Olongapo Telecom & Information Technology

IBM-GSIS row heats up over faulty database

2009-07-08T22:40:00.000+08:00

By Alexander Villafania - INQUIRER.net

The dispute over the problematic database system of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) continues to worsen as the government agency’s legal counsel accused IBM of providing a defective product.

IBM is guilty of false advertising for denying customers with proper after-sales services, GSIS chief legal counsel Estrella Elamparo said in a statement, saying the technology company sold the agency a “lemon”, a derogatory term for a defective product.

She also said that the “special build” to fix the constant crashes of the GSIS’s Integrated Loans, Membership, Acquired Assets and Accounts Management System (ILMAAAMS) did not work, describing it as a “clunker.”

She also claimed that IBM’s Canada Laboratories admitted to having supplied GSIS with a defective product.

“IBM cannot smokescreen the fact that its database management software caused a crash in the GSIS system at just two terabytes of data when that software was purportedly able to handle 512 million terabytes,” Elamparo said.

IBM Philippines countered Elamparo’s accusations with an official statement, stating that IBM provided free support to the agency even if it was not involved in the implementation of the ILMAAAMS.

The company also said that it sent two special builds developed in IBM’s Toronto Lab to the GSIS in May, a few weeks after the series of crashes suffered by ILMAAAMS. IBM claimed that the second special build is already working successfully.

IBM also belied Elamparo’s claims that IBM Laboratories in Canada admitted to problems with their product and that it was not them who directly supplied the product to GSIS.

At the center of the controversy is IBM’s DB2 database software, which was the main application for ILMAAAMS. The GSIS first suffered crashes in April this year, which became more frequent in the following weeks.

IBM and the ILMAAAMS system integrator Questronix argued that GSIS failed to implement critical disaster recovery measures to prevent problems. They also stated that GSIS’s corrupted back ups worsened their situation.

GSIS filed a P100 million suit against IBM, its Philippine subsidiary, and Questronix for breach of contract. GSIS added a libel case against Questronix for allegedly making false claims that were published.

IBM countersued with a P200 million libel suit.

‘Highly unusual’ data handling caused GSIS database system crash, says IBM

2009-07-06T23:46:00.000+08:00

‘Highly unusual’ data handling caused GSIS database system crash, says IBM

IBM PHILIPPINES, Inc. has rejected allegations of inefficiency and negligence made by erstwhile client Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), saying it has provided enough technical support for the state pension fund’s database system.

IBM said during the weekend that it actively participated in fixing GSIS’s database after it crashed in March despite having no contract and involvement in the supply design or installation of the system.

"IBM Philippines completely rejects the assertions made by the GSIS against IBM and its affiliates in paid newspaper and television advertisements," IBM said.

"This year, IBM Philippines celebrates its 72nd anniversary of serving our clients in the Philippines. During IBM Philippines’ long history as a member of this business community, it has always attempted to resolve issues with clients in a constructive and respectful manner."

Sun cell sites approved

2009-07-05T22:55:00.000+08:00

2009 R - 82 - A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE APPLICATION OF DIGITEL TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. (SUN CELLULAR) FOR THE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF CELLSITE/GSM ANTENNA AT BARANGAY EAST TAPINAC, OLONGAPO CITY

2009 R - 81 - A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE APPLICATION OF DIGITEL TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC. (SUN CELLULAR) FOR THE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION OF CELLSITE/GSM ANTENNA AT BARANGAY NEW ASINAN, OLONGAPO CITY

‘Scrap expiration of prepaid load’

2009-07-05T07:22:00.000+08:00

By: Jeffrey C. Tiangco - Journal online

THERE should be no expiration date on prepaid cellphone loads.

Thus said Kabataan Party-list group in the wake of mounting complaints of “vanishing loads” from consumers.

The group said they welcome the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) new order compelling telecommunication firms to triple the shelf life of prepaid cell phone loads. The NTC issued the directive last Friday.

Kabataan, however, insisted that NTC should scrap the expiration of prepaid load altogether.

“Increasing the shelf life of prepaid load is not enough to address the concerns of millions of subscribers. The rationale behind prepaid expiration dates is that telcos are dictating how consumers should use their purchased load for them to be able to rake in more profits,” the group said.

“Kapag may expiration kasi, mas mapapadalas ang pagbili ng load. Binili na ’yan ng consumer, it is their prerogative if they opt na tipirin ang load to last according to their budget. Hindi naman ito katulad ng pagkain or medicine na mapapanis o masisira kapag hindi nagamit agad,” they added.

Citing a research from consumer advocacy group TxtPower, the group said telecommunication companies have been guilty of “dagdag-bawas” for years now.

Earlier, TxtPower filed a complaint due to telcos network inaccessibility that included sending and receiving messages problems, busy network on call attempts, lack of network coverage, expiring and disappearing load credits.

“Consumers are burdened with high charges for mobile services, mysterious vanishing of prepaid load, and unwanted text ads and ringtones,” the group said.

They added that recent survey also recorded 28 percent of the complaints deals on dropped calls and 7 percent on inaccurate billing.

Earlier, the youth party-list group launched a public service announcement in YouTube entitled, “Nawalang load? May magagawa ka!” The video may be viewed at http://tiny.cc/M47Vj as it urged cellphone users to send in their complaints to the NTC, TxtPower and Kabataan office at the Batasan Pambansa Building in Quezon City.

Consumers may also text in their complaints to the TxtPower hotline 09071134503 or log on to http://apps.facebook.com/causes/posts/233606, or coordinate directly with Kabataan by sending an email to cong.mongpalatino@gmail.com

“We encourage cellphone users to exercise their right to complain and at the same time aid in the sufficient documentation of these cases. Complaints from subscribers can be used for future legislation and probe regarding the matter,” the group said.

IT added that the Kabataan has initiated for holding of congressional inquiry after filling House Resolution 1237 to investigate the case of vanishing loads.

“It is high time that telcos address the numerous cases of ‘dagdag-bawas’ and for the NTC to impose stricter measures on abusive cellular phone service providers,” it added.

= = =

Telecom firms must return favor to public

By: Ryan Ponce Pacpaco

SPEAKER Prospero “Boy” Nograles, Jr. yesterday urged telecommunication companies to take pro-consumer steps that would make their services more affordable to their clients.

“This is a welcome news especially now that Filipino consumers are hard pressed to get more value for their hard earned money. That’s why Congress is continuously trying to find ways to make basic necessities -- such as telecommunications -- more affordable to consumers,” he said.

Nograles said telecommunication companies should return the favor to their clients instead of questioning the National Telecommunications Commission’s order extending the expiration period of prepaid loads.

He cited as an example “Call All Landline” being offered by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company which gives customers an affordable option on voice calls.

“This Call All program of the PLDT is just one of the many innovative steps that can make life easier for millions of Filipinos whether they are from the slums or from the ritzy mansions of Forbes Park. Affordable text and voice calls are great social equalizers and I’m glad that one of our telecoms is taking great strides to make it happen,” said Nograles.

Meanwhile, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond “Mong” Palatino said prepaid loads should not have expiration dates amid complaints of “vanishing loads” from consumers.

The NTC the other day ordered mobile phone firms to triple the shelf life of prepaid loads.

Palatino urged the Commission to scrap the expiration of prepaid load altogether.

“Increasing the shelf life of prepaid load is not enough to address the concerns of millions of subscribers. The rationale behind prepaid expiration dates is that telecoms are dictating how consumers should use their purchased load for them to be able to rake in more profits,” said Palatino.

Smart begins nationwide WiMAX roll-out

2009-07-04T23:53:00.002+08:00

Smart Communications Inc. (SMART) has taken its first steps to massively deploy WiMAX technology across the country.

The country’s leading wireless services provider has undertaken tests of the powerful wireless broadband platform with equipment manufacturer Motorola, paving the way for rapid rollout of the new network. Motorola is the principal contractor for Clearwire Communications, the leading provider of mobile WiMAX service worldwide.

WiMAX or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access is a telecommunications technology that provides wireless broadband access to a wide area spanning several kilometers.

Smart’s WiMAX deployment, through its subsidiary Smart Broadband, Inc (SBI), is part of the company’s efforts to replicate the success it achieved in cellular phones in the field of wireless broadband Internet.

“It has been our vision to provide Internet for all Filipinos – no matter where they are or what device they’re using,” said Orlando Vea, Smart's chief wireless advisor.

He added that Smart is set to build one of the most extensive WiMAX networks in South East Asia for fixed wireless broadband applications.

Smart’s WiMAX network will complement its high speed packet access (HSPA) network, which is based on the most advanced mobile broadband technology. Smart is one of the only 20 mobile carriers in the world and the only in the region to have deployed HSPA running on 850 MHz.

“With our HSPA, WiMAX, and Canopy networks blanketing the whole country, Smart will have a unique and by far superior combination of wireless broadband networks,” Vea said.

Smart’s WiMAX network will be a key component of its Internet For All initiative including its schools connectivity program. Under the Smart Schools program, the company has connected 250 public elementary and high schools to date.

In partnership with the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), Smart has connected an initial batch of 50 public high schools and is now working with the Department of Education in a program to provide connectivity to about 6,600 public high schools across the country. WiMAX uses the 802.16 standard developed by the WiMAX

Forum. It provides a maximum bandwidth speed of up to 70 megabits per second, which is apt for data hungry applications like streaming video.

Since WiMAX covers a wider distance and serves more users at any given time while allowing high speed data access, it can reach to ‘blackout areas’ that currently have no broadband Internet access. It can enable Internet penetration even to the most remote barrios and barangays.

“We will make sure no Filipino family is left behind in terms of Internet access. We have done it with the mobile phone, we will do it again with the Internet,” Vea said.

To date, the company has about 8,700 cell sites across the country, housing various network equipment, including antennae for GSM, HSPA and Canopy. Very soon, these same towers will play host to Smart’s extensive WiMAX network.

For the trial, Smart and Motorola installed the latter’s WAP 450 WiMAX Access Points equipment to a number of cell site towers across the country. The WAP 450 utilizes tower top power amplifiers that can be housed in a small cabinet, allowing for a compact cell site configuration.

NTC orders triple load life

2009-07-04T23:42:00.001+08:00

A SPOKESPERSON for consumer advocacy group TXTPower yesterday welcomed the National Telecommunications’ order to triple the life of prepaid loads.

“This is something they should have done a long time ago,” said Leon Dulce, data visualization team head of the Computer Professionals’ Union.

“We hope the telcos will comply with the order and the NTC should see to it that this is enforced,” he added.

The CPU is a convenor of TXTPower. Dulce said it has recently conducted an online mobile users’ survey “to document cases and complaints regarding mobile use which will be later presented to the NTC,” The survey can be accessed at www.cp-union.com/mobileusers.

“Despite huge profits, mobile users continue to experience poor quality of service from telcos,” he said adding ``users are even robbed of their load.”

Half of the respondents of the survey complained about network access problem, lack of network coverage and expiring and disappearing load credits.

“These are clear indications that even with huge profits, telcos still fail to satisfy mobile users,” Dulce said.

“Expiring and disappearing loads without valid reason is the same as robbing users of their hard-earned money.”

Globe Telecom’s net profit in the first quarter of 2009 is up by 17percent to P4 billion from the previous year’s P3.4 billion. Sun Cellular, the mobile arm of Digitel, has projected its revenues to double this year. PLDT, of which Smart Communications is a subsidiary, also posted healthy profits with a core net income improvement of 9.39 percent to P10.22 billion from P9.34 billion.

“NTC should immediately address these issues. The Senate should also extend their full support to advocacy groups in helping consumers,” said Dulce. He added that CPU and TXTPower launched a consumer hotline today to document complaints. Online reports are available at http://www.cp-union.com/txtpowercenter.

Ham radio soon to be useless because of BPL

2009-07-04T22:56:00.000+08:00

hi guys,

imagine interference on your radio coming in at 40db over S9. this may soon be a reality, making ham radio and other radio services useless.

Meralco and PLDT will soon be testing BPL or broadband over power lines. this will definitely cause interference on the amateur bands. http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20090630-213203/PLDT-taps-Meralco-for-new-venture

the Meralco franchise is huge. The 9,337 sq. km. franchise area covers 23 cities and 88 municipalities including Metro Manila, the entire provinces of Bulacan, Rizal and Cavite; parts of the provinces of Laguna, Quezon and Batangas; and 17 barangays in Pampanga. Electrification level in the franchise is 97%. http://www.meralco.com.ph/Corporate/services/franchise.htm

imagine an a huge antenna covering 9,337 sq. km. imagine how huge a signal that will be. it will not only cause interference in that are, it can spill over to other areas, especially if the propagation is good.

so, you do not live in a Meralco franchise area? what will stop your power company from venturing into BPL? how sure are you that they will not go into BPL?

we should put a stop to BPL now. i am not against technology. however, there are "cleaner" technologies for the internet transmission like wifi, cable, fiber optic, telephone line, etc....

radio is not only a hobby. it is useful during emergencies and disasters. of course we know that because we are hams. other services like government, the military, commercial enterprises use radio daily and during disasters.

what should we do? well, we can start by writing NTC, PLDT, Meralco and its officers.

for your convenience, i have prepared a draft letter. cut and paste and,fill in your name and contact information and then email or mail to them.

for love of ham radio, very truly yours,

Eddie Valdez DU1EV

Dear Sir or Madam:

I have read that PLDT and Meralco will be testing broadband over power line BPL in the Malabon area starting August 2009.

I strongly oppose the use of power lines for broadband because of the harmful interference it causes on radio frequencies. The interference will wreak havoc on the HF and VHF bands of the radio spectrum and this will affect commercial, government, military and amateur communications.

I am not opposed to technology. Presently, there are other means for transmission of broadband which do not cause interference like telephone lines, cable, wifi, and fiber optic.

Until and unless BPL technology improves and will not cause interference to the radio spectrum, I shall continue to oppose BPL.

I therefore respectfully request that your plan of using power lines for broadband be terminated.

Very truly yours,

YOUR NAME

YOUR CONTACT INFO

SEND TO oh.acct.mgmt@meralco.com.ph

customercare@pldt.com

commissioner@ntc.gov.ph depcom1@ntc.gov.ph

http://www.meralco.com.ph/Corporate/services/franchise.htm

http://www.pldt.com.ph/support/consumers/Pages/CosumerSupportHome.aspx

Eddie Valdez

DU1EV

Globe-PLDT competition over duo service heightens

2009-06-06T10:53:00.001+08:00

Competition between Globe Telecom and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. over dual services heightened again after the former expanded its Duo service to cover pre-paid subscribers.

Dual services allow unlimited landline calls on wireless handsets. But Globe said its duo-service, which allows unlimited calls to landline numbers within the same area code, is now available to pre-paid subscribers both in Metro Manila and Cebu. The services was previously limited to post-paid subscribers.

“Fast becoming popular to customers in Metro Manila and Cebu, Globe Duo is now available in pre-paid in Metro Manila starting June 5 and this was introduced in Cebu since May 25,” Globe said.

Globe announced the introduction of its Duo service for pre-paid subscribers, a day after PLDT introduced a second SIM that can be inserted in mobile phones or other wireless handsets to make unlimited landline calls from anywhere in the country.

The company said the new product “PLDT Call All” revolutionizes the residential landline by giving Filipinos total freedom to call their loved ones across the country anytime, for an additional monthly fee of only P250.

Globe’s Duo service for post-paid subscribers, announced a month earlier, allows free calls from a mobile phone to any landline number within the same area code, for an additional cost of P399 monthly.

The new Globe Duo service for pre-paid subscribers are available for those who will get a special Duo pre-paid SIM pack worth P45. The cost of the service that allows unlimited mobile and landline calling within Metro Manila and Cebu is P125 for five days and P350 for 14 days.

“We want everyone to experience the best in unlimited calling at an affordable price. So we are introducing the pre-paid variant and we have initially rolled it out in Cebu and now in Metro Manila. Duo is an innovative service and a great offering that we want to make available to more customers,” said Ferdinand dela Cruz, head of Globe’s consumer wireless business. By Roderick T. dela Cruz - Manila Standard Today

IBM trades legal suits with Philippine govt agency

2009-06-06T10:50:00.000+08:00

The local unit of US computer giant IBM has filed a libel suit against a Philippine government agency after being accused of selling it faulty software, court records showed Friday.

IBM Philippines filed against the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) after an advertising campaign in which it claimed the US giant had sold it faulty software.

IBM Philippines said the GSIS ads in local newspapers "were not only false and misleading, but were motivated by ill will and malice."

The computer firm is demanding P205 million (US$4.33 million) in damages and legal expenses.

IBM said GSIS had acquired the faulty software from a local joint venture of three local firms that IBM Philippines was not a party to.

"IBM was not involved in the design, supply, installation and maintenance," of the systems, it said in a statement.

GSIS filed a civil suit against IBM Philippines on Wednesday and its US parent over the alleged failure of its software system, demanding more than 100 million pesos in damages and litigation expenses.

GSIS officials also said they had filed suits against the president of Questonix Corp., the firm contracted to install the IBM database management software. Agence France-Presse

Senate urged to approve ICT Department bill

2009-06-05T16:57:00.001+08:00

FOREIGN BUSINESS leaders have urged the Senate to pass into law a bill that would create an executive department devoted to managing the country’s information and communications technology (ICT).

The timely passage of the bill which establishes a Department of ICT will ensure the sector remains competitive despite the economic crisis, the Joint Foreign Chambers said in a letter to the Senate dated May 19.

An outsourcing industry group agreed, saying that such a move will support their growth.

Senate bill 2546 had been filed last August by Senators Jinggoy P. Estrada, Loren B. Legarda, Edgardo J. Angara, and Antonio F. Trillanes IV and is awaiting second reading. A counterpart bill has been passed by the House of Representatives.

Is Singapore's e-govt model exportable?

2009-06-05T16:55:00.000+08:00

Singapore wants to sell its e-government model to the world. But do other countries want or need what Singapore is offering? FutureGov asked government information officers in India, China, South Korea and the Philippines…

“Our achievements in e-government services are highly regarded by many countries,” Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts told the press at the launch ceremony for Singapore‘s new international e-government consultancy, IDA International. “We have attracted increasing attention from the public agencies of many countries. They share the same interest to develop their own e-government programmes. They are keen to work with us,“ he said.

But are they? True enough, the Infocomm Development Authority has found a market for Singaporean IT firms in countries such as Brunei, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, South Africa and Trinidad & Tobago. But besides Brazil, IDA has yet to export its expertise to a country of the size and complexity of China or India. Or besides Brunei, a country nearby in Asia Pacific.

Madhav Ragam, Director of Government & Education, Healthcare & Life Sciences for IBM’s Growth Markets Unit, says that four things needs to be in place before any model can be successfully exported: “Strong leadership, a well-defined governance model, close alignment with the budget process and clearly defined performance measures.” He argues that while Singapore’s e-government technology cannot simply be uprooted and planted elsewhere, technology is not the issue. “It is the holistic thinking around a challenge for government – be it tax or customs clearance – that has put Singapore ahead of others.”

Ray Roxas-Chua, Chairman, Commission on Information and Communication Technology, the Philippines: I admire Singapore’s e-government programmes and I have the utmost respect for the IDA. I believe a country like the Philippines can learn a great deal by studying the Singapore e-government model. However, it will probably be very difficult for the Philippines to adopt the Singapore model in its entirety. Managing the e-government programmes of an island citystate with 5 million people is vastly different from that of a country with over 7000 islands and 90 million people. In addition, our government structures are also very different. For example, the Philippines does not even have a Department or Ministry of ICT, so our e-government programmes are handled by the Commission on ICT under the Office of the President. We are currently in the process of passing a law establishing a Department of ICT, so that we will finally have a stronger authority to push e-government initiatives. Adopting the Singapore e-government model in its entirety might be a stretch, but I am open to learning more about their best practices to see what may be applicable in the Philippines.

GSIS files libel case against IT contractor

2009-06-05T16:39:00.000+08:00

By Alexander Villafania - INQUIRER.net

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) filed on Thursday a libel case against the head of IT systems integration company Questronix.

The government agency alleged that Questronix President Alex Aloba discredited the government agency through statements published in two major dailies last May 31.

GSIS and Questronix, along with IT services company IBM, are in a bitter dispute over the problematic implementation of a massive GSIS database project.

The libel case against Questronix would be the second against the company, with the first being a breach of contract case that was filed by the GSIS on June 3.

IBM Philippines and its US-based parent company IBM Corporation are also respondents in the first tort and breach of contract case by the GSIS.

GSIS blamed IBM Corporation and Questronix for the constant crashes suffered by its main database infrastructure collectively called ILMAAAMS (Integrated Loans, Membership, Acquired Assets and Accounts Management System), which processes nearly all of the transactions of the GSIS and its more than 1.5 million members.

Questronix is the main contractor to implement ILMAAAMS in 2006.

The project cost was P80 million at that time.

Problems started on March 30 when ILMAAAMS suffered a major crash, resulting in a halt of all transactions for that day.

GSIS Chief Information Officer Helen Macasaet said it had earlier requested Questronix to identify the cause. Questronix later reported alleging problems with the IBM’s DB2 database software were to be blamed.

Macasaet argued that IBM continued to fail in providing a solution despite repeated calls, leading to the decision by the government agency to file a civil case against IBM and Questronix.

The GSIS is also seeking P100 million in damages against the respondents.

In retaliation IBM on June 3 said it is filing a libel case against the GSIS, seeking P200 million in damages. The company accused GSIS of unwarranted public attacks against them.

Prior to the filing of their cases, IBM Philippines insisted that it had no contractual relationship with the GSIS on the ILMAAAMS project, thus it was not present when DB2 was being installed and maintained.

The company also said it has already been working on solving the GSIS problem at their expense.

In a press conference, GSIS Chief Legal Counsel Estrella Elamparo said Aloba imputed that GSIS was to blame for the massive system crashes, despite reporting earlier to GSIS that software bugs in the database software were the culprit.

“He made it look like GSIS was at fault but it was GSIS who wasthe victim because many of our members are relying on this system to process their transactions,” Elamparo said.

Mitigating measures

With the cases already in court, GSIS officials said they are implementing mitigating measures to prevent crashes of the DB2 software, which they continue to use.

Macasaet said that some of the electronic processes that should have been done through ILMAAAMS are now being handled manually.

They are also prioritizing certain daily transactions, such as online queries, loans and membership updates.

Macasaet also stressed that the agency might be forced to shift to different database software if problems persist. “We might fast track another project that’s not even supposed to be implemented yet just to make sure we don’t encounter these problems.”

Nevertheless, Elamparo said that is still open to discussions with the respondents to try and fix the problem. “We’re open to settle this because it’s not just us who are suffering but the GSIS members.”

Globe, Senate spurred to action after Enrile’s outburst

2009-06-04T17:28:00.001+08:00

Globe Telecom has started investigating the complaint of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile over the diminution of his prepaid cell-phone load, said Froilan Castelo, the service provider’s head for regulatory affairs.

Castelo clarified that subscribers who agree to the offers of ringtones, games and MMS pictures by content providers are apt to experience diminution of load even if they do not use their mobile phones to call, or to text.

“They experience deduction of loads perhaps because of the ringtone or ring back,” he said, adding if the firm’s investigation would show that the service providers are at fault, “we terminate their services.”

Enrile had called for the Senate inquiry after noting that his pre-paid load in his Globe-serviced cell phone had gone down three times even when he was not using it.

This prompted Sen. Bong Revilla, chairman of the Committee on Public Services, to initiate an investigation even during the congressional recess.

The Second Regular Session adjourned sine die Wednesday evening. The 14th Congress would next meet at the inaugural session of the Third Regular Session on July 27, 2009. However, Senate committees have been authorized to conduct hearings even during the recess.

Revilla said he would call Globe, Smart and Sun Cellular to the committee hearing.

He said that prepaid cell-phone subscribers have been protesting against the “pernicious confiscation” of unused load credits, putting of expiration dates on the pre-paid load credits, as well as the “excessive and unnecessary” advertisements by these telcos.

“Since a franchise is merely a privilege granted by the government through Congress, it would be tantamount to a gross violation of their franchise if such claims be proven true,” he said.

When news of his problems regarding his cell-phone load came out, Enrile said he was flooded with similar complaints.

Enrile’s outburst on his cell-phone load led to calls for an investigation by Sen. Joker Arroyo who claimed that telcos charge per minute of calls even though the law says every six seconds.

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero meanwhile complained of frequent dropped calls as a result of overloaded cell sites.

Sen. Richard Gordon, for his part, cited unsolicited or spam messages such as ringtones.

The senators said it would look into complaints against services of telcos.

Enrile said he was ready to appear at the inquiry but would prefer that it be done after two weeks to give the senators time to rest.

--Efren L. Danao And Francis Earl A. Cueto
Manila Times

RFID system to help track pupils? PNP floats idea

2009-06-03T16:06:00.000+08:00

THE Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system, originally used by manufacturers to track inventories, is now in wide use for other applications, including the tracking and retrieval of medical records. But soon, if the chief of Metro Manila’s police force were to be followed, it could also be an innovative way to ensure the safety and security of students while inside the school premises.

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Regional Director, Chief Supt, Roberto Rosales, made the suggestion on Monday to Metro Manila public-school superintendents and parents-teachers association (PTA) officials.

RFID is a relatively new technology that uses a device attached to an object, an identification card, for example, for purposes of identifying and tracking the person or the carrier of the object using radio waves. This object, typically referred to as an RFID tag, can be read from several meters.

RFID is now being used by some manufacturing companies in managing inventories of their products. It is also being used in some hospitals abroad to help doctors and nurses retrieve medical data of patients given an RFID device through a handheld device connected to a central server.

In a round of inspection that Rosales led on Monday morning in connection with the opening of classes for school year 2009-10, he asked school officials to consider the use of RFID to monitor the whereabouts of students while inside the campus and to prevent the entry of unauthorized individuals posing as students.

Rosales visited P. Gomez Elementary School in Sta. Cruz, Manila and Ramon Magsaysay High School where he finished his elementary and high school, respectively, and the Caloocan National High School.

Caloocan National High School, which has 9,343 students enrolled for this year, has the biggest number of students in the country, according to the Department of Education.

Rosales said NCRPO will continue to be under Full Alert Status for the next two weeks to cover the opening of classes for elementary and high school this week as well as the opening of classes for collegiate level next week.

Relatedly, Major Gamal Hayudini, commander of the 4th Civil Relations Group, Civil Relations Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said students are among the primary targets of lawless groups, “especially the left-leaning organizations in their recruitment.”

Students are also at risk from kidnap-for-ransom groups, said the AFP, citing what happened in Barangay Sunrise, Isabela City, Basilan, earlier this year where a school boy was kidnapped even during peak hours of the day.

Still, the AFP and the PNP have strengthened security measures “to protect the students and the teachers” but also requested them to cooperate “with authorities against these criminals.”

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday said the first day of classes went on smoothly.

Still, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said they had instructed school authorities to keep a tight watch over students for signs of the A(H1N1) virus.

Lapus said he has made the use of faucets and hand washing a daily routine for students and ordered all schools to make sure they have running water.

The DepEd and the health department have set up a response-alert system similar to that of typhoons, that would allow school authorities to suspend classes if needed.

During the weekend, the Departments of Health and Education rejected last-minute calls to suspend classes over the A (H1N1) scare, saying that doing so might cause panic and disrupt preparations for the opening of classes in 43,000 schools nationwide.

Lapus urged parents to call their “Oplan Balik Eskwela” command center at 636-1663 and text 0919-4560027 for complaints.

He said the DepEd has quick-response teams that are on call from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As of Monday afternoon, the DepEd had received 352 queries and complaints, of which 348 were resolved. Most complaints involved the collection of fees.

During the press conference after his school inspection, Lapus reminded school authorities against collecting fees of any kind during this month. Written by Claudette Mocon / Business Mirror

New US command to focus on cyber battlefield

2009-05-31T10:41:00.000+08:00

WASHINGTON – The US military is moving ahead with plans to create its first "cyber command" designed to bolster America's potential to wage digital warfare as well as defend against mounting cyber threats, officials said on Friday.

After President Barack Obama announced Friday his plans to overhaul cyber security policy, Defense Secretary Robert Gates was expected to soon formally propose the new cyber command that will be overseen by a four-star officer, Pentagon officials told Agence France-Presse.

The move reflects a shift in military strategy with "cyber dominance" now part of US war doctrine and growing alarm over the perceived threat posed by digital espionage coming from China, Russia and elsewhere.

US officials say China has built up a sophisticated cyber warfare program and that a spate of intrusions in the United States and elsewhere can be traced back to Chinese sources.

Defense officials say the cyber command would focus on security efforts for US networks along with offensive capabilities to ensure "freedom of action in cyberspace" to protect America's interests.

The precise details of US cyber military power remain secret, but it includes technology capable of penetrating and jamming networks, including the classified Suter airborne system, analysts say.

The technology has been reportedly added to unmanned aircraft and allows for users to take over enemy sensors to "see what enemy sensors see, and even take over as systems administrator so sensors can be manipulated into positions so that approaching aircraft can't be seen," according to Aviation Week.

Speculation has persisted that Israel may have used the technology in a 2007 air raid against a Syrian construction site.

The new US military cyber center would be placed initially under US Strategic Command, which is already leading the military's cyber security efforts, and be located at Fort Meade in Maryland.

The officer widely expected to lead the command is Lieutenant General Keith Alexander, the director of the super-secret National Security Agency (NSA).

By naming Alexander, the Obama administration may be hoping to resolve a long-running feud over which agency should have authority over cyber warfare and security.

Civil liberties' activists have warned against allowing the secretive NSA to take the lead in overseeing cyber security, saying it would place too much power in one agency with the NSA policing the same networks that it exploits to carry out eavesdropping.

In unveiling his plans to create a new White House post to oversee cyber security, Obama promised privacy rights would be carefully safeguarded even as the government moves to step up efforts to protect sensitive civilian and military networks.

Alexander has described cyberspace as the new military frontier that could shape the future of US national security, comparing it to sea or air power.

"Maintaining freedom of action in cyberspace in the 21st century is as inherent to US interests as freedom of the seas was in the 19th century, and access to air and space in the 20th century," Alexander told a congressional hearing earlier this month.

He said new realities had forced the Pentagon to place a higher priority on cyberspace.

"The rapid expansion and global dependence upon cyberspace required the defense department to evolve its warfighting doctrine to include cyberspace as a viable domain on par with the domains of land, sea, air and space," he said.

Obama's new cyber policy comes as gangs of cyber criminals, foreign intelligence services, industrial spies and hackers increasingly prey on US networks, according to various studies.

There have been reported breaches of the US electricity grid and the F-35 fighter jet program, and Obama mentioned a cyber attack – blamed by some accounts on foreign spy services – on the computer hub for his own 2008 presidential campaign. Agence France-Presse

Right of reply bill to cover bloggers

2009-05-31T10:31:00.000+08:00

YOUNG LAWMAKER WARNS
Right of reply bill to cover bloggers

By Philip Tubeza - Philippine Daily Inquirer
The controversial right of reply bill will not only affect print and broadcast media, but could lead to Internet censorship since it also covers bloggers, “texters” and even iPod users, a party-list lawmaker warned Saturday.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Mong Palatino said the bill’s sponsor in the House, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, admitted during interpellation that House Bill No. 3306 also covers websites, e-mails, Internet social networking sites and other electronic devices in its scope.

Palatino noted that Section 1 of HB 3306 states, “All persons, natural or judicial, who are accused directly or indirectly of committing, having committed, or are criticized by innuendo, suggestion or rumor for any lapse in behavior in public or private life shall have the right to reply to charges or criticisms published in newspapers, magazines, newsletters or publications circulated commercially or for free, or aired or broadcast over radio, television, websites or through any electronic device.”

“The bill, therefore, would not only affect media outfits and journalists but also all website owners, website masters, e-mail account holders and other netizens who are not necessarily media practitioners,” said Palatino who has been a blogger since 2004.

He said the bill would affect “the more than five million bloggers and millions more of Internet users in the country.”

“My fear is that when this bill comes to law, it will be used to regulate the content of the Internet, when we are checking our e-mails, when we open our Friendster or Facebook accounts, when we are checking our websites. Does this mean that we will be compelled to moderate, modify or edit our personal websites? Is this not Internet censorship and suppression of freedom of speech and expression?” Palatino said.

“Does this mean that whenever a criticism is published in these venues a person can use the Right of Reply to compel a blogger or moderator of a social networking site to publish a space or a reply for that person? Or when an individual decides to copy or repost an article from a news website in his or her personal blog, and in the future the said article becomes a subject of this Right of Reply, will he or she be sanctioned or fined also?” he said.

In reply, Abante said the bill would be defined more clearly through its implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

“Primarily, this bill refers to media publications and practitioners. I would think it will be defined more on the IRR,” he said.

But Palatino said that Congress should just remove the line “any electronic device” in the bill’s first section. The bill is still up for amendments in the House.

“Again, this would affect more than 60 million mobile phone users and iPod owners in the country,” Palatino said.

Palatino said he would oppose the right of reply bill on the grounds that it violates the freedom of the press and the public’s freedom of speech and expression. He also said he was not amenable even to a “watered down” version of the bill because it merely “renders the Right of Reply pointless.”

He also encouraged bloggers, netizens, texters and concerned youth to register their opposition to the “apparent railroading of the bill in Congress.”

Computer crash was GSIS’ fault—contractor

2009-05-31T10:29:00.000+08:00

A technology contractor threatened with a lawsuit by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for the malfunctioning of its computer database has tossed the blame back to the government pension fund.

Questronix Corp., which supplied the GSIS database software package, said the pension fund managers themselves caused their computers to crash because of poor database management and lack of standard backup measures.

Questronix said that the GSIS used the system in an “unusual” way that led to a crash twice.

Last week, GSIS officials sent Questronix a demand letter, saying the crashes caused the agency “incalculable damage” and resulted in a backlog of applications for loans, including 20,000 filings for claims mostly by newly retired members.

In a letter to the GSIS dated May 28, Questronix countered that if the pension fund had invested in disaster recovery and implemented proper backup-and-restore procedures, its members would not have been left hanging by the crash.

Questronix is the lead systems integrator for the GSIS database that brought together sub-systems from German software application vendor SAP-AG, which included software developed and licensed by IBM Corp.

GSIS claimed it was supplied with “defective software” and has threatened a series of suits against IBM, SAP-AG and Questronix.

In a statement to the Inquirer, IBM Philippines had countered that GSIS did not engage IBM in the selection, customization and implementation of its system.

IBM said its DB2 was packaged with an application that was part of a global OEM (original equipment manufacturer) arrangement between SAP and IBM. Ronnel W. Domingo - Philippine Daily Inquirer

Liberty wants license to operate in Zambales

2009-04-13T22:01:00.000+08:00

Written by Lenie Lectura -Business Mirror
LIBERTY Broadcasting Network Inc. (LBNI) is asking the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that it be allowed to operate within the territorial jurisdiction of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the province of Zambales.

The company asked the NTC to declare and include the province of Zambales, including the territorial area of SBMA, in its certificates of public convenience 93-380 and 97-292.

“If granted, the motion we filed will render the motion for clarification moot and academic. Wherefore, it is most respectfully prayed of this commission to cancel the hearing and suspend the proceedings until and after the final adjudication of the omnibus motion,” said LBNI.

But SBMA, which is the sole provider of telecommunications services in Subic, is opposing this. It said that Liberty’s motion is not compliant with the three-day notice rule.

To this, LBNI pointed out that “the omnibus motion, being defective in form, cannot in any way prevent the continuation of the proceedings. The hearing must inevitably proceed.”

NTC director Edgardo Cabarios said SBMA argued that it has the authority to operate in the area and that LBNI should not come in.

“The case is still pending. We still have yet to determine if we can grant LBNI’s request considering that SBMS is the sole provider in the area. Besides that the legal proceedings are being questioned,” said Cabarios.

LBNI holds a Congressional franchise to provide telecommunication and broadcast services via Republic Act 4154, which was approved on June 20, 1964.

IT experts leaving RP for greener pastures

2009-04-05T11:40:00.000+08:00

By: Alfred P. Dalizon - Journal online
GOVERNMENT computer experts have left their offices for greener pastures abroad or multi-national companies that give them six-digit salaries a month.

“That’s the sad fact, once na-train na ang mga government employees natin, they say goodbye dahil maliit ang suweldo,” said Senior Supt. Gilbert C. Sosa, head of the Anti-Transnational Crime Division of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

He cited as an example a dozen government employees who were trained by Microsoft in 2005.

“Sad to say, umalis na sila sa gobyerno to get higher-paying jobs that gives them a minimum of P120,000 a month. Kami na lang mga pulis ang natira,” Sosa said.

Sosa is one of the six EnCase Certified Examiners who are PNP officers and men themselves. The others are Chief Insp. Ariel T. Ilumin, Inspectors Enrique C. Burdeos, Levy V. Lozada and Jorge M. Meneses and non-uniformed personnel Nerissa B. Salcedo. They got their diploma from the international Guidance Software after demonstrating proficiency in computer forensics and the EnCase methodology of examining digital evidence. They completed the EnCE testing program in March 2007.

He told the Journal Group that there is little evidence to prove that the Chinese government was ‘spying’ on the country through its websites. He said the so-called ‘Ghostnet’ did not identify the Philippines as among the diplomatic and government offices in Southeast Asia where research had detected an intelligence gathering operation involving 1,295 compromised computers.

“Purely speculative na kasama ang Pilipinas,” he said.

Sosa said Republic Act 8792 or the Electronics Commerce Act of 2000 failed to address cyber crimes enumerated in the Budapest Convention on Cyber Crimes of 2001.

Building a case for WiMAX

2009-03-31T09:39:00.000+08:00

WiMAX is in the news. Globe Telecom recently launched a WiMAX service, boasting of a 2.5Ghz WiMAX (802.16e) broadband network, which is said to be the biggest in Southeast Asia.

This came four years after Intel Corp. and Innove Communications led the testing of a WiMAX site at Intel Corp.’s General Trias, Cavite plant.

In August last year, the Taguig City government announced that it would adopt WiMAX technology to help facilitate the delivery of basic services in the city. In 2007, a Taiwanese operator was reported to be eyeing a $10-million investment for a wireless Internet network in Subic, and was then looking at WiMAX as the network platform.

WiMAX or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access is a telecommunications technology that provides broadband connectivity to wireless networks and makes possible the public’s aspiration for a fully mobile Internet access.

WiMAX is here. In a press forum hosted by Intel recently, Kevin Lim, Intel Corp.’s managing director of WiMAX for Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, announced that the WiMAX spectrum is indeed already available nationwide in the Philippines, beginning in the second half of 2008 on the 2.5Ghz band. This has allowed some operators to introduce the service.

Lim clarified that there is really no demand for WiMAX per se but what the computing public is clamoring for is Internet broadband capability, both fixed and mobile. WiMAX will simply enable users to access the Internet at true broadband speeds wirelessly. This means that the speed of current wired broadband Internet connection will now be available on mobile Internet devices (MIDs) such as smartphones and cellphones, netbooks and notebooks anytime, anywhere.

The wireless world has been greatly changed once by Wi-Fi. When it was launched in 2002, wireless LAN was a niche technology, said Lim. Today, almost all notebooks, netbooks and MIDs are Wi-Fi-capable.

“WiMAX aims to extend the open, full Internet experience of Wi-Fi with mobile devices capable of replicating the home or work Internet experience on the go,” explained Lim.

The need for WiMAX

It is a fact: the Internet is big and growing even bigger. Lim cited figures: 1.4 billion Internet users, 150 million websites, 1.5 billion Web searches every day. Moreover, there are approximately one billion users of Instant Messengers (IMs), while 10 hours of new video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. Around 10,000 blogs are created daily.

This robust online activity is pushing the demand for broadband and the current network is quite unable to keep up with the demand. In the Philippines alone, the number of Internet users is 14 million, which makes it among Asia’s top 10 Internet countries.

However, in a country with approximately 14 million Internet users, only 1.3 million households are subscribed to broadband Internet. WiMAX could close the gap, as a fully mobile Internet is made available.

“Fixed broadband installations exhibit geographic limitations for countries with rural populations, and because of this, there is a growing demand toward mobile broadband services,” said Intel Technology Philippines Inc. country manager Ricky Banaag.

“Next-generation technology such as WiMAX can be the more cost-effective, back-haul solution to help build out this infrastructure to help drive growth,” he added.

Not a competitor of 3G

With the push for WiMAX gaining momentum not just in the Philippines but worldwide, Lim emphasized that it is not a competitor or an alternative to 3G.

“Its purpose is to create a new market category, which is mobile broadband Internet,” he said.

3G, he said, is a voice network and is really for voice but WiMAX is a 4G wireless broadband network suited well for data services.

Mobile WiMAX will continue to evolve, said Lim. At present, mobile broadband is available at 60+ Mbps through Mobile WiMAX 1.0 at 802.16e. However, in 2009 and beyond it will be available to achieve mobile broadband speed of 125+ Mbps (for Mobile WiMAX 1.5 on 802.16e Rev 2), and even 300+ Mbps (for Mobile WiMAX 2.0 on 802.16m).

Lim said even the basic Mobile WiMAX 802.16e could deliver fixed (at home or the office or any fixed location) or nomadic (outdoors or in non-fixed locations) access and full mobility (while on the move — in buses, trains, cars) to users depending on the packages to be rolled out by operators.

Spectrum policies are also aligning and efforts are underway to harmonize spectrum profiles in the region.

According to the WiMAX Forum, an industry-led, non-profit organization, WiMAX service providers now cover 430 million people in 135 countries. Locally, the push for WiMAX is being driven by collaboration among telecommunication service providers, policymakers and Intel.

Last year, Intel announced WiMAX-ready chipsets built on its Montevina platform, which means that devices running on these chipsets should be able to use WiMAX technology once it is deployed.

Lim bared that they are working with most PC manufacturers for the rollout of devices that are WiMAX-ready within the year.
By Eden Estopace - Phil Star

DOTC telecoms units back to CICT again

2009-02-22T00:21:00.000+08:00

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has completed the transfer of all its communications divisions to the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), following a directive by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Executive Order 780 has ordered the transfer of the Telecommunications Office (Telof) and the Telecommunications Policy and Planning Office back to the CICT.

DOTC Assistant Secretary Lorenzo Formoso III, who heads Telof, will assume a position along with incumbent CICT Commissioners Timoteo Diaz de Rivera, Monchito Ibrahim and Consuelo Perez.

The transfer followed the initial transfer of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to the CICT last January 7.

Incidentally, both the NTC and Telof were transferred from the DOTC to the CICT when it was created through EO 269. The transfer was repealed by EO 603 in 2007 which put the NTC and TELOF back to the control of DOTC.

The latest EO effectively repeals EO 603.

In a telephone interview, Diaz de Rivera said they would still map out the integration of Telof into the organizational structure of the CICT, which would begin in the coming days.

One of the issues in this integration is the transfer of over 4,000 Telof employees under the control of the CICT.

CICT has been involved in the rationalization of Telof operations before it was transferred back to the DoTC.

Diaz de Rivera said the CICT is hoping for the quick passage of a bill creating the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which has been in the works for several years.

Diaz de Rivera said the proposal has passed at the House of Representatives while the Senate version is on its final reading.

“The creation of the DICT is more permanent and from there we can move on to pursuing IT projects for the government,” Diaz de Rivera said.

The creation of the DICT was proposed when the CICT was created in 2004. By Alexander Villafania - INQUIRER.net

Interconnection of phone lines in Subic, Clark backed

2009-02-19T08:01:00.000+08:00

CLARK FREEPORT -- The Angeles City council has endorsed a proposal for the interconnection of phone lines along the Subic-Clark growth corridor in a resolution unanimously approved by its members last Tuesday.

In the resolution sponsored by Councilors Jesus "Jay" Sangil and Ruben Maniago, the members of the city council stated they are "endorsing the move of the Metro Clark Advisory Council (MCAC) to press for the immediate interconnection of telecommunications facilities in Clark Freeport Zone with those in Tarlac and Zambales."

"It would definitely fast-track business undertakings and greatly minimize costs to local residents," Sangil said, referring to the MCAC-initiated project which was earlier lauded by President Arroyo. Sangil likewise called on other officials of local government units (LGUs) situated along the Subic-Clark corridor to support the move, saying this will attract investors and provide jobs for the people.

"I am urging our counterparts in government in the cities, towns along the SCTEx to follow suit and support the same as it will invite investors and eventually create employment for our constituents," Sangil said.

In the resolution, the city council stated that the "Clark Freeport and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Growth Corridor are foreseen as one of the world’s major economic hubs and catalysts for development, hence a major employment generator in North Philippines."

Also, "the development and improvement of infrastructure facilities, including the establishment of state-of-the art telecommunications facilities in the Metro Clark Area (Clark FZ, Pampanga and Tarlac) enhance the viability of the Metro Clark area as a choice investment destination."

The city council noted the importance of providing interconnected telephone exchanges, saying it "is vital in minimizing costs to investors and their clientele that includes government offices."

"Interconnecting telephone exchanges in Metro Clark Area is in keeping with the integration policy of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in which long distance and other toll charges are waived," the resolution also said.

"The general welfare clause of the Local Government Code, among other provisions, obliges us to support moves of major employment generators," it further stated.

In December 2008, President Arroyo bestowed an award on Clark officials led by Clark Development Corp. (CDC) President Benigno N. Ricafort for the telecommunications interconnection project that was one of the top 10 winners in the 1st Gawad Pampublikong Korporasyon (1st GPK).

Ricafort said CDC’s winning entry, which was conceived in 2001, aims to interconnect Clark’s telephone lines to Angeles City and the City of San Fernando, as well as other areas in Pampanga.

He said that the interconnection project was an initiative of the MCAC, "an influential partnership group between the CDC and contingent LGUs within Metro Clark." By FRED ROXAS - Manila Bulletin

Explain expiring loads, telcos told

2009-02-19T07:58:00.001+08:00

LAWMAKERS yesterday slammed telecommunication companies for their scheme of putting expiration dates on cellular loads.

The House committee on information and communication technology asked telecom firms to submit within 10 days a written explanation on the scheme.

Representatives of Globe, Smart and Sun Cellular failed to convince the solons of their marketing strategies.

Makati Rep. Teddy Locsin questioned the short life of loads, saying it is not economical for mobile subscribers.

“Why is it that cellular phone loads have a short shelf life? Such scheme forces people to make 50 phone calls so that they will consume the value of the load they have paid,” Locsin said.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino shared the same view and asked why there should be an expiration date for pre-paid phone load.

The solons raised the complaint of many people that a P20 load should be consumed within 24 hours otherwise it will be forfeited.

Meanwhile, the P100 load should only be used within 15 days while a P300 card only lasts for two months.

“Why 90 days, why not six months? We have to consume it or else the money goes to them, hindi naman parang gatas na napapanis ito, electronic naman ito,” Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

The lawmakers said this scheme means more profit for telcos.

Lawyer Froilan Castelo of Globe said the expiring load balance was part of the design of the network to avoid clogging. Lawyer Roy Ibay of Smart said there is a “financial and technical explanation” to the scheme.

Meanwhile, Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon demanded that telcos submit the actual cost of calls.

Solons said that in these hard times, telecoms should not make huge profits out of electronic loads, which is considered the cheapest form of communication. By: Jester P. Manalastas - Journal Online

An Internet era ends as technology icons exit

2009-01-19T10:50:00.000+08:00

Steve Jobs exiting the Apple stage, perhaps not to return, signals a close to an Internet Age era with roots stretching back to the radical hippie movement of the 1960s.

His departure for health reasons comes some seven months after his renowned rival Bill Gates retired from Microsoft to devote himself to philanthropic work.

The two culture-changing men were seen as leaders of rival camps: personal computer lovers versus the cult of Macintosh computers.

Technology allegiances were the stuff of fierce debates in coffee houses and other Silicon Valley social settings, with vitriol spewed by all sides.

Macintosh devotees were passionate underdogs standing up to PC faithful whose confidence was cemented by the fact more than 90 percent of the computers in the world are PCs running on Microsoft operating systems.

The dueling technologies had faces at which people aimed praise of scorn. Gates was the PC. Jobs is the Macintosh.

Jerry Yang, the very public face of Internet pioneer Yahoo!, was replaced as chief executive this week by Carol Bartz and it seems he has already faded into the purple and gold woodwork at the firm’s California headquarters.

“In many ways we are stepping out of the age where the people are defining the company,” said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.

“We talk about the Google kids, but are the founders truly icons. I argue not. We seem to be moving away from the age where there is a face behind the company; a larger-than-life human component.”

Ironically, while Google and other modern Internet superstars use private data about their millions of users to target ads, their founders tend to vigilantly protect their privacy.

“In many ways, Internet companies are losing their personalities,” Enderle said. “Ever-changing brands in a constant sea of surging names.”

Jobs and Gates, both born in 1955, grew up during the socially rebellious 1960s and bear its mark, according to Peter Friess, a historian who is president of The Tech Museum of Innovation in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Gates and Jobs both dropped out of college to pursue dreams of building computers for people.

Before Jobs and his friend Steve Wozniak made the first Apple computer, they crafted a “blue box” to get around paying for long-distance telephone calls.

“They came out of a time when culture meant a lot to all of us,” Friess said.

“It was a revolutionary time. It is always a time that creates people. Now, Google, Facebook and others align much more with the system. Social networks don’t change the world like Jobs and Gates did.”

Bringing personal computers to the masses fulfilled a hippie mantra of “Power to the people,” according to Friess.

While the first PCs and “Macs” were sold by Gates and Jobs before there was a Web to surf, the men led their respective companies to glory in the Internet Age.

“In time, I suppose we might look back at the leaders of big search companies in a similar way, but it really feels like a thin comparison,” said University of California, Berkeley, information school assistant professor Coye Cheshire.

“If only because all these fantastic information services only became practical and truly useful once we had the PCs, Macs, iPods, Xboxes, Zunes, iPhones, etc. in our lives.”

Crises with climate change and wars fought for control of oil have set the stage for new iconic visionaries in the molds of Gates or Jobs to rise in the area of renewable energy, says Friess.

“Putting personal computers in the hands was really giving power to the people,” Friess said.

“I’m waiting for someone in the renewable energy world with the same vision Jobs had in the computer world.”

In a rare joint appearance, Jobs and Gates reminisced on stage at an All Things Digital conference in California two years ago. The men joked that their rivalry was misunderstood.

“We’ve kept our marriage secret for over a decade now,” Jobs quipped, eliciting raucous laughter from the audience.

While Jobs and Gates “personified the dispute” between Apple and Microsoft, the two companies are unlikely to change their ways without their iconic founders, according to analyst Michael Cherry of Directions On Microsoft.

“No one wants to die . . . and yet death is the destination we all share,” Jobs told a stadium packed with students during a 2005 commencement speech at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.

“Death is possibly the single best invention in life. It clears out the old to make way for the new.” -- AFP

RP to benefit from Satyam scandal, lawmaker crows

2009-01-19T10:28:00.000+08:00

Instead of urging local BPO players to check their books to avoid a repeat of Satyam fraud scandal here, a lawmaker chose to point out that the Philippines may stand to benefit from the debacle that hit one of India’s outsourcing giants.

Catanduanes Rep. Joseph Santiago, the chairman of the House information and communications technology committee, said in a press statement that Saytam’s freefall may drive outsourcing traffic to the country.

"The Philippines is in a superb position to capture whatever outsourcing business that India stands to lose on account of Satyam’s troubles," Santiago stated.

The Indian firm’s woes started on January 7, 2009 when chairman and co-founder B. Ramalinga Raju admitted massive irregularities in the company’s accounts, listing assets that were actually non-existent.

Satyam’s entire board has since been fired, while key executives, including Raju and his brother, were arrested and charged with various criminal offenses under Indian laws.

Santiago said the Philippines is fortunate not to have experienced a scandal of similar magnitude.

"This could be due to higher corporate governance standards and more rigorous controls here," he said.

But, while initial reactions point to the Philippines as a potential beneficiary of Satyam’s misfortune, it could also be that the local BPO market may be adversely affected since Western companies may hold back or avoid outsourcing altogether because of the exposed irregularities.

Financial Insight, an advisory firm owned by IDC, said there’s a slim chance that Satyam may survive even with the dire prognosis.

"Essentially, in the short term, it should be business as usual. IDC believes that it would in the best interest, both financially and as a business continuity measure, for organizations to continue their existing relationship with Satyam," it said.

The analyst firm said that if a couple of the big organizations panic and decide to discontinue with Satyam, it would not only delay, halt, or hamper their existing projects and result in massive unplanned cost, it would also subject them to the torment of finding another equally large services partner, qualify them, negotiate with them, and thereafter go through the arduous training process with the new team.

In IDC’s opinion, Satyam may eventually be put up for sale and is likely to be acquired in its current state by the highest bidder.

As for India’s vaunted outsourcing industry, IDC said the future still looks good. "There is no doubt that further questions will be asked of the India-based players, as well as the long-term viability of the offshore model, but IDC believes that Outsourcing India will emerge from this scandal with its reputation tested, but better for it." By MELVIN G. CALIMAG - Manila Bulletin