro (anywhere where there's a Smart signal)
5.) Globe (anywhere where there's a Globe signal)

kurom

June 28th, 2008, 08:58 AM

is the free wi-fi really free? when we had our meet sa bo's coffee sa it park, i can't get through the wi-fi thing. mmmmm. oh well.

ZenChedi

June 29th, 2008, 05:50 AM

FREE wi-fi sponsored by Pfizer Virtual Library
(range limited to floor adjacent to Virtual Library but free for everyone)

1) Cebu Doctors University Hospital
2) Velez Hospital-Cebu Institute of Medicine

slimer

June 29th, 2008, 06:36 AM

is the free wi-fi really free? when we had our meet sa bo's coffee sa it park, i can't get through the wi-fi thing. mmmmm. oh well.

i think some cafes offer free wifi connectivity after at least you purchase something from their shops/stores, ie mineral water, etc.

SUV111

June 29th, 2008, 07:03 AM

Bacolod WIFI list

Robinsons Place foodcourt
Sylvia Manor
L'fisher Hotel
Sorrento
East Block
McDonald's Lacson
Mister Donut Lacson
Garden Cafe
Mayfair Plaza
Palmas del Mar
MO2 Days Inn
Circle Inn Hotel
Northwest Inn
Business Inn Hotel
bacolod Executive Inn
Bacolod Pension Plaza
Figaro
Pietro Kaffe
University Courtyard
UNO-R Campus
La Salle Campus
Bob's Lacson
Cafe Uma
Sugarland Hotel
Hotel Pagcor Bacolod
Chowking Lacson
Planta Hotel and residences
Jollibee Lacson
kundutel
Westown
Kuppa
Pendy's

SUV111

June 29th, 2008, 07:04 AM

is the free wi-fi really free? when we had our meet sa bo's coffee sa it park, i can't get through the wi-fi thing. mmmmm. oh well.

sometimes it has something to do with the computer...if your using vista, sometimes nagkakaproblema. :)

nicko

June 29th, 2008, 08:46 AM

My Dumaguete WiFi list (as far as i know...)

Silliman University Campuses
Foundation University Campuses
Negros Oriental State University Main Campus
St. Paul University
Dumaguete City Police Station
Jollibee Perdices
Jollibee North Road
McDonald's Perdices
Some parts of Portal West Mall
Le Cimbali Coffee
Food Street, LSP
Cafe Antonio
Living Cafe
Le Traveler's Cafe
Cafe Noriter
Country Bakers
Sweet Bites (Idelsefa Suites)
Gabby's Bistro
Cafe Italiano (Youdel)
A business shop beside Copyer Silliman
Miracle Mile Coffee
Bethel Guest House
La Residencia Almar
Hotel Palwa
Coco Grande Hotel
Sta. Monica Beach Resort
Dumaguete Springs Condotel
Dumaguete Springs Resort
Why Not Muscic Box Entertainment Complex (Chez Andre and Chicco's)
Biz Hub.com Silliman U
Biz Hub.com Capitol Area
Biz Hub.com Foundation U
Happy Fred's
Dunkin Donuts Perdices (soon)

rau

June 29th, 2008, 09:17 AM

im here in argao right now & im using their Free wifi to post this reply

diehardbisdak

June 30th, 2008, 09:03 PM

^^ let me specify the locations of Bo's Coffee shops in Cebu...

here it is:

- Osmeña Blvd. (fronting Cebu Doc University)
- Raintree Mall, F. Ramos Street
- Robinson's Place, Fuente Osmeña
- Ayala Entertainment Center
- SM City Cebu
- Asiatown IT Park
- Banilad Town Center
- Mactan Cebu Int'l. Airport

kiretoce

July 14th, 2008, 07:54 PM

Filipinos really are crazy...Internet crazy (http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/sensiblenetnonsense/post.htm?id=63004940&scid=rvhm_ms)

First off, let me just say, the past few weeks have been quite, shall we say, illuminating! In case you missed the announcement of my move, the past few weeks have really tested my knowledge and instinct of Pinoy net-pop culture trends. From the mundane to the more business aspects and even to the insane, I've had to really take stock of where Filipinos are headed in this online trend and where we, as businesses should be heading... or at least trying to get involved in a piece of the action.

At the top of my list is the discovery of Universal McCann's Wave 3 research and how it's really opened my eyes further--if I opened them any further I'd be an owl. Anyway, this research, which was conducted early this year, was able to collate data indicating some very surprising numbers regarding Filipino internet habits. First of all, out of the total population (based on recent studies, like the IDC and InternetWorldStats, online Filipinos have already hit the 17M mark, up from 14M last year), 84 to 86% of that are actually part of a Social Network of some form, the most common ones in the Philippines being Friendster, Multiply and Facebook.

Next in the Wave 3 study was my discovery of the blogging culture and how much it has grown in the local market. You've seen the article in Wired and the Web 2.0 in 5 Minutes video that says 'there's a blog born every minute', but what you probably didn't know is that Filipinos consume UGC or user-generated content like whales in krill-infested water: 90% of wired Pinoys have read or still read blogs and 98% of them have either seen or still watch YouTube videos.

But what really got me mind reeling was the numbers and interesting stories that Dave Hersh of Multiply shared with me when they dropped by for a visit last June. Before I get into it, just a little bit of detail: Friendster is still the most popular social network in the Philippines, with over 12M of their 50+M subscribers to be Filipino. Close to 40% of their daily traffic comes from the Philippines, majority of which is in the 15 to 29 age range. So yes, Friendster really has a commanding foothold in the Philippine internet scene... but then again, and I wrote about it a few months ago, they'd never accounted for all the multiple accounts and the so-called 'poser' accounts or fake, copy and bogus accounts.

But Multiply, wow... now there's some pretty impressive numbers. First of all, a disclaimer: they don't have the high number of registrants like Friendster does. Multiply only has a grand total of 12M registered users. But, and this is a big but, 2.8M of that 12M are Filipino, and they make up more than 30% of Multiply's daily traffic. But wait, there's more! Out of the total 2M photos uploaded daily, Filipinos upload, get this, 1M photos. The record high for photos uploaded by Filipinos was set last December 26, 2007--1.8M photos were uploaded on that day.

We should be on Guinness.

The funniest story I got out of Dave was this though. A few months ago, they started noticing that there were days when their server would 'redline', meaning utilization of the server would peak and almost crash. This happened a couple of times, and they couldn't figure out what was going on. After a few more days of this happening, they were finally able to pinpoint the problem: it was a holiday in the Philippines.

FaceBook is next and it's up there already. Haven't gotten hold of the numbers yet, but we're trying to get those as well. Brands area already making apps, while celebrities are again invading the FaceBook space. Events are being forwarded via the built in event calendar, and tagging photos have become an after gimmick ritual.

And don't forget Twitter and Plurk (there is even a PhPlurk out there for folks who want to update their Plurk Timeline via mobile). According to a couple of folks I'm following on Twitter, JimAyson and Budjette Tan, there are about 2,275 Twitter users in the Philippines. For Plurk? I've no clue... but the folks I've been following on Twitter--and there are hundreds of them mind you--they've begun crossing over to Plurk as well.

The trends bode well for us internet geeks, that much I can say. And because of Filipinos' affinity for being social, well, it just makes sense that the next wave of social media strikes a chord in our hearts. It's a good year to be online, for users and advertisers alike.

johnmizer

July 16th, 2008, 02:17 PM

any news about the dual sim phones?

kiretoce

July 23rd, 2008, 11:17 PM

Making contact with the dead: Welcome the e-burol (http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/july/24/yehey/life/20080724lif1.html)

Indeed, the wonders of technology. Bridging the gap between people has never been easier. No longer did you have to travel miles to see a loved one, or wait for days or weeks to read their mails.

Missing someone? Buzz them at Yahoo! Messenger. Wanting to let them know you’ve been thinking about them? Call or text them on their mobile. Curious about how they’ve been doing recently? Check their Friendster or Facebook profiles or Twitter updates even.

Can’t make it to their funeral? See the wake online.

Death and the digital

St. Peter Chapels, one of the stalwart companies in the local funeral industry, now offers what could change how Filipinos pay respect to their dead: the e-burol.

Launched in October of 2007, what originally began as a funny idea soon developed into an actual service of the chapel. The pioneering concept of the e-burol was fuelled by the desire to change the common notion of death as morbid and frightening. By introducing the e-burol, the chapel aimed to reach out to people who were afraid of coming in funeral parlors, thereby allowing them to participate in the wake of the deceased by viewing it through the Internet instead.

The idea caught on, however, with another market. Through the service, people abroad or in the far end of the country who could not make it to the wake, either because of financial or circumstantial constraints, were now able to take part in their loved one’s funeral.

Currently available at St. Peter Chapels in Quezon City and 10 other provinces, the free-of-charge e-burol is quite simple. The Chapel’s manager or Technical Services staff provides a customized private password to the family, who then can use it to access the real-time 24-hour video feed from the wide-angle camera inside the chapel, through the St. Peter website. It is up to the family on whom to share the password with, thus making the service only exclusive to friends and relatives of the deceased.

Knowing no boundaries

With the Filipino’s culture of tight-knit families and the rise of fellowmen living abroad, the e-burol has been received positively by the chapel’s clients. While some skeptics found the idea too weird, families who have availed of the service have praised it, as they found consolation in being connected with members who, though far away, still were able to share their grief.

“They’re just so happy and eager to say hi to friends and families in other parts of the world. The fact that they’re there to pay respects to their loved ones is already a consoling experience, so it’s not that anymore difficult, that heavy for the family,” observes Mildred Vitangcol, executive vice president for Luzon and vice president for marketing and business development, of the reactions of those who benefited from the online viewing service.

Teresa Smith, a Filipino migrant in Australia, says that the e-burol is a stroke of genius. Unable to come home to pay her last respects to her deceased brother, she felt detached from her family members and was left to grieve in isolation. In a letter, she writes that, through the online viewing service, she and other relatives living overseas were able to see her sibling. The connection with their family in the Philippines made the wake lively, just the way her brother would’ve wanted it. “By being able to view our brother, it made our grief and sorrow feel more real and I was able to let go of that emotion especially during the final hours leading to his internment.”

Truly, our love will always find ways to bring us closer to our loved ones, in life, and yes, even in death.

odyssey

August 19th, 2008, 05:22 AM

RP’s first service portal carving its own market
http://www.mb.com.ph/INFO20080819132810.html
By MELVIN G. CALIMAG

Despite the intense competition on the Web, a dotcom is thriving quite well primarily because it has chosen to carve its own market niche as a service portal.

88DB.com Philippines, which is part of the job site JobsDB.com group, is said to be first service portal in the country that gives a venue for freelance service providers and entrepreneurs to advertise their crafts for free.

In fact, the company, during its second anniversary party at the Manila Ocean Park, announced that it would soon roll out an interactive map that will guide users in finding their way around the various areas of the country for the services promoted in the site.

Edmund Zialcita, business development manager of 88DB.com Philippines, said that by "cyberboosting" their businesses, service providers can make their presence felt strongly in the Internet.

Since its launch on Aug. 8, 2006, the service portal has grown to have more than 130,000 members and 90,000 ad postings under 25 pre-defined categories and a separate channel for businesses based in Cebu.

To different itself from traditional search engines, 88DB.com created a classified site for organizations and companies to promote and hire services of various kinds. It then serves as a platform for service providers and consumers to find each other and also as a community where users can interact with different service providers.

The site also serves as a venue for people to buy or sell products such as cars, pets, real estate, cellphones and other electronic gadgets.

The dotcom firm said it revolutionized the traditional online platform allowing consumers to easily find their desirable services in over 300 specific service categories -- from sport coaching to private tutoring, design to live performance, business consulting to event planning and more.

By simply creating a profile and posting an advertising message in a suitable category, service providers can instantly promote to targeted consumers browsing in that category, and directly receive customer inquiries.

While undoubtedly a place for business, the company said it is also a venue where communities are created. "Each category in 88DB resembles a community where people sharing the same interest and specialty can meet, invite others to an event, or recruit new members to a social club," it said.

attitude2win

August 26th, 2008, 02:26 AM

New laptops offer security, reliability

MANILA, Philippines - Sony Philippines, Inc., the local unit of Japanese electronics giant Sony, recently launched its newest batch of notebook computers, aimed at boosting the company’s foothold on the business segment of the market.

Sony introduced its Sony VAIO Z, FW and SR series aimed at providing uncompromising mobility for its users while providing stylish laptops that are packed with impressive features.

"These Sony series represent a significant evolution in our offering to the business market," Komei Nosaka, the company’s Senior Sales Manager told reporters.

"We are constantly responding to what the market is telling us. Professional end users know what they need for their businesses: security, reliability and mobility. We provide the best of these features and functionality, all wrapped in a beautiful design," he added.

When it was first launched, VAIO (Video Audio Integrated Operation) was identifiable for its unique design as well as its audio-visual and IT capabilities.

"Now we are re-introducing the VAIO as the Visual Audio Intelligent Organizer. We want it to be also known for how it easily becomes part of one’s lifestyle," Mr. Nosaka said. "Engineered to understand our customers, the VAIO is now closer to them," he added.

The Sony VAIO Z is a definitive notebook for busy executives who are always on the go. The laptop has a 13.1-inch display, and weighs under 1.5 kilograms, thanks to its scratch-proof, carbon fiber casing.

"Carbon fiber is 30% lighter than traditional computer construction materials. As one would expect from a material that is more commonly used in aviation and Formula One, it is also 200% stronger," Sony VAIO marketing officer Zhorida Lipayon said.

The Sony VAIO Z’s battery life can be extended to over five hours with the Stamina Mode switch, which allows the user to prolong battery life by selecting a user interface with lesser graphics.

Meanwhile, the Sony VAIO FW is the company’s first laptop model capable of playing Blu-Ray discs. Like a widescreen, high definition TV, the 1600 x 900 resolution of the 16.4-inch display of the Sony VAIO FW promises crystal-clear videos.

"Since many films are shot with a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio, this extra-wide LCD is constructed with the same dimensions to ensure you don’t miss an inch of the original picture," Ms. Lipayon said.

"With this added horizontal real estate, you can view movies in their intended format while minimizing or eliminating those annoying black bars," she added.

Aside from the impressive video quality, the Sony VAIO FW boasts a superb audio system. Its Dolby Sound Room Audio recreates sound quality reminiscent of a small theater.

"Built with a 5.1-channel surround sound effect for your headphones, it makes watching a movie with a truly cinematic experience," Ms. Lipayon said.

Finally, Sony introduced its VAIO SR series. With its cylindrical hinge design and wafer-thin crystal-clear display, the VAIO SR Series notebook is astonishingly compact, weighing under two kilograms.

Powerful Intel Core 2 Duo processors are backed up with two gigabytes of high-speed system memory.

"The Sony VAIO SR also features a unique ’Switch’ function, which lets you change the whole personality of the notebook at the touch of a button. This means you can switch from a customized personal desktop to a serious, professional look and feel," Ms. Lipayon said.

The Sony VAIO Z has a suggested retail price of P109,990; the Sony VAIO SR costs P89,990; the Sony VAIO FW with a two-gigabyte memory costs P89,990; and the four-gigabyte version costs P159,990.

source:
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116026/New-laptops-offer-security-reliability

attitude2win

August 26th, 2008, 02:42 AM

[dx]

September 20th, 2008, 05:53 AM

RP: From texting capital to leader in (Inter)networking (http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view/20080920-161755/RP-From-texting-capital-to-leader-in-Internetworking)
By Riza T. Olchondra
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Yup, we socialize to the max.

The Philippines not only has the reputation as the texting capital of the world, with one billion text messages sent daily, but it also has the highest number of Internet users in the 16 to 64 age group who join social networking groups. In Universal McCann’s study on social media Wave 3 report, the Philippines had the highest penetration of social networking among Internet users at 83.1 percent, compared with the global average of 57.5 percent.

Social networking is practiced by Web based communities of people who share interests and activities. Users have a variety of ways to interact, such as e-mail, instant messaging services and blogs. Some examples are Multiply, Friendster, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Live Journal and Blogs.

Favorite reading fare

The Philippines also had the second highest incidence of blog-reading among Internet users at 90.3 percent. South Korea topped the blog readership list at 92.1 percent. The global average was 72.8 percent. All over the world, including the Philippines and South Korea, personal blogs or diary blogs are the favorite reading fare.

About 65.8 percent of Filipino Internet users write blogs, compared with China which topped the survey at 70.3 percent. Globally, 44.8 percent of Internet users blog, mostly about themselves.

Penetration only 15%

This means that Filipinos prefer to read about other people more than write blogs about themselves—but so does the rest of the world. It must be noted, though, that Internet penetration in the Philippines was relatively low—around 15 percent—compared to cell phone penetration of more than 60 percent. There’s definitely a lot of room for growth.

Still, Universal McCann said its study indicated that blogs and social networks were becoming “mainstream” media and were a valid platform for spreading information.

The study also showed that there was a wealth of opportunities for traditional media publishers as well as advertisers to explore. But more importantly, it indicated that consumers were no longer passive—they had more control on how they consume content. They also had more ways of telling other people about their views on products, services, people and events.

Universal McCann’s study was undertaken in March 2008 among 17,000 respondents in 29 countries. Those included in the study were Internet users 16 to 54 years old who accessed the World Wide Web every day or every other day. With Inquirer Research

SUV111

September 20th, 2008, 06:40 PM

Bacolod City WIFI hotspots!!!

Malls
Robinson's place Bacolod foodcourt
Figaro
Pietro Kaffe
University Courtyard
Bigby's Gaisano City
Sorrento
Mayfair

Hotels
Sylvia Manor Hotel
L'fisher Hotel
O-Hotel(formerly Bacolod executive Inn)
Days Hotel MO2
Pagcor Hotel Bacolod
Sugarland Hotel
Business Inn
Northwest Inn
Circle Inn
Planta Hotel and Residences
Kundutel
Palmas del Mar
Bacolod Pension Plaza

Restos
Bascon Cafe Lacson
Bascon Cafe La Salle
Bob's Lacson
Chowking Lacson
Mcdonalds Lacson
Mister Donut Lacson
Jollibee Lacson
Bar21
East Block1 & 2
Max's
Garden Cafe
Cafe UMA
Mang Inasal North Drive

Schools
University Courtyard
La Salle Campus
UNO-R Campus

DARK SPIRIT

September 20th, 2008, 10:47 PM

Bacolod City WIFI hotspots!!!

Malls
Robinson's place Bacolod foodcourt
Figaro
Pietro Kaffe
University Courtyard
Bigby's Gaisano City
Sorrento
Mayfair

Hotels
Sylvia Manor Hotel
L'fisher Hotel
O-Hotel(formerly Bacolod executive Inn)
Days Hotel MO2
Pagcor Hotel Bacolod
Sugarland Hotel
Business Inn
Northwest Inn
Circle Inn
Planta Hotel and Residences
Kundutel
Palmas del Mar

Restos
Bascon Cafe Lacson
Bascon Cafe La Salle
Bob's Lacson
Chowking Lacson
Mcdonalds Lacson
Mister Donut Lacson
Jollibee Lacson
Bar21
East Block1 & 2
Max's
Mang Inasal North Drive

Schools
University Courtyard
La Salle Campus
UNO-R Campus

THANKS for the updated list SUV!:okay: Curious lang ko,how many branches na ang Max's Resto sa Bacolod? Which branch may wi-fi?

LordCarnal

September 21st, 2008, 06:19 AM

Keep on updating this list guys.

.:.

SUV111

September 21st, 2008, 08:07 AM

THANKS for the updated list SUV!:okay: Curious lang ko,how many branches na ang Max's Resto sa Bacolod? Which branch may wi-fi?

Max's only got 1 branch...its in SM city Bacolod, the one in Robs, nag close na yun, sila rin ang franchise ng Gerry's grill...see the connection? ang Max's sa SM hindi na yan franchise. :)

DARK SPIRIT

September 21st, 2008, 08:12 AM

Max's only got 1 branch...its in SM city Bacolod, the one in Robs, nag close na yun, sila rin ang franchise ng Gerry's grill...see the connection? ang Max's sa SM hindi na yan franchise. :)

:ohno: I read that Gerry's Grill has also closed?Bad business....:ohno:Anyway,I hope Max's in SM City is doing well.THANKS for the Reply SUV111!

SUV111

September 21st, 2008, 08:16 AM

^^ yah, they are doing well bro :) dami palagi tao :) hehehehehe

no problem..join ka sa main thread. just post whatever you want. ok?

red_jasper

September 24th, 2008, 09:23 AM

24/09/2008 by Sourav Dutta

ECI Telecom, a global provider of networking infrastructure solutions, has signed an agreement for the supply of broadband access solutions to Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT).

ECI's Hi-FOCuS-5 Multi-Service Access Node (MSAN) central office and outside plant solution has been chosen to support PLDT’s nationwide expansion of high-speed internet DSL services for both business and residential customers over the operator's existing copper infrastructure.

Part of ECI's 1Net business framework, the Hi-FOCuS is a carrier grade, future-proof MSAN solution, providing PLDT with the optimal transition path to a next-generation network solutions as it looks to deliver new services such as IPTV and VoIP in the future.

ECI's Hi-FOCuS MSAN is claimed to be the only solution in the market that simultaneously supports xDSL, next-generation voice and fibre technologies in any network architecture, enabling seamless evolution as network operators transition from copper-based solutions to broadband intensive services supported by fibre access.

Source (http://www.digitalmediaasia.com/default.asp?ArticleID=33026)

slimer

September 28th, 2008, 06:07 AM

Pier One at The Walk in AITP Cebu offers free wifi. just ask the waiters the password.
ang password nila kay ang one of their specialty dish. kanang logo nila nga sinugba (hint na).

jameslab8470

September 28th, 2008, 06:38 AM

Bos IT Park done have a free wifi. If you tried searching wifi connectivity sa area, daghan and most of them are secured. Before, there is one connection that is not secured and gives you free internet connection. But it is not from Bos. Maybe you thought that its from Bos kay naa mo sa Bos. hehe.

sometimes it has something to do with the computer...if your using vista, sometimes nagkakaproblema. :)

Its very rare bai.. and definitely not because of your operating system. If you always fail to connect a certain wifi, try to check if the signal is strong. if it is weak, definitely magputolputol, or worse.

If it is strong, then, your laptop may have infected from a virus. Its a bigger chance that naay virus imo laptop maski na duha o tulo ang imo anti virus software.

I totally disagree na dili ka ka connect, or naay problems if vista imo gamiton. Personally, i use vista. Naa xa security feature that will prompt the user first that the system will connect to a certain wifi.

SUV111

September 28th, 2008, 07:58 AM

Bos IT Park done have a free wifi. If you tried searching wifi connectivity sa area, daghan and most of them are secured. Before, there is one connection that is not secured and gives you free internet connection. But it is not from Bos. Maybe you thought that its from Bos kay naa mo sa Bos. hehe.

Its very rare bai.. and definitely not because of your operating system. If you always fail to connect a certain wifi, try to check if the signal is strong. if it is weak, definitely magputolputol, or worse.

If it is strong, then, your laptop may have infected from a virus. Its a bigger chance that naay virus imo laptop maski na duha o tulo ang imo anti virus software.

I totally disagree na dili ka ka connect, or naay problems if vista imo gamiton. Personally, i use vista. Naa xa security feature that will prompt the user first that the system will connect to a certain wifi.

i said that based on experience coz we were in a certain in bacolod and all of us were using vista, then 2 were using xp...the xp can connect but the vista cant. so we contacted the IT pesonnel and she said that there are problems with vista na kung minsan di talaga maka connect. we tried to reboot the system, pero wala pa rin nangyari. but in other areas ok naman ang connection.

bacolodchamp

October 13th, 2008, 10:45 AM

The Paperless City of Silay
By Gil Alfredo B. Severino

When Councilor Mike Maravilla of Silay described Mayor Jose “Oti” Montelibano, “He (Mayor Oti) believes that the foundations for the future Silay must be established first. Mayor Oti is not a believer of publicity even if you tell him about the value of public information. Foundation first, he would insists.”

Short of publicity, no one seems to notice that the public plaza of Silay City and the Silay City Sangguniang Panglunsod (SP) building is Wi-Fi ready (wow!). Attend a SP session every Tuesday and all City Councilors have laptops and USB where all papers attachments and the day’s agenda are stored, “It is a paperless Silay, saving the City cost of paper and spaces for filing cabinets,” Maravilla said.

There is more to this ‘paperless Silay, if Maravilla is to be asked, “To be paperless means the City saves 80 percent of the usual cost of paper for the whole operation of the City including filing spaces. This is estimated to be thousands and thousands pesos savings. Beyond the papers saved, this is very symbolic that we do not cut trees to make all those papers.”

“The paperless Silay, although not 100 percent computerization yet, saves cost and saves the environment. This is unestimated for now but the direction is towards saving the trees that could have been raw materials for paper,” Maravilla stressed.

No longer then “The Paris of Negros,” but the City of Silay that will stand out as the first City in the country to have a WiFi ready public plaza. What do you call Silay, then?

The word “Silay” itself is very steep in historical significance. It is a woman warrior who fought for the salvation of what Silay is and can be. This is rare among other places in the Philippines where a woman, Cansilay, is the center of its history.

Perhaps, Silay City as the IT hub of Negros? Sounds right.

http://thenegrostimes.com/oct1308feature1

federalist

October 14th, 2008, 06:29 AM

bacolodchamp

October 14th, 2008, 06:31 AM

^^it says "the first City in the country..." so, lusot sila. hehehe

federalist

October 14th, 2008, 06:37 PM

bitaw sad.:)

that's good for Silay City to attract more tourists to come.

Felicitaciones!:cheers:

mgmgrand

October 15th, 2008, 05:42 PM

I am planning to have a vacation with my family in Cebu, Which is the best hotel available in Cebu, All suggestions are welcome.

iloilocitykid

October 16th, 2008, 05:52 AM

^^it says "the first City in the country..." so, lusot sila. hehehe

When did Silay have this? Baguio already had wifi in Burnham Park since April of this year.

Burham Park Sun Star News (http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2008/04/02/news/free.wifi.now.open.at.burnham.park.html)

habagatcentral1

October 16th, 2008, 06:13 AM

I thought also Cagayan de Oro has a free wifi public access (I think I saw those several threads ago and was discussed)?

iloilocitykid

October 16th, 2008, 06:16 AM

^^ Yeah. Metro Wifi nga ang CDO eh. Hmm, the writer of that article should do some more research first.

BYAHILO

October 16th, 2008, 06:20 AM

does any body here know kung saan may free wifi access sa Roxas city? i have been tryign to google ala ako makita.

im trying to bring lappie next na alis ko...

habagatcentral1

October 16th, 2008, 10:39 AM

But the important thing is increased accessibility for information is important in this age, and that's it. :)

JuIcYdUdE22

October 16th, 2008, 11:04 AM

icarusrising

October 16th, 2008, 02:06 PM

RP joins global celebration to boost innovation, entrepreneurship (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/127276/RP-joins-global-celebration-to-boost-innovation-entrepreneurship)
VERONICA C. SILVA, GMANews.TV
10/15/2008 | 09:55 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is participating in a global celebration that will recognize the importance of incubating businesses to grow innovation and entrepreneurship around the world.

The United Kingdom Business Incubation (UKBI) is spearheading the First Global Business Incubation Day (GBID) celebration involving as many countries from across the five continents.

“December 8, 2008 will see the first ever global celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship through business incubation," UKBI said on its website with a countdown saying that the celebration is only 53 days away.

UKBI claimed that it is the UK’s authority in business and technology incubation, according to its website.

Industry associations in the Asia Pacific and North America have already pledged participation in the event as indicated by the logos posted on the GBID website at http://www.globalbusinessincubationday.org.

UKBI said over 40 countries have already committed activities on the day.

In the Philippines, the UKBI has touched based with the Ayala Foundation, Inc. which is currently helping manage and support four technology businhess incubation (TBI) facilities nationwide.

Two are located inside the campus of state-run University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City. One is in the campus of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in Makati City while the latest is in the UP Visayas Cebu College in the Visayas region.

On December 8, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is set to launch a low-cost incubation facility inside the UP Diliman campus.

The university will also launch its pre-incubation facility on the same day, UP Diliman Vice-Chancellor for Research and Development Luis Sison said. - GMANews.TV

icarusrising

October 16th, 2008, 02:16 PM

RP maintains global IT competitiveness ranking (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/127474/RP-maintains-global-IT-competitiveness-ranking#)

Article posted October 16, 2008 - 05:34 PM
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines retained its ranking in this year’s global competitiveness index in information technology (IT) sponsored by an international business software group.

However, it scored poorly in one of the major categories—research and development (R&D)—prompting the Business Software Alliance to recommend that the Philippines take decisive action to stay competitive.

In the second annual BSA IT benchmarking study, the Philippines retained its rank of 47 as last year. But two countries were included in this year’s index—Bangladesh and Croatia, bringing the total number of countries to 66.

A BSA official warned that the Philippines cannot sustain this ranking in the long-term because of its poor performance in the R&D index.

The Philippines still bested Asian countries with which it is competing in IT services. India, considered as number one worldwide in IT services, ranked 48 while China, which is producing a huge share of the IT output worldwide, ranked 50.

The study was conducted by the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) using quantitative and qualitative data, and completed by July, said BSA vice-president and Asia Pacific regional director Jeffrey Hardee, in a press briefing in Makati City on Thursday.

The study, contained in a report titled How Technology Sectors Grow: Benchmarking IT industry competitiveness 2008, was conducted to provide governments and policy makers with a road map of where they want to go given their countries' strengths and weaknesses, explained Hardee.

The Philippines scored 29.8 against India's score of 28.9 and China's score of 27.6. But the scores of these three Asian countries pale in comparison to the leaders in the list.

The United States, which held on to its number one spot for the second year, scored 74.6 while Taiwan, which ranked two from six the previous year, scored 69.2.

The countries were evaluated based on six categories with different weights. The categories with their respective weights are the following: overall business environment, 10 percent; IT infrastructure, 20 percent; human capital, 20 percent; legal environment, 10 percent; R&D environment, 25 percent; and support for IT industry development, 15 percent.

The Philippines ranked in the middle to lower middle of all six categories except for R&D where the Philippines ranked 62 out of 66 countries. - Veronica C. Silva, GMANews.TV

Wind Shear

October 18th, 2008, 08:00 PM

Here's a list of wifi hotspots in Cebu (http://www.imug.ph/forums/index.php?topic=186.0).

diehardbisdak

October 19th, 2008, 10:50 AM

^^ question lang bai....is Parkmall in Mandaue City, Cebu - the country's first mall-wide free Wi-Fi hotspot?

nicko

October 19th, 2008, 02:29 PM

DUMAGUETE WIFI HOTSPOTS updated

Schools
1. Silliman University
2. Foundation University Main Campus
3. Negros Oriental State University Main Campus
4. St. Paul University (Some parts)
5. Asian College of Science and Technology
6. Metro Dumaguete College

Fast Food Chains
1. Jollibee – Perdices
2. Jollibee – North Road
3. McDonald’s - Perdices
4. Shakey’s - Rizal Boulevard
5. Chowking - Perdices (Soon after the present renovation)

Cafés
1. Café Antonio
2. Le Traveler’s Café
3. Lee Cimbali Coffee
4. Living Café
5. Miracle Mile Coffee and Study Center
6. Tangy Swirl
7. Café Italiano
8. Café Mamia
9. GK Coffee
10. Sweet Bites
11. Country Bakers
12. Cafe Binfico
13. The Cellar
14. Cafe Palmyra
15. Daily Grind Coffee
16. Cafe Noriter

Restaurants / Bars
1. Don Atilano Steak House
2. Happy Fred’s
3. Hayahay Treehouse Bar and Restaurant
4. Why Not Music Box
5. Qyosko
6. Gabby's Bistro
7. Hayahay Pizza

Internet Cafes
1. Biz HUB Silliman
2. Biz HUB NORSU
3. Biz HUB FU
4. The Business Atrium
5. Youdel
6. Café Noriter
7. Waterfront Café / Mike’s Adventure Dive Shop

Hotels / Resorts
1. Hotel Palwa
2. La Residencia Almar
3. Bethel Guest House
4. Sta. Monica Beach Resort
5. South Seas Beach Resort
6. Coco Grande Boutique Hotel
7. Hotel Nicanor
8. Dumaguete Springs Condotel
9. Florentina Homes Apartelle
10. Honeycomb

Others
1. Portal West Mall
2. Lee Super Plaza’s Food Street
3. Dumaguete City Police Station Complex
4. Sidlakang Negros Village
5. St. Peter Memorial Chapels :lol:

* The Municipality of Amlan's public plaza is a WIFI Hotspot.

diehardbisdak

October 20th, 2008, 06:26 PM

Free Wi-Fi at Don Merto's
at Casa Escaño - Cebu City
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2269/2179750897_3edba41ef7.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2353/2180540122_6343cda0af.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2394/2180541438_ea8468c1cc.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2069/2180540524_7d7628d318.jpg?v=0

icarusrising

October 23rd, 2008, 03:58 PM

PhilWeb's profits surge after upgrading e-gaming facilities (http://www.gmanews.tv/story/129005/PhilWebs-profits-surge-after-upgrading-e-gaming-facilities)
10/23/2008 | 08:35 PM

MANILA, Philippines - PhilWeb Corp., an online casino company, said earnings for the first nine months this year soared by nearly three-fourths after it upgraded its electronic gaming facilities.

Net income reached P211.8 million from January to September, 74 percent higher than earnings reported during the same period last year, said PhilWeb, which claims to be the first and largest listed Philippine internet company.

Bet volumes have reached P200 million for several days, which is a “significant increase over past averages," PhilWeb president Dennis O. Valdes said in a statement.

“More and more people are visiting our cafes, and those that do are spending more in them," Valdes added.

Increased visits from their patrons may have been the result of “upgrading comfort and interior design of its facilities," Rafael G. Ongpin, the company’s vice president for corporate communications, said in a separate email message to GMANews.TV.

Previously, its betting cafes were similar to ordinary internet cafes “with small booths and ordinary office chairs," Ongpin said.

“We have upgraded to more comfortable booths and more luxurious chairs in many of our sites, as well as introduced larger flat-screen monitors and amenities such as free drinks and snacks for regular customers," Ongpin said.

Approximately 109 e-Games Cafes are currently operating in the country, all of which are accredited by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Besides the growth surge experienced in its core business, the company also reported strong gains from its investment in ISM Communications Corporation. ISM owns 77.7 percent of Eastern Telecommunications Philippines, Inc.

The company’s equity in the net earnings of ISM was P52.6 million for the first three quarters of 2008, vs. P7.6 million for the same period last year, PhilWeb said.

Shares of PhilWeb fell P0.002 to P0.033 during Thursday’s trading at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

As of September 2008, its top shareholders include Ramon S. Ang, President and chief operating officer of San Miguel Corp., and Roberto V. Ongpin, PhilWeb Chairman and director of Petron Corp. - GMANews.TV

icarusrising

October 30th, 2008, 03:01 PM

eSkwela jazzes up learning with ICT (http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view/20081030-169300/eSkwela-jazzes-up-learning-with-ICT)
By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:01:00 10/30/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Information communication technologies (ICT) coupled with alternative learning systems (ALS) are vital in enhancing education and learning in the country, according to educators and policymakers attending the eSkwela Content Development conference in Balanga, Bataan.

“The use of ICT in ALS is very appropriate. The ALS is already at the doorstep of the 21st century learning—there are no walls, and life is content. There are no demarcations on subjects. The syllabus isn’t based on subjects but ‘learning strands’ like problem solving, critical thinking and productivity. We focus not on subjects per se, but skills,” Department of Education Bureau of Alternative Learning System director Carolina Guerrero said.

The eSkwela project hopes to bridge education gaps through eLearning for about 5.78 million out of school youth and adults (OSYAs) in the country, a 2003 study under the Department of Education (DepEd) noted.

“eLearning in inevitable and it is a very big experimental in this nascent stage,” added project consultant Lloyd Espiritu of the De La Salle University.

“The ‘e’ in eLearning spans a lot of meaning -- electronic, engaging, edutainment and emerging. It can also mean ubiquitous in the sense that it involves everything, every time and everywhere learning,” Espiritu said.

To help produce competitive and knowledgeable individuals, eSkwela's Content Development component has digitized 180 modules of the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS) modules and four Technical Education and Skills Development Authority courses for the use of the out-of-school youths.

A multimedia content development initiative of this scale calls for rethinking of teaching paradigms, said Guerrero.

“Two words come to mind: collaboration and content,” said Idea Corp. chief executive officer Emmanuel Lallana. Idea Corp. is a non-government organization advocating ICT for Development.

Lallana said quality content is needed to further drive the eSkwela initiative.

He suggested that to spur content creation, available online resources, such as Wikipedia, must be tapped to provide collaborative learning among target clients.

According to Lallana, Wikipedia is proof how ICT enables content development and community empowerment.

About 563 learners have graduated from eSkwela on its first year and 356 of them have taken and passed an accreditation and equivalency exams given by DepEd.

“This project means hope -- in that it reaches out to young people, bringing them back to education,” said Delfin Magpantay, president of Bataan Peninsula State Universtiy.

The eSkwela Project was initiated three years ago by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, Human Capital Development Group (CICT-HCDG).

icarusrising

October 30th, 2008, 03:04 PM

Davao university churns out own IT software, saves dollars (http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1232:davao-university-churns-out-own-it-software-saves-dollars&catid=33:economy)
Economy
Written by Manuel T. Cayon / Reporter
WEDNESDAY, 29 OCTOBER 2008 23:50
DAVAO CITY—A religious-ran university here has been saving dollars and improving its operations through the ingenuity of its Filipino information-technology (IT) experts who developed their own software and saved thousands of dollars for the institution.

The University (UIC) of the Immaculate Concepcion has been reaping dividends on the talents of its IT’s Management Information Systems (MIS) department, whose director himself, Rolly Tayabas, has developed two of the university’s systems software of the three separate campus of the UIC.

He was also set to develop another software to replace the existing software used to manage the records of the UIC human resource and the payroll.

“All the operations of the university have been computerized, from cashiering and finance-recording to issuing bar-coded identification cards and library stockpiling, facilitating transactions and “allowing even parents to check on whether their children really paid the money they gave for tuition,” Tayabas said.

Tayabas said the university formerly depended on the Blackboard software, an electronic learning (e-learning) tool that allows students to access online books and journals, engage in discussion forum in the class and link all computers and offices of the Bankerohan campus, the Bonifacio and JP Laurel Avenue campus.

The Blackboard software was acquired at $7,000 until 2006 when Tayabas developed his own e-Learning management system, which remained in use today extensively by the departments of the IT, pharmacy and the graduate school.

The e-Learning tool was being used to supplement the classroom instruction—for researches and online teaching—and not to replace the subjects in their classroom or in-campus milieu.

Tayabas has also developed another software, the LW3, for less work, less walk, less worry, and was intended for student registration and cashiering of student accounts.

These software were all Internet-based and thus, would allow students and faculty of the university, including the parents of the students to check on the accounts, grades and tuition of their children.

The computerization of UIC started in 1993 as a computer center and by year 2000, it has occupied the second floor of the left wing of the main building at the Bankerohan campus and was renamed later as the MIS. This main campus was the nerve center of the online connection for the three campuses with a population of 5,000 students.

Tayabas said his department has already requested, and got a favorable reply, a P2-million groundlaying installation of a fiber-optics system to make faster connection and save further on its interconnection charges with one of the major telecommunication companies.

The UIC was paying the telecommunications company P150,000 every month in connection and Internet charges.

He could not ascertain if the UIC was ahead of the rest of the other universities on computerizing its operations but he said its e-Learning tool was the first among the universities in the city.

It also boasts of an electronically linked library, with half-a-million-peso subscription to more than 37,000 titles, aside from electronic operations inside the library. “A student only has to go to an electronic machine to read the bar code of his ID and the bar code of the books he would borrow.”

Biometrics was also being used in the daily time records of the teachers and the nonteaching personnel but students use their IDs to be allowed entry. “The ID is good for the entire duration of the student’s stay in the campus until he or she graduates.”

Igsuonnimo

November 6th, 2008, 03:31 PM

BenQ eyes RP LCD monitor market (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20081106-170647/BenQ-eyes-RP-LCD-monitor-market)

By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20081106-170647/BenQ-eyes-RP-LCD-monitor-market)
First Posted 18:28:00 11/06/2008

MAKATI CITY -- Taiwanese IT manufacturing firm BenQ is attempting to gain back a foothold in the Philippines by launching its series of liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors.

The company's strongest products in the Philippines so far are its front projectors and the company is aiming to expand its visual products portfolio with the LCD monitors.

BenQ Asia Pacific Regional Sales Manager Eric YF Wei said the company aims to gain a significant share of the LCD monitor market in 2009 in Southeast Asia.

The company’s main focuses are the Philippines and Vietnam where they have lower market penetration.

"We're targeting to be number three in the LCD monitor market. By next year, we intend to introduce TV monitors, and perhaps eventually expand our portfolio to LCD TVs" Wei said.

Wei said that 40 percent of their worldwide revenues come from LCD monitors, followed by 30 percent from projectors. The rest are shared by notebook computers, digital cameras and mobile phones.

For the Philippines, Wei said that they are planning to compete in both features and pricing, even with market saturation by Korean brands such as Samsung and LG.

The company has tapped Astech Pengson as its local distributor.

The new BenQ LCD monitors are the 18-inch E900HD, the 22-inch E22HD, and the 24-inch E2400HD. These models are equipped with integrated speakers and are widescreen, high definition-ready.

BenQ also has an entry-level 18-inch monitor model, the G900HD.

Prices for these products range from P18,000 to P24,000.

Igsuonnimo

November 7th, 2008, 03:21 PM

Sun Microsystems launches database software, optimistic about Philippines

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/07/2008 5:12 PM

Sun, a multinational vendor computers, computer components, computer software, and information technology services, recently acquired MySQL AB, one of the most downloaded open source database software, for $1 billion.

Roman Tuma, director for Software Practice of Sun Microsystems in South Asia, said new web technologies such as MySQL Enterprise, a database designed for companies, could be a hit in the Philippines.

MySQL is one of the most popular open source database software in the world. Web giants such as Google, Yahoo, Facebook, YouTube, eBay, Wikipedia and Travelocity all run on the MySQL database program. More than 100 million copies of MySQL's open source database software have been downloaded and distributed since it was created, while another 70,000 copies are downloaded each day.

"I have seen tremendous potential of the Philippine market," Tuma told a news briefing and product launch at Hotel Intercontinental in Makati City on Thursday.

"The Philippines is one of the three countires with the highest number of downloads of the open source MySQL," he added.

Tuma said they are looking at government agencies, telecommunication companies, and educational institutions as the target clients in the Philippines.

The Bureau of Internal Revenues, which is spending $40,000 for proprietary database per CPU for its more than 100 units, is one of Sun's prospective clients.

Tuma said clients that shift to MySQL Enterprise can save as much as 90 percent of their database cost. The package, he said, includes the software, monitoring tools and technical support.

as of 11/07/2008 5:12 PM

absinthe_888

November 14th, 2008, 11:26 AM

Igsuonnimo

November 14th, 2008, 04:55 PM

Sun to cut up to 6,000 workers, 18 pct of staff
Sun Microsystems to cut up to 6,000 workers, or 18 percent of staff, in the next year

Friday November 14, 2008, 8:14 am EST

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Sun Microsystems Inc. says it will cut up to 6,000 of its workers, or 18 percent of its global staff.

Sun also says its software chief, Rich Green, has resigned.

The company has fallen into a deep slump as sales of its high-end servers have collapsed.

The Santa Clara, California-based company said Friday the job cuts will include between 5,000 and 6,000 employees over the next year.

It says the cuts will save $700 million to $800 million annually.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Sun-to-cut-up-to-6000-workers-apf-13570924.html

Sun Microsystems to cut up to 6,000 jobs
Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:28am EST

NEW YORK, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Sun Microsystems Inc (JAVA.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz). said on Friday it will cut 5,000 to 6,000 jobs, as the economic crisis has compounded the company's struggles with depressed demand for its high-end computers.

Sun said the job cuts represent 15 percent to 18 percent of its workforce, and are part of a broader restructuring plan it has undertaken in hopes of saving $700 to $800 million.

Sun expects to incur total charges in the range of $500 to $600 million over the next 12 months in connection with the restructuring plan, which also includes realigning its software division.

(Reporting by Paul Thomasch, editing by Dave Zimmerman)

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idINN1442135420081114?rpc=44

Sun Microsystems to cut up to 6,000 jobs
Friday November 14, 2008, 8:29 am EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sun Microsystems Inc (NasdaqGS:JAVA - News). said on Friday it will cut 5,000 to 6,000 jobs, as the economic crisis has compounded the company's struggles with depressed demand for its high-end computers.

Sun said the job cuts represent 15 percent to 18 percent of its workforce, and are part of a broader restructuring plan it has undertaken in hopes of saving $700 to $800 million.

Sun expects to incur total charges in the range of $500 to $600 million over the next 12 months in connection with the restructuring plan, which also includes realigning its software division.

(Reporting by Paul Thomasch, editing by Dave Zimmerman)

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Sun-Microsystems-to-cut-up-to-rb-13571141.html

Igsuonnimo

November 18th, 2008, 12:58 PM

ABS-CBN buys 5% stake in Multiply

By Elizabeth Sanchez-Lacson
Philippine Daily Inquirer (http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20081118-172824/ABS-CBN-buys-5-stake-in-Multiply)
First Posted 05:10:00 11/18/2008

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., through its unit ABS-CBN Global, has purchased five percent of global interactive website owner Multiply Inc. for $5 million in a bid to boost advertising revenues ahead of a projected economic slowdown next year, a company official said.

ABS-CBN Broadcasting is looking at raising its stake in Multiply, the operator of the social networking website Multiply.com, to about 10 percent over the next two to three years, for a total investment of $9-$10 million, ABS-CBN Interactive head Paolo Pineda said.

The initial purchase of five percent involves 2.5 million shares of Series P common shares at $1.9 per share.

Pineda said Multiply.com increased its membership to three million Filipinos worldwide this year from 1.5 million last year, and generates 400 million page views a month.

ABS-CBN Global distributes TV programs produced by ABS-CBN Broadcasting, and other Filipino-based content, outside the Philippines, principally on The Filipino Channel.

Multiply is a privately owned corporation based in Boca Raton, Florida. Its flagship website, which was launched in 2004, allows users to share pictures, video and music, and a venue for generating discussions, feedback and interest from and among its users.

Campos Lanuza & Co. said in a daily research note, “There is no exit mechanism at this point. Multiply faces tough competition with Facebook, MySpace, MSN, YahooGroups, YouTube.” Edited by INQUIRER.net

Igsuonnimo

November 20th, 2008, 12:56 PM

Ballmer: No more Yahoo takeover bid (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20081120-173282/Ballmer-No-more-Yahoo-takeover-bid)

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 07:50:00 11/20/2008

NEW YORK -- Microsoft Corp. chief executive Steve Ballmer on Wednesday ruled out making another takeover bid for Yahoo but said the US software giant remains open to a partnership on Internet search.

Ballmer, speaking at an annual shareholders meeting two days after Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang announced he was stepping down at the pioneering Internet firm, said his Redmond, Washington-based company had "moved on."

"Let me be as clear as I think I've tried to be publicly," Ballmer said. "We are done with all acquisitions, discussions with Yahoo. I've said that a bunch of times. Somehow some people have gotten confused nonetheless."

Yahoo co-founder Yang earlier this year rejected a $47-billion bid by Microsoft for his company, earning the disapproval of many shareholders and contributing to his decision to step aside as chief executive.

"We did our best," Ballmer said of the takeover offer for the Sunnyvale, California-based Yahoo. "We thought we had something that made sense. Didn't make sense to them. We've moved on."

But Ballmer said it would be "an interesting possibility to look at a search collaboration with Yahoo as we had proposed last summer.

"There's no active discussion on that front," he told shareholders at the meeting in Washington state. "But we'd be very open to it. But acquisition discussions are finished."

Google is the undisputed king of Internet search followed by Yahoo and Microsoft. Google accounted for 71.70 percent of all US searches in October 2008, according to Hitwise, while Yahoo accounted for 17.74 percent and Microsoft's MSN.com for 5.40 percent.

Yahoo's share price, which rose on Tuesday following Yang's departure, shed 20.87 percent on Wednesday to finish at $9.14. Microsoft also finished lower, falling 6.78 percent to close at $18.29.

Yahoo announced on Tuesday that Yang, 40, who took over as CEO in June of last year, would step down as chief executive once a replacement is found by the board of directors.

Yang, who founded the popular Web portal in 1995 at the age of 26 with a Stanford University classmate, had a troubled tenure as CEO.

Besides rejecting Microsoft's $33-a-share takeover bid, a proposed advertising partnership with Internet search king Google fell through this month amid opposition from US Justice Department antitrust regulators.

The deal had been expected to earn Yahoo hundreds of millions of dollars in the first year alone.

Yang's departure came less than a month after the company announced plans to lay off at least 10 percent of its workforce, some 1,400 employees, because of the weak economy.

Yahoo has been losing ground on the Internet to companies such as Google and social networks like MySpace and Facebook and the economic slowdown has hurt the firm particularly hard as advertisers cut back on spending.

g0Rs

November 24th, 2008, 07:29 PM

http://www.iligan.gov.ph/images/stories/banners/ictsummit.gif
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h117/Alingatong/SSC/ict1.jpg

National ICT summit to focus on local ICTs’ competitiveness enhancement
Written by Bong Garcia Jr. / Correspondent
Monday, 24 November 2008 20:51

The scheduled two-day first national summit of information and communication technology (ICT) councils will focus on the local ICT councils and foundations’ competitiveness enhancement in the business-processing outsourcing (BPO) industry.

The summit is scheduled to be held today and Wednesday, November 25 and 26, at the Maria Cristina Hotel in Iligan City, and which was organized by the Iligan Information and Communications Technology Council (IICTC, or Iligan eCouncil), Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) and the Iligan City Chamber of Commerce with support from the United States Agency for International Development’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao Program.

IICTC chairman Dr. Emmanuel Lagare said the two-day event is expected to lead to the formation of a National ICT Council to serve as an umbrella for networking and coordinating the activities of local organizations.

“These councils have sprung up outside Metro Manila and Cebu, in areas which seek to attract BPO investment as the industry expands,” Lagare added.

He noted that local ICT councils and foundations have proliferated in cities and municipalities across the country in response to the rapid development of the BPO sector.

He said successful public-private partnerships in ICT development in different regions of the Philippines, as well as labor requirements for BPO operations, will be presented in the plenary sessions.

He said there will also be in-depth analyses of the “next wave cities” of Cebu, Iloilo, Bicol and Davao, which have been identified by the Business- Process Outsourcing Association (BPAP) of the Philippines as “attractive locations around the country that have the potential to host an ICT ecosystem by leveraging on local talent and infrastructure.”

He added that urban centers with promising labor pools and expanding infrastructure, such as the cities of General Santos, Zamboanga and Iligan, are already gearing up for inclusion in the succeeding tier of “next wave cities.”

Iligan City houses one of the country’s top technical schools, the Iligan Institute of Technology, on its Mindanao State University (MSU) campus.

After the two-day summit, the participants will also visit the MSU campus and popular tourist spots in Iligan City, such as Tinago Falls, Ma. Cristina Nature Park and the Timoga Spring Pools.

businessmirror.com.ph (http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2402:national-ict-summit-to-focus-on-local-icts-competitiveness-enhancement&catid=33:economy&Itemid=60)

bods

December 1st, 2008, 09:15 AM

i don't know if this is the right thread to post though but anybody heard about innovent revulotion? It's a new IT company in the Philippines and composed mainly of young engineers and IT professionals. They just unveiled their first product last November 30 and it is called "Ilumina". Ilumina is an iTV(Interactive Television).

IslandSon.PH

December 2nd, 2008, 06:02 PM

IT SMEs from Japan mull expansion in the Philippines

Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat

Small and medium IT Japanese enterprises are keen on expanding their operations in the country particularly in the areas of animation, engineering designs, medical transmission, software development and other back office operations to save on cost as the world’s second largest economy plunges into recession.

Trade and Industry Undersecretary Elmer C. Hernandez, also Board of Investments managing head, said this after a successful investment mission in Japan sponsored by the ASEAN Japan Center.

"Japan is looking at the prospect in the Philippines for IT offshoring and outsourcing," Hernandez said even as he noted of the strong interests generated during the mission both in Tokyo and Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan’s second largest island and the largest, northernmost of its 47 prefectural-level subdivisions.

According to Hernandez, ASEAN Japan Center head Ambassador Nobutoshi Akao cited the country’s very promising sector because of its comparative advantage in having a qualified manpower pool.

"Japan has just slipped into economic recession and the only way to save on cost is through offshoring some of its operations," he said.

He said the Philippines has the best offer as an alternative site among Asian countries by the developed countries but whose economies are undergoing deep financial trouble and economic dislocation.

Hernandez said that most of the participants during the seminars were SMEs.

"We have a good turnout of participants and we have a good number of leads although most of them are still in the exploratory stage," Hernandez said.

Some Japanese firms already operating in the country and members of the Philippine Software Industry have provided testimonials on their successful business here during the seminar.

In Sapporo, which is an hour and a half by plane from Tokyo, most of the IT firms are catering to the Japanese market and as such any offshoring would require people, who are knowledgeable of the Nihongo language.

But Hernandez told the roomful of participants including Masafuri Yamamoto, director-general of the Hokkaido Bureau of Economy Trade and Industry, that the Philippines is building up the Japanese language capability of some IT people.

The Philippines is also eyeing at serving the non-Japanese clients since some of the Sapporo IT firms are starting to expand outside of Japan. Initially, they are tapping China.

During the IT mission, Hernandez spoke with the lead principals of Mitsubishi Corp, Mitsui & Co. Ltd., Marubeni Corp., Mizuho Bank and Trans Cosmos Inc., a client of Mizuho with an ongoing operation in RP and asked to expand, SOJITZ IT and Itochu Corp.

During the meeting, Hernandez said he discussed prospective businesses outside of IT. Marubeni had acquired most of the Mirant energy assets in the country while Mitsui is also into logistics and IT.

Hernandez also discussed with Mitsubishi officials the motor vehicle development in the country.

junjou_rabbit

December 5th, 2008, 12:02 PM

i dont really know where to post this...but the news is really inspiring...the change that we need! innovation and invention!..i dont know how to post pics..hehe...

for further info just search inovent through the net...

RP firm unveils interactive device

By Alexander Villafania
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:39:00 12/05/2008

MAKATI CITY -- After keeping it under wraps for months, the group of young Filipino engineers and designers have unveiled a prototype of what it claims to be the next generation interactive device.

It is called the "Ilumina" interactive television and it already has one patent pending for its curved design.

Inovent (inoventrevolution.wordpress.com) showed an "ultra-alpha prototype" of the Ilumina last Sunday in a simple gathering with the goal of highlighting the concept of research, development and design (RDD) in the Philippines.

Inovent is composed of no more than eight people, some graduates from the University of the Philippines, Ateneo De Manila and De La Salle University.

The Ilumina is a television panel integrated with computer components installed in a handmade fiberglass bezel. It is the bezel's inward curved design that Inovent has patented with the Intellectual Property Office Philippines.

The Ilumina's basic component is its 32-inch LCD TV panel. Inside it are computer parts that run a scaled-down version of Ubuntu Linux operating system.

With a flick of a button, the TV interface changes to the Iluma's user interface that provides access to features, such as video and music playback and Internet.

While the TV source still requires a physical cable, the Internet connectivity only requires a wireless fidelity (Wifi) access point, as the Ilumina has a built-in Wifi receiver. It also has a web camera that will allow users to do video chat while accessing the web or watching TV.

Apart from the regular TV remote, the Ilumina also uses wireless keyboards and mouse for computer applications.

It also has a USB (universal serial bus) port for connection to other external peripherals.

The Ilumina concept has not been used in other commercial products. Inovent Chief "Inoventor" Brian Quebengco said the idea is not new. Some of the parts used in the Ilumina are off-the-shelf electronic components that were pieced together to fit in a slim casing.

"You will be surprise at how our developers made these components fit together. The parts had to be modified to make them work well," Quebengco said.

Quebengco said the main highlight of the Ilumina is its design, which the local company has filed for patents early this year, as well as its software.

The bezel design, which is curved inwards, allows the unit to stand on its own, removing the need for a removable stand normally used in many LCD TVs.

While still in its "ultra-alpha" prototype stage, the developers will be adding new features in the Ilumina, which Quebengco declined to describe.

"It's not something new as well but when you see it in a well--packaged product, it becomes an innovation. There's still a lot we're working on but this is to just highlight what we can achieve," he added.

Quebengco said they are looking at a six- to eight-month period for the launch of a commercially ready Ilumina model. He is hoping that the price of the device will not go above five digits.

"What's to be proud here is that we have people who are innovating and designing things for a global market. We also hope to encourage and inspire others to do the same," Quebengco said.

bods

December 6th, 2008, 07:01 AM

Juan Pilgrim

January 9th, 2009, 10:04 PM

MMDA plans to turn Manila's U-belt into WiFi zone
Monday, January 5, 2009

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is eyeing to turn Manila's famed University belt area into a WiFi zone to benefit students.

The plan, according to MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, is part of the agency's "Univer-City" that aims to rid the university belt of eyesores and other obstructions.

Fernando said they would use WiMAX technology to carry out the program.

WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a telecommunications technology that provides wireless transmission of data using a variety of transmission modes, from point-to-point links to portable Internet access.

It provides up to 75 symmetric broadband speed without the need for cables. It is based on the so-called Broadband Wireless Access.

WiMAX was the same technology used by the MMDA in the installation of traffic surveillance cameras along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa), the metropolis' main thoroughfare.

Under the Univer-City concept, the MMDA will make the area more livable and conducive to education.

Additional traffic lights and lamppost will be put up in the area. Traffic rules, particularly for illegal parking and pink lines, will be strictly imposed.

Police sub-station will also be put up to deter criminal elements.

The project will also see to it that the heritage of the city, including its rich cultural history, will be preserved for the next generations.

U-belt is the unofficial name of the de facto sub-district in Manila where there is a high concentration of higher education institutions.

"We are planning to turn this area into an urban center or Univer-City complete with the basic features of a well-designed conducive to learning in coordination with the school management, the Manila City Government, and police officials," Fernando said. (AH/Sunnex)

:horse:

kiretoce

January 24th, 2009, 04:28 AM

A new Friendster in town (http://www.digital-media.net.au/Article/A-new-Friendster-in-town/435804.aspx)

Social networking pioneer Friendster has opened a pivotal new office in Sydney, which will be helmed by global CEO Richard Kimber. The move is part of an Asia Pacific wide expansion drive which includes the opening of an office in Singapore and increase in head count across Asia Pac.

The opening of the Sydney office signals a return to Australia for Kimber, who was based in Sydney from 2006-2008 as Google’s managing director of South–East Asia covering Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Korea. Kimber left the Googleplex in August to take up the key role with Friendster to drive the monetization strategy of the social network of around 75 million users, most of which are based in Asia particularly the Philippines, Indoensia and Malaysia.

Staffing numbers for the Sydney office have yet to be revealed but hires are taking place across marketing, sales and business development areas, The foundation Sydney office employee is the former Terchnolgy editor at BRW and online analyst at Frost & Sullivan Foad Fadaghi who joined Friendster late last year as director of marketing and research. The new Singapore office is also currently hiring for sales, marketing and business development teams. While Pixel Media, an advertising sales network in Asia, has been appointed the exclusive sales partner for Friendster in Singapore. Friendster’s headquarters have also shifted from San Francisco, to Mountain View with the lion’s share of employees now based in the Asia Pacific region. The company said that about 85% of new hires going forward will be based there. “The expansion of our team, offices and sales partnerships in Asia not only sets 2009 up to be an exciting year, but helps us pursue the necessary monetisation opportunities available to Friendster in our core Asian markets,” said Kimber.

Friendster has appointed four new agencies in Asia Pac to accelerate its local advertising sales efforts.

bartstrife99

January 24th, 2009, 06:46 AM

in_a_rush

January 24th, 2009, 06:43 PM

gulat ako kanina, yung katulong namen nag-paalam na pupuntang computer shop, check niya lang daw friendster niya! haha

kiretoce

January 24th, 2009, 08:59 PM

^^ What's so funny about that? Can't the hired help (maids, butlers, cooks, chaufers, etc.) have their own Friendster profiles like the people they are serving under? :ohno:

tonight

January 25th, 2009, 04:36 AM

gulat ako kanina, yung katulong namen nag-paalam na pupuntang computer shop, check niya lang daw friendster niya! haha

^^
indi ba pwede magkaroon siya ng friendster?

keith1127

January 25th, 2009, 12:19 PM

gulat ako kanina, yung katulong namen nag-paalam na pupuntang computer shop, check niya lang daw friendster niya! haha

and to think we pinoys do complain a lot about discrimination. tsk tsk

amigo32

January 27th, 2009, 09:03 AM

ano ba? nagulat lang naman sya:D:D:D

kiretoce

January 27th, 2009, 09:09 AM

^^ But by exhibiting his shock upon learning that his maid has a Friendster account implies that he thinks/assumes it can never ever happen (or should never happen) in real life.

diz

January 27th, 2009, 09:12 AM

gulat ako kanina, yung katulong namen nag-paalam na pupuntang computer shop, check niya lang daw friendster niya! haha

bat kailangan pa niya pumunta sa comp shop? di niyo ba pinapahiram ang pc ninyo?

amigo32

January 27th, 2009, 09:58 AM

^^ But by exhibiting his shock upon learning that his maid has a Friendster account implies that he thinks/assumes it can never ever happen (or should never happen) in real life.

alamin ang kuwento:D asan na ba sya?

sige gawan na lang natin, habang wala pa si gulatski.

paano kasi, no read no write daw si katulong, kaya laking gulat nya noong nag iinternet na:D
at malay mo ang friend nya yung boss pa nya:lol::lol::lol:

venntro

February 11th, 2009, 09:29 AM

Yahoo goes after Philippine advertisers (http://http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090211-188712/Yahoo-goes-after-Philippine-advertisers)

Predicts $7M online market by 2010

By Lawrence Casiraya
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:55:00 02/11/2009

MANILA, Philippines - Bullish about growing Internet usage, Yahoo! wants to forge closer relationships with local advertisers.

In a press briefing Wednesday, Yahoo! Philippines executives announced plans to deploy a direct-sales approach.

Cris Concepcion, Yahoo Philippines head for sales operations, said Yahoo! will continue to engage with third-party resellers but is going "direct" to adapt to customer requirements.

"Advertisers themselves want to work with us directly. They want to involve Yahoo! directly in planning their online strategy," Concepcion said in an interview with INQUIRER.net.

Yahoo! also cited the need to consult with customers directly, especially in the case of major brands and customized ad campaigns.

Concepcion currently heads a sales team of four people. He said Yahoo! will hire more to target "tier-1" vertical industries like telecoms and healthcare.

A global industry study conducted by Yahoo! and research firm Nielsen last December predicts that the online search advertising market in the Philippines will be more than $7M by 2010.

Jojo Anonuevo, Yahoo! Philippines managing director, also noted a growing online advertising market in the country.

"They're moving from experimenting to committing a marketing budget," Anonuevo said. "Some are even spending outside of the Philippines especially those in the travel and tourism industry."

venntro

February 12th, 2009, 03:14 AM

Facebook: #1 social-networking website (http://http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090212-188864/Facebook-1-social-networking-website)
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 07:12:00 02/12/2009

SAN FRANCISCO—Compete.com has crowned Facebook the most popular social networking website, saying it racked-up nearly 1.2 billion visits in January.

The Internet-tracking firm released social-networking website rankings that show MySpace slipped to second place during the course of the past year while micro-blogging service Twitter catapulted to third place from 22nd.

News Corp-owned MySpace saw approximately 810 million visits in January, while Twitter was visited 54.2 million times, according to Compete.

"No surprise here," a Compete reader using the online name Bauer said in a comment viewable Wednesday at a chat forum at the US firm's website.

"Facebook has evolved much better and always has something new to offer. I don’t get Twitter though, I don’t think people care to read live updates on what percentage of my burger I’ve eaten."

The number of visitors to social-networking websites and the amount of time they dwell there are considered key indicators of how well Internet services are doing.

Facebook and Twitter have registered increases in both categories while visits and time spent at MySpace have stagnated or slid during the course of the past year, according to Compete.

"MySpace is still the clear number two player in the big categories, but its trends in some key areas aren't quite so dominating," Andy Kazeniac of Compete wrote in an online posting discussing the rankings.

"At least in those areas, they could be looking up at more than Facebook soon."

Flixster, Linkedin, and Tagged were ranked fourth through sixth places respectively, each gaining in popularity from January of 2008.

anakngpasig

February 12th, 2009, 03:19 AM

bagsak
na talaga
friendster
he he he.

i've long deleted
my friendster
account.
wala kasing
kwenta.

venntro

February 13th, 2009, 02:06 AM

Digiwave sells online gaming software to Korean firm (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=439751&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña Updated February 13, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Digiwave Solutions Inc. (Digiwave), which is being acquired by publicly-listed Premiere Entertainment Philippines Inc., sold six of its online gaming software to Korean-based software firm Goodandgood Management, Inc. for $3 million (roughly P141 million).

Among the software purchased by Goodandgood are 7-Card Stud Poker, Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, Baccarat, Super 6, Baduki and Mahjong, all of which feature a RAndom Number Generator (RNG) and Associated Components Certification from the Gaming Associates Pty. Ltd., an Australian-based gaming consultant.

Digiwave president Justin Rojas said this ensures that the RNG generated results are uniformly distributed, statistically independent, and that the game symbols are fair and unpredictable.

Under the agreement, Goodandgood committed to buy a minimum of 300 to a maximum of 600 licenses of Digiwave’s software packages in a move aimed at cashing in on the gaming software’s business capability. The company plans to set up kiosks offering the said games in Korea and other parts of Asia.

The games also showcase high quality graphics, user-friendly interfaces and a help function that players can easily access for assistance. The software also allows multiple gamers to simultaneously play the game. Nine players can simultaneously play Texas Hold ‘Em in one game, five players each for Baduki and 7-Card Stud Poker, 100 each for Baccarat and Super 6, and four for Mahjong.

Aside from developing and distributing online gaming software, Digiwave also operates its own Pagcor e-Games Stations (PEGS). Its Baduki and 7-Card Stud Poker are now being used in all PEGS across the country.

Digiwave’s proposed share swap agreement with PEP is still pending the approval of the SEC. The deal calls for the issuance of about 1.003 billion PEP shares in exchange for 100 percent ownership of Digiwave amounting to P50 million (about $1.24 million).

The share swap is anchored on Digiwave’s projected net income as for the year ending Dec. 31, 2008 valued at P125.499 million given a P/E multiple of eight times, PEP earlier said.

PEP is engaged in entertainment, gaming and leisure activities. It produces full-length motion pictures and program content for free television, cable broadcast and video distribution. A subsidiary, Premium Events Palace Inc., is involved in land bingo parlor operations.

Digiwave, on the other hand, is an entertainment and IT company founded on Aug. 9, 2006. Its principal business is software development and provision, mainly for leisure gaming. The company uses South Korean technology and a Filipino workforce, and is looking to expand internationally

venntro

February 17th, 2009, 03:35 AM

Microsoft gains momentum in mobile push (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=441168&publicationSubCategoryId=200)
Updated February 17, 2009 08:45 AM

SAN FRANCISCO (Xinhua) -- Playing catch-up to rivals such as Apple and Google, Microsoft on Monday beefed up its push into mobile business, touting new services and winning fresh support from handset makers.

In several press releases, the software giant announced that at the Mobile World Congress being held in Barcelona, Spain, the company and its key mobile partners are unveiling new smartphones with upgraded Microsoft software.

The next generation of phones will be based on Windows Mobile 6. 5, Microsoft's new version of operating system for handsets, which is expected to be available in the later half this year.

The new mobile operating system will feature a new user interface, providing a dashboard-like experience to items such as new e-mails, texts, missed calls and calendar appointments.

It will include an improved touch-screen interface, making it easy to take action with a finger, Microsoft said.

Another key feature is the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, an online service that allows users to search and download software applications to their handsets. The service is similar to Apple's popular App Store for iPhone users.

Microsoft also announced that South Korea's LG Electronics, world's third-largest mobile handset maker, has agreed to make Windows the primary operating system for its smartphones and will tenfold increase the number of its products using the Windows system from 2008 to 2009.

The agreement may result in more than 50 new LG phones running Windows system in the coming years, Microsoft said.

According to the company, mobile operator Orange and handset maker HTC also make further commitments to use Microsoft's latest Mobile operating system in their new products.

Touch Diamond 2 and Touch Pro 2, the two new phones launched by HTC, will be upgradeable to Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft said.

In a separate announcement on Monday, Hewlett-Packard (HP), the world's largest personal computer maker, also threw its support for Microsoft's new mobile operating system.

HP plans to offer smartphones using Windows Mobile 6.5, it said in a statement.

However, as the new operating system won't be available for consumers until the end of 2009, it may just be too late for Microsoft to gain stronghold on the market, some analysts said.

venntro

February 18th, 2009, 05:42 AM

Tiny search engine alleges Google abuses its power (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=441437&publicationSubCategoryId=200)
Updated February 18, 2009 10:45 AM

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A would-be challenger to Google Inc. said Tuesday it is suing the Internet search leader for alleged abuses that include illegally rigging its prices to thwart potential competitive threats.

In a 38-page page complaint, TradeComet.com LLC accused Google of manipulating its system for setting ad rates to make it too expensive for a specialty search engine called SourceTool to promote itself within Google's vast online marketing network.

In a press release, TradeComet said it filed its antitrust lawsuit in a New York federal court.

Google said it hadn't reviewed the allegations as of late Tuesday, but the Mountain View-based company reiterated its belief that there are plenty of other online advertising options, including networks run by rivals Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft Corp.

"As we have consistently made clear, the advertising market in which Google operates is highly competitive, and advertisers have a huge range of choices," Google said in a statement.

TradeComet's lawsuit is the latest legal action to allege Google has used its widening market power to create a monopoly that enables it to bully rivals or squeeze out Web sites that it doesn't like.

Google processes nearly two-thirds of the Internet search requests in the United States and sells an even larger chunk of the text-based ad links that appear alongside search results and other content on millions of Web pages served up each day.

That clout spurred a government investigation that would have culminated in an antitrust lawsuit late last year had Google not withdrawn from a planned advertising partnership with Yahoo, which runs the Internet's second biggest search engine.

New York-based TradeComet alleges Google stymied the growth of SourceTool in May 2006 when it raised the minimum bids on SourceTool ads that were triggered by specific search requests. Words that resulted in advertising costs of 5 cents and 10 cents per click soared to $5 and $10 per click, according to the suit.

The suit alleges the higher rates prevented SourceTool from promoting its search engine, which helps connect businesses looking to buy and sell products and services among themselves. TradeComet said its traffic plunged by 90 percent after Google imposed its new pricing terms.

venntro

February 18th, 2009, 06:24 AM

Handset makers to standardize charger (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=441424&publicationSubCategoryId=200)
Updated February 18, 2009 01:01 AM

BARCELONA (Xinhua) -- Top handset makers and operators announced here yesterday that they will prooduce standardized charger to reduce waste and cost.

The announcement, by 17 leading mobile phone companies including Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Vodafone, T-Mobile and Sony Ericsson, was released by the GSMA in a statement.

"The group has set an ambitious target that by 2012 a universal charging solution will be widely available in the market worldwide, " said the GSMA, which represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry.

The GSMA said the new standard would be good to the environment, boost energy efficiency, reduce waste and "make life much simpler for the consumer, who will be able to use the same charger for future handsets, as well as being able to charge their mobile phone anywhere from any available charger."

Motorola said it is going to take a small USB charger as the standard of all models of its company.

Mobile phone makers reached an agreement last Friday to make a standardized charger as the European Commission has pushed for an industrial solution.

far, there is no compatible handset chargers produced yet, as each handset maker has its own charger design, different ones even among their own different models, increasing costs and inconvenience for consumers.

venntro

February 20th, 2009, 03:17 AM

Internet domain names grow to 177 million (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=441980&publicationSubCategoryId=200)
Updated February 20, 2009 08:40 AM

SAN FRANCISCO (Xinhua) -- Despite the economic downturn, Internet domain name registrations posted a significant 16-percent growth last year, a new report has found.

The Internet added 24 million new domain names in 2008, bringing the total registrations across all top-level domains to 177 million, VeriSign, an Internet infrastructure services provider, said in a report released on Wednesday.

However, the report did see signs of slower growth in the last quarter of 2008, when the global economic crisis deepened.

More than 10.1 million new Internet domain names were registered in the last three months of 2008, representing a decline of 12 percent from the third quarter last year and 17 percent from the same quarter in the previous year, the report noted.

According to the report, in the last quarter of 2008, the five largest top-level domains in terms of base size were .com, .cn ( China), .de (Germany), .net and .org.

A domain name is the address of a website that is intended to be easily identifiable and easy to remember and can help connect computers on the Internet.

Top-level domain such as .com is the last part of an Internet domain name or the group of letters that follow the final dot of any domain name.

venntro

February 20th, 2009, 09:54 AM

IBM to open its first innovation center in RP (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/149689/IBM-to-open-its-first-innovation-center-in-RP)
02/20/2009 | 02:53 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine unit of IBM will open its first Innovation Center in the country – and the second in Asia – at the UP-Ayala Techno Park in Quezon City.

Although the company refused to disclose the project’s actual amount, the center will focus on developing open-source and Web 2.0 solutions geared towards helping the Philippines move up the BPO chain.

The Philippines “has a big pool of developers who can create applications and solutions that will allow people and corporations to collaborate and gain access to technology," Janet Klein, director for developer relations at IBM Asia Pacific, said during a small media gathering.

The laboratory is also intended to give students, particularly those interested in BPO or services industry, a clear roadmap to develop their skills, Klein said.

Klein’s point person in Southeast and South Asia, Charles Manuel, said the facility is intended to become a “hub of activity" for students, professional developers, and partner organizations."

“This is the right time for these investments," said Manuel, adding that the Innovation Center is likely to serve the needs of the country’s burgeoning BPO industry.

Noting that the laboratory is located within the vicinity of a university, the executives said the investment is in line with the BPO-centric curriculum that IBM has been pushing in the academic sector.

Dubbed as SSME or Services Science Management Engineering, the course is currently being piloted in a few academic institutions such as the St. Louis University in Baguio City.

Unlike existing engineering courses that were crafted decades ago, SSME is focused on developing the skills required in a services-led economy as it bring together ongoing work in computer science, operations research, industrial engineering, business strategy, management sciences, social and cognitive sciences, and legal sciences. - GMANews.TV

tonight

February 23rd, 2009, 10:36 AM

IBM moves into hosted services (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090223-190545/IBM-moves-into-hosted-services)

MANILA, Philippines--IBM has hinted at partnership with local telecommunications firms to help boost its subscription-based Lotus Live services.

This was after the computer giant previewed Lotus Live as part of new versions of its Lotus Notes and Domino suite of messaging and collaboration tools.

Lotus competes heavily with Microsoft products such as Exchange. Microsoft offers similar hosted services under the Windows Live brand.

Through Lotus Live, IBM is offering to host services such as web conferencing and sell it on a per-user, per-month subscription model.

"In this recession, companies would be focusing more collaboration to cut cost via reducing travel," said Michael Garbett, worlwide sales director for collaboration IBM Lotus Domino.

IBM is also revamping its marketing around Lotus, long its flagship email and messaging product competing against Microsoft's Outlook and Exchange.

IBM is also targeting a potentially lucrative market also eyed by Cisco's Telepresence and Microsoft, the latter with its unified communications products and services.

The company, however, did not give much detail about its video-based services, although one official said it is working on partnerships with local carriers.

"Local companies are keen on not setting up servers on- premise but getting these services and paying via subscription model instead," said Iris Tan Chiu, Lotus brand manager for IBM Philippines.

tonight

February 25th, 2009, 11:21 AM

IPv4 address to run out in 3 years--exec (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090225-191008/IPv4-address-to-run-out-in-3-years--exec)

PASAY CITY, Philippines—Are we running out of Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) addresses?

“In two to three years, the number of Internet address allocation will be depleted,” said Paul Wilson, director for Asia Pacific Network Information Center (APNIC), which is the regional Internet registry for the Asia Pacific.

Speaking during the Asia Pacific Regional Internet Conference on
Operational Technologies (APRICOT), Wilson explained there are only 35 “blocks” of Internet addresses left globally and the current rate of consumption is 12 per year.

But Wilson assured that Internet users need not worry. Even with depleted IPv4 addresses, work is being done to accelerate the adoption and eventual migration to the next generation IPv6.

The Internet Engineering Task Force developed the IPv6 to replace IPv4, which is a 20-year-old networking protocol that is currently being used globally.

IPv6 will have a 128-bit address system that increases the number of address available for users as well as devices. It is also considered to be a more secure and more stable version.

“The Internet will not crash. We have a two-year horizon [before IPv4 addresses run out] and that’s definitely where we reason for the necessarily planning for the deployment of IPv6,” he said.

Wilson said there are more concrete plans in place for IPv6 deployment, and a growing number of allocations for IPv6 addresses in some countries.

He added that network infrastructures across the globe are slowly being transitioned from IPv4 to the new protocol.

While some criticisms are raised about the viability of IPv6, Wilson said there were unrealistic expectations from IPv6, particularly its supposed security capabilities.

“There were unrealistic expectations about IPv6 starting five years ago. Remember that IPv6’s primary purpose is to provide more addresses. Security comes from a different area,” Wilson said.

But the present use of IPv4 addresses has also slowed down in the last year, primarily due to the economic crisis, which forced many industries to lessen purchases of new equipment.

He said the growth rate of the Internet has been exponential and fairly predictable even during previous economic crisis, particularly the Asian crisis in the late 90s and the dotcom crash in 2000.

“As time goes by, those figures have been followed accurately but the current economic crisis made address allocation slower,” Wilson said.

But Wilson added that the growing number of Internet-ready equipment, such as netbooks and smart phones, will also speed up the depletion of IPv4 addresses.

He assured that by then, IPv6 migration would happen. “People won’t even realize it and they’ll remain happy.”

venntro

February 26th, 2009, 01:44 AM

Globe bares Globe Broadband Tattoo (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=443532&publicationSubCategoryId=66)
Updated February 26, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Globe lives up to its promise of providing relevant and easy-to-use services by introducing Globe Broadband Tattoo, a revamped mobile Internet service available in prepaid and postpaid variants, that allows subscribers to stay connected while on-the-go, without breaking the bank.

Globe Broadband Tattoo, formerly known as Globe Visibility, uses a USB stick that works as a modem. Users simply plug the stick into their PCs or laptops to surf the Web anytime, anywhere. 3G and High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technology enables high-speed connectivity and fast downloads. With Globe Broadband Tattoo, users can experience speeds of up to 2 Mbps. That makes activities like social networking, chatting, blogging, emailing and even streaming music and movies much more enjoyable yet still affordable.

Globe redesigned Globe Broadband Tattoo not just as a connectivity tool for its users, but a lifestyle tool as well. Users can now choose from a range of three hip and trendy Globe Broadband Tattoo USB designs, featuring artwork in black, orange, or blue. Depending on the user’s personal style, they can choose the skin that reflects their personalities and lifestyles the most.

The Globe Broadband Tattoo prepaid kit comes with a free P100 load that is equivalent to five hours of free Internet time. On top of that, users pay only P5 per 15 minutes on the Internet.

And once users have consumed their free load, reloading the Globe Broadband Tattoo prepaid SIM is easy because it can be loaded like a regular prepaid SIM, whether through share-a-load, Globe load or prepaid call cards

Users may also opt for a postpaid plan for Globe Broadband Tattoo; there is a range of plans for as low as P 799 per month with 60 free mobile Internet hours each month.

Aside from using Globe Broadband Tattoo as a mobile Internet modem, the SIM card inside the USB can also be used for calls and sending text messages at regular cellphone rates. The USB also comes with a built-in expansion slot where users can insert their own Micro SD card for additional file storage.

With a funkier look and free Internet time, the new Globe Broadband Tattoo prepaid kit is a steal for only P1895.

The new Globe Broadband Tattoo is available nationwide. For more information, please call (02) 730 1000 or visit www.globebroadbandtattoo.com.ph.

tonight

February 26th, 2009, 07:28 AM

^^
good news :okay:

tonight

February 26th, 2009, 07:29 AM

RP joins Asia-wide broadband project (http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view/20090226-191135/RP-joins-Asia-wide-broadband-project)

PASAY CITY, Philippines--The Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) said the Philippines is going to be part of an Asia Pacific broadband Internet infrastructure initiative.

This was made known after the Trans-Eurasia Information Network version 3 (TEIN3) was launched during the annual Asia Pacific Regional Internet Conference on Operational Technologies (APRICOT) here on Wednesday.

The DOST-ASTI will manage the TEIN3 programs in the country and will connect to the Philippine Research Education and Government Information Network (Preginet), which is a local high-speed Internet infrastructure loop connecting dozens of research and development, medical, weather, agricultural and educational institutions.

Over 160 Philippine institutions are connected to Preginet, which allows for high performance computing and video conferencing.

TEIN3, conceived during an Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in 2000, provides high-speed connectivity among high-level research and development, and educational facilities across Asia.

The TEIN3 project will run until 2011.

It is one of the fastest Internet infrastructures built with a maximum data speed of up to 2.5 gigabits per second. A user with a 2.4 gigabytes line can download approximately 30 high-definition movies in a minute.

But the delivered connection of TEIN3 in the Philippines would only be 155 megabits per second, which is still faster than most commercial Internet services.

DOST-ASTI Director Denis Villorente said in an interview that the TEIN3 project is a continuation of the previous TEIN2 project, which ASTI was first involved in 2005.

The TEIN2 project ended in late 2008 but was immediately overlapped by the Asia-Pacific launch of TEIN3. About a dozen other countries are now part of TEIN3, including Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Japan, Korea, among others.

Villorente said TEIN3 is expected to be implemented in several other countries, particularly Bangladesh, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Bhutan and India.

Villorente said the goal now is to encourage members and users of TEIN3 and Preginet to develop applications for their own purposes and maximize the availability of the network.

Villorente also said one of the future plans of TEIN3 is to create an Asia Pacific group to manage and sustain the TEIN project, which is currently being managed by the Deliver of Advanced Network Technology to Europe (Dante).

"It doesn't have to be a new organization. There is still discussion about that," Villorente.

venntro

February 26th, 2009, 07:32 AM

^^ What an acronym.. PREGINET. Parang buntis. :lol::lol:

Animo

February 26th, 2009, 08:35 PM

By Dennis Posadas (http://blogs.inquirer.net/insidescience/2009/02/23/philippine-rd-needs-a-dose-of-keynes/)
Contributor

THE Philippines held a National R&D Conference at the University of the Philippines last December 2008 to try to synergize its research and development (R&D) efforts in science and technology, particularly in the government. The conference involved most of the government departments and state colleges and universities that have R&D programs.

At present, like in most countries, R&D budgets are scattered across many government R&D units and agencies. Getting these agencies and their staff to work together can sometimes be a gargantuan undertaking.

In a December 2008 article in the Washington D.C. based journal Science, the Philippines was reported to have spent $81million in R&D in 2007, and this spending has remained basically the same throughout the last decade. This amount represents roughly 0.14% of GDP, a far cry from that of developed countries which often reaches 2%, and is also less than its regional neighbors like Thailand (0.26%) and Malaysia (0.69%). Worse, this amount is not a homogenous figure but is actually the sum total of government R&D spending scattered across many departments and agencies.

In a country colonized by Spain and the United States, where the saying goes that it went through “three hundred years of the Church and fifty years of Hollywood,” the normal mode of operation is to take the allocation from the national budget, and in a laizzez faire manner, do whatever one institution or department pleases in R&D.

Now this approach may work in countries that have a lot of money to bet on whatever one fancies. Silicon Valley for example in the United States has never adopted any national roadmap for R&D. Instead, its legions of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists pursue their own ideas and let the market decide which ones will be the winners and which ones will eat the dust.

But that should not be the case for developing countries like the Philippines. While $81 million is a lot of money for S&T in this country, nevertheless it is chump change compared to other countries. Notwithstanding the fact that labor is cheaper here, even to hire MS and PhD science and engineering graduates, the fact is that scattering this money in a random manner will not yield useful economic results.

Take for example the fact that many state colleges and universities are duplicating R&D efforts, instead of trying to find a way to divide up the work and specialize in particular fields. This tends to weaken further the already small amount devoted by this archipelagic country to R&D.

A Keynesian (named after economist John Maynard Keynes) national R&D approach should be adopted by the Philippines, where the national S&T roadmap is set by scientists and technologists from the ground up. The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) has picked some fields that the Philippines should specialize in. Since it wields the funding carrot, it has some ability to direct the areas of research. But it has not totally been successful in this effort, judging from the outcome of the National R&D Conference. In order to drive a nail into a piece of wood, you need a strong strike in a concentrated place, and not a lot of small taps in many places.

Obviously if you only have $81 million to bet (although this will probably see some increase), you need to pick certain winners and drop certain fields. A small amount of random research, picked from the grassroots by universities themselves can be allowed, but the bulk of the money should be put in certain areas where it can produce results ranging from published papers, to patents, to commercialized technologies, particularly since the need of the times calls for the creation of new jobs and industries from R&D.

Take for example the recently passed Renewable Energy Act of the Philippines. This new law creates a mandate for electric utilities to purchase renewable energy in increasing amounts over the next few years, and gives a lot of fiscal incentives and tax breaks to entrepreneurs and investors who go into this area. Obviously this mandate creates a market for clean energy technologies, many of which can be supplied by clean technology companies spun off from R&D. In fact, a renewable energy R&D center, funded by fossil fuel levies, will hopefully create the technologies that can form the basis for new companies and jobs in this sector.

But that will only happen, just like in the hammer and nail analogy, if the R&D is in synch with the investor community, with the needs of the market, with the legal and financial framework, and with the culture of the researchers and entrepreneurs. A laizzez faire mentality works in the U.S. but here, it looks like a Keynesian big hammer approach where everyone coordinates their efforts is the only way to achieve this, especially since the amount of money is, by world standards, quite small.

The problem is complex, and involves financial, legal and cultural constraints. But there are certain issues that can be resolved that will lead to a realignment of R&D money in the Philippines.

First, the percentage of R&D spending to GDP ratio is too simplistic. If one compares the percentage GDP of R&D in the Philippines to Thailand and Malaysia, obviously it is too small. But this ratio does not say anything about how you use this money effectively. One country can have a slightly smaller percentage GDP ratio, but if it spends that money more efficiently than another country that has a greater percentage GDP ratio, then that difference may not be of much consequence. A proper metric, aside from percentage GDP, should include a measure of how well the country is able to publish papers, is able to issue patents, and is able to commercialize technology, from a unit of currency spent on R&D. Otherwise, the focus is on the total amount spent on R&D, which may not be enough to solve the problem.

Second, while the capability of scientists to innovate is important, it is also important that they be willing to work in synch with other scientists and with other scientific institutions, in order to complement each other and not have redundant efforts. One issue that complicates things is a difficulty in getting agreement on what technology directions to pursue. The anthropologic and cultural cause of this issue is beyond the scope of this article, but that is what we see in the Congressional Commission on Science & Technology and Engineering (COMSTE). National directions in S&T might be set and arrived at from the top, but this does not always trickle down to the bottom. Perhaps the answer lies in using technology to get everyone’s inputs, and then show where the scientific and technical community consensus lies.

Third, the politician should marry the scientist. To some extent, the politicians who run COMSTE have been trying to do this, but the impact on the public imagination still needs some work. The ideal is of course, a JFK exhorting Americans to go to the moon, or a Barack Obama pledging to cut dependence on Middle East oil in ten years. Those national statements, coming from American politicians, have been based on the advice of noted scientific groups in the U.S. But in the Philippines, a general distrust of politicians coupled with a lack of real mainstream media interest in science, and a lack of clear communication between politicians and scientists, seems to have made what can be bang into a whimper.

Lastly, the traditionally rigid government bureaucracy (of which I am a part) needs to allow for some flexibility. Take for instance auditing and purchasing. Best practices in procuring scientific and technical materials and equipment need to be benchmarked with fast moving countries, without sacrificing proper purchasing and procurement regulations. There is of course a reason why these rules were installed in the first place, but they also need to take into account the speed of technology change, in order for the Philippines to remain competitive in S&T.

Surely countries like the Philippines need to increase their R&D spending beyond the current levels. But to simply equate progress in R&D with an increase in spending will not be enough. How the money is spent to yield published papers, patents and marketable technologies is the more important problem that needs to be faced. More importantly, it is not just about the money, but it is about getting a national consensus of the politicians and the public to back those R&D programs solidly, from private sector support, to investor support, to legal and non-government organization support, to even the public support. Until this synergy happens, the promise of R&D in science and technology will never be fulfilled.

Like in roulette, sometimes the answer is to put your chips in as many places as you want to ensure some small wins. But in these gloomy economic times, it looks like as Keynes would argue, it is time for everyone to agree that government needs to make the best big bets in certain areas and skip other areas, in order to create new industries and jobs.

Dennis Posadas is the Deputy Executive Director of the Philippine Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering (COMSTE). He is also the author of Jump Start: A Technopreneurship Fable to be published by Pearson Prentice Hall this April 2009.

tonight

February 27th, 2009, 03:44 AM

^^ What an acronym.. PREGINET. Parang buntis. :lol::lol:

^^
ganun ang napili nila :lol:

tonight

February 27th, 2009, 03:45 AM

Extelcom seeks transfer of frequency (http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS20090227149136.html)

Express Telecommunication Co. Inc. (Extelcom), a cellular phone company reportedly being eyed by San Miguel Corporation, is asking the National Telecommunications Commission for the assignment of the 925-935 MHz frequency band as it seeks to re-enter the market via the GSM platform.

The re-entry of a "re-energized" Extelcom into the cellular mobile telephone system (CMTS) business will further foster healthy competition in the market, said Extelcom president Luisito B. Sapiera.

He added that Extelcom’s proposed CMTS network will help trigger the next wave of much-needed changes in the Philippine market, such as substantial acceleration of subscriber penetration, increased competition on prices and service offerings and vast improvement of service quality.

tonight

February 27th, 2009, 04:44 AM

Wanted: jobless Filipino IT executives (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090226-191220/Wanted-jobless-Filipino-IT-executives)

MAKATI CITY, Philippines—Jobless executives of technology companies in the country are getting some assistance soon, a member of an industry organization said Thursday.

Victoria Agorilla, the newly elected president of the Information Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP), said the organization is looking at creating a database of resumes of members affected by recent job cuts in the high-tech industry.

Agorilla said the ITAP might include the database in its website. But this could only be viewed by human resource executives who are members of the organization.

“We’ll try to match their talents with openings in other companies within the ITAP membership. We want to keep our good people within the camp and not lose them to other industries,” Agorilla said.

Agorilla assured the crisis has not severely affected the local IT industry but admitted that some companies are taking austerity measures to lessen the impact of the crisis.

The Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) will be involved in evaluating plans to ensure business continuity among ITAP members, the executive said.

Agorilla said ITAP has 39 members with more candidates for membership. By the end of the year, they expect to have 50 companies as members.

Agorilla is also country general manager of Lenovo Philippines.

tonight

February 27th, 2009, 10:39 AM

CICT to give DICT one final push (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090227-191423/CICT-to-give-DICT-one-final-push)

MAKATI CITY, Philippines--The Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) is giving “one final push” to have proposals creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) signed.

Speaking during a meeting with members of the Information Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP), CICT Chairman Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III said the agency is opening dialogues with supporters and proponents of the DICT to facilitate the passage of a law creating this new department before the next elections in May 2010.

Roxas-Chua said Congress has approved House Bill 4300 and was transmitted to the Senate last year.

Senate Bill 2546, a counterpart proposal of HB 4300, is already awaiting second reading.

Once created, the DICT would oversee information technology projects in government, cyberservices activities, human capital development for the local IT industry and infrastructure development.

Roxas-Chua is incidentally head of an advisory council for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the poll automation in 2010.

Roxas-Chua said the creation of the DICT is close to becoming a reality after the telecommunications divisions of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) were placed back under CICT two weeks ago.

National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Telecommunications Office (Telof) are now under the wings of the CICT through Executive Orders 648 and 780, respectively. These transfers happened a few weeks apart from each other.

Roxas-Chua said plans to integrate operations of these agencies are underway, including the rationalization plans for more than 4,000 employees of Telof, which the CICT started years ago.

“The President [Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo] has made the DICT a priority project so we're hoping to maximize all our resources until the DICT is created,” Roxas-Chua said.

tonight

February 27th, 2009, 11:26 AM

IDC: Strong SEA telecoms in ‘09 (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090227-191413/IDC-Strong-SEA-telecoms-in-09)

MANILA, Philippines- The Southeast Asian telecommunications business should expect better opportunities this year amid a global recession, market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) said.

Combined revenues from the telecommunications sector in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand is expected to be 10 percent higher this year or about $35.7 billion, IDC said in a report.

IDC said revenue growth rates for these countries would range from four to six percent.

Vietnam and Indonesia are also expected to experience double-digit growth in the telecoms business with the increasing adoption of new telecommunications technologies, IDC said.

For Southeast Asia, companies should find new revenue streams and strategies to prepare for an expected return of a healthy economy, IDC Philippines Research Manager for Communications Karen Rondon said in a statement.

tonight

February 27th, 2009, 11:32 AM

Eight agencies to get e-gov’t funding (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090227-191435/Eight-agencies-to-get-e-govt-funding)

MANILA, Philippines - Eight agencies have made it to the shortlist of candidates to receive funding under the Canadian-funded Electronic Governance for Efficiency and Effectiveness (E3) project.

Eight out of a group of 16 were evaluated as "top-ranking in transformation readiness to implement ICT projects," according to consulting firm Bearing Point.

Bearing Point is implementing the Electronic Governance for Efficiency and Effectiveness (E3) Project, a five-year project funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). CIDA has allocated about $9.92 million for this project.

Included in the shortlist are the Department of Health (DoH), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Philippine Health Corp. (PhilHealth) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), according to Tess Roberto, CICT-NCC director for consulting and services.

One of the project's components is implementation of information and communications technology projects meant to deliver social services across gender and social classes.

"We've recommended (to E3) that these agencies collaborate on a mother project since these are all related to social services," Roberto told INQUIRER.net.

Last December, the Commission on Information and Communications Technology allotted P40 million as counterpart fund in support of E3 pilot projects.

The eight agencies were invited to submit an "Expression of Interest" to participate in the development of E3 pilot projects, according to Bearing Point.

This support fund represents the government's initial contribution under the memorandum of understanding between Canada and the Philippines for the E3 Project.

venntro

March 2nd, 2009, 08:07 AM

Ferdinand Marcos has more 'friends' than Nixon, Evita in Facebook (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/150984/Ferdinand-Marcos-has-more-friends-than-Nixon-Evita-in-Facebook)
CRISTINA DC PASTOR, Philippine News
03/02/2009 | 01:07 PM

NEW YORK — The ghost of Marcos past is back and is haunting Filipinos all over the world in a very in-your-face way: Facebook.

“My hero," gushes Facebook user May.

Everything about the profile of Ferdinand E. Marcos is factual. But nowhere on his wall is anything he had written. Instead, the posts – now in the hundreds -- praise his greatness as president. There are some stray comments that are critical and some downright profane, but they are outnumbered by the superlatives.

The way it works is that Marcos appears to be another Facebook user. His profile identifies his status as being married to Imelda Remedios Visitacion Romualdez-Marcos, his birthday as September 11, 1917, his hometown as Ilocos Norte, and his education as the University of the Philippines College of law ‘39.

“You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s (sic) gone," writes Rhea. Luke, whose friends include Aiza Seguerra, writes: “No one can beat what this great man did to improve the country."

And from Abigail: “Despite the dictatorship, one of the best presidents in the Philippines. His brilliance created an impact not just in our country but in the international arena. Most of the republic acts are still under his regime... :) Love the brain of this guy!"

No surprises there. The Palo Alto, California, social networking website counts the most powerful men in the world, such as Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela, among its more than 175 million users – dead or alive.

An average user has 120 friends, but not Marcos who has 4,152; a drop in the bucket compared with Obama’s 5,548,940.

In fact, Jose Rizal is only slightly popular with 6,808 supporters. But at least FEM has more followers than Lenin (3,579), Richard Nixon (3,687), and Evita (1,557).

That Marcos loyalists are regrouping via the Internet is not the news. Anyone can be on Facebook and for whatever reason, including peeking at young boys in skivvies or sharing recipes for homemade bombs.

Any Facebook user can host pages for anyone, including famous dead people, like FEM. And he has two pages of photographs, including one with Ninoy Aquino of their younger selves captioned: “Marcos ‘37 and Aquino’50/ Resilient and deep-rooted brotherhood that transcends beliefs and ideologies/ Men of Unimpeachable character/ Upsilonians."

File that under: Hmm.

If social media guru Jesse Stay is correct, Facebook allows a user to “track social demographics." That’s what the Marcos fansite appears to be doing.

Many of the supporters are in their 20s and 30s – too young to have lived through the horrors of the Marcos Dictatorship – and they’re from all over the world. Not one of the recent posts recounts the crushing poverty, the military tortures, the crony corruption, and the Imeldific extravagance. Let’s take shoes.

The Marcos dictatorship came crashing down in 1986 when a people power uprising chased the family and their cronies out of Malacañang.

In fairness, the Marvos Wall is not all praises. Negative comments make their way every once in a while.

One of them, Theterm, writes: “I will say he was fine at first until greed got the best of him. Viva Ninoy Aquino!"

Raymund says it short and raw: “This guy is an a--hole."

Disagree with them? Why don’t you sign up for Facebook to connect with Ferdinand E. Marcos? - Philippine News

venntro

March 3rd, 2009, 09:45 AM

iPhones and PCs take fitness to heart (http://http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/lifestyle/03/03/09/iphones-and-pcs-take-fitness-heart)
Reuters | 03/03/2009 3:01 PM

NEW YORK - For some of us, the iPhone will always be a slightly scary emblem of the brave new world: an impossibly sleek device that allows you to make a call, hear a song, learn a language and find your way home.

Now you - and your personal trainer - can also use it to listen to your heart, as new technology turns the iPhone into a heart monitor and fitness tracking system.

"We wanted to make the fitness tracking experience cool, fun, simple and custom," said Michael C. Williams, founder and CEO of iTMP Technology, Inc., which developed the monitoring module.

"We did it by leveraging the iPhone's technology."

One way of monitoring the intensity of physical activity is heart rate. For moderate-intensity activity, target heart rate should be 50 to 70 percent of a person's maximum heart rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

SM Heart Link, a so-called "wireless bridge," collects data from sensors -- such as heart rate chest straps and cycling sensors on bikes --and sends it to the iPhone for display and tracking.

"There are dozens of fitness apps on the iPhone but none of them, until now, employ heart rate monitors or other sensors." Williams said from his company's headquarters in Santa Barbara, California.

He added that the iPhone can now double as a heart rate monitor and bike computer, tracking and storing workouts and even sending the data to medical assessment websites.

"In a matter of seconds you can calibrate your fitness," Williams said. "Your calorie expenditures are broken out between fat and carbs and they are based on your metabolic data, not population-based tables."

This, of course, is not cheap. The applications are free, but the module costs $155. There is also the price of the assessments, the sensors, and the iPhone itself.

At the other end of the fitness spectrum, the no-tech alternative lies like an old typewriter. As explicated on the CDC website: to find your heart rate, stop exercising and take your pulse by placing your fingertips over your wrists to feel the radial artery and count the beats.

But between the future and the past falls the middle way. At the American Heart Association's (AHA) online cardiovascular center, Heart 360 (www.heart360.org), a user can enter blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose numbers, log physical activities, record weight, and keep a diary of medications.

"You get a comprehensive picture," said Dr. Daniel Jones, past president of the AHA. The password-protected entries are compared and updated to help users meet fitness goals, he added.

"Heart rate is much more valuable when you integrate it with other data," said Jones, who is dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Mississippi.

Jones firmly believes in using technology to help people keep track of their health.
"It is a step forward, like online banking," he said.

"In itself it doesn't stop problems but it can facilitate people paying more attention to their health," Jones said, adding that Heart 360 is free to consumers who log on to the website.

tonight

March 4th, 2009, 08:24 AM

Escudero asks poll body for bid specs (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090304-192239/Escudero-asks-poll-body-for-bid-specs)
By Anna Valmero

PASAY CITY – Senator Francis Escudero, chairman of the panel on the joint congressional oversight committee on automated elections, has asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to produce "tentative terms of reference" for bidders before the Senate could approve the proposed supplemental
budget.

Reacting to Escudero's suggestion, Comelec chairman Jose Melo said "it could be done" but this matter would be up for discussion before the Comelec en banc.

Escudero said his suggestion intended to make sure the Senate would not rush the approval of the poll automation budget.

"We just received it from the lower chamber yesterday [Tuesday]," Escudero said.

Melo said the poll body was scheduled to release the terms of reference on March 25 if Congress would approve the supplemental budget before the Holy week recess, which starts March 6.

As of posting time, the Comelec Advisory Council is drafting the terms of reference, added Ray Anthony Roxas Chua III, head of advisory council and the Commission on Information and Communications Technology.

tonight

March 4th, 2009, 08:55 AM

Comelec: Biometrics registration limited (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090304-192277/Comelec-Biometrics-registration-limited)
By Anna Valmero

PASAY CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) can only accommodate about two percent of the 48 million voters for its biometrics registration by end of 2009, poll executives said Wednesday.

Answering questions during a joint congressional hearing on automation, Comelec executive director Jose Tolentino admitted that the poll body could not cover all registered voters in time for the 2010 polls.

Comelec chairman Jose Melo added that the registration of voters using biometrics technology was only possible in 2013.

Melo said the poll body has limited resources and time to implement this plan, which sought to purge the voters’ list of flying voters, double registrants, among others.

Melo said voters that did not register through biometrics could still vote in 2010.

Comelec said there were about 48 million registered voters in 2007.

Tolentino said that at least 23 million registered voters have no biometrics record with the Comelec.

Biometrics technology is now used by agencies like the Social Security System to capture information unique to individuals, including fingerprints, signatures and photos.

venntro

March 4th, 2009, 09:33 AM

Digital signature EO to address security issues (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/151316/Digital-signature-EO-to-address-security-issues)
03/04/2009 | 02:51 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine trade officials are set to issue and submit a draft executive order (EO) that will require using “digital signatures," a move that will encourage e-commerce in the country by resolving security issues.

The draft order is expected to be signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo within the first quarter, Maria Lourdes Yaptinchay, alternate chairperson of the trade department’s e-commerce team said during a recent public consultation.

Besides covering a certification scheme for digital signatures, the proposed order will also encourage e-government services in the country.

It is also intended to solve “the lack of security that has been perceived as the main barrier for growth of e-commerce and wide use of e-government services in the country."

The program will also establish a mechanism that will allow consumers and companies to accept electronic signatures as an equivalent signature of a person on a written document.

Once approved, the draft order will require concerned government agencies to comply within two years.

The South Korean government has provided a $2.3-million fund grant for the project, with the bulk of the funds allotted for hardware and training expenses, Yaptinchay said.

Korean experts have been sharing their knowledge and best-practices in the country’s digital signature project because it is pattered after a similar project in Korea.

Next: Govt to undertake certification scheme for digital signatures

tonight

March 4th, 2009, 09:39 AM

IBM to beef up multilingual BPO in RP (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090304-192282/IBM-to-beef-up-multilingual-BPO-in-RP)
By Lawrence Casiraya

MANILA, Philippines--IBM said it will boost language capabilities of its outsourcing operations in the country to cover more markets while introducing new services.

The company announced a seven-year outsourcing deal with consumer products firm Sara Lee Corporation. .

IBM will manage a portion of Sara Lee's North American and European finance and applications development and maintenance requirements.

IBM said its global delivery center in Manila has been selected as one of the locations to deliver the finance and accounting services.

As a result of this deal, IBM said it will increase the capabilities of its delivery center here in order to provide multilingual services in German, French, and Spanish, in addition to English and local dialects.

"This pact allows us to further grow our local F&A (finance and accounting) business process services, and at the same time kick off our new supply chain management services locally,” said James Velasquez, IBM Philippines country general manager.

Sara Lee manufactures consumer and household brands like Ambi Pur, BallPark, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Kiwi, Sanex, Sara Lee and Senseo.

The company employs more than 44,000 employees worldwide.

IBM employs more than 7,000 workers across all business units in the Philippines, a bulk of which is in its call center and business process outsourcing operations.

tonight

March 4th, 2009, 12:20 PM

Microsoft, DepEd renew school program (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090303-192132/Microsoft-DepEd-renew-school-program)
By Alexander Villafania

MAKATI CITY, Philippines--Microsoft Philippines and the Department of Education (DepEd) renewed their partnership for the Partners-in-Learning (PIL) program for another five years.

This partnership expands the existing program to include students and participating schools, according to Microsoft Philippines.

Microsoft Philippines Managing Director Rafael Rollan said one of the new features in PIL program would be connecting the new and previous participants to other beneficiaries globally.

“We now have a holistic approach to ensure that the country’s education system gets the best practices. You have trained teachers who will use the latest teaching tools to students,” Rollan said.

Rollan said the five-year project would cost more than $3 million due to the addition of other programs.

DepEd Deputy Chief of Staff Paul Soriano said the agency would help identify schools that would be included in the renewed PIL program.

Microsoft would also be assisting the agency in technical-vocational programs and other projects like the training of out-of-school youths.

The PIL is a global initiative of Microsoft designed for educational institutions.

The Philippines is one of the first participants in the PIL, with training teachers on the latest trends in education using technology and the Internet as among the first projects.

Over 20,000 Filipino teachers have been trained since the PIL program started in 2003.

tonight

March 4th, 2009, 01:05 PM

Phishing attacks target Gmail users (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090304-192311/Phishing-attacks-target-Gmail-users)
By Lawrence Casiraya

MANILA, Philippines--Sophos warns Gmail users about bogus chat messages that attempt to steal usernames and passwords.

The UK-based antivirus firm said it has collected bogus chat messages, sent using Gmail's GoogleTalk chat service.

These unsolicited instant messages urge users to “check out this video” by clicking on a link via the “TinyURL” service.

The link, however, directs users to a website called ViddyHo, which asks visitors to enter their Gmail usernames and passwords.

Sophos warns that the hackers behind ViddyHo could then use the details they have stolen to break into accounts, steal sensitive information and commit identity theft.

“We’re all used to receiving suspicious communications via email, but these attacks arrived via the instant chat system built into Gmail," said Sophos senior technology consultant Graham Cluley.

"As a result, more users may fall unwittingly into the trap,” Cluley noted.

Sophos advises users affected by this attack to change passwords immediately.

"Otherwise, your entire address book and all your correspondence, including information that you may have archived about other online accounts, will quickly become rich pickings for the hackers," Cluley said.

Sophos research shows that at least 40 percent of computer users have the same password for every website they access.

It is crucial for victims of this attack to change their passwords on any site where they are using the same password as on Gmail.

tonight

March 5th, 2009, 08:57 PM

Telus targets 3,000 more workers in RP (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20090305-192529/Telus-targets-3000-more-workers-in-RP)
By Lawrence Casiraya

MANILA, Philippines--Canada-based call center firm Telus International opened its fourth facility in the country, looking to add at least 3,000 workers.

Telus' newest facility is located in Araneta Center in Cubao, adding to current sites located at Ortigas Center in Pasig and Fort Bonifacio in Taguig.

The Cubao facility, officially inaugurated Thursday, currently employs 900 workers.

"We are aiming to get this facility to full capacity of at least 3,000 workers," said Jeffrey Puritt, Telus International president, in a press briefing.

Telus took over the local call center business of Ambergris in 2005. The Vancouver-based firm currently employs 8,000 workers in the country.

Puritt said expansion is geared towards addressing rising non-voice requirements.

"As the contact center industry evolves, it's more than just voice. The trend is definitely up the value chain," he said.

Puritt, however, said Telus is not migrating jobs from Canada to the Philippines.

"In fact, we are likewise expanding our operations there as well as nearshore sites in Latin America, for example," he said.

"We are augmenting our staff with our expansion here (in the Philippines)," he noted.

djhones

March 6th, 2009, 11:16 AM

RIM Unveils The BlackBerry Curve 8900 In RP (http://www.hardwarezone.com/news/view.php?id=12927&cid=9)
Fri 06 Mar 2009

http://www.hardwarezone.com/img/data/nnews/2009/12927/Image/blackberry-curve-8900.jpg

Manila, Philippines -- Research In Motion (RIM) unveiled the thinnest and lightest full-QWERTY BlackBerry smartphone – the BlackBerry Curve 8900 – in the Philippines.

The new BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone features a compact and sleek design weighing just 110 grams and measuring only 109mm x 60mm x 13.5mm, which fits comfortably in the hand for one or two-handed use. Housed within its chrome-frame and stylish black finish, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 packs an expansive feature-set with rich multimedia capabilities, as well as advanced phone, email, messaging, organizer and web browser applications. The powerful new smartphone makes it easy to stay connected with family, friends and co-workers, surf the net, take and view pictures, record* and watch video and listen to music while on the go.

Powered by a 512MHz next generation mobile processor that delivers snappy performance, the BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone supports quad-band EDGE and includes built-in Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) and Bluetooth for flexible connectivity. Its built-in GPS supports location-based applications and services to provide added travel convenience for users.

Its large and brilliant display features the highest resolution available on a BlackBerry smartphone (480 x 360 resolution), adding to its rich multimedia experience. It also comes with a 3.2 megapixel camera that includes auto focus, image stabilization, digital zoom and flash, as well as a microSD/SDHC expandable memory card slot that supports up to 16GB per card, giving users plenty of storage to carry and capture more of their music, pictures and video wherever they go.

“The new BlackBerry Curve 8900 gives users an exceptional mobile experience,” said Gregory Wade, Regional Vice President, Asia Pacific at Research In Motion. “Its compact and refined design, combined with its impressive functionality and performance, will make it a popular choice with both business customers and consumers.”

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 smartphone will be available in the Philippines from Globe Telecom and Smart Communications this month. For information on pricing and service plans, please contact the respective carriers. For further details, please visit www.blackberry.com (http://www.blackberry.com).

venntro

March 10th, 2009, 09:14 AM

Local IT sector confident of recovery by next year (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/151652/Local-IT-sector-confident-of-recovery-by-next-year)
03/06/2009 | 01:59 PM

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ information technology sector, including the business process outsourcing industry, remains optimistic of recovery by next year.

Financial pressures have currently affected “both buyers and sellers of IT services," thereby cutting demand for “people’s services," especially IT workers, a representative of research company XMG said at a recent CyberPress forum in Makati City.

Moreover, the global slowdown has triggered the “restructuring of the IT and IT services market" and given the ICT workforce an “opportunity to ‘normalize’ its talents globally," XMG chief researcher Lauro Vives said.

Since semiconductors form an integral part of most consumer electronics – such as laptops, desktop computers, cellular phones, and the like –demand has dropped so much that it has forced companies to lay off workers, Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI) chairman Arthur Young said at the forum.

On the more upbeat note, Young also said global think tank forecasts predict “double-digit growth" for sub-laptops, also called ultramobile PCs (UMPCs) or sub-notebooks, in the months to come.

“However, fewer semiconductors are needed to make sub-notebooks, so that still translates into a lower demand for semiconductor parts," he said.

Due to these factors, the first quarter of 2009 is not a good one for the Philippines semiconductor industry, though he expects to see a slight recovery in the second quarter of the year, adding that some “very challenging numbers" on the semiconductor industry’s growth in the first quarter will come out.

“2010, on the other hand, will be a good growth year, albeit in single digits… and we expect to see recovery in 2011, when money will be flowing back into the market and we will see double digit growth," he said.

tonight

March 10th, 2009, 04:53 PM

Solon wants to outlaw Internet gambling (http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20090310-193419/Solon-wants-to-outlaw-Internet-gambling)
By Leila Salaverria

MANILA, Philippines -- A lawmaker has proposed that gambling on the Internet be made illegal.

Alliance for Rural Concerns party-list Representative Narciso Santiago noted in his proposed legislation that there are no existing regulations on Internet gambling.

Santiago's bill proposes to make it illegal for people running a gambling operation to use the Internet or any other interactive computer service to place, receive, or otherwise make a bet or wager; or send, receive, or invite information that may assist in the placing of a bet or wager.

He also said there is a danger that gambling sites may be used in scams to trick people out of their money.

"As minors traverse the sites of the web, the possibility of kids being enticed to gamble is high because of the tempting prizes that are awarded, like vacation trips, computers, cars and even cash,” he said in a statement.

But the bill also exempts certain operations, such as any lawful bet or wager that is placed, received or made wholly for the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office lotto, if these operations are authorized, licensed or regulated.

The exception also applies if the bet is placed on an interactive computer service that uses a private network, and the person making the wager is physically in a place open to the general public.

The prohibition would also not apply to bets placed on live horse races if such wagers are authorized, licensed or regulated by applicable laws, as well as to lawful bets made on fantasy sports league games.

Those found violating the proposed law would be fined the equivalent of the amount received as bets, or P200,000, or imprisoned for a maximum of four years, or both.

venntro

March 11th, 2009, 05:09 AM

venntro

March 11th, 2009, 09:25 AM

Group seeks repeal of Wi-Fi laptop regulation (http://http://www.gmanews.tv/story/152243/Group-seeks-repeal-of-Wi-Fi-laptop-regulation)
03/11/2009 | 02:06 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Computer manufacturers seek to repeal a rule requiring Wi-Fi-enabled laptops to secure a clearance from the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC).

Since Wi-Fi is already a standard feature in all laptops, it may no longer be practical to obtain a clearance for every unit shipped or manufactured in the country, the IT Association of the Philippines (ITAP) said.

It has become difficult to get regulatory approval for each portable computer, Vicky Agorrilla, newly-elected president of the IT association of the Philippines (ITAP) said.

“Our group is seeking consideration from the NTC because mobile phones do not even go through that process," said Agorilla, who is also Lenovo’s country manager in the Philippines.

Wi-Fi is classified as wireless technology under current NTC regulations. Thus, every portable computer featuring Wi-Fi connectivity is required to secure regulatory approval from the NTC.

Agorrilla said ITAP’s original plan was to have the restriction repealed.

But since it may prove difficult, the group is now seeking to have Wi-Fi-enabled laptops be approved in bulk, if not exempted altogether.

Besides unnecessary delays in product shipments, the current process makes access to technology more expensive to consumers.

“The vendors would only pass on the cost to the public," she said.

Earlier, the NTC has allowed the importation of mobile phones in bulk, indicating that these no longer have to be checked individually. The agency simply issues stickers to phone makers based on the declared number of units indicated in their importation documents. - GMANews.TV

venntro

March 11th, 2009, 09:26 AM

tonight

March 12th, 2009, 02:08 PM

Filipinos make their mark on Google Maps (http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view/20090312-193791/Filipinos-make-their-mark-on-Google-Maps)
By Janie Christine Octia

Manila, Philippines--Filipinos are now helping shape Google Map.

Thanks to Google Map Maker, an application introduced in October 2008, Filipinos are now creating virtual maps of the Philippines on this virtual world, a Google executive said Thursday.

Google Map Maker is a software application that lets users add, edit and moderate maps. This application encourages users to also provide comprehensive, high-quality and updated maps, as well as local content.

"I think we've seen a huge amount of interest from Filipino users and there has been a huge amount of progress already. With the Philippines’ cultural and geographic diversity--and over 7,000 islands, there is absolutely a long way to go," said Derek Callow, Google's Head of Marketing for Southeast Asia, told INQUIRER.net.

Callow said Google Map Maker edits have come from a diverse group of local users, reflecting the overwhelming response of Filipinos to collaborate online and share knowledge about their communities and neighborhoods.

A user-generated content platform, Google Map Maker still goes through verification. As Wikipedia is to generating user-generated online encyclopedia, Google Map Maker is to user-generated map-making. Users can edit street-level data, landmark tags and business establishments. Once all these information are added, users from around the globe can view them.

To date, Google said that updated and accurate maps of several provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao Region, including key tourism areas in the country, are available for viewing.

"Foreign tourists need information about places. Having local information from the Visayas and Mindanao, it is a big help for those unfamiliar with the area. Foreign tourists usually search on the Internet for information. They look for maps. With Google Maps Maker, tourists are able to find [information] from the locals themselves," said Bernard Arellano III, one of the top Filipino contributors in Google Map Maker.

Arellano, who traces roots back to Iloilo, said he has been collaborating with other Google Map Maker users to improve the streets and key landmarks in the province.

Updating the Philippine map on Google Maps is a continuous work as places continue to evolve, Callow said.

"There is no specific timeline on updating information from Google Map Maker to Google Maps. The core thing for us internally is to make it as quickly as possible and it really depends on the volume of edits. Our promise to users is that when they contribute, we want to make sure it gets rolled out to Google Maps so that in turn their expertise and knowledge is of benefit to as many users as possible," Callow said.

jpdm

March 13th, 2009, 04:33 AM

This is good so that we wont rely too much on foreign made raw materials for our electronic exports and put more local value added.

We can even produce another NEO laptop (a local brand of laptop but made in China).

Manila Times

Friday, March 13, 2009

BIZZ FIZZ
By Rene Martel
Philippines, Taiwan forge electronic ties

IT is an undisputed fact that Taiwan serves as the semiconductor and electronics capital of the world. And in this day and age when high speed technology rules the world, it is good foresight on the part of the Congressional Commission on Science & Technology and Engineering (Comste), along with the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI) to reach out across the South China Sea and forge ties with Taiwan’s technology sector.

A first step in that positive direction is the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding with Taiwan’s prestigious Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).

ITRI was responsible for Taiwan’s spectacular rise as a first world country in the seventies and eighties, spinning off top technology firms such as the Taiwan Semiconductor and Manufacturing Corp. and the United Microelectronics Corp.

Comste has made the creation of the Philippines’ own version of ITRI one of its top priority initiatives. The agreement signed in Taipei calls for ITRI to provide technical assistance in setting up the Philippine counterpart of Taiwan’s top R&D institute, Taiwan’s engine of innovation.

“We can learn a lot from them, in creating our own version. This ensures that industry will be involved in R&D from day one,” said Comste Executive Director Dr. Gregory Tangonan.

Signing for Comste was Tangonan, and for SEIPI, its Chairman Arthur Young. Signing for ITRI was its president, Dr. Johnsee Lee. Witnesses to the signing were Cesar Quiason of the Philippines’ Advanced Research and Competency Development Institute and Chung Yu Wang, chair of the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association.

Also present at the landmark event were key Filipino government officials Trade Secretary Peter Favila and Undersecretary Thomas Aquino, Manila Economic and Cultural Office Directors Tomas Alcantara and Ambassador Antonio Basilio and Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs Chii-Ming Yiin and Vice Minister Sheng Chung Lin.

Over at the Senate, Sen. Edgardo Angara, Comste chair, has worked hard for a congressional allocation of P100 million in the 2009 budget for the establishment of the institute. The funds are expected to be to be released once the charter has been ratified.