Sunday, October 22, 2006
14 Philippine VOIP Sellers and Providers
The National Telecommunications Commission just accredited two more VOIP seller and provider that gave the country a total of 14 providers today. Hopefully this will make VOIP more affordable to Filipinos.
Help Milenyo victims through the mobile phone
The Philippine National Red Cross and Globe Telecom are partners in the “Donate-A-Load” program to provide a way for mobile phone users to send their donations to victims of Typhoon “Milenyo.”
Truly, just one of the many ways that the mobile phone is being used for disaster relief coordination.
Truly, just one of the many ways that the mobile phone is being used for disaster relief coordination.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
I’m a Google Addict
"Hi. I’m Janette Toral. I’m a Google Addict. Help!
My infatuation with Google started with its search engine. Like an ideal lover, it answered all my inquiries without hesitation and with a high level of accuracy. A sense of attachment developed when it launched Gmail, the free 2 gigabyte e-mail service. Like a lot of Yahoo Mail’s ardent lovers, I downgraded my relationship with Yahoo Mail to back-up, visited when only needed. That is, whenever my primetime love, Gmail, becomes unavailable - which is so rare actually.
However, Google enchanted me to a longer term and more serious relationship when it launched Google Sitemap, AdSense, AdWords, and it bought Blogger and YouTube.
The feeling of being so dependent to one love for the most of your Internet life is so scary. Then, the inevitable happened, I have consumed my 2 gigabyte Gmail account and now I’m confused, as my love supposedly said, I don’t have to delete any of my e-mails. I’m heart broken. I felt betrayed and fooled.
What should I do?"
Of course, the above is more of me trying to humor myself. But I am indeed having a hard time to decide which of my emails should be deleted for good.
Google, slowly creeping our top 2006 websites, I realize, is setting a high level of expectation from Internet users who are becoming more comfortable with its service.
Can Google really sustain its leadership? Let’s see.
On another note, I just found out that one of our club member, Aileen Apolo, is now Google’s Philippines Country Consultant. Although she is not in liberty to discuss Google's plan in the country, it is great to know that the company is taking the Philippines seriously.
My infatuation with Google started with its search engine. Like an ideal lover, it answered all my inquiries without hesitation and with a high level of accuracy. A sense of attachment developed when it launched Gmail, the free 2 gigabyte e-mail service. Like a lot of Yahoo Mail’s ardent lovers, I downgraded my relationship with Yahoo Mail to back-up, visited when only needed. That is, whenever my primetime love, Gmail, becomes unavailable - which is so rare actually.
However, Google enchanted me to a longer term and more serious relationship when it launched Google Sitemap, AdSense, AdWords, and it bought Blogger and YouTube.
The feeling of being so dependent to one love for the most of your Internet life is so scary. Then, the inevitable happened, I have consumed my 2 gigabyte Gmail account and now I’m confused, as my love supposedly said, I don’t have to delete any of my e-mails. I’m heart broken. I felt betrayed and fooled.
What should I do?"
Of course, the above is more of me trying to humor myself. But I am indeed having a hard time to decide which of my emails should be deleted for good.
Google, slowly creeping our top 2006 websites, I realize, is setting a high level of expectation from Internet users who are becoming more comfortable with its service.
Can Google really sustain its leadership? Let’s see.
On another note, I just found out that one of our club member, Aileen Apolo, is now Google’s Philippines Country Consultant. Although she is not in liberty to discuss Google's plan in the country, it is great to know that the company is taking the Philippines seriously.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Aboitiz Txoko: 1st corporate based social network?
Last August 18, 2006, Aboitiz Equity Ventures launched Txoko - its social networking site that provides a medium for the conglomerate, that has 20,000 employees, to interact with one another. If I'm not mistaken, this is a Philippine Internet first!
Friday, October 13, 2006
Paypal accepts Philippine-based Internet users
A few days ago, I was chatting with a friend about this expected development - of an upgrade in Paypal.com that will include accepting new accounts from the Philippines.
Actually, it was just a matter of time and no lobbying influenced it - it is more of a practical decision for Paypal. Today though, the facility is limited to sending of money overseas, not acceptance.
This development meant more payment alternatives for Filipinos. (at least I can already upgrade my podcast site in Podomatic) However we still need more online payment alternatives for individuals that are attuned to the needs of the Filipino today.
As the Philippines has the highest incident of global online credit card fraud today, fixing our implementing policies and law enforcement is must. It will also require Internet users, who cares in uplifting the country's reputation and credibility, to be vigilant and report to authorities those who sell credit card information and commit illegal acts. Our banking system has to improve as well in order to make the money acceptance feature a reality in the Philippines.
I wrote more details about this and published today in Manila Times.
Actually, it was just a matter of time and no lobbying influenced it - it is more of a practical decision for Paypal. Today though, the facility is limited to sending of money overseas, not acceptance.
This development meant more payment alternatives for Filipinos. (at least I can already upgrade my podcast site in Podomatic) However we still need more online payment alternatives for individuals that are attuned to the needs of the Filipino today.
As the Philippines has the highest incident of global online credit card fraud today, fixing our implementing policies and law enforcement is must. It will also require Internet users, who cares in uplifting the country's reputation and credibility, to be vigilant and report to authorities those who sell credit card information and commit illegal acts. Our banking system has to improve as well in order to make the money acceptance feature a reality in the Philippines.
I wrote more details about this and published today in Manila Times.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
PEPComChannel - 1st cable community channel to be online
I just found out from Bitstop Network Services about the first cable community channel to be online. I hope this development will logged in our Philippine Internet Facts pbwiki.
If you have an important milestone worth recording, please visit our pbwiki today.
If you have an important milestone worth recording, please visit our pbwiki today.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Blogging Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao
It is amazing how much content can be found online that refers to Filipino champion boxer Manny Pacquiao. Here are some that tends to keep track.
The Manny Pacquiao News Tracker is mine. He is the 2nd personality that I'm blog tracking. The first one is Senator MAR Roxas. Will add President Arroyo in the days to come.
3G demand pumps up networking vendor market
For Nortel Philippines, 2005 marked its most active and profitable 12 months in the past five year. With the continuous roll-out of 3G and wireless Internet infrastructure, it is going to be an interesting time for these companies.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Missing e-load
After reading Yuga's post, I became more certain that something went wrong with a carrier's prepaid reloading system.
I made an e-load to my prepaid mobile number last October 2 (8:00 pm) in the amount of P150. The next day, was trying to use my phone to send a text and call but got a message that I have no enough credits left.
In this situation, it feels helpless being a prepaid user with no logs to check or turn to. In times of crisis, the infrastructure must be stable to avoid glitches like this.
I do hope that NTC and DTI's Order on Data Log Retention and Consumer Protection in Products and Services provided by Public Telecommunication Entities will be out soon.
I made an e-load to my prepaid mobile number last October 2 (8:00 pm) in the amount of P150. The next day, was trying to use my phone to send a text and call but got a message that I have no enough credits left.
In this situation, it feels helpless being a prepaid user with no logs to check or turn to. In times of crisis, the infrastructure must be stable to avoid glitches like this.
I do hope that NTC and DTI's Order on Data Log Retention and Consumer Protection in Products and Services provided by Public Telecommunication Entities will be out soon.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
The end of online gambling?
The US House of Representatives and Senate unexpectedly approved a bill early on Saturday that would make it illegal for banks and credit-card companies to make payments to online gambling sites. This now leads to a US gaming crisis in the US.
With countries like the Philippines and Singapore having a more open regulation on this matter. Will our country embraced it or turn it away as well?
With countries like the Philippines and Singapore having a more open regulation on this matter. Will our country embraced it or turn it away as well?
Monday, October 02, 2006
Texters fail Filipina bet in Miss World
Inq7 had an interesting twist as to how Filipino texters came in short in supporting the Philippines Miss World candidate this year. Perhaps our lack of success in getting Filipina candidates get into the semi-finals in the Miss Universe competition, despite bagging special awards for being most voted online for the past few years, dampen our faith in the voting system.
In addition, there's just too much ongoing competitions that calls on texters to vote such as Shall We Dance (my favorite), Philippine Idol, among others.
Lastly, with typhoons and disasters that have come our way, I guess a lot of us are seeing our mobile phones from a different perspective in terms of its relevance.
In addition, there's just too much ongoing competitions that calls on texters to vote such as Shall We Dance (my favorite), Philippine Idol, among others.
Lastly, with typhoons and disasters that have come our way, I guess a lot of us are seeing our mobile phones from a different perspective in terms of its relevance.
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