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Default internet category for anything that goes to the core of the Internet usage

iWeek 2006: David Frankel, Mark Toddes, Ant Brooks panel session

A retrospective look at the pioneering days of the industry: a question and answer session: This session looked more into the evolution of the ISPA from a small group to more then 120. David Frankel, first ISPA co-Chairman and past MD of Internet Solution, claimed that the industry is too compliant which in one way or the other have delayed the evolution of the internet as we know it today. Mark Todes, Director of Korbitec, reiterated that ISPA started with vision to provide a support structure to their members. The session was dominated by the need to reduce costs, “expanding the Read More →

iWeek 2006: Esther Dyson, Editor, Release 1.0

What matters more than ICTs: As one the members of the Presidential International Advisor Council on Information and Development, Esther Dyson took a lead in a Q&A session instead of giving a presentation. With Mark, and the Deputy Minister she spent the past weekend with President Thabo Mbeki. She highlighted some optimism from people in developing world, and said that there is a need to move forward and not wait for everything to come together. Most members believed that , the question of regulation is inevitably the most cutting edge topic. Most of the questions had in one way Read More →

iWeek 2006: Mark Shuttleworth, Director, HBD Venture Capital

Topic: Challenges and strategies in ICT regulation in Africa:

Mark Shuttleworth made his first appearance at iWeek and provided delegates with the lessons from other emerging markets. If South Africa is to succeed in providing Internet access in a more affordable manner we can learn a lot from South Korea. They have the world's cheapest broadband access. Spain is successful use of computers in classrooms running on free and open source software. In addition Brazil have more multimedia telecenters for teaching digital literacy and allow the creations of multimedia for that highlights there cultural history. Indonesia believes Open Source Read More →

iWeek 2006: Mark Shuttleworth, Director HBD Venture Capital

Today iWeek 2006 kicks off with a bang. Mark Shuttleworth is making a first ever guest speaking appearance at this annual Internet industry event. The conference was moved to The Castle, Kyalami, north of Sandton, this year. The purpose is to discuss trends and development of the Internet industry. Greg Massel, ISPA co-Chairman opened the first session by asking the participants a question relating to the importance internet, he said “imagine a world without the internet”-what will this information Age look like, would it then be called as such - could the words global village, information haves and have Read More →

Internet and digital divide:Prospects and Challenges.

In 2005 civil Society groups in Africa continued their role on ICT as the World Summit on Information Society kicked off in Tunis, Tunisia. As digital Divide continue to cripple millions in the South many still believe that the Information Highway is coming to Africa. Challenges remains high ,so as possibilities growing with risks. James Curren in his chapter Rethinking Media and Democracy in Media and Society argues that New Times calls for New Thinking.It is time to rethink the role of technology on the people in developing world. Globalisation has created opportunities and threats, you have seen more prospects and Read More →

Finally the Telecoms Action Group launches

I'm reposting this message from the Tectonic, open source, newsletter and website. I've always believed the way to get a response is to model our campaign on the Treatment Action Campaign, the well known AIDS lobby group.Richard Frank got people talking this week with his proposal to launch an advert campaign to demand better and cheaper telecommunications options in South Africa. The call quickly got picked up by readers and other media and we spent the rest of the week flooded by emails from people pledging support. So we set up a mailing list to keep everyone Read More →

MySpace, YouTube tops Time's 50 Coolest Websites

Time magazine has released its annual list of 50 Coolest websites here. I have started using both MySpace and YouTube frequently. And you can checkout my MySpace profile here. And have connected with 71 friends so far. Some of them are very well known South Africans like Danny K and ex-girlfriend Lee-Ann Liebenberg. The possibilities of embracing social networking website is endless and the sharing goes beyond mere photos, to music and video clips, little cute things that spice up your profile and more. It does seems like the Website users have become very Read More →

The Future of MSN Instant Messenger

Much to my irratation I've had to use MSN Messenger to keep in contact with some friends and contacts. Others who use Yahoo! Messenger I've ignored and where possible I've tried to get people onto Skype because of its superior voice quality. Well that may not be the case anymore. There has been a few changes in Microsoft's Internet strategy in the last 12 months or so. Firstly they have been pilloting the Windows Live search engine. And now they've also launched the next version of their IM client, aptly renamed Windows Live Messenger. And Microsoft and Yahoo has also Read More →

Online replaces telly and print for teens

This is not exactly news for me because I’ve been following these trends internationally from the annual reports published by the Centre for the Digital Future.

Here’s the South African perspective.

A recent survey by www.Sweet16.co.za found that more South Africans teenagers are spending time online than watching television or reading magazines and newspapers.

This is attributed to an increase in households with broadband connections.

The study found that 47.1 percent of teenagers access the internet from home, and 10.7 percent at school.

Of the girls aged between12 and 24, 37.2 percent of them browse the net for a few hours each day, Read More →

Jump Around Shopping

My friends over at Jump has launched South Africa’s first shopping search engine. I must say I’m really impressed that this is the product of two guys. Very dedicated and very geeky because anyone who reads Seth Godin (like me) is a little geeky. Well the geeks will rule the world, as Bill Gates has proved. Its not the strongest who’ll survive its the network savy people like the guys from Jump Shopping.

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