[boypad]

I thought this is just an urban legend but it actually happen without notice. Now I won't trust facebook anymore because of this...... hno:

Phil. Gov’t pressures Facebook over Fans?

Published by: yuga under: The Internet , Web 2.0. 27 replies
posted: November 15th, 2010

There was a story in the Guardian UK that claims the Philippine’s is becoming like China in web censorship and I agreed to do an interview for an article as a rebuttal saying that the Philippines is among the most liberal in terms of general internet activity and social media and that there has been no cases of the government using its power & influence to pressure sites like YouTube, Facebook and the likes to its advantage.

Not until this month when the original FB Fan Page of Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino (facebook.com/noynoy.aquino) was shut down by Facebook, allegedly under the order of the office of the President. All of the 2.2 million Facebook fans were gone overnight. This page was maintained by an supporter even before Noynoy announced he’s running for president.

On the other hand, a new and separate Fan Page (facebook.com/presidentnoy), created by the office of the President, also got a nice treatment from Facebook. With just over 100k Likes, it ballooned to 1.6 million in a matter of days.

The most logical reason for these changes was Facebook manually removed the Likes from one Fan Page and transferred it to the other Fan Page which is controlled by the government. All done magically without notice from Facebook.

The reason might seem pretty obvious — the original fan page was moderated by groups and individuals independent of the office of the President and allows free flow of content, positive or negative, on the page. Not good if you want to “filter” the flow of communication.

Taking over the fan page would look harsh so they decided to tell Facebook to just shut down the old one and transfer the Likes to the new one. The Philippines being in the top 10 most active FB users in the world, Facebook didn’t blinked an eye and gave in to the request.

http://www.yugatech.com/blog/the-internet/phils-govt-pressures-facebook-over-likes/

 

[Askal82]

I see a pattern between censorship and brainwashing here. Scary.

 

[amigo32]

I see a pattern between censorship and brainwashing here. Scary.

wag matakot, sa tuwid na daan ang tahak, magtiwala wag mangamba:lol::lol::lolramis:lol:

 

[Askal82]

^^ At least hindi banned ang Facebook sa Pilipinas.

People there doesn't have to worry about the Great Firewall of China.

 

[boypad]

^^ Here's another reason why you should not put anything about yourself in facebook and other social networking sites..

Read below....

Social media background checks-Is this going too far? :bash:

by Leigh Ann Conselyea
Norfolk Workplace Examiner
October 1, 2010

A Santa Barbara-based company, Social Intelligence Corporation, is officially launching a social media screening and monitoring service this week that makes a huge leap from traditional background checks into what many consider to be a stunning invasion of privacy.

Essentially, Social Intelligence Corporation is taking the components of a traditional background check and moving them online to track social media networks including Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Youtube, Linked In, and even individual blogs.

“You cannot believe the things that we see. The amount of references to drugs and alcohol and the amount of provocative photos and the things that people say is jaw dropping,” says Max Drucker, chief executive of Social Intelligence Corp. “People that we see that are applying for jobs that have this kind of really incriminating information out there.”

Social Intelligence Corporation conducts investigations by taking personal information given to the company by its clients and using their own software to sift through the vast amount of data on the web, looking for user-generated content. The data is then reviewed manually and a report is generated that includes only the information requested by the client. Potentially discriminatory information such as race, religion and sexual orientation will be filtered out.

The company is operating as a consumer reporting agency and as such, will have to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Additionally, they have stated that they will not engage in “spy” techniques, such as friending someone on Facebook just to gain access to their private information. They have stated their intention is to only use information made available on public profiles.

CEO Max Drucker reveals that his company has had very little trouble uncovering dirt on people. He says a person Social Intelligence Corp. investigated online was found to have a threatening photo on a MySpace page showing the individual holding a gun and making an aggressive pose. One investigated person left inappropriate and profane comments on a blog entry and another posted a racist video clip on a message board.

Drucker claims that the standardized process Social Intelligence Corp is offering is better for everyone since companies have an obligation to assess employment risks. In addition, he rightly claims that it’s undeniable that companies are going to search the web to investigate prospective employees. It is his opinion that companies who do not conduct this type of search are not doing due diligence when it comes to background checks.

Social media sites have been in the headlines a lot lately, prompting many people to reconsider, revisit, and revamp their privacy settings on sites such as Facebook. With the advent of background checks specifically aimed at social media sites, it should serve as a reminder that, regardless of what you think your right to privacy is, if you post something on the internet, chances are very good someone you don’t know is going to see it.

http://www.examiner.com/workplace-in-norfolk/social-media-background-checks-is-this-going-too-far

 

[boypad]

Social media fuels 68% surge in bandwidth usage :lol:

Staff Writer | November 22, 2010
Telecom Asia

The synergy between social media and mobile broadband continues to strengthen as social networking becomes a 'must-have' part of peoples' lifestyles

Global mobile data bandwidth usage increased 68% in the first half of 2010 compared to the previous half.

Allot' MobileTrends report found the growth rate, which is equivalent to a CAGR of 184%, suggests that the mobile broadband market (devices, apps, etc.) has not reached full maturity. As the ecosystem continues to develop, massive amounts of data traffic will continue to create challenges for broadband operators.

One of the report' key findings is the natural synergy that exists between social media and mobile broadband, which the rise of Twitter and Facebook clearly illustrates. This synergy continues to strengthen as social networking becomes a 'must-have' part of our lifestyles and changes the way we conduct both our personal and business lives.

On the other hand, as new MIDs, applications and services continue to be developed, it seems certain that the challenges faced today by mobile broadband operators are just the beginning. With YouTube having increased its share of global mobile bandwidth usage to 13% from 10%, the consumption of more real-time, on-demand, user-generated content seems to be a major force for innovation and change within the market.

The latest MobileTrends report, Allot' fourth, collected data from anonymous sources from January 1 to June 30. These sources include leading mobile operators worldwide with a combined user base of more than 190 million subscribers.

The survey found that video streaming grew by 92% and remains as the fastest growing application type worldwide. As was apparent in all previous MobileTrends reports, video streaming is the single largest consumer of bandwidth, currently with a share of 35%.

This is likely due in part to the popularity of sites such as YouTube, the increased demand and subsequent bandwidth consumption per user and the move to more user-generated content.

YouTube's growth jumped to 123% in the first half of 2010 from 90% in the second half of 2009. YouTube remains the single most important destination for video streaming, accounting for 13% of global mobile bandwidth and 40% of overall video traffic in mobile networks. With more and more smartphones and MID's including pre-installed YouTube apps, mobile video has become a truly mainstream form of entertainment.

Twitter alone surged by 310% during the first half. One possible explanation for this is the sheer suitability of the medium for mobile. With dozens of mobile apps for Twitter in the market and more being developed every day, it has become a popular, affordable and user-friendly way of communicating.

Facebook jumped 200% in its global mobile bandwidth usage. This is likely due to the increase in mobile Facebook users which, according to the company's official statistics, currently number 150 million users.

Also, Allot found that HTTP downloads and peer-to-peer (P2P) growth rates slowed to 44% and 36%, respectively. P2P and HTTP downloads together represent 31% of global mobile bandwidth with an aggregate growth rate of 80%.

It should be noted that although VoIP and IM experienced 84% growth, these two applications account for only 3% of mobile broadband bandwidth.

The majority of VoIP traffic in mobile broadband networks is still generated by IM applications. Skype has continued to dominate this segment, increasing its share to 83% from 77%. Skype is leaving competitors like Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger and Windows Live Messenger far behind.

 

[Linguine]

More domestic companies expected to resort to e-commerce next year

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE (e-commerce) sales in the country are expected to grow by 20% in 2011 from P3.45 billion this year as more companies gain confidence in using the Internet for their core business, experts said during an industry conference yesterday.

This, in turn, is because of growing awareness of savings in operating costs from using the Internet as well as better security.

Janette C. Toral, founder of the online community, Digital Filipino Club, told reporters at the sidelines of the 2nd Digital Filipino E-Commerce Summit at the InterContinental Manila that "the sectors that have the most benefit from e-commerce are the airline and hotel sectors."

"Reservation and purchasing of tickets are usually done now by customers online," Ms. Toral noted.

"In e-commerce, small, medium and even large enterprises are saving much in their operating expenses," she added.

"Next year, we are seeing growth in the number of large enterprises that would do transactions online."

She clarified that the value of e-commerce she cited does not include electronic banking.

Citing the findings of a global study conducted last year by online advertising firm Razorfish, Inc., Manolo P. Almagro, digital experience strategist of Jollibee Foods Corp. said in the same event that 64% of respondents made a first purchase of a product or service due to a "digital brand experience", 65% changed their opinion about a brand after having such experience and 97% said such exposure influenced whether they would purchase a product or service from a brand.

He said that "digital brand experience" includes a Web site and electronic mail offer. -- AMPD


http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=21738

 

[Linguine]

Philippines competes in int'l blog tilt
By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA
November 28, 2010, 6:08pm

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines advanced to the finals of the 2010 APEC Digital Opportunity Center (ADOC) international blog competition ongoing in Taiwan, in which the final voting will end Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010.

Representing the Philippines is the Samahan ng Mamamayan-Zone One Tondo Organization (SM-ZOTO) which was declared country champion after it bested six other teams in the process. It will compete with other groups from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Mexico, Peru, and Chile. The result of the final voting round will be announced on Friday, Dec. 3, 2010.

So far, the Philippines has won a trophy and two laptops, as country winner. The overall champion will receive one trophy, 12 personal computers, one printer, one router, one switch, one multi-functional machine, and one digital camera. Voting for the final round will end Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010.

“With these, SM-ZOTO as the Philippines’ country representative is in need of the support of all. To vote, go to www.apecdoc.org, register and go to the page on blog competition,” the group said.

The blog competition features and highlights stories of people who became involved and are now using their new found knowledge and skills to make a difference in their lives, to better their situation.

In choosing the country champions, ADOC 2.0 Secretariat used three indicators — the first indicator being the number of successful stories submitted by the competing center, next is the number of successful stories submitted by the competing center and last is the total points of on-line voter’s opinion.

To be declared as the final winner of the competition, each PME blog entry will be evaluated through: (1) Online Voting 50 percent; (2) Press Promotion 20 percent; (3) ADOC Secretariat Auditing Meeting 30 percent.


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/289962/philippines-competes-intl-blog-tilt

 

[boypad]

Why I don’t do Facebook

Manila Standard Today
Digital Life - Chin Wong
November 30, 2010

I DON’T do Facebook.
I will not be your “friend,” and I will certainly not sign up for a Facebook account simply “to connect” with anyone. Nor will I put the little “f” logo and a link back to Facebook anywhere on my blog.

Up until now, my resistance has been visceral.

I don’t like Facebook because I find it insipid—mediocre in concept, design and execution. I also question the wisdom of encouraging people to post private information on public pages without warning them that this is exactly what excites stalkers, burglars and other unsavory characters that prowl the Internet. But mostly, I resent being pressed to sign up for a service simply to get at the content inside that isn’t even generated by Facebook. Why should anyone get a free ride on data that I volunteer?

And one big free ride is what Facebook has been getting from everyone who has signed up, all 500 million of you, according to the latest statistics. Companies that are too lazy to set up their own Web sites and use Facebook instead to post information about themselves also fuel the social networking site’s growth.

Unfortunately, the free ride that Facebook continues to enjoy exacts a heavy price that isn’t immediately apparent, especially given the company’s subterfuge of embracing openness.

On his Facebook page, the company’s chief executive Mark Zuckerberg says: “I’m trying to make the world a more open place by helping people connect and share.” You can almost read the thought balloon that adds “...as long as they go through Facebook.”

Writing in the Scientific American, the inventor of the World Wide Web, Tim Berners-Lee, argues that far from encouraging openness, social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn threaten the true democratic nature of the Web.

“The World Wide Web went live, on my physical desktop in Geneva, Switzerland, in December 1990,” writes Berners-Lee, on the 20th anniversary of the first Web page. “It consisted of one Web site and one browser, which happened to be on the same computer. The simple setup demonstrated a profound concept: that any person could share information with anyone else, anywhere. In this spirit, the Web spread quickly from the grassroots up. Today, at its 20th anniversary, the Web is thoroughly integrated into our daily lives. We take it for granted, expecting it to ‘be there’ at any instant, like electricity.”

But some of the Web’s most successful inhabitants have begun chipping away at the egalitarian principles that have made the Web such a powerful and ubiquitous tool, Berners-Lee says.

“Large social-networking sites are walling off information posted by their users from the rest of the Web...

“Facebook, LinkedIn, Friendster and others typically provide value by capturing information as you enter it: your birthday, your e-mail address, your likes, and links indicating who is friends with whom and who is in which photograph. The sites assemble these bits of data into brilliant databases and reuse the information to provide value-added service—but only within their sites. Once you enter your data into one of these services, you cannot easily use them on another site. Each site is a silo, walled off from the others. Yes, your site’s pages are on the Web, but your data are not. You can access a Web page about a list of people you have created in one site, but you cannot send that list, or items from it, to another site.”

He cautions: “If we, the Web’s users, allow these and other trends to proceed unchecked, the Web could be broken into fragmented islands. We could lose the freedom to connect with whichever Web sites we want. The ill effects could extend to smart phones and pads, which are also portals to the extensive information that the Web provides.”

It’s a warning well worth heeding, the next time you update your Facebook status.

 

[Linguine]

COMDDAP promotes ict literacy, empowers communities

Thursday, 02 December 2010 00:00

One of the country’s most durable and respected trade organizations quietly gives back to society, integrating mainly the promotion of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) literacy and community empowerment in its institutional agenda. Over the past 24 years, the Computer Manufacturers, Distributors and Dealers Association of the Philippines (COMDDAP), the pioneering trade group in the local information technology industry, has not only introduced and made available the latest ICT products and services in the market, often at special prices and promotions, but also helped raise ICT awareness and skills among the underprivileged and rebuild the lives of our countrymen.

These life-changing projects are funded through COMDDAP’s annual trade exhibits, dues and fees and contributions or donations from its 41 member-companies, spreading what Juan Chua, a past president and presently chairman of COMDDAP Expo Manila 2010, describes as “the gospel of IT [information technology]” around the country.

Indeed, when COMDDAP was formed in 1986 through its first exhibit in September that year at The Peninsula Manila, COMDDAP was instrumental in making the public aware that the “Digital Age” has arrived in the country and is here to stay. This year’s COMDDAP Expo Manila is its 27th edition.

ICT education
While COMDDAP helped usher in the Digital Age in the country over two decades ago, it continues to exert efforts in bridging the digital divide among the underprivileged sectors of our society.

Part of spreading the IT gospel includes the Adopt-a-School program, a month-long hands-on training for public school students in coordination with the Department of Education. This bridges the IT literacy gap common in many public schools in the country. COMDDAP has also donated personal computers to public schools to help expose their students to the wonders of computer technology and the Internet.

A Training-the-Trainors program complements the student-focused IT literacy program of COMDDAP. For one month, public school teachers are also taught hands-on in preparing computerized reports based on the requirements set by the education department.

COMDDAP member-companies also agreed to provide service and technical support to sustain the operations of computer equipment they and other companies donated to various schools nationwide through GILAS or Gearing Up Internet Literacy & Access for Students, a multisectoral initiative by corporations and non-profit organizations that invests in bridging the digital divide among the country’s public high school students.

Meanwhile, dozens of rank and file employees of COMDDAP member-companies benefited through ICT-related vocational courses through the School-2-Work program. Many of those who went through this program are now gainfully employed in the ICT industry. Over 50 high-school graduates took up these vocational courses.

Rebuilding lives, empowering communities
As a nonstock, nonprofit IT trade group, COMDDAP holds exhibition events not to earn profit from them, but by sharing whatever goes to its coffers through its corporate social responsibility programs.

COMDDAP went beyond its industrial boundary by pouring nearly P1 million from its event coffers to a housing project organized by Habitat for Humanity Philippines for communities ravaged by Super Typhoon Reming that made the Bicol region a wasteland in 2006.

On COMDDAP’s end, a total of 18 houses were built and turned over to residents in the Maogma District of Naga City in January, 2008.

And when another super typhoon Ondoy hit the country last year, COMDDAP member-companies, who were themselves victims of flooding in some of their warehouses and offices, also donated to Tahanang Walang Hagdan (TWH) whose property in Cainta, Rizal and all its metal craft machines, raw materials and finished products were submerged and left useless.

Raising ICT awereness
ICT continues to shape societies and the way people learn, work, play and live. The research group IDC predicts that by 2012, there will be 1.9 billion Internet users worldwide, 30 percent of the global population will be online, there will be 3 billion Internet-connected devices (1.5 billion are mobile) and 1 billion online consumers will spend $1.2-trillion annually.

Keeping at pace with trends and developments in the global IT industry, COMDDAP continues to help raise ICT awareness among Filipinos by making ICT products and services available at reduced prices or exclusive promotions, especially in regions where ICT penetration is low, through its annual exhibits that are open to the public for free.

COMDDAP has mounted a total of 48 exhibits in various regions in the country, with 27 organized in Manila, 10 in Cebu, six in Davao, two in Baguio and one each in Naga, Iloilo and Dagupan. Over the last 23 years, COMDDAP has reached out to an estimated annual average of 50,000 people.

In Metro Manila alone, it is conservatively estimated that over half a million people have visited the premier IT exhibit in the country, COMDDAP Expo Manila, which introduces the latest computer products, whether hardware or software, and services in the market besides conducting technology updates and seminars free of charge to its visitors.

The Expo has especially benefitted students from various schools as they become acquainted with the latest technology and participate in various activities that raise their ICT knowledge and capabilities.

According to COMDDAP executive director Gina Dimayuga, student visitors comprise over 50 percent of attendees at any exhibit annually. Some 61 percent of about 20,000 visitors last year at the COMDDAP Expo Manila were students.

She has been approached several times by previous student attendees who are now professionals themselves, claiming their IT imagination was sparked by the COMDDAP exhibits. And they continue to visit the exhibits of the organization year after year with their children and family in tow.


http://www.manilatimes.net/index.ph...ap-promotes-ict-literacy-empowers-communities

 

[Linguine]

Davao sets 1st software exhibit
By **** M. BASA
December 2, 2010, 8:38pm

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – This city is set to hold on Sunday its first software exhibition that will gather local software developers and other stakeholders to talk on their successful experiences and practices in software development, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Thursday.

Government and industry experts will also participate in the Dec. 5 exhibition to be held at SM City Davao.

Dubbed “Sex in D’City,” the software exhibition will serve as a venue “where public sector initiatives in nurturing talent and strengthening information technology-enabled services will be discussed as they complete in the global marketplace and outsourcing services,” said Jenny M. Mendoza, public information officer of the DTI in Southern Mindanao.

Secretary Ivan John Uy of the Commission on Information and Communications Technology, Regional Director Anthony Sales of the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) 11, Director Edgardo Celorico of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in Zamboanga, and representatives from Bayan Telecommunications and IBM Phils Inc. are among the resource speakers in the plenary session of the exhibition.

Special track sessions will also be presented by the local industry associations such as the Davao United Animators and Designer Inc. (DUAADI), Transcription Alliance in Davao Inc. (TADI), Business Process Outsourcing Association of Davao Inc, (BPO-ADI), among others.


http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/290645/davao-sets-1st-software-exhibit

 

[boypad]

Internet addresses to be used up in January—expert

Inquirer.net
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 03:58:00 12/05/2010

MONTEVIDEO—The reserve of available Internet addresses will be used up around the world in January, warned experts based here.

Internet addresses are distributed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which provides them to five regional organizations around the world.

"The pool of central addresses will be used up in January," said Ernesto Majo, communications director for the Registry of Internet addresses for Latin America and the Caribbean, a Montevideo-based non-profit organization.

"This week four blocks of Internet addresses have been used up," Majo told AFP Friday. "We are left with only five, and it has been decided that they will be distributed to each of the regional Internet registries."

But Majo said the situation was "not serious" because a new Internet protocol will allow the production of billions more Internet addresses.

The currently used Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) manages about four billion addresses and has reached its limit, experts said.

But an alternative protocol -- IPv6 -- will allow to register and service billions new address.

 

[bulabog jalaur]

Limewire says to close December 31 after legal battle

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/290848/limewire-says-close-december-31-after-legal-battleus-us



December 4, 2010, 12:26pm
NEW YORK (Reuters) – LimeWire, the music file-sharing service embroiled in a lengthy legal challenge from the music industry, said on Friday it would be shutting down by the end of the year and closing its sole office in New York.

In October, a U.S. federal judge granted the music industry's request to shut down the popular LimeWire file-sharing service, which had been found liable for copyright infringement.

"As a result of our current legal situation, we have no choice but to wind down LimeWire Store operations," LimeWire said in a statement on Friday.

"Despite our dedication and efforts, December 31, 2010, will mark the day when LimeWire Store shuts its virtual doors."

LimeWire said its plan to bring a separate, legal music service to market had been canceled.

LimeWire is one of the world's biggest outlets for people to share music, movies and TV shows free of charge over the Internet.

Founded in 2000 by Mark Gorton, LimeWire has been a thorn in the side of record companies because millions of fans used it to download music for free.

The music industry blames online and physical piracy as the primary reasons for declining music sales.

LimeWire has also been criticized by Hollywood.

The case is Arista Records LLC et al v Lime Group et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 06-05936.

 

[bulabog jalaur]

Google launches Chrome Web Store and reveals Chrome OS
by Mat Bettinson



Acer and Samsung to launch Chrome netbooks mid 2011
Google has launched the Chrome Web Store and unveiled further information regarding the Chrome OS project at an event in San Francisco.
Declaring that the Chrome Web Store is ‘open for business’, Google said that developers had already begun uploading applications and that more were expected over time. While the Chrome Web Store is only official living in the US, at least as far as buying applications, there’s already a number of free applications which can be ‘installed’ outside of the US.
The Internet giant expressed satisfaction that users of the firm’s Chrome web browser had grown from 40 million to 120 million this year. Having recently launched Chrome OS 8, Web Store apps appear as large icons on new tabs within the browser.
Media outlets such as the New York Times, USA Today and Salon have already launched web applications but there are also some applications which provide a preview of more advanced functionality available in Chrome Web Apps such as Google’s own Picnik Photo editor.
Games are also well represented with the general theme of applications being on the rather simple side, similar to applications on smartphones.


Google also used the occasion to shed some light on the situation with the Chrome OS which had originally been scheduled to ship this year. However Google said that the OS was only “at the stage where we need feedback from real users.”
To that end Google announced a pilot program for Chrome OS which involves Google providing a free Chrome 12-inch Notebook called the Cr-48. Equipped with Wi-Fi and 3G, the Cr-48 about 1.7Kg and sports a full-size keyboard and “oversized touchpad” while also being good for eight hours of use and a week of standby.
Google also addressed concerns with the new cloud-based OS, demonstrating Google Docs operating in an offline mode with changes synced up to the cloud when a network connection becomes available. The company also talked up Google Cloud Print which enables printing to the user’s home printer from anywhere.
As expected, the Chrome OS will auto update regularly with security updates and new features. Vendors Samsung and Acer were confirmed as lining up Chrome OS-based netbooks around the middle of next year, presumably after the pilot program concludes and Chrome OS goes ‘RTM’.
“Chrome OS is designed to work across a wide range of screen sizes and form factors, enabling our partners to deliver computing devices beyond notebooks,” said Google engineering veep Linus Upson.
“We’re excited to get Chrome notebooks into the hands of users. The data from our test pilots is key to building something wonderful. We look forward to working together to make computers better.”


http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/35316/Google-launches-Chrome-Web-Store-and-reveals-Chrome-OS

 

[boypad]

Microsoft pushes technology PPPs, cloud computing

BusinessWorld Online
December 14, 2010

SINGAPORE -- Software giant Microsoft yesterday unveiled a regional push for public-private partnerships (PPP) in technology, urging governments to adopt "cloud computing" to cut costs and improve the delivery of services.

The tech firm is proposing a "model of a modern nation," saying investments in infrastructure are necessary for national competitiveness amid changes in the way information technology (IT) is consumed.

Orlando Ayala, Microsoft corporate vice-president and chairman for emerging markets, said cloud computing -- in which the Internet is used to share software, data, and other resources -- is increasingly becoming a utility.

"We are entering a fourth wave of a major disruption in technology," he said during the company’s two-day Accelerating Asia Pacific 2010 forum which opened yesterday, citing the progression to cloud computing from mainframes, client servers, and the Web.

The Colombian executive claimed that 70% of corporate IT budgets go to the maintenance of huge data centers, 85% of which are idle.

Most organizations already have a remote work force and by 2014 half of business devices will be smart-phones, he added.

Microsoft wants to focus on four areas: health, government transparency, education, and public safety, Mr. Ayala said.

The switch will benefit governments as this will lower IT costs with a "pay-as-you-go" model, and make budgeting easier as cloud services can be treated as operating rather than capital expenditures.

Microsoft is already competing with Internet search firm Google in securing US government contracts to switch to cloud computing, recently winning a deal with the US Department of Agriculture, which is migrating 12,000 workers to e-mail, Web conferencing, document collaboration, and instant messaging in the "cloud."

New York City, meanwhile, is switching to Microsoft Office 365, which brings together cloud versions of the popular productivity software.

Applications being offered by Microsoft include case and records management, data center efficiency, government performance management, identity management, a citizen service platform, government workplace modernization, and public finance and accounting.

Kevin Ackhurst, vice-president for sales and marketing of Microsoft Asia-Pacific, noted that the Philippines already had "a lot of examples in the use of technology."

It was unclear up to what extent the software giant would engage in PPPs in the region, with company executives noting that the existing business model is to work with third-party providers.

Microsoft is also open to expanding partnerships with nongovernment organizations, recently granting $800,000 to antihuman trafficking group the Visayan Forum Foundation for the training of victims and potential victims.

The Aquino administration has lined up at least three technology projects under its centerpiece PPP initiative which aims to improve public infrastructure -- the P1-billion e-Health project that aims to connect state hospitals nationwide, a common ticketing system for Metro Manila’s railway systems that is estimated to cost P330 million, and an P850-million electronic trading system for corn.

Microsoft has pledged additional resources, facilities, and manpower to help the government and businesses in IT, Mr. Ackhurst said.

Microsoft estimates that for every $1.00 in revenue it generates from the Philippines, "companies within the Microsoft system generate an average of $12.11." In the Philippines, the software company runs an "innovation center" to help start-ups and has 24 locations focused on research and development. It has a total of 803 business partners across the region.

Cathy Huang, analyst at Frost & Sullivan, told BusinessWorld that security was a concern hindering businesses from starting the momentum toward cloud computing.

One cause for concern amid efforts to move governments to the cloud is that malware, worms and even the emergence of whistleblowing site Wikileaks are acquiring a political character, she said.

"There’s a cyberwar going on and its going to be very challenging," she said.

 

[boypad]

^^ Hindi talaga pahuli ang mga pinoy pagdating sa social networking..:lol:

Facebook connections map the world :lol:

BBCWorld - December 14, 2010

Facebook intern Paul Butler has been poring through some of the data held by the social networking firm on its 500m members.

The map above is the result of his attempts to visualise where people live relative to their Facebook friends. Each line connects cities with pairs of friends. The brighter the line, the more friends between those cities.

After tweaking the graphic and data set it produced a "surprisingly detailed map of the world," he said in a blog post.

"Not only were continents visible, certain international borders were apparent as well," he wrote.

"What really struck me, though, was knowing that the lines didn't represent coasts or rivers or political borders, but real human relationships."

However, large chunks of the world are missing, such as China and central Africa, where Facebook has little presence.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11989723

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=469716398919

 

[Askal82]

^^ The gossip map. Kaya pala maliwanag ang Pilipinas doon. :lol:

 

[boypad]

Pinoys spend Noche Buena on Facebook

TJ DIMACALI, GMANews.TV
12/25/2010 | 01:41 AM

The Philippines has long been known as the texting capital of the world, and local telcos have traditionally come to expect high traffic from well-wishers during the yuletide season. However, the past year has seen the growth of Facebook and other social media as challengers to SMS.

Still, Facebook's popularity hasn't prevented people from using SMS to its fullest potential. Filipinos have been known to be very creative with their use of SMS, even using the platform for graphics.

There were the usual Christmas trees:



,*, Merry
,*'@'*, Xmas!
,*'@*@'*,
"""""U"""""

Hope that I'm the
first person to put a
christmas tree on
your phone..


And some very personal ones, like this message from an airplane crash survivor:


-l-
:"":
---¤=(*)):=¤---
ö ö

I'm sending thru
this flight:
A plane load of
LOVE, HOPE, JOY and PEACE 4 u n ur loved ones.
Merry Christmas!

However, an informal survey conducted by GMA News showed that, as of 1:30am on Christmas day, 78 percent of respondents said they would rather use Facebook, Twitter, or other social media to send Christmas greetings to their loved ones. Only 12 percent said they would use SMS for the same purpose.

Even a year ago in 2009, before Facebook had become such a huge hit with Filipinos, social networks were already eating away at the dominance of SMS for delivering yuletide greetings.

"I remember waking up on the 25th to hundreds of text messages with greetings of Merry Christmas. Today, I still get tons of greetings but this time it’s on Facebook and Twitter. It’s a shift in the communication trends — Facebook updates and Tweeting is replacing the good old SMS," tech pundit Abe Olandres wrote on his blog.

He also warned that the phenomenon "could translate [into] millions or tens of millions of lost revenues for [telecommunications companies]."

According to Australia-based telecommunications research firm BuddeComm, as of June 2010, the penetration rate for mobile phones in the Philippines was 92 percent -some 85 million mobile phone subscribers out of a population of 92 million.

In contrast, Facebook metrics company Socialbakers.com says that the Philippines has just under 19 million Facebook users as of November, accounting for just 19 percent of the country's population.

Despite this, a growing number of people are choosing Facebook over SMS in an effort to avoid the hassle of congested mobile networks over the holidays.

"Hirap mag send ng mga txts ngaun kaya Facebook na lang para lahat magi-greet ko, lalo na ung mga nasa abroad kong kamag-anak at family. Unlimited greetings pa nagagawa ko, kaya Ok na OK," explained Rachelle Bernardino.

(It's difficult to send SMS right now, so I'll use Facebook instead so I can greet everyone, especially my relatives and family abroad. I can even send unlimited greetings, so it's really OK.)

"Traffic na sa mga (mobile) network, buti pa sa Facebook OK. Kaya babatiin ko lahat ng friends ko s Facebook," added Esther Villanueva Boringot.

(There's a lot of traffic on the mobile networks, but Facebook is better off. So I'm going to greet all my friends via Facebook.)

"May mas effective pa ba [sa Facebook]? Libre. [At] one click lang, worldwide pa," said Zoilo Roco.

(What's more effective than Facebook? It's free. It's just as easy as a click, and it's worldwide too.)

The novel use of SMS, coupled with the emergence of Facebook and other social media, has had a negative impact on the PHilippine postal service, which has been losing money on account of the phenomenon.

"We used to receive volumes of love letters (and) greeting cards. We still (get) about one million pieces of mail daily (but) technology has really overtaken the post," Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) Assistant Postmaster General for Marketing Luis Carlos told GMANews.TV.

Carlos said the demand for snail mail service began its decline in the 2000 when mobile phones and now broadband became the rage, encouraging consumers to send their greetings through text, e-mail, or online social networking sites.

 

[Linguine]

Telcos insist on limiting broadband Internet downloads

BROADBAND service providers will participate in the public hearing to craft the final draft of an order meant to address growing consumer complaints on slow broadband speed, but said regulators should set a maximum volume of data that users can download in a day.

John V. Rojo, Bayan Telecommunications, Inc. vice-president for corporate brand and communications, said in a telephone interview yesterday the company will join the scheduled public consultation on Jan. 11. “However, we would like also to be assured that in the fair use policy, service providers will also be protected from abusive use of the service,” he said.

Ramon R. Isberto, Smart Communications, Inc. public affairs head, said in a separate telephone interview that service providers have already submitted position papers before the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

“We will just wait for the final draft of the memorandum order. We will follow whatever the decision is,” he said.

Smart Communications is the mobile unit of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT).

Globe Telecom, Inc. declined to comment.

The NTC started working on the draft of the memorandum order in September last year.

“The draft memorandum order has undergone several revisions since then as it continues to receive inputs from the public and public telecommunications entities (PTEs),” it said in a press release yesterday. “The latest modification in the proposed draft provided that ‘Service providers may set the maximum volume of data allowed per subscriber or user per day,’” the NTC added.

The NTC said the latest modification was suggested by PTEs to prevent network abuse by “unscrupulous” subscribers who violate intellectual property laws, particularly on copyright, by downloading movies and software.

Telcos likened this to “abusive” subscribers of unlimited call or text promotions, which are designed for person-to-person use.

“There are some consumers who use [broadband services] for voluminous commercial undertakings ... these types of network abuse limit accessibility to a few instead of providing adequate access for all of the subscribers,” the NTC said.

“Commercial or high volume users may avail [themselves] of other Internet connection packages which have committed higher speeds and allow heavy data exchanges,” it added.

The NTC wants broadband service providers to specify their minimum broadband connection speeds and service reliability, as well as service rates in advertisements, flyers, brochures and service and legal agreements.

Mediaquest Holdings, Inc., a unit of the Beneficial Trust Fund of PLDT, has a minority stake in BusinessWorld. -- Aura Marie P. Dagcutan
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http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=23876

 

[Linguine]

House committees OK formation of ICT dep’t

THE COMMITTEES on information and communications technology and government reorganization of the House of Representatives have jointly approved a bill that seeks to form the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), a move business chambers have been pushing to further boost the industry.

Taguig Rep. Sigfredo R. Tinga, chairman of the House ICT committee, confirmed the approval of the bill in a phone interview yesterday.

Under the proposed law, DICT will assume the communications-related functions of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DoTC) and will absorb the Commission on Information and Communications Technology under the Office of the President. It will absorb three DoTC offices, namely: the National Computer Center, the Telecommunications Office and the Communications Planning Service division.

The DICT will be the primary policy, planning, coordinating, implementing and administrative entity of the government in the promotion and development of the country’s ICT sector.

Sought for comment, Business Processing Association of the Philippines Chief Executive Oscar R. Sañez said via text, "The country needs a Cabinet-level department to lead government efforts in driving our country to the digital age by way of setting policy and standards for the industry, streamlining government bureaucracy and e-government, leading the program for digital infrastructure for the country and partnering with the ICT industry to promote the development of IT and BPO (business process outsourcing) capability in the country," he said. -- NMG

http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=24068