IT and the Australian Election: Heads You Lose, Tails You Don’t Win
Kevin Noonan, Research Director and Jens Butler, Principal Analyst
Even though Australia enjoys an excellent budgetary position by world standards, fiscal policy has been a big issue for the current federal election. In a tight election, each party is jostling to deliver the biggest budget surplus over the next three years. However, after the post-election party is over, the winner will be faced with the challenge of some serious belt-tightening if it is to deliver on promises. Whichever party wins, the next three years will herald another period of efficiency drives and cuts.
Big challenges for the IT industry
Like everyone else within or working with the government sector, the IT industry will need to prepare for an era of frugality. Most of these cuts will be focused on back-office activities (with both parties claiming minimal impact on front-line services).
On the back of the already substantial savings that were demanded by the Gershon review, demand will be more limited to innovative ways of delivering services with IT. Offerings including shared services, outsourcing, virtualization/data center consolidation, and flexible licensing and delivery models such as software-as-a-service (SaaS) will be options that will be discussed in great detail.
There are some glimmers of hope, such as the National Broadband Network and e-health initiatives (should Labor retain its governorship) and the A$120 million of special funding for IT for schools on offer by the coalition (a more “community-based” solution). However, without greater clarity, we are unable to see anything more than the IT industry (within the government sector anyway) being an election loser.
Public servants won’t escape some pain
Future directions within the public service itself are likely to be driven by the objectives of cost savings and policy risk management.
High-profile policy failures such as the Home Insulation Program have drawn hot criticism throughout the election period. In any future government, both parties will not have the luxury of surviving any significant problems with policy delivery. This can present quite a burden for IT managers, as IT system delivery is frequently at the pointy end of new policy initiatives. The key message for the next three years will be to step carefully, and to diligently stay on top of all risk management.
Prudence has re-emerged
There is no doubt that funding will be tight for government agencies over the next three years. The Labor Party has signaled it will be removing funds for a number of strategic improvement initiatives:
Government IT managers will see the loss of the Gershon Reinvestment Fund for delivering underlying improvements to the whole of government IT.
Both the Public Service Commission and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet will lose funding for strategic government projects.
Labor will continue with the Efficiency Dividend pegged at the higher rate of 1.25%. Currently it is due to fall back to 1% in 2011.
Under a coalition government, public servants will need to deal with even more significant cuts:
Public service numbers will be cut by 12,000 over two years. After that time, the government will keep the pressure up by increasing the efficiency dividend from 1.25% to 2.00%.
The Public Service Commission and Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet will lose even further funding as the coalition winds back the recommendations of the Moran Review and other initiatives. At this point, the Gershon Reinvestment funding is unclear, but may disappear.
Whatever the outcome of the election, the next three years will certainly be very fiscally prudent. Ovum/pr
802.15.4 Chipset Market to Approach $155 Million in 2014
Growing interest and investment in and funding for improved building energy management will help fuel demand for products and applications using IEEE 802.15.4 semiconductors.
Over the next five years, 802.15.4 chipset shipments will underpin a host of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) across home, building and industrial building automation, as well as Advanced Meter Infrastructures. This will help fuel the growth of the 802.15.4 chipset WSNs market from just over $10 million in 2008 to nearly $155 million in 2014, a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 87.9% over the period.
To date, the 802.15.4 market has grown steadily, based on proprietary point-to-point solutions and some ZigBee-based AMI infrastructure trials. According to ABI Research principal analyst Jonathan Collins, “With growing interest in the potential for wireless sensor networks in commercial building automation and management systems as well as smaller residential deployments, wireless is set to become a key development in the transition to smart energy management.”
ZigBee – just one of a myriad communication protocols to leverage 802.15.4 silicon – is already the target of a great deal of investment for building management systems in residential and commercial building markets, with a range of projects and specifications leveraging the specification.
“There is increasing emphasis on energy management for a host of reasons such as environmental concerns, cost cutting and assistance from funding grants and awards,” says Collins. ”The availability of standardized 802.15.4 semiconductors to support widespread availability and support for WSNs to support these projects will help strengthen demand further.”
The growth of 802.15.4 will underpin a new generation of WSNs, and adoption for building and energy management will help shift demand for 802.15.4 ICs to WSN deployments. In 2008, point-to-point and proprietary use of 802.15.4 ICs represented 65 percent of the market. By 2014 that will have fallen to 54 percent.
”The 802.15.4 Chipset Market” provides insight into 802.15.4 IC market dynamics and opportunities, and includes forecast data for unit shipments, average selling prices, and revenue to 2014. Additionally, it highlights the leading early adopter vertical markets, and forecasts 802.15.4 adoption among several different wireless sensor network verticals. [ABIResearch]
APNIC Supports Internet Traffic Diagnostics in Asia Pacific Region
The Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) is extending itsefforts to facilitate network investment in the Asia Pacific bydeploying Test Traffic Measurement (TTM) servers at various sitesthroughout the region in collaboration with local hosts.
The TTM project analyzes the Internet connectivity between a test siteand other parts of the Internet. These measurements provide thenecessary data for connectivity providers and decision makers to makelong-term plans for future network development.
There is a strong demand for this information in the rapidly-developingAsia Pacific region, which is currently experiencing the world's fastestrate of Internet development and expansion.
TTM utilizes dedicated measurement devices physically installed at thetest sites to comprehensively and continuously measure key Internetconnectivity parameters. This enables the diagnosis of problemsinvolving external networks and the detection of long-term trends inexternal connectivity.
TTM measurements include one way delays between hosts (latency), packetlosses, path information (traceroute), bandwidth, and delay variation(jitter). Summary data will be available to all interested parties, andwill include customizable stat istical analyses.
The data can be utilized to justify and plan long-term networkinfrastructure projects. This is especially useful for emerging regions that may be experiencing substandard connectivity todevelop the cheapest and most effective plans for improvement.
TTM data can also be used to enhance the efficient and cost-effectiveuse of local Internet resources by reducing the unnecessary flow ofnetwork traffic offshore.
Each TTM test box consists of a PC and a GPS antenna, which receiveshighly accurate time information from the GPS constellation. This timeinformation will be made available to everyone through the Network TimeProtocol (NTP) and is invaluable for a variety of time-sensitiveapplications, such as security and law enforcement, which require highlyaccurate time information for logging and auditing.
This service will significantly increase the number of openly availableNTP servers in the Asia Pacific region.APNIC is providing the funding and equipment to local hosts, such asCybernet in Pakistan, deploying 12 TTM nodes in a variety of locationsacross the Asia Pacific region.
"APNIC's support of the TTM project means that the Asia Pacific isbetter placed to monitor Internet performance. TTM data allows ISPs toidentify faults in their network, ensuring that network development andinvestment builds capacity where it is most needed. The data is global, so ISPs from other regions can also use it to improve connectivity intothe AP region, something I frequently hear is badly needed." –APNICDirector General, Paul Wilson.
"At Cybernet, we are extremely happy to be collaborating with APNIC todeploy the TTM service on our networks. APNIC's valuable support isallowing us to run the service and share the data with other Pakistan ISPs and network researchers. Finding out more about our networkconnectivity within Pakistan and abroad will help us plan the mostuseful upgrades, saving costs to our customers. We hope that other ISPsin this region can benefit similarly from our data." Shahid A. Khan, CEO- Cybernet. /PR
170 Million Mobile Subscribers Will Make Domestic Person To Person Payments in 2011
If you think mobile banking is becoming popular, consider the market for mobile-enabled person-to-person payments. Nearly three times as many consumers globally will use their mobile phones to make domestic person to person payments than those who will use their mobile phones to conduct traditional banking functions by the end of 2011, according to an ABI Research forecast.
“The developing world is embracing mobile domestic person to person payments with enthusiasm wherever they are offered,” says senior analyst Mark Beccue. “ It is becoming the first financial service for previously ‘unbanked’ people, and may make a real contribution towards lifting them out of poverty.”
In addition to gaining an ideal introductory financial service, banks – with the help of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) – are extending their reach. Traditional banks have had a hard time supporting bricks-and-mortar operations in many developing regions. Mobile gives them a chance to extend their banking services without having to build major infrastructure.
There has to be an interface between a number on a screen and the real, cash economy. So in many such regions, MNOs’ retail agents are becoming “stored value operators,” and conduits for local bankers.
However there are some impediments to this market’s development. “Growth of mobile financial services in the developing world is sometimes hindered by regulatory barriers,” says Beccue. “Every country has different banking rules. Some are more sophisticated, some less. Whoever is trying to put such a financial ecosystem together may have a lot of hoops to jump through. But they are increasingly successful despite the obstacles.“
ABI Research’s “Mobile Banking and Funds Transfer” study examines the ways mobile financial services such as mobile banking, mobile domestic person-to-person payments and mobile international remittance will be used, the players within the space, who’s hot and who’s not, and what MNOs and financial services providers can do to take advantage of these opportunities. It includes forecasts for mobile banking, domestic person-to-person money transfers and international remittances. [ABI Research]
Entry-level Mobile Phone Markets to Enjoy 24% Annual Growth through 2014
The world’s largest underserved markets for mobile communications are in developing nations and regions. Asia, Africa, Latin America all have vast potential, but formidable barriers stand in the way. Among the most immediate: the low disposable income of most of the population. Low cost and ultra-low cost (ULCH) handsets are seen as part of the solution to that problem, and according to a new study from ABI Research the two categories together will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24% over the next five years.
“The price of a ULCH handset is widely seen as critical to the tipping point for mass adoption in emerging markets,” says industry analyst Michael Morgan. Handsets are rarely subsidized in emerging markets. The GSM Association has pegged the maximum desirable ULCH handset price at $25 through next year and at $20 for 2011-2012. Morgan extends that curve: “I believe in 2013-2014 the top price for a ULCH phone will be no more than $15, which is feasible because some handset models are hitting that price today.”
Other inducements fostering uptake of mobile services in emerging markets include value-added data services using locally relevant content. Also helping: more enlightened attitudes among government regulators towards reducing taxes and tariffs on handsets and services.
However, emerging markets do present significant challenges. For handset vendors, the low prices mean margins so thin that profitability demands major economies of scale. (Fortunately some of these populous countries lend new meaning to the words “mass market.”) Vendors must also control a wide IP portfolio and manufacture locally to control royalty, import and labor costs. The research shows that on all these counts, Nokia is the out-and-out market leader.
Morgan concludes, “Entry level handsets must deliver high value to low-income emerging market consumers who want good quality at low cost.” [ABI REsearch]
Pedestrian Navigation Continues March Towards Mainstream Adoption
NAVTEQ Discover Cities™ Data Powers Leading Applications and Devices
NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of digital map, traffic and location data, today confirmed its industry-leading pedestrian navigation product, NAVTEQ Discover Cities, now powers several on-foot commercially available devices and applications throughout the world.
Offering up to 53 pedestrian-specific attributes, NAVTEQ Discover Cities enables an advanced pedestrian navigation experience while leading the industry in quality and coverage. NAVTEQ Discover Cities has extensive data that helps navigation devices and applications provide a variety of routing options to users – including those entirely on foot, or with portions on public transit systems. For instance, when a pedestrian consumer wants the option to use public transit, NAVTEQ Discover Cities enables routes that take into consideration the location of bus and rail stations/ stops and their entrances/exits in relation to the pedestrian route as well as the train/bus network information, including transfer locations.
Some of the world’s best-known companies have deployed applications or devices utilizing NAVTEQ Discover Cities data for pedestrian navigation, including Garmin, Networks In Motion, Nokia and Samsung. This growing trend confirms NAVTEQ’s own research: Consumers ranked the use of a device for ‘on-foot’ navigation as one of the most important reasons for considering the purchase of a mobile phone1. Commercially available devices and applications using NAVTEQ Discover Cities data include:
Garmin’s CityXplorer™ Maps
Garmin’s CityXplorer™ maps are available for select tourist destinations in both North America and Europe and can easily be downloaded to the company’s nüvi line of portable navigation devices. With CityXplorer, users can make the most of their journey by planning and using routes that include public transit options such as bus and metro rail stations.
Networks In Motion (NIM) Gokivo™ Navigator
Gokivo provides customers with NIM’s renowned on-phone navigation and local search platform, turning BlackBerry® smartphones into indispensable mobile tools, with an array of connectivity options at their fingertips.
Gokivo is already available from BlackBerry App World, and incorporates NAVTEQ® maps and NAVTEQ Discover Cities content in North America and Europe, delivering an enhanced pedestrian navigation experience.
Ovi Maps by Nokia
Nokia, the first to integrate NAVTEQ Discover Cities mapping and pedestrian navigation attributes, has continued to expand its offering with over 80 cities including shortcuts through squares, parks and buildings, 3D landmarks, building footprints and public transport entrance points in their upcoming version of Ovi Maps. These combined with compass and real-time pedestrian navigation “Walk” redefine pedestrian orientation and navigation in urban environments.
The upcoming version of Ovi Maps for mobile will soon start shipping on millions of Nokia devices and will be available for upgrade to existing compatible Nokia devices at www.nokia.com/maps. The NAVTEQ Discover Cities components are also integrated within the map data and Walk routing on Ovi Maps for web at www.maps.ovi.com.
Samsung I8910 (OmniaHD)
Samsung launched the I8910 HD with NAVTEQ maps and content in Europe in May. With the help of content from NAVTEQ Discover Cities, the GPS-enabled Samsung I8910 HD will allow urban travelers to take full advantage of their surroundings and help them get from place to place with a variety of routing options.
Since its launch, NAVTEQ Discover Cities coverage has expanded in all major regions of the world. Each city added to the product has data that is collected and verified with NAVTEQ’s “feet-on-the-street” expertise, offering customers up to 53 pedestrian-specific map attributes, such as paved pathways, walkways through parks and plazas, bridges, tunnels, sidewalks and crosswalks.
NAVTEQ Discover Cities also serves as an ideal platform for additional content from NAVTEQ, such as visual content or travel/leisure guides. When combined, consumers can experience much richer travel experiences. For example, 3D landmarks provides visual confirmation that a person is walking in the right direction, while an in-depth restaurant review from a travel guide can provide valuable insight for the evening’s activities.
“The growing number of commercially available devices and applications reinforces the trend that pedestrian navigation is becoming mainstream.” said Jeff Mize, executive vice president, global sales, NAVTEQ. “We are pleased that the high-quality data from NAVTEQ Discover Cities will enable our customers to provide consumers with accurate orientation and guidance to further enhance the pedestrian experience.” /PR
D-Link Kuasai 32% Pangsa Pasar Distribusi Port Switch Untuk UKM
Berdasarkan data Gartner, D-Link International, salah satu penyedia produk jaringan terbesar di dunia, memimpin pengiriman port switch kecil Ethernet untuk perusahaan di seluruh dunia tahun 2008. Dalam laporan yang berjudul Enterprise Ethernet Switches, Worldwide, 2008a, D-Link berhasil memepertahankan posisi no 2 pada penjualan total untuk port switch - jauh melebihi para pesaingnya.
D-Link meraih peringkat teratas untuk penjualan port switch Ethernet di pasar perusahaan kecil dengan market share sebesar 32%. Pada tahun 2008, D-Link berhasil menjual lebih dari 13 juta unit switch port untuk pasar perusahaan kecil di seluruh dunia.
Riset tahunan yang dilakukan Gartner juga menunjukan bahwa D-Link menempati posisi kedua dalam penjualan port switch di seluruh dunia, dengan market share 16,3 persen untuk gabungan seluruh perusahaan UKM. Pada tahun 2008, penjualan total D-Link tumbuh dari 15,3% pada tahun 2007 menjadi 16,3%.
Sama halnya laporan ‘4Q08 Ethernet Switch Market Analysis’ yang dilakukan In-Stat pada bulan Maret, menunjukan bahwa D-Link menempati posisi teratas dalam penjualan Ethernet unmanaged port switch ke seluruh dunia dengan market share 35,1 persen, ini 15,8 persen melebihi Netgear yang berada di posisi kedua, (menguasai 17 persen market share).
“D-Link bukan hanya memperkokoh posisi kepemimpinannya dalam penjualan port unmanaged namun secara terus-menerus menunjukan pertumbuhan yang kuat pada port shipments dari tahun ke tahun; hal ini menunjukan bahwa pasar percaya akan teknologi yang ditawarkan D-Link,‘ jelas Norm Bogen, Direktur Jejaring In-Stat.
“Dengan mempertahankan kepemimpinan di penjualan port Ethernet di seluruh dunia, D-Link menyediakan jutaan sambungan yang memungkinkan para konsumen dan dunia usaha memaksimalkan produktivitasnya.’ ujar Desmond Toh, Direktur marketing, D-Link International Pte Ltd. “Seiring dengan peningkatan volume penjualan, target kami tetap untuk memberikan proposisi nilai terbaik bagi konsumen, dan ini berarti kinerja paling tinggi dalam harga yang paling bersaing pada semua produk solusi jejaring kami”.
D-Link telah menjadi penerobos bisnis jejaring lebih dari 2 dekade. Switch D-Link memiliki peran penting dalam memberikan infrastruktur utama untuk komunikasi kabel atau nirkabel dalam dunia usaha ataupun organisasi. Switch tersebut tersedia hingga versi 48 port dengan berbagai konfigurasi yang sesuai kebutuhan-Lapis 2 atau 3, Manage atau unmanaged, Web canggih, Ethernet gigabit, PoE dan Nirkabel yang terpadu – guna memenuhi kebutuhan aplikasi bisnis.
Solusi switch xStack dari D-Link untuk lingkungan perusahaan menengah ke atas memungkinkan dunia usaha menerapkan dan mengatur dengan mudah sebuah arsitektur LAN yang memberikan sambungan jejaring yang tangguh, terukur, aman, interoperabilitas berbasis standar dan garansi seumur hidup.
Sebagai perusahaan pertama yang memperkenalkan solusi jejaring ramah lingkungan, D-Link menawarkan satu set lengkap teknologi switch ramah lingkungan, yang dapat dengan otomatis mendeteksi status hubungan sebuah perangkat dan mengurangi penggunaan tenaga port yang tidak terpakai. Ketika mendeteksi sambungan yang tidak terpakai, switch ramah lingkungan menyimpan pengunaan tenaga tanpa mempengaruhi kinerja jaringan. /Insa/PR
TelcoBridges Announces the Launch of the Tdev TMP800™ Multi-Service Development Platform
New Addition to Tdev Family Provides a Cost-Effective Alternative to Help Solution Developers Build and Deploy Telecommunications Solutions
CommunicAsia, June 16th, 2009: TelcoBridges™, the preferred hardware and software supplier for telecom system integrators, solution developers and service providers, today announced the launch of the Tdev TMP800™ Multi-Service Development Platform, a base addition to the award-winning Tdev family of development platforms, which help solutions developers build and deploy telecommunications services for their customers. TelcoBridges will present this new offering, as well as the recently announced TMG800 media gateway, this week at CommunicAsia in booth # 5D4-01.
Similar in design to TelcoBridges’ award winning TMP6400™ Development Platform, the TMP800 is competitively priced and targeted towards system integrators and solution developers seeking affordable, smaller-scale solutions. The TMP800 provides capacity from one to eight T1/E1/J1 interfaces, up to 256 universal VoIP channels, and up to 512 IVR channels. As service uptake increases, the capabilities of the 1U form factor TMP800 can be extended with field-upgradeable expansion cards for VoIP and software license upgrades for TDM and IVR.
The new Tdev TMP800 provides media handling functionality, including SS7 signaling, allowing it to bridge TDM and IP networks and intermediate between wireless, TDM and IP voice networks. The TMP800 builds on those capabilities with an advanced application platform for delivering enhanced network-wide services such as unified communications, ring-back tones, and prepaid/postpaid services. Combined with TelcoBridges innovative Toolpack™ development software and well-known programming languages (running on an external application server), the TMP800 provides the ability to rapidly develop and deploy telecom applications and provide unique subscriber-specific services.
“TelcoBridges has built its brand on providing high-density solutions that focus on power, performance and functionality in a scalable, energy-efficient package,” said Danny P. Blouin, TelcoBridges’ VP of Marketing. “With today’s launch of the TMP800 development platform, and the recently announced TMG800 media gateway, we’ve taken the same technical architecture and made it available to customers with low-to-medium density locations, where economies of scale do not warrant larger configurations.” Insa
T-VIPS Demonstrates Industry Leading News and Sports Video Transport Solutions
T-VIPS’ pioneering JPEG2000-based solutions for News & Sports Contribution and Distribution
CommunicAsia 2009 - T-VIPS AS, a global leader in professional video management and distribution, with advanced solutions for the contribution & distribution of broadcast quality video signals, today announces that it will be demonstrating its industry leading video transport systems at CommunicAsia. A highlight of the T-VIPS booth (Hall 4/4K1-07) will be demonstrations of its pioneering and award-winning JPEG2000-based contribution and distribution systems. T-VIPS was the first to launch and deploy JPEG2000-based solutions, visitors to its CommunicAsia exhibition booth will see how T-VIPS is expanding its lead in JPEG2000 video transport technology.
“Our JPEG2000-based solutions, which are perfect for the transport of live HD news and sports, are particularly popular right now, with a number of systems in the field throughout the APAC region,” said Johnny Dolvik, CEO, T-VIPS. “We are getting a high level of interest in our systems throughout the APAC region, I think the fact that we can combine high-quality with lowered capex and running costs is increasingly important right now. One of our customers has ‘gone on the record’ stating that our solutions and IP transport have combined to save 70% of his video transport costs, a useful saving in any financial climate!”
T-VIPS will also be showing its CP525 compact multiplexor for advanced traffic multiplexing and regional adaptation, and its CP541 Transport Stream seamless monitoring switch. The CP525’s compact size and innovative design provides a powerful yet cost-effective solution to terrestrial operators and the cable and telecoms industry.
JPEG2000 video transport
The JPEG2000 codec works on both IP and ASI infrastructures and offers a number of additional proven technical advantages over MPEG in News & Sports Contribution and Distribution, as follows:
Video quality - Another advantage with JPEG2000 is that it offers a tool set suitable for high-quality video. Whereas MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 have been designed to deliver a good video quality at low bitrates, the driving force behind JPEG2000 has been to produce a standard with high quality compression of single pictures. MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 are limited to 8-bit video and the 4:2:2 profile, however JPEG2000 can allocate more bits per sample through support for 10 bits video.
Less visual artefacts - An error in an MPEG-2 stream commonly causes blocking effects which last over several frames, this occurs because in MPEG-2 the picture is broken up into small blocks. Bit errors in a JPEG2000 stream create artefacts which are much less visually disturbing than MPEG solutions, as the errors appear as short-lived blurs in the picture.
Intra-frame - JPEG2000 is an intra-frame based encoding scheme. Unlike MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and VC.1, which all encode using P or B -frames, JPEG2000 encodes each frame independently. This is a great advantage for editing, as the video signal may be cut at any place.
Low latency - Reducing latency is crucial for News & Sports TV Contribution. JPEG2000 compression provides much lower latency than for MPEG codecs, as there is no dependency from one picture to the next.
Last mile efficiency - JPEG2000 used in the contribution stage improves the quality of the direct-to-home broadcast by improving the quality of the television source signal entering the distribution encoder. Experience shows last mile MPEG-4 bitrate can be reduced by 15% while maintaining the same video quality.
Sustains multiple compressions - One of the challenges of using MPEG2 compression for contribution purposes is the quality degradation at every compression step. The JPEG2000 compression technology sustains multiple compression steps very well and it is robust to pixel shifts. Insa/PR
Intelsat to Refresh its Satellite Fleet Serving the Asia-Pacific Region
Pembroke, Bermuda, 11 June 2009 - Intelsat, Ltd., the world’s leading provider of fixed satellite services, today provided further details with respect to its current fleet investment plan, which is expected to result in a significant improvement in the types and quantities of satellite capacity available to media, networking and government customers in the Asia-Pacific region.
Intelsat expects to launch 11 satellites between now and the end of 2012, five of which will provide new or replacement capacity in the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific build includes the acceleration of replacement satellites for two core roles and one new satellite that increases capacity for media and networking customers and addresses defense-related opportunities in the region.
- The Intelsat 17 satellite, to be located at 66º E, will provide higher-performing capacity across Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Asia, as well as expand Intelsat’s C-band video distribution community in the Indian Ocean region. The Intelsat 17 satellite will replace the Intelsat 702 satellite.
- The Intelsat 18 satellite, to be located at 180º E, will provide continuity and enhanced performance in C- and Ku-band for network, voice and video services to the Pacific Islands and offer connectivity to the Western United States. The Intelsat 18 satellite will replace the Intelsat 701 satellite.
- The Intelsat 19 satellite, to be located at 166º E, will feature increased Ku-band capacity optimized for Direct-to-Home (DTH) and network services applications in Australia. The satellite’s C-band capacity will provide enhanced performance capacity for distribution of international video content throughout Asia-Pacific with reach to the Western United States. The Ku-band payload will also support demand for mobility and enterprise network applications across the region. The Intelsat 19 satellite will replace the Intelsat 8 satellite.
- The Intelsat 20 satellite will replace the Intelsat 10 and Intelsat 7 satellites, which are co-located at 68.5º E today, one of the most successful cable distribution neighborhoods serving the Asia-Pacific region. This satellite will provide regional and international programmers with ideal C-band penetration of the South Asian cable communities. The Intelsat 20 satellite also will carry a Ku-band payload, which will provide services into Asia, Africa and the Middle East for enterprise networks and DTH services.
- Intelsat intends to increase its C- and Ku-band capacity in the region with the launch of the Intelsat 22 satellite, to be located at 72º E, addressing the growing opportunities for enterprise networks, mobility and defense-related applications. In April, Intelsat announced that the Australian Defence Force agreed to purchase a specialized UHF communications payload aboard the Intelsat 22 satellite to provide communications for its military.
In addition to the fleet program, Intelsat continues to invest in its ground network infrastructure, expanding customer access to Intelsat’s Asia-Pacific assets. An upgrade at Intelsat’s Paumalu Teleport in Hawaii improved fiber diversity and upgraded antenna facilities to expand accessibility and redundancy on Intelsat’s Pacific Ocean satellites, enhancing services for media customers. Intelsat also expanded its GlobalConnex Network Broadband Managed services, adding hubs at KT Corporation’s teleport facilities in South Korea.
“Intelsat has served the Asia-Pacific region for more than four decades, and the acceleration and expansion of our investments with respect to these satellites and our ground network reflect our commitment to providing our customers with a growth path that supports their strategic objectives,” said David Ball, Intelsat’s Regional Vice President, Asia-Pacific. “With globalization of content, the increasing importance of HD programming, further deployment of enterprise and broadband services and mobile applications, and continuing popularity of DTH television services, Intelsat will have the connectivity and capacity to serve its customers in the region and as they distribute their content around the globe.”
Intelsat will be exhibiting at CommunicAsia 2009 in Hall 6, Booth 6D2-07. CommunicAsia 2009 is the region's conference and exhibition focused on current and emerging issues surrounding Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the digital convergence landscape, and is being held at the Singapore Expo, 16-19 June.
Nokia Targets Web Developers via WRT Plug-ins
By Jason Ankeny
Nokia introduced a series of new widget plug-in tools promising desktop designers and web content creators more efficient conversion of standard web code and scripting languages into new mobile apps and services. The Nokia Web Runtime Extension for Adobe Dreamweaver, Nokia WRT plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio and the updated WRT plug-in 2.0 for Aptana Studio enable programmers writing in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Ajax code and other standards-based technologies to extend their existing web content to the mobile channel--according to the handset giant, WRT is built on the same open-source, industry standard WebKit project environment used by Web Browser for S60, Nokia's full-HTML browser for S60 devices, and developers need no previous experience with Nokia software development to begin creating on-device WRT widget apps.
Nokia's Director of WRT Tools and Technologies Craig Cumberland said the three new WRT plug-ins support 27 Nokia handset models, including all S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 2 devices and onward along with all S60 5th Edition devices. WRT plug-ins also support select S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack 1 devices, with a Nokia software updater firmware upgrade necessary to install WRT on some devices. (A complete list of supported Nokia devices is available here.) In addition, the updated WRT plug-in for Aptana Studio 2 immediately supports Nokia platform services 1.0 and provides access to select device functionality for the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and the Nokia N97 touchscreen devices while also supporting the "home screen" publishing functionality on the Nokia N97 and future Nokia devices. Additional information is available here.
"All developers recognize that the mobile space is one where growth is exponential--the challenge is that we've always catered to native application developers." Cumberland said in an interview with FierceDeveloper. "We want to give web developers the right tools that they're familiar with. These new [plug-in tools] will open up doors for whole new group of developers to come into mobile." [FierceMobileContent]
Opera Mobile 9.7 Siap Menjadi yang Terkemuka Pada Ponsel Anda
Opera Mobile 9.7 beta saat ini tersedia untuk meningkatkan pengalaman mobile browsing pada telepon berbasis Windows Mobile. Kecepatan merupakan aspek utama pada peluncuran versi beta ini, sebagai tambahan dari teknologi Opera yang baru diperkenalkan beberapa waktu lalu untuk melayari Web lebih cepat, Opera Turbo. Opera juga telah mengupgrade mesin browser, yang disebut Opera Presto 2.2, untuk memuat halaman lebih cepat serta lebih baik dari keseluruhan performa. Dengan adanya bonus tambahan dari Opera Widget, Opera Mobile 9.7 memberikan konten Web yang anda inginkan dengan sedikit klik dan hemat waktu.
Opera Mobile 9.7 beta berfitur Opera Turbo. Teknologi turbo ini memungkinkan untuk:
Rendering diakselerasi server – Opera Mobile dan menyerahkan tanggung jawab rendering ponsel sepenuhnya dengan memberikan tugas ini pada server Opera. Hal ini meringankan kerja device sehingga mempercepat kecepatan pengunduhan dan performa keseluruhan.
Teknologi kompresi – Opera Turbo menggunakan teknologi kompresi tingkat lanjut untuk mempercepat transfer data dan untuk mengurangi jumlah data yang akan diunduh, lebih dari 90 persen. Yang artinya, meskipun jaringan lemah atau tidak adanya perangkat canggih, Opera Turbo memungkinkan pengguna untuk mendapat pengalaman penjelajahan yang kaya dan cepat, bahkan yang lebih cepat dari kebanyakan ponsel 3G.
Mesin rendering Opera terbaru, Presto 2.2, saat ini berada didalam Opera Mobile 9.7:Presto 2.2 merupakan mesin rendering Opera yang membantu menampilkan halaman Web pada ponsel anda hingga 25 persen lebih cepat. Presto adalah nama dari mesin rendering yang digunakan pada browser Opera desktop.
Dengan meningkatnya kepopuleran dan kelaziman widget, Opera Mobile 9.7 mengikutsertakan add-on Opera Widgets manager dan Opera Widgets SDK:Melalui add-on Opera Widgets manager, pengguna Opera dapat mengakses servis favorit mereka hanya dengan satu kali klik, widget pre-installed yang termasuk didalamnya antara lain: GeoQuiz, Twitter, Bubbles, MyStatus, Google Translate. http://widgets.opera.com/
Untuk mempelajari lebih lanjut, simak video demo Opera Turbo pada Opera Mobile 9.7 : http://www.opera.com/discover/video/mobileturbo/
“Ada browser untuk ponsel lainnya di pasaran yang mengklaim lebih cepat dan kompatibel di lebih banyak situs pada ponsel berbasis Windows, namun saya menantang pengguna untuk mencoba Opera Mobile dan menemukan sebuah standar baru terkait kecepatan dan kompatibilitas. Opera Mobile 9.7 sangat jauh dari browser-browser 'melempem' dan 'sangat lamban' yang lain,” ujar Jon von Tetzchner, Pejabat Eksekutif Tertinggi dari Opera Software.
“Kami berkeyakinan bahwa One Web menantang kami untuk mengembangkan teknologi seperti halnya Opera Turbo. Tidak semua orang memiliki ponsel 3G dan tidak semua orang membutuhkannya. Oleh karena itu, Opera terfokus untuk menyempurnakan browser kami sehingga batasan jaringan anda berasa layaknya anda berselancar dengan 3G ataupun lebih baik,” lanjut Tetzchner.
Adopsi Pasar
Untuk kalangan operator dan pabrik, Opera Mobile 9.7 memberikan sebuah pengalaman penjelajahan Web pada ponsel yang powerful, konsisten dan kompatibel pada ponsel berbasis Windows Mobile.Operator mampu menurunkan biaya bandwidth dan mengembangkan kapasitas jaringan untuk menyampaikan servis data.
Pabrik-pabrik ponsel dapat menginstal Opera Mobile pada jajaran handphone yang luas dengan menyerahkan rendering pada server Opera. Akibatnya, hanya sedikit memory yang dibutuhkan pada ponsel dimana hal ini akan mengurangi biaya komponen.
Ketersediaan
Saat ini tersedia untuk ponsel berbasis Windows Mobile. Untuk mempelajari lebih lanjut tentang Opera Mobile 9.7, kunjungi http://www.opera.com/discover/video/mobileturbo/
Untuk mengunduh Opera Mobile 9.7 beta, kunjungi http://www.opera.com/mobile/download/
Acer Aspire Uji Daya Tahan 8 Jam Nonstop
Pertama kali di Indonesia, cara unik uji produk melalui live streaming dengan menggabungkan unsur hiburan interaktif.
Hari ini (8/6) Acer membuktikan daya tahan produk terbarunya, Aspire Timeline selama 8 jam di siaran 8 jam non-stop Good Morning HardRockers Show dari jam 06:00-14:00 WIB, yang juga dapat disaksikan langsung melalui live streaming di www.8hourslife.com. Selain itu, penggabungan unsur hiburan interaktif didalamnya seperti talkshow dan games menjadikan uji produk ini lebih menarik dan informatif.
Aspire Timeline adalah notebook terbaru dari Acer yang didesain tipis dan ringan, tidak panas seperti notebook kebanyakan dan dilengkapi dengan baterai yang mampu bertahan sampai 8 jam+*. Kemampuan baterai yang lebih lama ini dimungkinkan dengan adanya Acer Powersmart Key yang mengatur komsumsi daya listrik dalam notebook. Keunggulan lainnya, Aspire Timeline tidak panas seperti notebook thin & light lainnya karena Aspire Timeline menerapkan Intel Laminar Wall Jet, teknologi pendingin terkini yang digunakan pada mesin jet modern sehingga menghasilkan udara yang lebih rendah dari notebook kebanyakan. Aspire Timeline telah tersedia di pasar mulai 28 Mei 2009, dalam dua model: 13.3” dan 14”.
Selama 8 jam tersebut, acara uji produk ini dibagi dalam 8 segmen yang membicarakan tentang teknologi dan fitur dari Aspire Timeline dengan mendatangkan beberapa praktisi teknologi informasi, blogger dan selebriti blogger yang akan membahas teknologi revolusioner pada Aspire Timeline, serta berbagi topik-topik terkini seputar dunia teknologi informasi. bagaimana aplikasi teknologi dapat meningkatkan kualitas dan kenyamanan hidup pengguna.
Dalam acara tersebut hadir Dedy Irvan, Kepala Lab Majalah CHIP, yang dipilih oleh Hard Rock FM karena keunikan statusnya di sebuah situs jejaring sosial. Saat diundang ke acara Good Morning Hard Rockers siaran 8 jam non-stop, Dedy mengatakan, “Acer bohong! Katanya Aspire Timeline bisa delapan jam, saya tunggu sampai 10 jam lebih nggak mati-mati akhirnya saya tinggal pulang.”
Dedy menjelaskan, sebagai Kepala Lab ia mendapat kesempatan untuk menguji performa berbagai produk notebook, terutama yang mengusung teknologi baru. Dedy membagi hasil uji lab yang dilakukannya bahwa dalam kondisi bekerja penuh dan terhubung dengan WiFi, Aspire Timeline dapat bekerja hingga 8 jam, sementara saat diuji tanpa WiFi ternyata unit tersebut dapat bekerja lebih dari 10 jam.
Sementara, berbicara mengenai teknologi Intel Laminar Wall Jet, hadir salah satu wartawan senior aeronautika, Dudi Sudibyo yang khusus diundang untuk menjelaskan teknologi pendingin udara Intel Laminar Wall Jet yang direplika dari sistem pendingin di pesawat jet, beliau menjelaskan, “Pada pesawat terbang, udara panas langsung disalurkan ke dalam pipa dengan cepat untuk menghindari akumulasi udara panas yang terkonsentrasi pada satu area yang berpotensi menimbulkan ledakan pada mesin. Hal yang sama kini diaplikasikan pada Aspire Timeline.”
Untuk itu, teknologi ini sangat penting bagi kenyamanan pengguna, karena dengan demikian udara panas tidak terpusat hanya pada satu titik, melainkan langsung disalurkan secara merata untuk kemudian langsung dikeluarkan. Hal ini menghasilkan notebook yang tidak panas seperti notebook kebanyakan dan memberi kenyamanan pada pengguna dalam menggunakan notebook yang ‘sesungguhnya’, yaitu memiliki baterai yang tahan lama, desain yang tipis dan ringan, dan tidak panas saat bersentuhan dengan kulit./PR
sevenload Meluncurkan Portal Video di Indonesia
Hari ini )2/6)sevenload.com mengumumkan peluncuran platform video terlokalisasi baru dan komunitas sosial untuk Indonesia. Platform ini menawarkan kepada para pengguna isi web TV baru dan inovatif, sebuah komunitas pengguna aktif dan kesempatan untuk menciptakan dan memproduksi Siaran Web TV sendiri.
“Dengan peluncuran platform Indonesia kami, kami telah memperluas keberadaan kami di pasaran web TV Asia. Orang-orang asia sangat terbuka terhadap internet dan isi web TV kami,” Jeff Coe mengatakan, Direktur Internasional di sevenload. “Oleh sebab itu kami sangat gembira untuk dapat menyediakan isi premium gratis kepada semua pengguna kami di Indonesia mulai dari sekarang.”
Tapak kinerja internasional sevenload dimulai pada Bulan April 2006 dimana sevenload meluncurkan platform foto dan video pertama di Eropa. Perkembangan berkesinambungan dari teknologi sevenload serta keberagaman topik untuk halaman isi Bahasa Inggris, Jerman, dan Turki di Eropa dengan cepat menjadikan sevenload sebagai jaringan media sosial pertama yang menyediakan situs kontak bagi juru foto amatir dan profesional, juga para pembuat video.
Lebih dari 1000 mitra isi sudah membagikan video berkualitas tinggi dan hiburan web TV mereka di situs sevenload. Komunitas sevenload di Indonesia ini juga menawarkan serangkaian video, foto dan musik asli. Apapun yang mereka lakukan pada saluran sevenload, pengguna menjadi bagian dari program. Dengan memberi rating, komentar suara dan memulai diskusi mengenai foto dan video mereka, mereka menjadi bagian dari pembentukan dan evolusi jaringan media sosial tersebut.
Semua isi sevenload dapat dengan mudah diakses gratis pada http://id.sevenload.com/.
USocial Launch orld-First Unlimited Press Release Distribution
Controversial web traffic company uSocial.net have just launched what they claim is the world’s first truly unlimited press release distribution service, which has just become available for individual business and advertising agencies alike.
While not the first company to offer unlimited press release distribution, uSocial say their service is different in the way that they do not simply just post press releases to an online media wire.
“We’ve invested a considerable amount of resources gathering one of the most complete media contact lists in the world which now has over 560,000 media contacts from around the globe,” says uSocial CEO Leon Hill.
“When our clients invest in our powerful new service, we will distribute their releases to this list on their behalf, not simply just post their release online in the hope that sites like Google News might pick it up. We send press release to the places that matter; that is, direct to the inboxes of hundreds of thousands of journalists.” Hill continues.
The new service is available now from uSocial.net’s website and is priced from under one-hundred dollars per month and includes distribution for an unlimited number of press releases per month.
uSocial are famous for causing controversy over being the first company to heavily market the fact they sell votes on social bookmarking sites like Digg and Yahoo! Buzz. /PR
Cellular Modem Shipments Exceeded 35 Million in 2008
Shipment data for the cellular modems used to connect laptops and netbooks to the Internet indicate that more than 35 million of the devices hit the market in 2008. Of that total, the majority were the external USB modems that mobile operators have been pushing for some time. Continued growth has been bolstered as mobile operators have bundled USB modems with netbooks in attractively subsidized price plans.
A further 3.5 million were embedded modems, built into the computers. According to ABI Research principal analyst Philip Solis, “After years of slow growth, the embedded cellular modem market is starting to show signs of life, increasing volumes and exceeding expectations. ABI Research expects that, building on a good showing of 3.5 million units in 2008, shipments of embedded modems will more than double in 2009.”
Qualcomm and Ericsson have been targeting the embedded modem market directly, positioning their products very competitively against each other. Operators, especially in Western Europe, are subsidizing USB modems and offering premium data plans that include “free” netbooks or laptops equipped with embedded modems.
Solis warns that despite the positive picture for embedded modems, the global recession will inevitably have an impact on the market. “In light of the prevailing economic conditions and the resulting slowdown in laptop shipments, ABI Research has lowered its overall forecasts for the cellular modem market for 2009. However, shipment rates will continue to grow, albeit at a slower place, because this is an underpenetrated market and because of subsidies and other incentives offered by mobile operators.” [ABI research]
Santa Clara Electric Utility Pioneers Meter Reading Program via WiFi
By Lynnette Luna
Silicon Valley Power, a nonprofit electric utility, purchased the Santa Clara WiFi assets from MetroFi in September and is now using those assets to pioneer a meter reading program that uses the WiFi access points to transfer information from home energy meters to the company in order to help customers reduce their power bills. The system also offers free outdoor WiFi service to the surrounding neighborhood.
The utility saw the purchase as a significant money saver. It bought the network for $205,000, and the utility says that price saved the company a half million dollars and years worth of time.
Using an Advanced Metering Infrastructure solution, Silicon Valley Power will be able to read a customer's meter every 15 minutes and relay immediate usage information to a customer, allowing the user to reduce energy during peak times or when rates are high.
The city's five-year plan seeks to appropriate $11 million to replace meters throughout Santa Clara and develop the system. [FierceBroadbandWireless]
Consumer Groups Seek Investigation Into Mobile Ads
By Jason Ankeny
Consumer groups The Center for Digital Democracy and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group will petition the Federal Trade Commission to launch an investigation into privacy threats posed by mobile advertising. The groups will appear before the FTC Tuesday to plead their case, arguing that mobile ad firms are failing to fully disclose the extent of the information they collect on consumers and their behaviors. "They know your location, they're profiling you and categorizing you," said Center for Digital Democracy executive director Jeffrey Chester. "It's disturbing.
"The Center for Digital Democracy and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group previously lobbied the FTC to investigate online marketing, which relies on similar data collection techniques--following an inquiry based on the request, the FTC proposed a set of guidelines for protecting online consumer privacy.
The groups now assert that mobile consumer tracking is even more intrusive, due largely to the location-tracking capabilities inherent in wireless devices, and argue that consumers are largely unaware of the implications of clicking on ads and signing up for mobile data services. Marketers "utterly fail to inform users what data are being collected and how they will be used," the complaint reads. [FierceMobileContent]
At 32%, Telco TV Tops Pay-TV Platform Growth
Riding on the emerging wave of high speed broadband connectivity and the evolution of business and user requirements, television is no longer what it used to be. Trends are showing that interactive bi-directional television is increasing at the expense of legacy formats. According to new pay-TV market data from ABI Research, IPTV will grow by an estimated 32% annually over the next six years to nearly 79 million subscribers globally by the end of 2014.
Satellite and cable TV are among the oldest and most important pay-TV platforms in many countries, and they are likely to retain their footholds in those markets for some time. However, their growth rates will slow as IPTV gets up to speed.
ABI Research industry analyst Serene Fong observes that, “Some telecom operators which are faced with thinning margins are deploying high-speed access networking technologies to challenge incumbent satellite and cable operators.” They do so by offering compelling alternatives via existing broadband infrastructure, thereby making service subscription easier and more convenient compared to the traditionally more cumbersome and costlier legacy television alternatives.
IPTV usage will be robust as prices of high speed broadband fall and more users start adopting multimedia services. According to Fong, “Usage will initially be concentrated in countries with established high speed Internet technologies such as France, the Netherlands, South Korea and Hong Kong. But as technology progresses and matures, developing countries such as China will rapidly catch up in subscription numbers.”
Operators will continue rolling out IPTV as part of their multi-play strategies, and the right set of technology deployment and consumer-friendly price plans will become increasingly vital. However, Fong cautions that, “While we expect to see greater momentum in the telco TV segment in the years to come, this new television alternative is unlikely to completely replace legacy pay television services immediately.” [ABI Research]
Dell, EMC Kembangkan Aliansi Strategis
Dell dan EMC mengumumkan perpanjangan kemitraan tahunan aliansi global mereka hingga 2013. Selain meningkatkan kemitraan, Dell dan EMC akan menambahkan sistem penyimpanan EMC Celerra NX4 ke portofolio Dell, sistem penyimpanan jaringan EMC.
”Dengan memperluas dan memperpanjang aliansi, Dell dan EMC sanggup menyediakan solusi pusat data yang terintegrasi secara penuh sebagai mitra penyimpanan yang unggul untuk pelanggan di seluruh dunia,” kata Michael Dell, Chairman dan CEO. “Para pengguna dan perusahaan di era yang telah terkoneksi ini tetap memiliki animo untuk sistem penyimpanan data. Realitas ekonomi saat ini menekankan pentingnya solusi efisien yang dapat melakukan konsolidasi dan virtualisasi yang harus melewati proses kerja sama panjang, dan, dalam hal ini, kami berada dalam posisi yang tepat baik untuk melakukannya.”
Joe Tucci, Chairman, President and CEO EMC, mengatakan, “Hubungan ini bermula dalam situasi ekonomi yang menantang serta berawal dari keinginan kedua perusahaan untuk menyediakan solusi yang hemat biaya bagi pelanggan yang masih harus selalu mengatur jumlah informasi. Persamaan itu benar adanya saat ini, dan meski Dell dan EMC sangat berbeda dibanding 2001, kami tetap berkomitmen untuk pelanggan kami dan tetap mempersembahkan teknologi terdepan di industri yang bisa menyediakan mereka tingkat pengembalian investasi yang maksimal.”
Faktanya bahwa pelanggan mendapat keuntungan dari hubungan Dell EMC yang telah ditunjukkan lebih dari 60.000 solusi yang disebarkan. Untuk menyediakan pilihan tambahan kepada pelanggan, EMC memperkenalkan EMC Celerra NX4, solusi penyimpanan yang hemat biaya dan dapat membantu pelanggan untuk berkonsolidasi dengan teknologi NAS, iSCSI dan Fibre Channel dalam satu platform.
Dell dan EMC membentuk aliansi mereka pada Oktober 2001 guna membantu pelanggan mengurangi kerumitan dan penyimpanan yang lebih efektif, mengatur dan melindungi informasi mereka melalui jaringan penyimpanan. Dari luar, Dell dan EMC menerapkan model kolaborasi untuk memanfaatkan masing-masing kekuatan agar dapat memberikan nilai lebih kepada pelanggan.
Kolaborasi antara Dell dan EMC pada 2008 termasuk :
- Produk baru Dell EMC CX4 yaitu sistem penyimpanan jaringan yang diperkenalkan pada Agustus yang didesain untuk mempersatukan teknologi terbaru dalam drive, konektivitas, daya proses, kemudahan dan keamanan.
- Peluncuran pada September mengenai solusi penyimpanan data yang dapat diukur sebagai bagian dari kolaborasi EMC dan Dell dalam inisiatif Oracle Optimized Warehouse.
- Pada Januari, Dell memperkenalkan Dell AX4-5 dalam jajaran kelas menengah yang hemat biaya yang dapat memuat sampai 60 drive dan menyediakan fitur tambahan seperti snapshot dan replikasi
- Bulan lalu, kedua perusahaan berkolaborasi di area de-duplikasi data, salah satu segmen dengan pertumbuhan paling cepat dalam pasar penyimpanan. Dell dan EMC bekerja bersama untuk membantu pelanggan mengurangi biaya backup dan meningkatkan efisiensi dengan target berdasarkan teknologi de-duplikasi. /PR
Flickr Photostream-
- Copyright © 2008-2011 Mobile & Wireless. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Blogger
- Back To Top
- Log in
- Blogger
- Home
Recommended Links-