Internet Connections Through Power Sockets Later This Year

Arab News The Middle East's Leading English Language Daily

 

 

Saturday, 29, April, 2006 (01, Rabi` al-Thani, 1427)     Internet Connections Through Power Sockets Later This Year Lulwa Shalhoub, Arab News —   JEDDAH, 29 April 2006 — Saudi Arabia has embarked on a project to provide Internet access through the electrical wall socket, one of the least common forms of connectivity available. The Eastern Province's ElectroNet Co. announced recently that it would begin providing broadband Internet access via power lines later this year. "This service offers lower prices and high connections speeds," said Mohamed Al-Jaroudi, ElectroNet spokesman. The company announced it would provide this access at speeds up to of 2 Mbps (megabytes per second), about four times more bandwidth than Saudi Telecom Company's fastest household DSL line (Internet access through traditional phone lines that is faster than a dial-up connection), which clocks in at 512 Kbps (kilobytes per second). Higher bandwidths allow users to employ bandwidth-heavy functions, such as watching streaming video and using the Internet to make telephone calls. The pricing structure places BPL (broadband by power lines) connections above DSL but below satellite connections. But the company is betting that consumers would be willing to pay more to access the Internet at home without the landline telephone connection required for dial-up or DSL. It is not known if a BPL connection will be subject to the same site-blocking system used by the SCT for its phone-line-based Internet service. Consumers who are willing to pay the premium often obtain satellite-dish based Internet connectivity to bypass site-blocking technologies used by the STC. ElectroNet's preliminary price for a 512 Kbps connection through an electrical socket is SR300 a month, more than double the STC cost for a DSL connection with the same bandwidth. ElectroNet's fastest 2 Mbps connection would cost SR800 a month. "These prices are not fixed. They might be decreased after we launch the service," said Al-Jaroudi. ElectroNet will provide customers with a BPL box that connects the computer's Internet access to a standard electrical outlet. The company says the connection will not increase the cost of consumers' electric bill. Consumers will be given the chance to try out the service with a refundable deposit before signing a contract. ElectroNet started with a branch in the Eastern Province. More branches will soon open in the major cities, such as Riyadh and Jeddah.

 

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=81441&d=29&m=4&y=2006&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom

 

Tuesday, May 30, 2006 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

News

Pasig River ferry system to go hi-tech

"A modern ferry terminal in an old setting" -- this is how operators of the Pasig River Ferry described the country's latest water transport corridor.

Central to its hi-tech operation is the electronic ticketing system, Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission executive director Bingle B. Gutierrez said in a recent interview. This is capable of monitoring the number of passengers boarding and leaving the ferry at any given point in time, more intelligent than the existing system installed in other transport terminal.

According to its design, ticketing computers in the 11 ferry stations will be linked and all related activities can be monitored in real time in the operation center. Also, waiting passengers can see for themselves the boat schedules (arrival and departure), including the number of seats available in the incoming boat.

Chito Macapagal, Unilever's general manager for corporate development and private sector representative in the commission, said the group is even considering adding a contactless payment mode through the use of cellular phones.

In other countries such as in Singapore, their e-ticketing system in train terminals can read radio tags, such that the reader can still recognize a ticket even if its stored inside the passenger's wallet or bag.

Barring delays, the Pasig River Ferry Services is set to start operation by the fourth quarter of this year.

Ms. Gutierrez said the construction for two stations in Guadalupe in Makati City and Valenzuela are already completed.

Other stations are in various stages of construction, all expected to be done by yearend.

These are the Plaza Mexico station in Intramuros, Manila; Escolta station in Manila; PUP station at the PUP Campus in Manila; Sta Ana station in Sta. Ana Manila: Lambingan station in Sta. Ana, Manila; and Hulo station in Hulo, Mandaluyong City.

Upon opening, the ferry service is set to cater to the commuters coming from coastal municipalities along Manila Bay to Laguna de Bay.

"We expect this to attract the same volume of commuters as the MRT [metro rail transit]. MRT is designed for a 250,000 passengers a day volume. But now volume of riders is about 430,000," Transportation and Communications Sec. Leandro R. Mendoza said.

Pasig ferries will feature amenities such as air-conditioned waiting areas, viewing decks, comfort rooms, vendo machines, phone booths and lifts and access ways for persons with disabilities.

On the fare, Mr. Mendoza said: "We are looking at P2.25 per kilometer rate. But this can change, and instead adopt a fixed long-route, short-route scheme."

Aside from passengers, Mr. Macapagal, said project stake-holders are also planning to extend the service to companies.

"This will mean a lot of savings for companies as most their logistics now are land-based. For one, using the ferry service you can cut travel time from Tanay in Rizal to Makati City to 30 minutes from the present two hours," he said.

The Pasig River Ferry Services is a joint project of the commission, the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Funding of about P150 million was sourced from a $75-million loan package from the Asian Development Bank. The investment cost in building the stations will be recovered via the station fees. -- Maricel E. Estavillo

http://www.itmatters.com.ph/news.php?id=053006a

Call center braves IPO waters to raise P6M

Call center company Pikeville Bancshares, Inc. is considering raising as much as P6 million by braving the initial public offering (IPO) waters in July, a source privy to the deal told BusinessWorld.

The firm plans to list in the small and medium enterprise board, encouraged by the success of similar companies and the optimism in the country's business process outsourcing sector.

"It is a small issue. I think there should be interest among the retail brokers. At the end of the day, we still see growth in the call center or business process outsourcing (BPO) services industry. That seems to be where the Philippines is positioned in. The success of Paxys, Inc., has drummed up investor interest. We hope there will be some interest in Pikeville," the source said.

Abacus Capital and Investment Corp. was tapped as the sole underwriter for the shares to be listed in the SME board.

Paxys is the first listed call center in the country. It was incorporated as Fil-Hispano Ceramics, Inc. in 1952 as a tiles and ceramics manufacturer.

Data from the website of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) indicated said that Pikeville has filed a listing application last March. However, the source said the company is still waiting for the response of the PSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

"[They] already filed with the PSE and SEC. But they have few more questions and asked for more details," he added.

No offer price was available and nor were number of shares indicated. Its book value ratio is 1.44.

Incorporated on June 24, 1996, Pikeville is based in Makati.

The source said proceeds of the IPO will be used for its working capital and investments in the information technology sector.

"Aside from raising funds, Pike-ville's objective from the IPO is to gain a better corporate profile. As a listed company, the company expects to have better credentials when dealing with prospective clients here and abroad," he added.

Pikeville does consultancy work for Fortman Cline Australasia. It hopes to generate bigger bulk of revenues in call center referral.

"It acquires customers for call centers based here with excess capacity. It will get the demand side (such as) users based in the US and Canada and hopefully get the orders or requirements for call center seats. It does not own the call centers but they are able to match suppliers or call cetner with prospective users of call center," he added.

Pikeville is owned by Rene B. Benitez, who is one of the founding directors of Amalgamated Investment Bancorporation (AIB) and a director of Fortman Cline Australia.

The AIB website said Mr. Benitez is a board member in Dearborn Motors Co., Makati Finance Corp., Vision Air Flight Support, Pikeville Inc., Philippines.com Holdings, Development Center for the Handicap Foundation and Claremont Colleges/ Pitzer College.

Prior to AIB, he was the chief executive and country manager for DBS Securities (Phils.), Inc. He also served as the vice president of Insular Investment and Trust Corp.

The SME index is a separate listing board for young and small firms. There are three firms under the SME index: online equity matchmaker Cashrounds, Inc., Makati Finance Corp. and information technology firm SQL Wizard, Inc. -- Ruby Anne M. Rubio

http://www.itmatters.com.ph/news.php?id=053106c

Microsoft commits P300 M to DepEd

Microsoft commits P300 M to DepEd

 

 

By EMMIE V. ABADILLA Microsoft Philippines has committed P300 million as contribution to the country's development via partnerships with public and civil organizations, according to Managing Director Antonio Javier. The company's flagship program, Partners in Learning (PiL), with the Department of Education (DepEd), empowers teachers and students by providing greater access to the latest computer technologies, comprehensive Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills development and locally-tailored training for teachers. Microsoft's other flagship program, Unlimited Potential or "Potensyal," a global community-based citizenship initiative, improves lifelong learning for underserved communities by providing cash and software grants to facilitate ICT learning. "Potensyal" is infusing over R50 million in technology and training grants to build an ICT-enabled public school system in the country, according to Sam Jacoba, Microsoft Philippines Director for Academic Affairs. The Philippines has over 5,000 high schools and more than 38,000 elementary schools with a ratio of one teacher to 70 students. Student performance is declining and the educational system is perennially short of resources. Microsoft is making the "Potensyal" investment via PiL, which has close to 4,000 on-line community members at present. Specifically, it will be a nationwide tri-level search for the most outstanding and innovative DepEd Divisions, schools and teachers. Already, the global software leader is implementing three Unlimited Potential programs in the country benefiting Amerasians, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). Furthermore, Microsoft is involved in developing "Fly High: Philippine Software 2010", showcasing the best of breed Philippine-made industry business solutions and IT skills in the global market.

 

http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2006053165497.html

 

3G: Globe delays hike, Smart has new rates

3G: Globe delays hike, Smart has
new rates

GLOBE Telecom will keep existing rates for 3G (third-generation) mobile- phone services for another month, while rival Smart Communications Inc. will start charging on June 16 video calls at 2G rates, company officials said.
       In an interview, Globe head of consumer business group Ferdinand de la Cruz said the cellular firm will extend until end of June the 3G rates charged to postpaid and prepaid subscribers.
       The rates for video calls are the same as local Globe-to-Globe voice calls which are pegged from P3.50 to as much as P6.50 per minute depending on the plan.
       Overseas video calls to Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Hungary, Luxembourg and Poland cost $0.40 per minute.
       Video streaming for local content is still free of charge. High-speed Internet browsing via GPRS and EDGE will be charged at a regular rate of P0.15 per kilobyte.
       "We have received enthusiastic response from our subscribers on our affordable rates where 3G services are available at just 2G prices," said Globe head for wireless business planning Patricio Pineda.
       When Globe launched its 3G service on April 30, it said it would assess the 3G charges after a month.
       "With our simplified pricing structure, we are offering 3G services at 2G pricing levels to break the misperception that 3G is expensive," said de la Cruz.
       Meanwhile, beginning June 16, Smart will be charging for its video call service, which will be priced based on the existing air time rates for 2G voice calls.
       For prepaid subscribers, video calls will be charged from P5.50 to P6.50 a minute. Postpaid subscribers, depending on their subscription plan, will be charged from P4 to P6.50 per minute of video calls.
       "The 2G voice rates provided for post paid and prepaid subscribers will apply to video calls starting June 16," said Mon Isberto, spokesman of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., the parent firm of Smart.
       Smart's 3G customers can also make international video calls for the price of a regular IDD call at $0.40 a minute to eight 3G operators in six countries. These include NTT DoCoMo in Japan, CSL, Smartone and Hutchison in Hong Kong, Starhub in Singapore, Chunghwa in Taiwan, Vodafone in Germany and Mobilkom in Austria.
       Meanwhile, video calling on international roaming will remain the same as international roaming voice rates for both outbound and inbound roamers.
       All Smart 3G video and audio streaming applications, including live TV viewing, will be charged a P15 access fee for every 30 minutes based on running time.
       Smart's 3G network has over 800 cellular sites covering 119 cities and municipalities nationwide. The company said 250,000 of its 20 million subscribers—approximately one in 100—have 3G-enabled handsets.
       Globe, for its part, said over 100,000 of its 13.6 million subscribers—or close to two in 200—now have handsets that are 3G-capable. It has admitted that this number is unlikely to increase until the price of 3G-enabled handsets drops. Lenie Lectura

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0601/comp05.php

 

One rate for PLDT budget card

One rate for PLDT budget card

PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) will implement today a uniform rate for its prepaid overseas calling card at P8 per minute.
       The adjusted rate is applicable to calls terminating to all its 89 destinations including US, Hong Kong, Canada, Malaysia, Kuwait, United Kingdom, Singapore, Taiwan, Spain, Hawaii, China, Australia and France using PLDT's Budget Card.
       PLDT budget card, aside from a prepaid overseas calling card that allows PLDT subscribers to make overseas calls, is also PLDT's VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) service.
       This service used to charge P3 a minute for calls to US, Hong Kong and Canada. The rates to the other 86 countries vary depending on the destination but the charges do not go beyond P8 per minute.
       The phone giant said in a letter to the NTC that the P8 rate remains within the price range for international direct dial (IDD) service. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) set in 2001 a minimum of $0.005 per six-second pulse and a maximum of $0.30 per six-second pulse for IDD calls.
       The budget card comes in denominations of P100 and P200, and can be used from any PLDT postpaid landlines and payphones.
       A P100 budget card approximately handles 8 minutes of overseas calls at $0.20 a minute. It is valid for 30 days upon first use. Approximately 18 minutes of overseas calls, or $0.18 per minute, can be made using this card. Lenie Lectura

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0601/comp04.php

 

PLDT broadband subscriber base seen to double this year

PLDT broadband subscriber base seen to double this year
By Mary Ann Ll. Reyes
The Philippine Star 06/05/2006

Telecommunications giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) projects its broadband subscriber base to double this year as both digital subscriber line (DSL) and wireless broadband coverage rapidly expand.

Over the next four to five years, fixed and wireless broadband are expected to account for 10 to 15 percent of revenues, PLDT group chairman Manuel Pangilinan projected. At present, they account for less than 10 percent of revenues.

PLDT president and chief executive officer Napoleon Nazareno disclosed that DSL (fixed broadband) and wireless broadband subscribers increased by over 25,000 in the first quarter of 2006 to about 140,000 as of the end of March this year. Of the 140,000, about 101,000 are fixed DSL while 39,000 are wireless (Smart Bro). During the first quarter of 2005, broadband subscribers only totalled 57,000, all fixed.

As of end-April, the number of subscribers has increased to 170,000, of which 130,000 are DSL and 40,000 are wireless.

Nazareno said the potential market for broadband services include approximately one million dial-up Internet subscribers in the country today. PLDT itself has 420,000 dial-up Internet subscribers under Vibe.

During the first quarter of 2006, the PLDT group invested around P4.9 nillion, P2.5 billion of which was spent for the wireless business (specifically Smart's venture into 3G) and the rest for the fixed line business, mainly for the upgrade of the legacy fixed line copper network to the next generation network (NGN) as well as for wireless broadband rollout. Full year capital expenditure for the group is estimated at P18 billion, half of which will be for fixed and the rest for wireless.

Nazareno explained that NGN is necessary to service the new communications environment as it will allow for convergence of voice, video and data and make broadband an inherent capability. As of end-March this year, around 65,000 broadband-enable fixed lines have been installed.

Smart's wireless broadband service was reintroduced in April 2006 as Smart Bro, an improved service over its earlier Smart Wi-fi offering. Smart now has over 2,000 wireless broadband-enabled base stations providing high-speed Internet access to 386 cities and municipalities all over the country.

He emphasized that the fixed line business continues to hold steady even as the company embarks on the NGN roll-out and as it pursues the growth of the broadband business on a parallel path with broadbanding the wireless business.

PLDT's fixed line revenues increased three percent year-on-year to P12.1 billion as of March 31, 2006 mainly due to an increase in data revenues which more than offset delines in LEC (local exchange) and ILD (international) revenues.

For his part, Pangilinan stressed that 2006 will be a year to lay the foundation for earnings growth in 2007 and onwards. "NGN upgrade and wireless broadband rollout will enable growth in broadband/data revenues," he said.

 

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/news200606050701.htm

Lenovo to deploy 12,000 PCs for gov't school project

Lenovo to deploy 12,000 PCs for gov't school project

June 05, 2006
Updated 12:36pm (Mla time)
Alexander Villafania
INQ7.net

COMPUTER company Lenovo Philippines is set to deploy 12,000 desktop computers in the next 120 days as part of the "PCs for Public High School" program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The school computerization program, which started in 2002, is on its third phase and is targeting over 1,000 public high schools nationwide. Last March, Lenovo won the bidding to provide the computers and was formally awarded the contract in late May. This is the first time for Lenovo to bag a major government project after IBM sold its PC business to the Chinese brand in 2005. Lenovo Philippines Country Manager Victoria Agorilla said in an interview that the PCs are already being manufactured from different plants and not just in China, where Lenovo's main office is located. "We'll be able to deploy the PCs in time. We'll also be conducting teacher training on how to use the computers," Agorilla said. The PCs for Public High School program intends to install at least 10 computers in 4,000 public high schools in the next five years. Compaq, which merged with HP in 2002, won the first contract involving 20,000 computers. Incidentally, Agorilla was also the former Compaq executive who led the winning bid for the school computerization project.

 

Tuesday, June 6, 2006 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

News

BY MARICEL E. ESTAVILLO, Reporter

Telco competition to heat up in next 5 years

We ain't seen nothing yet. If we think the competition among local telecommunications players has already reached its peak, just wait as industry events unfold in the next five years.

In its latest research, entitled : "Philippines Telecommunications Services 2006-2010 Forecast," research company IDC said competition in the telecom market place would continue to heat up.

To prepare, IDC said service providers should continue to strenghten partnerships for content and value-added service (VAS) positioning. Likewise, telecom players were told to be more flexible in responding to the changing business dynamics of their customers.

"As price points continue to decline, service providers can no longer be dependent on incomes generated from subscriptions alone, but also have to focus on offering value-for-money services," Karen V. Rondon, IDC Philippines senior industry analyst, said.

In this type of market, IDC said service providers need to ensure that they strive to offer "high-quality services, including value-added services at affordable rates."

This early, aside from the mobile and fixed-line businesses, competition is starting to tighten in the fields of wireless broadband [Wi-Fi] and the emerging third-generation mobile technology (3G).

Naturally, rivals Globe Telecom, Inc. and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) lead.

Last year, IDC said the Philippine telecom market made a remarkable performance with mobile services market as the most dominant segment taking 66% share of the market, which slightly declined from 67% the previous year.

IDC added that although the mobile services market continued to expand in 2005, its growth pace is slower in terms of revenue as compared to its performance in 2004.

The slowdown was blamed on several activities initiated by the operators in the areas of subscriber recognition and pricing rather than to a contraction in market demand.

Meanwhile, IDC said the fixed-line services market continued its recovery in 2005, registering a tremendous improvement considering the market suffered a blow in 2003.

The report also showed that last year provided a milestone for data services, as these finally surpassed voice services in terms of total market revenue contribution.

The growth, IDC described, was driven by the increased strategic focus of operators, the growing market of connectivity and the growing sophistication of end-user telecom requirements combined with various promotions for voice rates in both fixed and the mobile segments.

IDC's latest paper examined the Philippines' overall telecom services market, and discusses the major trends observed in the market last year, including market challenges and drivers for fixed-line and mobile services.

The paper also gave an overview of the regulatory environment, touching on market liberalization, governing bodies, as well as recent major developments and issues.

http://www.itmatters.com.ph/news.php?id=060606a

Tuesday, June 6, 2006 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES

News

Intel introduces home entertainment PC

Intel Microelectronics Philippines has introduced a sleek computing device that combines the functionality of home audio and video devices.

With the offering, dubbed as "the home entertainment PC, Intel integrated the features of digital entertainment, which is generally found in consumer electronic devices and the features of a personal computer.

The home entertainment PC is packed in a sleek-looking box intended to work with high or standard-definition television. Acting as a consumer device, its entertainment functions are mostly accessed through a remote control, which served as its fundamental interface.

The home entertainment PC can be connected through wired or wireless networks to other devices. It has a high-definition 7.1 audio outputs as well as optical/coax (cable) which can be linked to an amplifier or a set of powered speakers for a home theater ambiance along with a television output support for component and S-Video. It also has a fast and reliable networking with gigabit wired or 802.11 a/b/g wireless LAN (local area network) to access digital content throughout the home network.

Not only does it boost its connectivity, it also offers topline features to consumers which include storage and managing of all personal media and access to digital entertainment which include movies, music and recorded or live television programs from a single device using a remote control. It handles digital media and mainstream games with high-performing audio and graphics which allows multiple simultaneous usages. The home entertainment PC also has a peripheral connectivity to synchronize mobile devices through the USB 2.0 or IEEE 1394 technology.

The home entertainment PC is based on Intel's latest processors such as the high-performance Intel Core Duo processor or the Intel Pentium M processor. Unlike traditional desktop computer which runs on 500-550 watts, the home entertainment PC only runs on 75 watts on energy which allows 80% savings in power consumption. -- Michelle Syonne M. Reyes

http://www.itmatters.com.ph/news.php?id=060606d