Top Ten E-government Countries 2007 Ranked by Wasada University

The Waseda University Institute of E-Government,which has been ranking development of E-Government in 32 selected countries for last three years (2005,2006,2007),has released its 2007 World E- Government Ranking. A unique feature of this ranking is that it is the only ranking worldwide which takes into account the status of the Chief Information Officer (CIO). A total of 26 indicators were used to evaluate six sectors that constitute an ideal E-Government. Top Ten E-government Countries 2007: 1. U.S.A.(67.18),2. Singapore (66.60),3. Canada (62.59),4. Japan (61.44),4. Korea (61.44),6. Australia(60.86),7. Finland (59.72),8. Taiwan (58.00),9. U.K. (56.85),and 10.Sweden (55.70). Note: Figures in parentheses denote standard score.

From http://www.obi.giti.waseda.ac.jp/ 01/29/2007

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EU €1.2bn for IT Research in 2007

The EU has allocated a record budget to developing technologies in its bid to build a competitive European research area. Keeping ahead of the pack is essential for Europe where cutting-edge technologies are concerned,if it is to meet society's demands and boost industrial competitiveness. Funding for modern technologies is therefore the largest beneficiary of the EU's seventh framework programme (FP7)."Europe is finally putting resources and efforts behind its words when it comes to ICT research and innovation",said Viviane Reding,commissioner for information society and media,welcoming the €1.2bn investment for 2007.The new framework programme far outstrips its predecessors in this particular field,with €9.1bn for 2007-13 as compared to €3.6bn under the earlier programmes. If optimism is in the air for research,this is also thanks to the scientists. Almost 50 have been nominated for the Descartes Prizes for research and science communication in recognition of their significant discoveries and for making their knowledge accessible to all.

From http://ec.europa.eu/ 02/05/2007

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500 UK Government Websites Face the Axe and Another 370 Also Up for Possible Chop

More than 500 government websites are for the chop as part of a major review of the public sector's online offering. In a move which the government claimed will "benefit tens of millions of users",only 26 of the websites examined so far in its review are certain to be retained,with at least 551 to go. Of the 951 websites across 16 central government departments reviewed so far,90 have already closed and a further 461 are planned to be closed. Of the remaining sites,374 will be reviewed by June 2007,with the aim of further rationalisation. Further discussions will take place over the next few months in order to produce detailed implementation plans and extend the review to executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies,the government said. Useful info from the closed sites will be transferred to the www.direct.gov.uk and www.businesslink.gov.uk websites. The cull is the "natural next step" as the public shifts its interest to 'supersites'such as the Directgov portal,the government said,but minister for transformational government Pat McFadden insisted the quality of the service offered will not be affected by these changes. The move was revealed in the Transformational Government report published today,highlighting some of the government's technology successes. For example,Transport for London has saved 30 per cent on its human resources spend in the first year of operating its shared service centre,while the NHS Shared Business Service has saved 108 health trusts an average of 34 per cent of the cost of processing finance transactions through shared finance services. It is on track to deliver savings of more than ¡ê220m. The 'Government IT Profession'initiative - aimed at putting technology advisers on a par with policy,legal,statistical or economic advisers - has also gained 7,000 members since it was launched in July 2005 and offers training,career development and a framework of standards for IT staff. (by Steve Ranger)

From http://www.silicon.com/ 01/10/2007

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US Government Launches New Business.Gov Website to Help Businesses Meet Federal Compliance

The U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with twenty-one other federal agencies has recently created a one-stop resource to provide business with all the compliance information that they need. This partnership,known as Business gateway,forms part of the Presidential e-government initiative to utilize technology to improve how the federal government services citizens and businesses. Since each federal agency organizes compliance information on their websites differently,the agencies have partnered to provide the Business.gov website as the central gateway for Government services and information to help the nation's businesses with their operations. The Office of Management and Budget estimated in the 2003 fiscal year,it took businesses and citizens approximately 8.2 billion hours and $320 billion filling out paperwork and complying with government regulation. The web site makes it easier to find information on taxes,immigration laws,workplace safety,environmental requirements and other regulations that can present challenges for all types of businesses. A central feature of the website is a unique vertical search engine,which intelligently locates,organizes and retrieves compliance assistance information published on Federal agency websites.

Businesses may search for compliance assistance information across all Federal agencies,or they may search within a specific business area (e.g. International Trade),or within a specific industry (e.g. Agriculture).The streamlining of all compliance information on the web represents a major step forward for helping companies minimize business expenses in the form of time savings and cost avoidance in their compliance efforts. According to the research conducted by the US Small Business administration,businesses with less than 20 employees spend an average of $7,647 to stay in compliance and these very small firms spend 45% more per employee than larger firms to comply with federal regulations. "The end of goal of the website is to cut through the red tap and make it easier for businesses to do business" said SBA Administrator Steven C. Preston.While the Business.gov website was originally launched in 2004,the purpose and focus of the website was on providing information on starting,growing and managing small businesses. The business community has encouraged the development and implementation of online tools to reduce the compliance burden and help avoid costly mistakes for small firms,and welcomes the launching of the new Business.gov. "The website is an essential tool in the move to make the regulatory process more understandable and accessible. It will serve the twin purposes of increasing compliance and reducing the burdens faced by America's businesses" said Andrew Langer,Manager of Regulatory Policy,National Federation of Independent Businesses.

From http://www.ibls.com/ 12/27/2006

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China's Blogging Population Reaches 20 Million

The number of Internet bloggers in China reached 20.8 million at the end of 2006,with more than three million web-users regularly posting their writings,state press said. Web logs in China took 101 million hits in 2006,Xinhua news agency said,citing the China Internet Survey Report 2007."Web logs have gradually developed into a new trend in Internet information communication,many public figures as well as ordinary people use web blogs ... to express their thoughts," the report quoted Huang Chengqing of the China Internet Association as saying. The government's concern over the rise of the blog is behind its decision to consider new rules that may require all users to register with their real names before blogging,the report said. "The real names of bloggers will be kept private as long as they do no harm to the public interest," the report said. "If they break the law,they will be held responsible. "The survey report said Chinese web surfers spent an average of 170 yuan (22 dollars) every month on the Internet,including the costs of web access and online shopping and games.

This compares with 150 yuan in 2005,it said. China's online consumer market expanded by 47 percent in 2006 over the previous year,following "explosive growth" in online advertising,the report said,without providing figures. At the end of 2006,China boasted 132 million online users,up 19 percent from the previous year,earlier reports said.

From http://news.yahoo.com/ 01/11/2007

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Republic of Korea Joins ITU to Strengthen ICT Capacity in Asia and Pacific

Geneva,20 February 2007 ¡ª ITU and the Pusan National University,Republic of Korea,reached agreement on implementing the Technology Awareness Training Programme. As a partner of ITU's Centre of Excellence (CoE) Network in the Asia and Pacific region,Pusan University will take the lead in implementation in cooperation with ITU and other partners,in particular Japan,Thailand and Viet Nam. Pusan National University will provide the space,facilities and resources,including key experts,required for successfully taking the programme forward. Courses will be jointly developed with CoE partners,which will focus on broadband wireless,planning for next-generation networks,Internet Protocol and convergence. Awareness will contribute to making informed decisions on selecting the most appropriate technologies for deployment in the region as well as help in bridging the digital divide. ITU will provide seed funds for the hiring of experts and their travel for a period of 18 months and will monitor and evaluate the programme upon its completion. The agreement was signed on 15 February 2007 by the President of Pusan National University,Mr Kim Inn-Se,M.D.,Ph.D. and Mr Sami Al-Basheer Al-Morshid,Director of ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau,in the presence of ITU Secretary-General,Dr Hamadoun I. Tour¨¦. The overall aim of the Asia and Pacific CoE project is to build a self-sufficient and sustainable mechanism in the Asia Pacific region to strengthen ICT capacity through Human Resources Development. Apart from Technology Awareness Training provided by this CoE,other programmes include Policy and Regulation,Business Management,Spectrum Management and Rural ICT Development.

From http://www.itu.int/ 02/20/2007

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Korea's Electronic Procurement System to Go Abroad

The government is out to export its online e-procurement system. Kim Yong-min,administrator of the Public Procurement Service revealed Sunday (Jan.21) that he is going on a 13-day trip to Kazakhstan,Azerbaijan,Georgia and Armenia starting from Monday (Jan.22-Feb.2) to strengthen international cooperation in the field of procurement and export Korea's procurement policy. Korea began discussing mutual cooperation with the above countries at an international electronic procurement workshop in Seoul held jointly with the World Bank last November. Kim plans to hold a series of talks with financial ministers and procurement officials from the four countries and exchange Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs). The memoranda will include prior feasibility studies of electronic procurement systems,an invitation to procurement officials from the related countries to receive education and training,provision of technological consultations and information,an agreement to provide information to improve the administration system for procurement. "Korea has concentrated only on exporting procurement policy to Southeast Asian nations. I hope this trip will be the start of extending our procurement policy to Europe and South Asia." Kim will be accompanied by officials from the Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency in charge of exporting Korea's electronic government policy and other related experts. Korea Online E-procurement system,or KONEPS as it is sometimes called,is Korea's largest online shopping mall for public organizations and features complete online procurement procedures and processing.

From http://www.korea.net 12/20/2007

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Japan Govt Eyes Online Data Collection

The government has formulated a policy to introduce a full-fledged online option for surveys such as the national census and industrial statistics survey starting in fiscal 2007,to cut costs and raise the rate of collection,government sources said Thursday. The rate of collection has been declining due to increased public awareness of privacy protection. The government hopes to see the collection rate improved and the costs reduced through the measure. The online response for the national census is targeted for 2010,when the next census is scheduled to be undertaken. Only about 10 percent of about 400 governmental surveys currently accept responses online. They include statistics of corporations and basic surveys on schools. Responses for other surveys are collected through interviews or by mail. However,the increase in condominiums with automatically locking entry systems and other reasons have led to an increase in people who declined to respond to the national census when it was taken in 2005. The number of households that failed to return the census sheet rose to 4.4 percent in that year from 1.7 percent in 2000. Those who have returned their answers in the mail have called for the introduction of an online system which they said would be easier than filling out the answers on paper and mailing them.

To prevent personal information from being leaked,the government plans to send out a census sheet with an individual identification code and a password in the post to those who respond using the online system. Respondents would use the identification code and password to type their answers into a designated home page. The government plans to spend about five years from this autumn to introduce the online response system for all major surveys in principle. Interviews and postal responses to surveys will continue after the introduction of the online system to take into account those respondents,including elderly people,who do not use computers. As a sideline to the introduction of the online system,the government plans to integrate statistical computer systems currently developed separately by officials in charge of surveys at each ministry and agency. Through the measure,the government hopes to cut the system's maintenance and management costs. The savings achieved through integrating the systems,the introduction of the online survey and reduced postage is expected to reach about 1.7 billion yen annually.

From http://www.yomiuri.co.jp 02/24/2007

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E-Procurement in Government of Andhra Pradesh,India

The Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) has implemented many statewide e-Government applications since the year 2000,when the Central Government of India enacted the IT Act of 2000 to provide legal recognition to electronic transactions. As a part of these initiatives,GoAP has set up an E-Procurement Marketplace,linking government departments,agencies and local bodies with their vendors. The main objectives of the e-Procurement initiative are to: reduce the time and cost of doing business for both vendors and government; realize better value for money spent through increased competition and the prevention of cartel formation; standardize the procurement processes across government departments/agencies; increase buying power through demand aggregation; provide a single-stop shop for all procurements; allow equal opportunity to all vendors; bring transparency and ultimately reduce corruption.

http://web.worldbank.org/ 01/31/2007

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Australia Releases Broadband Blueprint

The Minister for Communications,Information Technology and the Arts,Senator Helen Coonan,today released a Broadband Blueprint to provide a national framework for the future of broadband in Australia. "It is essential for all levels of government and industry to adopt a strategic and coordinated approach to the rollout of scalable broadband infrastructure," Senator Coonan said. "With a number of commercial rollouts underway and several more proposed,and the Australian Government poised to make its largest ever investment in broadband infrastructure,it is timely that Australia adopts a clearly defined national approach to broadband." The Broadband Blueprint builds on the work of the National Broadband Strategy Implementation Group and was developed in consultation with State,Territory and Local Governments through the Online and Communications Council. The Minister also appointed an Industry Advisory Group to broaden the base of advice to the Government during the formation of the Blueprint. "The Australian Government recognises that broadband is a key contributor to Australia's future economic and social prosperity. The delivery of broadband is no longer optional. Rather,access to broadband infrastructure is critical for both the public and private sector to compete in a modern global economy.

"The private sector will continue to be the major driver of broadband investment. However,all levels of government must take responsibility for providing leadership and facilitating the delivery of broadband. "This Blueprint recognises that Australia's future broadband infrastructure will need to be fit-for-purpose and scalable to meet the needs and requirements of a wide range of different users." "For the Australian Government's part,the $1.1 billion Connect Australia package and the $2 billion Communications Fund will be used to invest in next generation broadband infrastructure,improve mobile phone coverage and rollout high speed backbones to support the health,research and education sectors. "Through the Broadband Blueprint,the Australian Government has invited all tiers of government to participate in the development of an implementation plan for investment in next generation broadband infrastructure,under the auspices of the Online and Communications Council," Senator Coonan said. "By working together we can ensure that Australia becomes a world leader in the effective use of broadband."

From http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/ 12/07/2006

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ITU and GSMA Join Forces to Boost Mobile Access in Developing Countries

Agreement reached during the ITU Global Symposium for Regulators¡ª ITU and the GSM Association agreed today to strengthen cooperation towards improved access to mobile phone services aimed especially at bridging the digital divide in least developed and developing countries.A Memorandum of Understanding was concluded by the Secretary-General of ITU,Dr Hamadoun Tour¨¦,and Mr. Tom Phillips,Chief Government & Regulatory Affairs officer of the GSMA,during the meeting of the Global Symposium for Regulators currently taking place in Dubai. The agreement focuses on fostering the development of information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure in least developed and developing countries. It stems from the overall objective of implementing the action lines of the World Summit on the Information Society,Geneva 2003 and Tunis 2005,and the World Telecommunication Development Conference,Doha 2006."I am very pleased to announce this agreement with the GSM Association and I look forward to the collaboration in developing wireless access to connect the unconnected," said Secretary-General Hamadoun Tour¨¦ after the signing ceremony. "ITU is the leading United Nations agency specializing in ICT-related issues and represents a global forum for its 191 Member States and over 600 Sector members. GSMA represents a strong voice of the mobile industry and they are making real contributions towards increasing worldwide mobile penetration,including access in rural and underserved areas of the world. "Commenting on the partnership,Tom Phillips of the GSMA,said,"Mobile operators have long known the value of government policies that support private investment. Through this new relationship,operators hope to create a dialogue that will cut through today's hurdles and bottlenecks,creating new investment opportunities and integrating our members' commercial agenda closely with that of government." The GSM Association is a partner of ITU's Connect the World initiative,a global multi-stakeholder effort that encourages new projects and partnerships to bridge the digital divide.

From http://www.itu.int/ 02/06/2007

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UNDP,IBM and Oracle to Help Asia-Pacific Countries Create Strategies and Policies for Adopting Open Computing Standards

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),IBM and Oracle today announced a joint research initiative to help Asia-Pacific countries share and create strategies,blueprints and policies for adopting the right blend of open standards and technology services. The goal will be for more countries to develop universally compatible applications and networks to make internal and external government services and transactions more automatic,affordable and efficient. The UNDP Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme (UNDP-APDIP) will facilitate the development of Government Interoperability Frameworks (GIFs). Many countries around the world have developed GIFs to guide the development of government-wide systems and policies that permit electronic transactions and data and information exchange to take place seamlessly across agencies and jurisdictions. Today,many e-Government initiatives show that new systems are very often developed from scratch at both central and local levels. New systems are developed with specifications and solutions that match goals and tasks relevant to a particular administration,but without adequate attention to surrounding government institutions and information and communications technology (ICT) systems. The result is a patchwork of ICT solutions that are not always compatible with each other,reduced efficiency and duplication of effort. UNDP-APDIP,IBM and Oracle,together with the International Open Source Network (IOSN),have teamed up to conduct a thorough review of how governments in the region and beyond are promoting efficient,government-wide sharing of information and data by focusing on automatic technology services provided by computing networks,rather than individual technologies.

For instance,this project will examine how existing GIFs are focused on a service-oriented architecture. The objective is to identify promising practices around interoperability,then document case studies of those practices in action,and ultimately develop and recommend guidelines. Over the next year,UNDP-APDIP will hold workshops to share experiences and findings of the project with interested groups,and publicly release studies and reports at various stages of the project. "UNDP believes that interoperability based on open standards reduces vendor lock-in and consequently reduces costs,ensures data and application longevity,and most importantly,simplifies technology for citizens and governments," said Shahid Akhtar,Programme Coordinator of UNDP-APDIP. "The governments involved in this exciting project have a unique opportunity to find out how they can make a real difference for their citizens," said Bob Sutor,IBM's Vice President of Open Source and Standards. "IBM is pleased to participate in this initiative,share what we know,and share what we have learned from others that have adopted a neutral and truly open approach to their computing infrastructure." "Oracle is pleased to join with UNDP-APDIP and IBM on this important initiative that will help ensure governments obtain maximal benefit from their investments in ICT systems," said Dr. Donald Deutsch,Oracle's Vice President of Standards Strategy and Architecture,"Open Standards provide the key foundation for interoperability of ICT systems and enable efficiency and innovation in enterprises of any size."

From http://topics.developmentgateway.org/ 12/19/2006

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EUROPE: EU Data Retention Laws'Too Costly'for Telcos

EU laws that mean service providers will need to retain communications data for the purposes of possible criminal investigation will place a huge burden on carriers,market watchers warn. The controversial measures,enacted to aid the fight against terrorism,would compel telecom firms to keep customer e-mail logs,details of internet usage and phone call records for up to two years. The content of messages isn't covered by the directive,which is designed to harmonise European laws. EU member states have until September 2007 to apply the directive into national laws. Opposition to the measures has thus far centered on privacy concerns. Critics argue that existing voluntary data retention provisions are sufficient. But cost,and who pays,is also a factor. The directive doesn't oblige member states to reimburse telecom companies for additional costs incurred in servicing law enforcement requests,a factor highlighted by market analysts Frost & Sullivan in a recent report on the impact of the directive on the telecoms sector. Service providers and operators need to adapt their systems by the time various national governments implement the European provisions on data retention as law. For example,call detail record (CDR) systems will need to be revamped to cope with the increase in communication and traffic data to be stored and managed. Importantly,service providers not previously obligated to retain data will now be governed by the EU Directive stipulations,Frost & Sullivan notes.

"Implementing solutions compliant with the EU Directive on Data Retention will result in an onerous burden on communications service providers and operators," said Frost & Sullivan senior industry analyst Fernando Elizalde. "The provisions of the EU Directive will apply not just to mobile and fixed telephony,but also to internet telephony,e-mail services and messaging services." Service providers will be obliged to respond to lawful requests from law enforcement agencies "without undue delay",however the legislation fails to clarify what this might mean in practice. "The EU Directive introduces the idea of 'without undue delay'as a criterion to measure service providers'responsiveness to requests from law enforcement agencies. However,it is not clear how long the delay can be -- interpretations of this criterion vary from minutes to a few hours," Elizalde added. Marie-Charlotte Patterson,vice president of corporate marketing at records compliance management firm AXS-One,said the need to keep records of millions of private e-mails or phone calls is hardly a new concept. Although the directive goes much further than keeping records purely for billing purposes,careful planning should help carriers to make the project as painless as possible. There might even be the possibility of using the data to market new services to customers,she added. "Telecommunication companies need to approach the new legislation in the right manner to ensure that the project meets the new regulatory directives,but also provides some potential value-add to both the customer and carrier. Key to this is understanding that accurate and timely access of historical records,and the ability to securely destroy records at the end of their retention period,are as important as retention. So only considering the retention and storage aspects of the requirements are not sufficient," she said.

From http://www.enn.ie/ 01/10/2007

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EU Challenges New German Telecom Laws

The European Commission launched legal action against Germany on Monday over a ¡®regulatory holiday' granted to Deutsche Telekom,which regulators fear will give the operator an unfair advantage over rivals. The European Commission has given Berlin 15 days to respond to its formal warning about a new telecommunications law,the first step of legal action under ¡®fast-track' procedures,instead of the usual two months. The European Union's executive arm says that the telecoms law,which went into effect on Saturday,effectively exempts a fast Internet access network that Deutsche Telekom is building from competition. EU regulators decided to take the action after repeated warnings about the so-called ¡®regulatory holiday' were ignored and German lawmakers went ahead and enacted it. ¡®I regret that Germany has chosen to ignore the Commission's concerns about this new telecom law despite several clear warnings from the Commission,' said EU Telecom Commissioner Viviane Reding. ¡®The granting of regulatory holidays to incumbent operators is an attempt to stifle competition in a crucial sector of the economy,and in violation of the EU telecom rules in place since 2002.' Germany is building a fibre optic network that is supposed to cover 50 cities and expected to cost three billion euros (3.95 billion dollars).

The network is already up and running in 10 cities but Deutsche Telekom asked the government to allow it to block access to rivals during the first years of operation to help recoup its investment costs. ¡®In the commission's view,the German law,as now adopted,jeopardises the competitive position of Deutsche Telekom's existing competitors and makes it much harder for new competitors to enter German markets,' the EU executive said in a statement. Moreover,the commission said that law went against the wishes of the German Internet authority,or Bundesnetzagentur,which has also called on Deutsche Telekom to allow rivals to use the network. With no indication that Berlin intends to back down,the commission could seek a injunction or a fast-track case before the European Court of Justice. Along with Poland,Germany now faces the highest number of EU legal proceedings against it with six pending cases.

From http://www.newagebd.com/ 02/27/2007

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Russian Federation Government Approved Amendments to the Charter of the Universal Postal Union

The proposal to review the amending documents at a session of the Government was put forward by Russia's IT and Communications Ministry jointly with Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the remarks made in the course of the Government session by Minister for Information Technologies and Communications of the Russian Federation L.D. Reiman,the amendments are designed to improve the performance of the UPU governance system and operating procedures,and to render them more transparent. They also serve the interests of this country and are not at variance with Russian legislation. If and when approved by the Russian Government,the amending documents will be put before the State Duma of the Russian Federation for ratification. The Government of the Russian Federation appointed its spokesman for the process of amendment ratification by the chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation - State Secretary A.V.Maslov,who is deputy Minister for Information Technologies and Communications of the Russian Federation. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is a UN specialized agency,with 191 member countries to date. The UPU was set up 9 October 1874. Russia is one of the 22 UPU founding members. The Union deals with issues bearing on the activities of international postal services,regulation,quality improvement,development of new services and study of bottlenecks in postal activities.

From http://eng.minsvyaz.ru/ 12/07/2006

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UK Minister and Experts Announce Major Progress in First Year of Transformational Government Strategy

The Government today launched its progress report on 'Transformational Government: enabled by technology'with the news that at least 551 government websites are to be cut to make access to information easier for citizens and businesses. Number of websites drastically reduced In a move that will benefit tens of millions of users,only 26 of the websites examined so far are certain to be retained by Government,while 551 will go. Information of continuing relevance from closed sites will transfer to http://www.direct.gov.uk and http://www.businesslink.gov.uk. The move is the natural next step for Government as citizens shift their interest to 'supersites'such as the Directgov and http://www.bbc.co.uk websites.

Complex worldwide operation The report is the first of its kind in Europe and sets out that transformation in government is a long-term endeavour involving tough challenges. John Suffolk,Government Chief Information Officer,said today: "We operate in over 140 countries,spend some ¡ê12billion a year across the whole public sector and run many of the world's largest computer systems. The DWP makes 13 millions benefits payments electronically every week - it's a complex operation.

Millions benefiting every day Use of Government IT has now reached a critical mass and ordinary citizens are at the heart of this new way of working. Learners have been some of the biggest beneficiaries of technology investment. One million primary school children now use e-learning in class each day and there is a three-fold improvement in the computer to pupil ratio. The Minister for Transformational Government,Pat McFadden,said today: "This report demonstrates how millions of people are benefiting from our use of technology everyday. We are dealing decisively with the proliferation of government websites by getting rid of more than 500. We are ensuring that the quality of our services will not be affected by these changes."

Major savings behind the scenes Hundreds of millions are being saved by successful IT projects that receive little public attention. A Ministry of Defence effort known as 'Project Home'has revolutionised everything from how staff share secure information,where they sit and how their teams are structured. Transport for London,meanwhile,has saved 30 per cent saved on human resources through a shared services centre. To build on this success over the long term the new Government IT Profession is going from strength to strength. More than 7,000 members have been recruited in its first full year.

From http://eng.minsvyaz.ru/ 12/07/2006

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UK PCC to Regulate Newspaper Websites'Audio-Visual Material

The chairman of the UK Press Complaints Commission has revealed that the press watchdog is to begin regulating audio-visual material on newspaper websites.In an interview for BBC News 24,the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) chairman,Sir Christopher Meyer,hailed the move to extend the watchdog's remit as a "major step forward." The PCC already regulates online editions of newspapers. During the interview,which was for the UK news channel's Straight Talk with Andrew Neil show,Sir Meyer explained: "The basic situation has been for some time that we regulate what's in print and we regulate the photo and the word on electronic versions of newspapers. And we have now persuaded the newspaper and magazine industry of the UK to agree also the principle of our regulating moving pictures and sound on newspaper's websites." He went on to confirm that the PCC intends to make an official announcement on the matter with further details in the next few weeks. (by Staff Writer)

From http://www.cbronline.com/ 01/22/2007

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NORTH AMERICA: US New,Tougher Sentences for Internet Crimes Against Children

Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell released the final report of his Youth Internet Safety Task Force Thursday at an early afternoon press conference in Richmond. McDonnell was joined at the press conference by members of the Task Force,among them representatives of AOL,Capital One,Myspace,Microsoft,and other technology companies,as well as educators,parents,students,law enforcement officers and elected officials. The final report comes after six months of meetings by the Task Force,which consisted of a law enforcement working group,a parents and educators working group,and a technology partners working group. Speaking about the nearly 100-page report McDonnell noted,"This Task Force distinguished itself by the comprehensive nature of the analysis and proposed solutions. Thanks to the input from technology companies,law enforcement,educators and Virginia families,the proposals we are making today will help keep children safer online ... Reducing child solicitation,pornography,identity theft and other crimes on the Internet will help keep the information revolution vibrant,which is vital for Virginia's booming technology industry." McDonnell continued noting,"The Task Force found a significant need for greater parental involvement and awareness of the potential dangers for children online. Therefore the top recommendation of the Task Force is the creation of a sustained statewide education,awareness and media campaign."

Parents and kids must be more aware of online dangers and they must be equipped with safety solutions." McDonnell further remarked,"In addition to increasing Internet safety awareness,we are also proposing tough new sentences for those engaged in the production and financing of child pornography,and for those who unlawfully solicit children online. Finally,we have identified a number of changes in the law that will aid in the investigation of Internet crimes. I hope Virginians will read the report to learn more about the steps we are recommending to keep Virginia children safe on the Internet." Select Proposals of the Youth Internet Safety Task Force. Launch Statewide Media Campaign about Dangers of the Internet .Synopsis: The Attorney General should lead a statewide media campaign funded by public/private partnerships targeting parents and children to increase awareness among parents and children of the dangers posed by online predators,child pornographers and other criminals. To facilitate this effort an Advisory Board will be created to oversee the media campaign and all public awareness efforts. This Board will consist of public and private educators,concerned parents,students,Internet safety advocates,members of the faith-based community,state legislators,leaders in the technology industry,and law enforcement officials.

Reduce the Time Required for Law Enforcement to Obtain Information from Electronic Communication Providers Synopsis: Under current law,officers in other states must contact a Virginia law enforcement agency in order to obtain a search warrant for a Virginia ISP. Conversely,Virginia officers must locate officers in other states to execute search warrants on out-of-state ISPs. The end result is a bureaucratic challenge that increases time required for the search warrant to get to the ISP. This proposal will allow out-of-state search warrants to go directly to the ISPs and allow Virginia search warrants to go directly to ISPs in other states. Allow Courts to Issue Subpoenas for Out of State Electronic Communications Providers Synopsis: Federal law authorizes any "court of competent jurisdiction" to issue orders for Electronic Communication Providers located in the United States. Therefore it is recommended that Virginia Code ?19.2-70.3(B) be amended to allow courts to issue orders regarding subscriber information from Electronic Communication Providers located in or outside the Commonwealth.

Require Registration of E-mail Addresses and other online identities for Individuals on Sex Offender Registry. Synopsis: Virginia currently requires that convicted sex offenders register their physical and mailing address with the state Sex Offender Registry. This proposal will add the registration of all e-mail addresses and other online identities to this requirement. Virginia will be the first state in the country to require this registration. By doing so this will allow Virginia to pass information to social networking sites so that they can prevent any convicted sex offenders from communicating with minors. The penalties for failure to register,or false registration,will be the same as those for the physical and mailing address registration requirement. Enact Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Sexual Predators. Synopsis: The proliferation of child pornography and the ease with which sexual predators interact with children over the Internet are cause for concern. Sentencing disparities and the egregiousness of the offenses warrant statutory and mandatory minimum sentences. This proposal is to amend Virginia Code ?8.2-374.1 to include statutory and mandatory minimum sentences for production and financing of child pornography. In addition,it is proposed that Virginia Code ?8.2-374.3 be amended to include statutory and mandatory minimum sentences for online solicitation of children. These mandatory minimums should be different for offenses involving child victims below 15 years of age and those involving children 15 to 18 years of age.

Expand Statutory Forfeiture of Equipment Used in Child Exploitation Crimes. Synopsis: The Code of Virginia already provides for the forfeiture of moneys,proceeds and income to third parties from computer crimes as well as computer equipment,software and all personal property used in connection with computer crimes. Additionally,it provides for the seizure and forfeiture of all equipment utilized in the production,distribution,publication,sale,and possession with intent to distribute child pornography. However,forfeiture is not commonly allowed in possession of child pornography cases or online solicitation cases. The group recommends that the statute encompass forfeiture of assets used in these crimes. Prohibit Online Solicitation of Children Ages 15-18. Synopsis: The online solicitation statute,Virginia Code ?18.2-374.3,prohibits soliciting someone to engage in sexual conduct which would be a violation of ?8.2-370,Taking Indecent Liberties with Children. Section 18.2-370 lists certain sexual conduct and prohibits engaging in such conduct with a child less than 15 years of age. Thus,online solicitation of children between the ages of 15 and 18 for certain sexual conduct is permitted in Virginia. The Law Enforcement Work Group heard evidence that,according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children,children ages 15 18 are the group most solicited by sexual predators over the Internet. The Virginia Code,in its current form,simply does not protect this age group. The Code should be amended to eliminate this omission.

From http://www.govtech.net/ 12/21/2006

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US National Council Calls for Legislation to Prohibit Telecommunications Discrimination for People with Disabilities

The National Council on Disability (NCD) last week released a policy paper calling on Congress and the Administration to end telecommunications and information services discrimination for people with disabilities. The Need for Federal Legislation and Regulation Prohibiting Telecommunications and Information Services Discrimination explores the need to adopt legislative and regulatory safeguards to guarantee equal access by people with disabilities to evolving high-speed broadband,wireless and Internet-based technologies. Market forces will not be sufficient to ensure such access,said NCD in a release. Rather,Congress,the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and other federal agencies will need to step up to ensure that these communications technologies remain accessible to and usable by all Americans with disabilities. "Our nation already has in place a string of federal laws and regulations designed to guarantee various levels of access to telecommunications products and services," said NCD Chairperson John R. Vaughn. "But in addition to leaving gaps in coverage,these statutes are rapidly becoming outdated because the analog technologies upon which they were premised are being substituted with technologies that are digitally and Internet-based. As Congress,the FCC and other agencies take on the daunting task of defining regulatory measures that will govern the deployment of these next-generation communication technologies,they should include safeguards to ensure that people with disabilities will not be left behind."

Recommendations include: Communications Access -- FCC or Congress: Extend the telecommunications accessibility requirements of Section 255 of the Communications Act to Internet-based services and equipment. Disability safeguards under the new legal protections should include,among other things,accessible and compatible user interfaces on end-user equipment; a common standard for reliable and interoperable text and video IP and wireless communications; redundant ways of controlling devices and services; and access to user guides and technical support. Video Programming Access-- FCC or Congress: Clarify that existing captioning obligations apply to IPTV and other types of multi-channel video programming services that are Internet-based. Universal Service-- FCC or Congress: Allow Universal Service Fund (USF) support for broadband services to low-income individuals with disabilities,so that these individuals can choose between public switched telephone network or broadband services when they are entitled to Lifeline and Link Up-type funding. Require all IP-based providers (not only interconnected Voice over Internet protocol providers,as is currently required) to contribute to the USF treasury. Americans with Disabilities Act-- FCC or Congress: Require IP-based providers to contribute to interstate relay funds. U.S. Department of Justice or Congress: Clarify that Web sites are covered under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act: Legislative Change-- Expand Section 508's coverage to entities that are otherwise covered under Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

From http://www.govtech.net/ 01/03/2007

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US Net Neutrality,Broadband Taxes Top House Tech Agenda

WASHINGTON--A key House Democrat on Wednesday said his 2007 goals are to enact legislation related to Net neutrality,patents,and broadband regulation and taxation,including authorizing local governments to offer their own Internet service. Brokering a truce between Internet companies and network operators that have been battling over Net neutrality legislation is a top priority,Rep. Rick Boucher of Virginia said in his kickoff speech at an annual conference organized by the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee. Boucher is a co-chairman of the caucus. Last year,Boucher voted for an unsuccessful amendment--fiercely opposed by broadband providers--that would have imposed strict regulations on them. He moderated his tone slightly on Wednesday,saying,"I don't want to do anything in terms of a legislative remedy that ensures an open and accessible Internet but has the effect of hobbling innovation inside the network." Boucher and Rep. Lee Terry,a Nebraska Republican,also plan to push hard over the next few months for passage of a proposal,introduced two years ago,that would create new broadband taxes. Their bill would formally allow companies that receive such subsidies to use them for deploying broadband service,which existing law does not. Right now,telecommunications companies--including those offering wireless,pay-phone,traditional-telephone and DSL services--are taxed on a fixed percentage of their long-distance revenue and required to pay it into a multibillion-dollar fund.

Concerned that dwindling long-distance revenue has eroded the fund,the Federal Communications Commission last year extended a similar requirement to some voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) providers as well. Boucher said his bill would spread the contribution requirements among "all who offer a network connection" and require companies to collect fees on local telephone calls as well. He said the new sources will "replenish the fund and enable it to be sustained." It was unclear how high the new taxes would be,but companies typically pass those fees on to consumers in the form of a line item charge. The bill would also place an undisclosed cap on the amount of money distributed to companies for rolling out services in rural and high-cost areas. Boucher said he hopes that it will go to a floor vote by the end of the year. A pledge for patent system reform: Patent system overhauls may get attention on the U.S. House of Representatives floor as soon as March or April,Boucher said. He said Rep. Howard Berman,the incoming chairman of a key House intellectual-property panel,plans to begin holding hearings on the topic "very soon" and act on sweeping legislation afterward. "The technology industry,perhaps more than any other,has been victimized by the poor quality of patents that often issue from the Patent Office," Boucher said,promising that its ongoing cries for change would be "rewarded early in this Congress."

That bill,which has not yet been introduced,would take a number of steps aimed at weeding out bad patents. Those include requiring pending patent applications to be made public 18 months after being filed so that the public would have a chance to submit prior art--that is,evidence that a given invention may be predated by earlier products or ideas--to patent examiners,who may not be able to find it on their own. The bill would also set up a "postgrant opposition" process within the Patent and Trademark Office so that anyone could challenge issued patents without having to go to court and face what Boucher called "an almost insurmountable evidentiary standard." By the end of the year,Congress should also revive two portions of a House communications law rewrite that passed last year but ultimately died because the Senate never acted on the measure,Boucher said. One section would make it legal nationwide for local governments to offer their own broadband service. Dozens of cities are already rolling out such projects,but a number of states,including Pennsylvania,Texas and Virginia,have passed laws limiting or prohibiting such ventures in the future. "Government ought to be able to come in and fill the gap," particularly in rural areas where cable and telephone companies may be reluctant to spend the money to set up networks,Boucher said. Boucher said he was also confident that Congress could act swiftly on legislation requiring all network operators to offer customers the option of purchasing standalone Internet access services--that is,not just when bundled with telephone or other services. In addition to offering consumers more flexibility,such a policy could promote the growth of Internet phone services that ride on broadband pipes,Boucher said.

On Net neutrality,Boucher restated his support for legislation "to ensure the Internet remains open and accessible." He said he worried that if network operators are allowed to charge premium fees for faster delivery or other prioritization,promising start-ups will never have the chance to turn into the next Google or Yahoo. On the other hand,he indicated that he is sympathetic to one of the major arguments made by network operators opposed to Net neutrality regulations. That argument: Internet providers need the option of charging fees to support vast investments in their infrastructure. Some of Boucher's colleagues have already announced their intentions to act on Net neutrality legislation this year. Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) wasted no time in reintroducing a bill aimed at prohibiting discrimination by network operators,and Rep. Edward Markey,the new Democratic chairman of a key House Internet and telecommunications panel,has said he plans to hold hearings on the topic. Politicians must be cautious about how they proceed and seek a compromise among the warring players in the Net neutrality debate,Boucher said. "We can't advance content origination at the expense of network technology innovation," he said,"and these may be competing concerns as we draft a network neutrality provision." (By Anne Broache)

From http://news.com.com/ 01/31/2007

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CHINA: New Rule to Curb Internet IPR Breaches

A revised judiciary rule from the Supreme People's Court,which came into effect on Friday,bans reprinting Internet material without obtaining preliminary approval from the copyright holder. Under the previous judiciary rule implemented in 2003,websites that copied and re-posted Internet material did not infringe upon intellectual property right (IPR) laws so long as they identified the source of the material and paid IPR fees afterwards. "The revision is in line with international norms in the field. It is also compatible with a new Internet information communication regulation issued by the State Council and implemented this July," said Jiang Zhipei,president of the IPR Court at the Supreme People's Court. He added that the new regulation would likely lead to more IPR legal disputes. Now,anyone uploading text,sound and video recordings to the Internet for downloading,copying or other use,must acquire the permission of the copyright owner and pay the required fee.

The new regulation also sets a fine of up to 100,000 yuan (12,500 U.S. dollars) and confiscation of computer equipment for those who breach it. Both China's 1990 Copyright Law and 2001 amended version don't put specific stipulations on Internet media copyright protection. Many people approve of the new version of the judiciary rule,saying it will effectively protect the interests of copyright owners in the virtual world. However,some express concern the tightened control might create obstacles for the swift flow of information on the Internet. "The noted feature for Internet media is the real-time information flow,which has benefited millions of Internet users," said Wei Xiaomao,an Internet IPR observer. "But to obey the new rules means that people should first get in touch with the copyright holders,and seek their approval before getting the essays reprinted," which may cause long delays.

From http://www.chinaview.cn 12/09/2006

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China to Launch 3G Project Stably in 2007

China's telecommunication regulators will take various measures to ensure the steady launching of the 3G project in the country in 2007. Wang Xudong,minister of Information Industry (MII),made the remark at a recent tele-conference on national information industry. 3G refers to the third-generation mobile communication technology following the first generation of analog communication technology (1G) and second generation of mobile communication technology (2G). The most prominent feature of 3G phones,said experts,is that it provides not only a "communication tool",but also multimedia services in voice,data and video and wireless Internet access. China has promised to provide 3G services before Olympic 2008 in Beijing. Conditions are mature for China's 3G development after years of research and trials,Wang said. Experts believe that the MII will take this opportunity to regroup domestic telecommunication operators through 3G license issuance.

Encouraged by the imminent start of 3G program and possible merger or acquisition whereafter,the share price of China Unicom soared by 10 percent daily limit on the mainland market Wednesday,while China Netcom soared more than 30 percent in Hong Kong the same day. It is expected that the total value of telecommunication service on the Chinese mainland would amount to 1.87 trillion yuan (about 240 billion U.S.dollars) in 2007,a year-on-year growth of 23 percent,according to Wang.

From http://www.chinaview.cn 12/29/2006

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Publicity Head Stresses Role of Internet

The head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee,Liu Yunshan,has called on China's media organizations and government departments to improve the way they release information via the Internet. Liu referred to the Internet as an "important window through which the outside world can learn about China". All the major news websites and government websites should introduce Chinese issues to international society from different angles and update information in a timely manner,he said. Liu also said that in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games,an increasing number of art performances,exhibitions and cultural expos would be held for an overseas audience to learn about Chinese culture. He also urged Chinese tourists to obey local laws and regulations,respect local traditions and customs and be more civilized when traveling overseas. In this way he believes Chinese tourists can assist the spread of Chinese culture and project a positive image for the country.

From http://www.chinaview.cn 01/21/2007

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President Hu Jintao Asks Officials to Better Cope with Internet

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday called on government officials to promote and better regulate rapidly developing Internet services in China.Hu made the call at a study session of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China (CPC),saying officials should "actively and creatively nurture a healthy online culture" that meets public demand. The rapid development of the Internet in China has played an important role in spreading information,knowledge,and CPC's policies,and it has also raised new issues for the country's cultural development,Hu said. "Whether we can cope with the Internet is a matter that affects the development of socialist culture,the security of information,and the stability of the state," Hu said,asking officials to use the Internet as a platform to spread healthy information. Officials at all levels should facilitate the development of the Internet while improving the administration of web technologies,content and network security,said Hu.

Hu asked officials to become more knowledgeable and to improve their ability to administer the Internet. Hu said the government should use advanced technologies to better guide public opinions voiced through the Internet. "We should spread more information that is in good taste,and promote online products that can represent the grand Chinese culture," Hu said. He told officials to provide conditions for developing websites that carry "excellent content" and improve the delivery of information. China's Internet population jumped by almost 24 percent last year to reach 137 million,according to the China Internet Network Information Center. Nearly one in 10 Chinese have Internet access and many regularly go online to read news,chat with friends,shop,and engage in debates. Last year,Chinese Internet users spent a monthly average of 170 yuan (21.79 U.S. dollars) online,including the costs of Internet access,on-line shopping and games,compared with 150 yuan in 2005. The on-line consumer market expanded by 47 percent over the previous year,according to the China Internet Survey Report 2007 released this month.

The report also showed the number of Chinese bloggers reached 20.8 million at the end of last year,of whom 3.15 million are active authors. The rising number of bloggers also caused problems and disputes. In 2006,blog piracy,infringement and "irresponsible" publications prompted the government to commission a study on the implementation of real-name blogs. China Internet Association Councillor Hu Qiheng said the government was considering new ways to supervise blogs,requiring bloggers to identify themselves when they register,even if they write under a pseudonym. The Ministry of Culture in December ordered all music distributors to register and apply for approval from cultural authorities to distribute imported music products on the Internet. It also required online music based on music products copied or composed by netizens for non-profit purposes to be monitored more closely,saying some products had poor quality,or content that abused ethnic traditions or affected social stability.

From http://www.chinaview.cn 01/24/2007

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China's Digital Cable TV Operators Required Providing 6 Analog Channels

China's TV regulator the State Administration of Radio,Film and Television (SARFT) has required that all cable TV operators must provide at least six channels of analog programs for the public when they digitize their services. China is promoting digital cable Television in urban areas and 25 Chinese cities,including Qingdao,Hangzhou,Dalian,Shenzhen,Taiyuan,Nanjing and Nanning,have switched from analog cable TV to digital cable TV. Throughout the country digital cable TV subscribers have surpassed 12 million,according to SARFT. Recently,some cable TV users have complained that local cable TV operators had closed all the analog cable TV and that the charges for digital cable TV programs and the set-top box used to receive the digital cable TV signals are too high. In response to the complaints,the SARFT decided that all cable TV operators must have at least six analog channels available for users to choose,and the charges for digital TV must be cut for low-income families. China plans to replace the existing analog cable television with digital cable television in all the cities in its eastern and central regions and most of those in the western area by 2010,according to a national five-year (2006-2010) guideline on cultural development publicized on Sept. 13,2006.

From http://www.chinaview.cn 02/04/2007

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3T Net Passes the Acceptance Check

3TNet (high performance broadband information network),the major project in the field of information technology in the 10th Five-Year Plan,has passed the acceptance check organized by Information Technology Office of the 863 program on December 12,2006 in Shanghai. The 3TNet will firstly be put into demonstration in Ningbo,Shanghai and Hangzhou.

From http://www.most.gov.cn/ 12/22/2006

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JAPAN: Japan,Vietnam Agree to Boost Cooperation on IT

Japan and Vietnam agreed Monday to strengthen bilateral cooperation especially in the fields of information technology and broadcasting,Japanese officials said. The agreement was reached when Japanese Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshihide Suga met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi.

From http://www.japantoday.com/ 01/09/2007

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SOUTH KOREA: Ministry to Spend 467.3 Billion Won on IT Development

A total of 467.3 billion (approximately $470 million) will be injected in 2007 into developing original information technology (IT) and new IT-related growth engines. The greater part of the proposed budget will be invested in advancing technologies involving RFID (radio frequency identification),USN (ubiquitous sensor network),software and digital contents,while BcN (broadband convergence network) and home networking are likely to sustain a small-scale curtailment in subsidies. After discussing ways to further boost IT on Dec. 18 at the third IT839 meeting chaired by Minister Rho Jun-hyong this year,Information-Communication Ministry officials agreed to funnel a combined 467.3 billion won into developing new IT growth engines and original technology in the field in 2007. The ministry expects its technological development roadmap to bear tangible fruit next year,the fourth since the IT sector was first adopted as a new growth engine. The 30 Mbps (megabits per second)-grade,3rd-generation evolution system with connectivity 15 times as fast as the current WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access); RFID-enabled mobile handsets; and a giga-grade cable communications system that allows access to data service at a speed 20 times as fast as the current are predicted to be ready for full-fledged commercialization by then. The ministry plans to pour an additional 112 billion won into another 51 new projects aimed at turning Korea into a ubiquitous society around 2010.

The new projects call for advancing technologies involving WiBro (wireless broadband)-derived,a mobile defense-operational network,imaginative digital character-like organism creation,three-dimensional DMB (digital mobile broadcasting) that enables people to watch 3-D programs without 3-D glasses,projection input and output that surmounts related limitations of mobile handsets,and embedded software for airplanes. Judging that recently commercialized digital services like WiBro and DMB have seen slower-than-expected market expansion,the government will primarily focus on revving up the market and setting growth momentum,while proactively exploring ways to create greater demand,lure investment,and formulate a proper profit-making model. At the future Information-Communication Minister and Vice Minister-chaired IT839 meetings,the priority will be laid on the proper management of the project outcomes. The IT839-market survey slated for February 2007 will probe and publicize the outlooks for the market expansion between 2007 and 2010. Continuously complementing the 2007 information-communication developmental strategies as recommended by the Council on Information and Communications Policies,the ministry will finalize its "2007 Plan for Information-Communications Research and Development" by the end of the year and start implementing them early next year. In November,Oh Sang-rok replaced Song Jung-hee,who offered to step down last November,as the new IT policy consultant. Ahn Jae-min of Chungnam University was appointed the new mobile-communications project manager,while Soonchunhyang University Professor Youm Heung-youl is to lead information protection. The planning division will be headed by Lee Myung-ki,an Institute for Information Technology Advancement official.

From http://www.korea.net/ 12/21/2006

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Korea Plans to Spend over 100 Bil. This Year on Nurturing IT

Korea will spend more than 106.3 billion won ($113.3 million) this year on educating workers and students in the information technology (IT) sector,officials said Thursday (Feb. 1). The Ministry of Information and Communication said the investment plan is designed to provide a workforce that the nation's key growth engine,the IT sector,needs. To that end,the ministry said it will boost cooperation between business and academia in improving the quality of education programs while expanding support for college-led training projects for students.

From http://www.korea.net 01/10/2007

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MALAYSIA: Government Adopts Neutral Technology Platform Policy

SERI KEMBANGAN: The Government is adopting a neutral technology platform policy that does not favour either open-source (OSS) or proprietary software. The cabinet,said Science,Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis,has decided that government procurement policies will now be based on merit and not on platform choice. "We want to focus on the development of job creation and industry growth,and as such,would like to be neutral," he said. "The cabinet wants to encourage the further development of the local (IT) ecosystem with focus on value creation and it is up to the market to decide which platform they choose." In 2004,the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu) launched the Malaysian Open Source Software Master Plan with targets for open-source implementation within the public sector. The plan was coupled with a procurement policy stating: "In situations where advantages and disadvantages of OSS and proprietary software are equal,preference shall be given to OSS." "There has been a lot of negative reaction towards open source (from the IT market) and that's why (choosing) the technology platform should be neutral," said Jamaludin. Whichever technology platform you choose,he said,be it proprietary or open source,does not matter as long as good results are produced. "Platforms are tools and they should be neutral because in the end tools are just tools," said Jamaludin. The minister cited the example of a parang (machete) made from titanium and another made of stainless steel.

S"If you believe that you can do more using the titanium parang,then use the titanium parang," he said. And if the stainless steel parang serves you better,you should use that. "It's about choice. Let the market decide," he added. However,Jamaludin later told pressmen that the neutral technology platform policy does not void Mampu's Open Source Software Master Plan. "If the market sees value in it (the OSS Master Plan),then it will continue," he said. Jamaludin was speaking at a press conference during an "open house'hosted by his ministry at the Palace of Golden Horses here on Tuesday. Earlier,he officiated at the launch of Celcom Power Circle - a platform for local technopreneurs to nurture mobile-content development. Datuk Seri Shazalli Ramly,CEO of telco Celcom (Malaysia) Bhd,said the Power Circle would also act as a knowledge centre where developers will have the opportunity to develop their skills and gain additional market advantage. "We shall be part of all processes from A-Z. That means from idea generation to design,development,commercialisation and finally,to creating and developing a business," he said. He said the Power Circle offers a software-powered network,meaning that content developers would no longer need to depend on hardware. This would help lessen capital expenditure in delivering their products. Outstanding applications would be offered to Celcom customers,said Shazalli,adding that the solutions could also be "exported" to the more than 24.5 million mobile customers within parent company Telekom Malaysia's ventures.

From http://star-techcentral.com 11/22/2006

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Government Signals Crackdown on Bloggers

Reporters Without Borders voiced alarm that Malaysia could introduce repressive legislation on the Internet after Science and Technology Minister,Kong Cho Ha,said the government planned new rules to block its malicious use and prevent bloggers posting news jeopardising social harmony. "The government of Abdullah Badawi seems to want to impose on the Internet the same strict controls that it already applies to the press," the worldwide press freedom organisation said. "Malaysian bloggers currently enjoy an outspokenness denied to journalists in the traditional media. It is vital for the country's democratic life that the Internet is not pushed into self-censorship. " The minister made his statement at an event on 3 December 2006 organised by the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry,Malaysia (Pikom) in which he made clear his determination to regulate news put out by bloggers. "We are talking about creating cyber laws to control those who misuse the Internet," he said. "We need to have stricter cyber laws to prevent these bloggers from disseminating disharmony,chaos,seditious material and lies. We want our bloggers to be responsible." His statements were all the more surprising given that Internet regulation usually comes under the Energy,Water and Communications ministry. The government is also planning to get bloggers to register with the information ministry. Even though Kong Cho Ha admitted that the system would be difficult to apply,it could nevertheless push Malaysian bloggers daring to criticise the government to stop publishing or self-censor. The government frequently says that it does not impose any censorship on electronic media. However,in practice,harassment has been stepped up against the only independent online daily www.malaysiakini.com.my,and there has been an increase in threatening statements aimed at pushing its managers into self-censorship.

From http://www.categorynet.com 12/13/2006

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PHILIPPINES: CICT Set to Release Philippines'ICT Roadmap

THE COMMISSION on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) is set to release the country's information and communications technology roadmap,its chairman told INQ7.net right after convening the technical advisory committee to the Commission on Elections. CICT chairman Ramon Sales said the ICT roadmap,developed in collaboration with the private sector,is ready for distribution. But he admitted it does not contain the inputs from the civil society. Last month,the Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) convened a forum where they presented comments from various local civil society groups. During the forum,they said country's ICT roadmap has host of problems including policy framework,financing,inclusion of gender programs related to IT,market-driven activities,IT usage standards,conflicts in targets between President Gloria Arroyo's Medium-Term Development Plan and the ICT roadmap itself. The forum was organized to ensure that the ICT Roadmap will benefit all sectors of the society,pointing out the implications of using ICT in the community. In a telephone interview,FMA Executive Director Alan Alegre confirmed the news but clarified that he was aware of the tight schedule given to them to comment on the ICT roadmap. Alegre said the CICT chairman has engaged and assured the civil society group that the roadmap was a "work in progress."

He admitted disappointment,however,over the finalized ICT roadmap that excluded their inputs. Trish Abejo,chief of staff of office of the CICT chairman,said the inputs of the civil society came in late. The agency final copy of roadmap was done October,and was printed by end of November. "It was only yesterday however when the copies were delivered to us," she added. CICT plans to publish it on its website soon. The ICT roadmap outlines the country's ICT programs for the next five years until 2010. It covers current and future plans including the expansion of a national broadband Internet network,cost-effective PCs,ICT-enhanced education programs,human capital development and the e-Government Fund. The first draft of the ICT roadmap was presented in June 2006. In earlier interviews,Sales said that the Economic Modernization through Efficient Reforms and Governance Enhancement (Emerge),a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded group,is helping draft the new strategic ICT roadmap for the country. The new ICT roadmap updates the old roadmap developed by the defunct Information Technology and E-commerce Council in 2003. Former CICT chairman Virgilio Pe?a developed the ICT roadmap,which was passed on to Sales.

From http://archive.inquirer.net 12/13/2006

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GSIS to Clarify E-Card Policy During Retirees'Assembly

THE Government Service Insurance System will be one of the guests of the Central Visayas Association for Volunteer Effort (CVAVE) Inc.,during its assembly on Dec. 15 at the Fisherman's Net,Lahug,Cebu City. GSIS will clarify issues on the payment of benefits to members through e-card,which was questioned by retirees and members of CVAVE residing in municipalities and areas where there are no megalinks. Other speakers include Social Security System (SSS) representative to talk on updates on benefits condonation of SSS loans penalty and other issues. Patricio Gabuya,DILG director of Cebu City,will discuss the joint memorandum circular of the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Social Welfare and Development authorizing local government units to allocate and utilize one percent of their Internal Revenue Allotment for programs and services for older persons. On the other hand,retired Bureau of Food and Drug chief Ester Jimenez will talk on traditional medicines for common illnesses of the elderly and touch therapy to relax the muscles of older persons. CVAVE president Martiniana Mercado is inviting all GSIS retirees to attend the assembly. Giveaways and gifts will be distributed to all participants and valuable gifts shall be raffled off. The registration fee is P200.

From http://archive.inquirer.net/ 12/14/2006

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Lower-cost RP Internet Exchange Proposed

A non-profit organization and government are pushing an initiative to encourage more network operators in the country to connect to a common Philippine Internet exchange to lower cost of Internet traffic. The Philippine Network Operators Group (PHNOG) and the Advance Science Technology Institute (ASTI) of the Department of Science and Technology have started setting up the Philippine common Internet exchange,dubbed PHOpenIX,according to PHNOG founder and APNIC Pty. Ltd. training officer Amante Alvaran,in an e-mail interview. The PHOpenIX is currently managed and operated by ASTI,a research and development arm of the DOST. Alvaran said both organizations are now inviting network operators to connect to the local Internet exchange,which supports both IP version 4 (IPv4) and IP version 6 (IPv6) Internet protocols. IPv6 is an improved version of the former. Essentially,IPv6 allows the creation of more Internet addresses and improves data security. He disclosed that PHNOG has conducted meetings with stakeholders late last year with different Internet service providers and telecommunications companies,with help from Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT) chairman Ramos Sales. The PHOpenIX is also supported by international organizations like Cisco and Packet Clearing House in the United States,and Consulintel (IPv6 firm in Europe),he said. CICT has previously discussed plans to push IPv6 adoption in the country. "That was the first effort to invite them to join the IX [Internet Exchange]," he added,noting that there are some existing guidelines available online for network operators to join the local Internet exchange.

Asked how the local Internet exchange can make "traffic cheaper," Alvaran said it is best to understand the existing international bandwidth cost compared to local bandwidth cost. Citing the example of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Innove (Globe Telecom),he said Internet traffic goes out of the country via SingTel (Singapore Telecom) then back to Philippines whenever they access a rival's network. This is currently the situation in the country because the Philippine Internet exchange link "is not working as expected due to congested link and an expensive local link (to connect with PHIX) plus the limited bandwidth upgrade option," Alvaran explained. PHNOG is hoping IPv6 adoption in the Philippines will improve under this initiative. Meanwhile,Alvaran said PHNOG is involved in efforts efforts educate and help build more knowledge on Internet technologies. The group has been conducting workshops and trainings as part of its other mandate to educate the local community.

From http://archive.inquirer.net/ 01/12/2007

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THAILAND: ASC to Probe Thaksin Government's Telecoms Policy

Critics say policy weakened state agencies'competitveness. The Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) yesterday agreed to investigate a policy initiated by the deposed Thaksin Shinawatra government which critics say deprived two state telecoms agencies of huge revenues and weakened their competitiveness. ASC spokesman Sak Korsaengruang said the ASC agreed to probe a Feb 11,2003 cabinet resolution which approved the imposition of excise tax on telecoms businesses causing damage to TOT Plc and CAT Telecom Plc. The cabinet resolution allowed for an executive decree to be issued to force telecoms businesses to pay the excise tax. At the same time,it let private companies contracted to the two state agencies deduct the tax from the revenue-sharing they already have to pay under the concession. Therefore three telecom operators,Advanced Info Service (AIS),DTAC and True Move,paid the same amounts they used to pay to TOT and CAT. But the two state agencies received less revenue because they allocated part of the revenue as the companies'excise tax. Employee unions of the two agencies last week called on the ASC to investigate the matter.

Telecoms expert Somkiat Tangkijvanich of the Thailand Development and Research Institute (TDRI) said the cabinet resolution caused the two state agencies to lose more than 40 billion baht in revenue. Critics say the policy also weakened the competitiveness of the agencies,which also run businesses of the same kind as the private companies. Mr Sak said the ASC agreed to assign Banjerd Sinkhanethi and Kaewson Athipothi to take charge of forming a sub-panel to investigate the policy. The current finance and ICT ministers plan to propose to the cabinet next week a reduction of the excise tax for telecoms businesses to 0%. Meanwhile,the ASC has expanded its scope of investigation into the procurement of 26 CTX bomb scanners for Suvarnabhumi airport to include the related baggage handling system. Mr Sak said. Pol Gen Sombat Amornwiwat,director-general of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI),yesterday testified to the ASC that the DSI had not withheld any findings on the scanners.

from http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/ 12/14/2006

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INDIA: Hughes Plans to Set Up 1000 Rural ICT Kiosks

US based software Development Company,Hughes Network Systems is planning to set to 1000 rural ICT kiosks within next three years in India. The company is working with Reliance to establish its centres in India. According to Pradman P. Kaul,president and chief executive of the company,the company is planning to set 1000 rural kiosks,which would be basically focused on education,teaching aids and rural banking. Initially company will invest INR 100,000 to set up satellite terminal in a village. The company has signed an agreement with IT giant Microsoft to offer various kinds of IT service in rural India. Broadband satellite is more popular for distant learning in India.

From India News 01/15/2007

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State Govt. Releases Draft IT Policy in Kerala,India

Kerala State Government has released the Draft IT policy to upgrade the productivity,skill and knowledge levels of the citizens of Kerala,India. Under the proposal,the establishment of an International Centre for Free Software and Computing for Development,ITES Training Centre (in Kochi) and extension of Internet to all educational institutions and villages by 2010. Government is planning to set about 3000 broadband enabled information hubs,named Akshaya e-Centres in different states of the state. The State Government will support and expand Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram and Infopark in Kochi on its own accord and in partnership with private infrastructure providers. Government will focus on e-Governance,free software and development of appropriate technologies. The State will network with national and international organisations and industry for research and development in ICT and knowledge sharing. The policy is mainly focused on Free and Open Source Software (FOSS),which would be used in e-Governance projects. Open standards like Unicode and Open Document Format and Open Architectures would be followed in e-Governance projects to avoid total dependence on select vendors. The Government has proposed to develop the State as the FOSS destination in the country. It will provide special incentives to companies developing FOSS. The Government will make use of all the media tools and emerging technologies to ensure proper communication between the Government and the citizen. The Government will promote the use of Web sites,e-mails and other news communication facilities in various Government and semi-Government organisations.

From Hindu on Net 01/22/2007

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RBI Plans to Offer Banking Services with SIM Cards

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is planning to offer bundles of banking services with mobile telephone SIM card. This initiative will push branch banking into the background with rural banking going mobile. This (SIM card) will function as a multi-application smart card,with some cash stored in it,in the form of e-Cash. Deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI),V Leeladhar,has urged banks and financial institutions to co-operate on the ICT front. He urged that automated teller machines (ATMs) would be set up in rural areas. ICT can provide accessibility,availability and affordability in the delivery of rural credit.

From Economic Times 02/06/2007

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Govt. Plans to Implement ICT Policy in Puducherry India

The Puducherry (India) Government is planning to implement its information technology policy. Soon the government is planning to form a committee on e-Governance in the Union Territory. Recently,the government has launched an electronic tendering system in the Union Territory. The Governemnt is also planning to establish 1000 citizen information centers. These centers will provide the facility to pay all government bills and provide public information.

From The Business Line 02/08/2007

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E-Logistics,TCS,Indian Railways Plan to Develop Software to Track Trains Online

Chennai (India) based company; e-Logistics has joined with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS),IIT Kanpur and Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO),Lucknow to develop Satellite Imaging Software for Rail Navigation (SIMRAN). SIMRAN project will enable tracking trains on the Internet. The cost of the project is INR 24 million,which will involve global positioning system-based rail network mapping and train tracking and wireless connectivity. e-Logistics would be in the front end,TCS would provide the back end support. IIT-Kanpur has fully mapped the Indian Railways. Indian Railways has signed an agreement with e-Logistics in Lucknow. SIMRAN involves a simple implementation of the geo-positioning system,GSM and radio frequency-based instrumentation. Once the train passes through a station,the information is sent to GSM/GPRS network and later to the Internet through SIMRAN Web server. The system would monitor every train in a certain geographical boundary for its location,speed and the direction of movement.

From The Business Line 02/09/2007

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India Plans to E-Connect 20 African Countries

India is planning to make the Pan-African e-Network operational to provide several IT solutions like tele-education and tele-medicine in Africa. India is taking initiative with association of African countries. The President of India,A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has made an offer to set up a Pan-African e-Network,while addressing the inaugural session of the Pan-African Parliament in 2004. He told that e-Network would provide e-Connectivity to all the 53 countries of Africa and also connect all the heads of state of the Pan-African countries. This e-Network will enable India to assist these countries in the field of IT for providing at least one hub in each of the African countries through which various e-Services like tele-education,tele-medicine and e-Governance. Pan-African e-Network project brings together the terrestrial network between India and Africa through the international undersea fibre cable network and also the African satellite network services. The African universities and super specialty hospitals will also use this network to provide services and content.

From http://www.egovonline.net/ 02/09/2007

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Bank of India Will Establish E-Grama Centres in Karnataka (India)

The Bank of India will launch its e-Grama centres in seven districts of Karnataka (India) by financing about 1,500 centres through reputed NGOs. e-Grama centres or rural IT kiosks will be established in the districts of Bidar,Haveri,Chitradurga,Gulbarga,Tumkur,Bangalore Rural and Bijapur. The kiosks will be made Internet enabled. Bank of India's thrust will be on priority sector including agriculture,retail lending,SME,exports and infrastructure financing.

From http://www.egovonline.net/ 02/19/2007

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NEPAL: Government Prepares E-Governance Master Plan

The Nepal Government has prepared e-Government master plan to create effective and productive e-Government through the application of ICT. The Ministry of Environment,Science and Technology (MoEST) has prepared the plan with the technical assistance of Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency (KIPA). The plan will take place in 3 stages of ICT development by 2011. The plan is divided in three phases; 'As is analysis,''To be model'and 'Establishment Plan'. The master plan is strongly recommended in building infrastructure and human resources development. The first phase of the plan is related with ICT policies and laws. The plan also includes online-processing of administrative procedure,knowledge based government,saving of time,continuous service oriented process reform and systematic flow of information,drastic reduction of paper work,online processing of international trading,and logistics and enterprise undertaking/operating services. The South Korean government provided US$2 million to prepare the plan. According to the document,Nepal will introduce an ICT-related curriculum for secondary education,expand provision of e-Learning,provide ICT training for bureaucrats,introduce an Informatisation Village and improve computer literacy.

From http://www.i4donline.net/ 12/13/2006

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Nepal Plans to Become E-Nepal

The 13 CAN Info Tech,an exhibition on information technology has been held with a motto of "New Nepal: E-Nepal" at Birendra International Convention Center (BICC),Kathmandu on January 9,2007. The exhibition has given stressed on the need of promoting promoting e-learning,Distant Learning,Open University,Telemedicine,e-commerce in the country. Nepal Govt. is also working on e-Governance Master Plan (EGMAP) with the support of Korean government. The Govt. is also making path for e-Governance with the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank. According to Vice-Chairman of Information Technology High Level Commission,Saroj Raj Devkota,Nepal can also become hub for IT like India and China.

From http://www.egovonline.net/news/ 01/10/2007

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AZERBAIJAN: Telecommunication Ministry Prepares Proposals on Tax and Custom Legislation

Ali Abbasov,Azerbaijan Telecommunication and IT Minister,said during the meeting of the parties to the Caspian Integration Business Club that the Azerbaijan Telecommunication and IT Ministry is preparing proposals on alterations to be moved to the tax and customs legislation of the Country. According to him,the packages of proposals are being prepared within the project on the foundation of a regional innovation zone in Azerbaijan. "Our objective is to achieve foreign investors to the implementation of the project,which might be implemented first of all with the introduction of customs and tax privileges," said the Minister. At the same time,a special working group is currently occupied with studying the international experience in founding such centers. The selection of the consulting company was also conducted. An American consulting company,Booz Allen Hamilton won the selection.

The project on foundation of a regional innovation zone envisages the installation of techno parks to develop small-scale and medium-sized innovation entrepreneurship,foundation of a regional base on production and export of electronic equipment and software,turning the country into an advantageous transit information centre (Data Centre),preparation and development of human resources for the forming information society,as well as introduction of ICT in other fields. If the project is implemented,Azerbaijan,including the whole Caspian Region will further the development of entrepreneurship. New jobs will become available. All that will bring economic growth.

From http://www.bakutoday.net/ 02/16/2007

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IRAQ: Government Closes Iraqi Television Station

The Iraqi Interior Ministry on January 1 ordered the closure of the Al-Sharqiyah television station after accusing it of reporting false news and inciting violence,international media reported the same day. Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier Abd al-Karim al-Khalaf said the government has ordered that the television station be closed indefinitely. "We have warned them many times not to broadcast any false news that would increase tension in Iraq," he said. During coverage of Hussein's execution,Al-Sharqiyah's newscasters wore mourning clothes and referred to him as the "president." Conversely,on state-run Al-Iraqiyah television,Hussein was described as a "tyrant" and a "criminal." Asked if Al-Sharqiyah's coverage of Hussein's execution led to the station's closure,al-Khalaf said,"In the last three days if you watch their channel you can see they are leading people to violence and increasing sectarian tension." SS

From http://www.rferl.org/ 01/03/2007

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KAZAKHSTAN: Technological Development Strategy to Be Worked Out

A strategy of technological development is going to be worked out in Kazakhstan. Serik Begimbetov,president of the centre of engineering and transfer of technologies,has stated this today,January 22,at an international conference on results of studies of Kazakhstan's technological development,Kazakhstan Today correspondent reports. "The Ministry of Industry and Commerce in the nearest future will start to work out a strategy of technological development. The document will become a critical condition for the beginning of scientific and technological reforms suggested to be carried out in the nearest future," - he has said. The centre of engineering and transfer of technologies also presented at the conference a preliminary report on the current condition of the national technological science. "This study has been carried out in order to start developing a strategy of technological development already this year," - Diaz Myrzakoja,vice president of the centre has added.

According to Mr. Myrzakoja,the studies were carried out in seven technological areas: metallurgy,machine engineering,construction materials,nanotechnologies,IT,biotechnology,and petrochemical industry. The studies embraced around 200 industrial ventures and more than 50 scientific organisations from all regions. Besides,an audit of the current condition of the procurement basis for the scientific studies and experimental design works and of the level of co-operation between science and industry in Kazakhstan was carried out with the assistance of the Ministry of Education and Science. Experts from the Cambridge University and the Science Foundation Ireland participated in the studies as well. "The results of the studies will be presented on 29 January at a meeting of the supreme scientific-technical commission headed by PM Karim Massimov," - Mr. Myrzakoja concluded.

From http://eng.gazeta.kz/ 01/22/2007

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UZBEKISTAN: ICTP,Tashkent University Issues Manual on IT

ICT Policy (ICTP) project of the UN Development Programme in Uzbekistan and Tashkent University of Information Technologies published manual on information technologies (IT) entitled "Akhborot Tekhnologiyalari" (Information Technologies). The ICTP said the manual is result of the cooperation of the project and Tashkent university in development of modern manuals and training of specialists. The aim of the book is to assist in deepening knowledge in modern information technologies,role of IT in organization,modern network technologies and programming methods. The book consists of 12 chapters and it covers three directions of information technologies,including information systems,computer network and structure of database. The manual designed for students of universities,colleges and lyceums. The book was published with 1,000 copies and it will be circulated among libraries of Tashkent University of Information Technologies and its regional branches.

From http://news.uzreport.com/ 02/22/2007

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AUSTRALIA: Rule Change for Fan Phone-Cams

AUSTRALIANS can take their video mobile phones into concerts without fear of criminal sanctions,the federal Government has announced. Under amendments to federal copyright laws announced today,it will no longer be a criminal offence to take a devices capable of audio-visual recording to a live entertainment venue and record the performance without permission. The announcement outlined the federal Government's response to a Senate committee report which had recommended changes to the Copyright Amendment Bill,2006. The committee recommended that the government reduce the scope of the sections of the legislation pertaining to recording devices so that "ordinary Australians" were not affected. In a statement detailing the changes,law firm Minter Ellison said: "The federal Government accepted the committee's recommendation that laws controlling the use of recording devices be eased." However,the government had yet to take a position on the development of guidelines that would steer the "strict liability" provisions that governed copyright,nor had it indicated how it would communicate the new laws to the public,the company said. While easing laws governing live performances,the federal Government refused to back down on parts of the legislation that outlaw the use of "mod-chips",which let gaming enthusiasts modify consoles including Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation,so that they play illegal copies of game titles. The committee had recommended changes to legislation's definition of Technical Protection Measure,upon which the legality mod-chips hinged,but the recommendation was rejected.

From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 11/30/2006

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'Ipod'Law Passed

THOUSANDS of Australians who use iPods and other digital music players will no longer be acting illegally after a major overhaul of copyright laws passed parliament today. The government reviewed copyright laws in response to the rise in digital technology and following the signing of a free trade agreement with the United States. Copying of compact discs is widespread but technically an offence under the old laws. Major changes under the new laws make it legal for people to transfer their CD collections to computers or iPods,but toughen penalties for pirates. Attorney General Philip Ruddock said the reforms would also make it legal for people to record and play back television and radio programs at home,and provide new exceptions for cultural institutions such as schools and libraries to use copyright material for non-commercial purposes. The Copyright Amendment Bill 2006 would also facilitate the availability of new films,music and software on line,he said,and introduce new enforcement measures such as on-the-spot fines and proceeds of crime remedies to tackle copyright piracy. "It will legalise format shifting of materials such as music,newspapers,books,meaning that people can put their CD collection onto iPods or mp3 players," Mr Ruddock said. Labor supported the legislation after the government backed down on several key provisions including one that would have allowed iPod owners who kept spare copies of songs on their personal computer to be prosecuted.

Mr Ruddock said amendments introduced in the Senate,which the House of Representatives agreed to today,demonstrated the government had listened to stakeholders and the Senate committee charged with reviewing the legislation. In particular,the amendments make the ordinary use of digital music players legal and target enforcement measures to acclivities that commercially harm copyright owners. Labor's legal affairs spokeswoman Nicola Roxon said she was delighted the government had made the significant changes recommended in the senate committee report and endorsed by Labor. "We were particularly worried about the strict liability provisions and I think the regime that is now in place will be a more sensible one," she said. "We do have some reservations about the overall approach taken but we agree... the difficulty in copyright is always the balancing act," she said. Ms Roxon said it was important to make sure creative industries were supported and consumers were protected. The changes will come into affect after the bill receives royal assent,which is expected to occur before Christmas.

From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 12/06/2006

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ACCC Issues Discussion Paper on Licences for New Digital Television Services

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today issued a discussion paper seeking stakeholders'views on the access regime that will apply to 'Channel B',one of the two licences for new digital television services that will be made available by the government next year. Possible uses for Channel B include mobile television and new services to in-home digital television sets. Firms must have lodged an access undertaking that has been accepted by the ACCC before being eligible to participate in the allocation process for Channel B. The allocation process itself will be managed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. "The ACCC is seeking stakeholder input on the optimal way to ensure the access regime for Channel B enables effective competition between access seekers and the channel B licensee",ACCC Chairman,Mr Graeme Samuel,said today. "It will be important to minimise any scope for the licensee to frustrate the provision of access." "The ACCC will be responsible for assessing access undertakings submitted by potential bidders for Channel B. Following the allocation of the licence to the successful bidder,the ACCC will have an ongoing role in overseeing the access regime,including any subsequent variations of the undertaking. "Potential bidders for either licence should also note that they may need to request clearance from the ACCC under s. 50 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 prior to the allocation of the licences." The discussion paper is available on the ACCC website (see link below). Interested stakeholders are requested to make submissions by 5 February 2007. Details of the submission process can be found in the discussion paper.

From http://www.accc.gov.au/ 12/15/2006

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Ruddock Holds Firm on SMS Tap Laws

ATTORNEY-GENERAL Philip Ruddock has snubbed a state call to change federal laws to make it easier for police to access mobile text messages during riots,instead urging reliance on good basic police work. NSW Police Minister John Watkins said changes last year to the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act,requiring police to know the identity or mobile number of the SMS sender before they can obtain a stored communications warrant,had made it harder to intercept text messages. Before the legislative changes,police could use a NSW search warrant to request phone companies search SMS data,as they did after the Cronulla riot when text messages were used to organise rioters and the subsequent revenge attacks. Police can no longer use NSW search warrants in this way,Mr Watkins said today. He said the new laws were "impractical",and called on Mr Ruddock to create an exemption for Cronulla riot-like public disturbances. "This new warrant system is impractical in serious public disorder situations like Cronulla or the brawl between Serbs,Croats and Greeks at the Australian Open tennis in Melbourne where text messages were used to rally troublemakers," Mr Watkins said. "It's imperative that this exemption is granted for law enforcement agencies." Mr Ruddock said NSW Police already had sufficient powers to tap text messages. Any extra powers would be an unacceptable invasion of privacy,he said.

"Mr Watkins is advocating that ... every single person in the state should have their mobile messages examined by police,whether or not they have committed or have been associated with a crime," Mr Ruddock said. Mr Watkins said that at the time the interception was needed the identity of the person was "most likely unknown",so a warrant would not be granted. The new laws also meant vital information was lost,because carriers usually deleted SMS content within 24 hours,and increased the workload on police,he said. "This change poses a significant threat to the way police do their job in a riot or similar situation," Mr Watkins said. "During the Cronulla riots and retaliatory attacks,police were able to quickly access messages which incited violence and racial hatred. "More than 270,000 SMS messages were obtained from carriers and analysed. It was only then that the names of those involved and their service numbers could be determined. "By accessing messages without the knowledge of the sender or receiver,police were able to arrest those who were inciting violence or about to commit crimes." But Mr Ruddock said "good basic police work" in the event of a Cronulla riot-like event would quickly identify suspects linked to text messages. "That could provide a basis for lawful access to other messages connected with the alleged offence," Mr Ruddock said. The federal government would,however,examine the issue of how long text messages were kept,he said.

From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 01/23/2007

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Bill Would Require Sex Offenders to Register Online Information

Social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook would have access to a database of sex offenders for checking names and addresses against public profiles under a bill introduced Tuesday in Congress. The legislation,aimed at giving computer network operators the knowledge and ability to remove sexual predators from their sites,would require convicted sex offenders to register their e-mail addresses and other online identifiers with federal authorities. The information would not be released to the public. Adults who misrepresent their age to a minor with the intent of sexually abusing a child could be prosecuted and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. "Lately,online predation is the method of choice for too many sexual predators," said Sen. Charles Schumer,D-N.Y. "We have to plug the online loophole." The bill defines "social networking" sites in broad terms _ a website that allows users to create public profiles and communicate with other users _ and could include popular destinations like Amazon.com,which allows shoppers to make personal pages and discuss items for sale. News Corp.'s MySpace,one of the most popular social networking sites,is backing the measure. "Our laws need to change with the times," said MySpace safety czar Hemanshu Nigam. "We're committed to making our corner of the Internet a safer and better lit neighborhood so that all of our users can feel and actually be safer."

Earlier this month,four families sued News Corp. after their daughters were sexually abused by adults they met on the site,alleging negligence,recklessness,fraud and negligent misrepresentation by the companies. In December,MySpace announced a plan to develop technologies designed to help block convicted sex offenders by checking profiles against government registries. Requiring registrations of e-mail addresses would make matching easier. There are more than 550,000 registered sex offenders in the United States. They are already required to register their physical whereabouts with the federal government. The new law could be difficult to enforce _ convicted sex offenders could easily use a computer at an Internet cafe to create an anonymous e-mail account and use it to register on a social networking site,for example _ but the bill would make doing so a crime.

From http://www.theage.com.au/ 01/31/2007

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ISPs Will Play Ball on Speeds

SOME of Australia's top internet providers say they will review their advertising practices after the competition regulator moved to stop them misleading consumers shopping around for broadband services. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced that it had given internet providers instructions for complying with trade practices laws when advertising broadband services. The instructions were included in an information paper published by the ACCC and delivered to ISPs today. Head of regulatory and legal with Australia's third largest ISP iiNet,Steve Dalby,said t the company would review its use of the terms 'up to 24Mbps'when advertising its ADSL2+ broadband products "It's prompted us to review with this set of guidelines on the table at the same time rather than trying to second-guess what is acceptable and what isn't acceptable which is where we were until we got these guidelines," Mr Dalby said. South Australian ISP Internode also said that it would review its broadband advertising practices to ensure compliance with the ACCC's guidelines. A Telstra spokesman said that the carrier supported the ACCC's position. Telstra,which advertises speeds up to 20Mbps for its ADSL2+ service,said the carrier was "dismayed" that rivals were advertising the technology's theoretical maximum. "We've only had time for a brief look,but fundamentally we welcome it because we absolutely agree with giving customers accurate,not misleading,information on likely performance of their service," the spokesman said.

ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said the paper would prevent consumers being misled about internet speeds advertised by some ISPs. "The ACCC is concerned that ISPs are using 'hypothetical'speeds when these speeds are just that ¨C available to the hypothetical consumer and not necessarily the real world consumer," Mr Samuel said. The ACCC began warning ISPs not to publish misleading advertisements for broadband services in October. The regulator's warning coincided with increase in advertising for high-speeds 3G mobile data and broadband ADSL2+ services. The ADSL2+ advertisements promised consumers broadband services at speeds up to 24Mbps. ADS2+ however is only able to sustain the speeds of around 20Mbps in cases where customers are located within half a kilometre of their local exchange. At the time Mr Samuel warned ISPs that the regulator would not be lenient with them if consumer complaints were upheld,saying that claims by carriers and ISPs were "exaggerated". Internode managing director Simon Hackett said that ACCC should focus its efforts on tackling more challenging cases of consumer fraud in the retail realm.

"I personally feel that the ACCC is not necessarily solving the largest problems in terms of advertising messages in this realm with this paper or this general thrust," Mr Hackett said. He contended that consumers in general are highly familiar with the term 'Up To',and said that it was "in some ways it seems somewhat disingenuous to presume otherwise." "Our own evidence,in terms of the very small number of TIO complaints that our organisation has fielded in the last 18 months,is that precisely none of them were related to any misunderstanding or implied misunderstanding about the notion that our ADSL2+ services offered the best possible result on each given consumers'line - or that those results varied by line," Mr Hackett said. Mr Dalby said that iiNet was grateful that the industry had clear guidelines for advertising broadband services. "One of the things we're quite happy with I guess is the ACCC has gone to some trouble with this particular issue to get some clarity,so we think it's great that the industry has now got something to work with," Mr Dalby said.

From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 01/31/2007

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Document Collaboration Inefficiencies Waste Up to 25% of Staff Time: Butler Group

A new report by Europe's leading IT research and advisory organisation Butler Group argues that employees spend up to 25 per cent of their working day on non-productive,document collaboration related tasks. The report,Document Collaboration,goes on to say that organisations risk a great deal more than poor business performance by not managing the production of their high value business documents,and that the time has come for document collaboration to move on from simple intra-company collaborative exchanges to more sophisticated inter-company collaborative experiences. "Organisations are now looking to extend the reach and range of their Document Collaboration capabilities in order to support high-value,low-overhead joint ventures and collaborative commercial undertakings",says Richard Edwards,Butler Group's senior research analyst and co-author of the report. "However,technology issues,business constraints,and information formats combine to make the job of Document Collaboration a much more arduous one than it should be."

Butler Group maintains that the business value of any collaborative endeavour is embodied within the business value of the end-product. "In the ultra-competitive 'new world of work',document collaboration tools and technologies must support,encourage,and facilitate high-value interactions in a manner that ensures information confidentiality,integrity,and accessibility." says Sue Clarke,another co-author of the report and senior research analyst at Butler Group. A common business function links all organisations: document collaboration "Documents,in whatever format they may exist,are an integral part of every business and institution,and organisations that cannot manage the production of documents effectively and efficiently risk a great deal more than poor business performance." says the report's third co-author,Sarah Burnett,senior research analyst at Butler Group. "Organisations cannot exist without documents,and therefore the efficacy with which documents are created,revised,and published should be of utmost importance to business managers."

Despite disappointments of the past,organisations have not yet given up on the quest for the perfect solution to aid collaboration. Business managers continue to seek out new means by which that most expensive of all human corporate resources ¨C ie the information worker ¨C can become more efficient,effective,and productive. At the start of the decade,corporate IT managers were focusing on internal corporate collaboration solutions,content management,and Web conferencing products,and as a result the enterprise content management (ECM) market sprang forth. Today,however,senior managers are looking for ways to reduce the excessive cost and complexity of high-level business interactions,and those scenarios relating to Document Collaboration in particular. Butler Group estimates the size of the global Document Collaboration segment of the ECM market to be $586 million in 2007. There are many overlapping technologies within the Content Management market that address the collaborative document production process,and based on figures produced by parent company Datamonitor,Butler Group estimates that the global market for Document Collaboration solutions will be worth nearly $800 million by the end of 2010.

The analysis presented within Butler Group's report suggests that this is still an immature sector of the software industry,and that new entrants to the market are very likely over the next 12 months. For this very reason,the report contains profiles of over 20 vendors offering ancillary products,technologies,and services relevant to this topic. Microsoft looks set to do battle with ECM vendors in order to become the Document Collaboration platform provider of choice. Whilst competition to dominate the collaboration market intensifies amongst large players such as Microsoft and the ECM vendors,Butler Group believes that disruptive solutions based on Peer-to-Peer (P2P) functionality and new Web-based technologies will force both vendors and organisations to re-think their strategies over the coming year. Sarah Burnett sums-up Butler Group's view by saying,"Document Collaboration functionality will continue to be componentised over the next 24 months,allowing easy integration with Line-Of-Business systems and Enterprise Applications. In the meantime,however,more standards will emerge to improve collaboration functionality amongst products."

From http://www.domain-b.com/ 01/16/2007

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Public Sector IT Spend to Surge in 2007: Report

The report from research house IDC's public sector subsidiary Government Insights also predicts that the standardisation of IT will heavily influence state investments. "The government market,with over USD150 billion targeted for technology spending in 2007,is among the top three vertical industries worldwide," said Teresa Bozzelli,chief operating officer and managing director of Government Insights. "With a USD9.1 billion dollar increase in technology investments from 2006 to 2007 and a compound annual growth rate projected at 4.1 percent through 2010,this is both a high-value and high-growth industry that is typically less volatile that many other IT industry markets." Although it will differ according to region,the research indicates that this trend towards consolidation will be driven by the desire to reduce operational costs,improve service delivery and therefore increase government value. Countries such as the US,for example,will have its technology budget come under increased scrutiny in the next budget cycle,as Bozzelli predicts priorities change after forthcoming elections. Other predictions from the report posit information sharing and interoperability will help improve governments'service delivery,while also generating a demand for new business and decision-making models that will maximise the value of IT. New procurement models and strategic sourcing strategies will also be created by governments,as collaborative business processes influence public bodies and how they work. "Each technology program must be defined,justified,managed,and measured within the context of citizen-centric,value creation," said Bozzelli. "Governments will pursue standardisation and consolidation to maximise value from these efforts. Vendors must increase their understanding of government interoperability as it evolves,as well as the appropriate technologies,services,and partnering strategies that will help governments achieve this universal government priority." (by Ciara O'Brien)

From http://www.enn.ie/ 01/30/2007

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NORTH AMERICA: US Study Ranks Over 11,000 Government Websites

E-Government Trend Report,just issued by the National Policy Research Council (NPRC),presents an analysis of all known U.S. official state and local government Web sites. The study finds the state of Michigan has the best official Web site in the country in 2006 after conducting individual analyses on more than 11,000 official government Web sites for 25 key e-government features and practices.

Robert McArthur,former head of government organization research at the U.S. Census Bureau,led the study for NPRC. According to McArthur,all of the highest-ranked Web sites did a good job presenting and organizing information and in providing services across several broad categories. The study accessed and graded each Web site according to its performance on more than two dozen features within and across these categories. Measured features include: Web site navigation aids; home page content and links; handicapped accessibility options; Web site outreach via foreign language translations,e-surveys or comment forms; legislative,mapping and socio-economic statistical information; online payment options for taxes and services; online business and/or construction permit options; online procurement information and transactions,and,government job listings and online job applications.

Michigan's Web site achieved a perfect score. Runners-up among the states include Idaho and Indiana. Best Web sites of counties and cities over 250,000 population are those of Montgomery County,Md.; Fresno,Calif.; Tampa,Fla.; and New Orleans. Web sites of many medium-sized counties,cities and townships (those between 50,000 and 250,000 population) also scored well. The top five among these are York County,Va.; Huntsville,Ala.; Chandler,Ariz.; Augusta,Ga.; and Beaverton,Ore. Web sites of smaller governments generally rank lower because most have fewer e-government features. Nevertheless,Web sites of several localities under 50,000 population stood out. These include Gloucester County,Va.; Teton County,Wyo.; Palm Coast,Fla.; Port Orange,Fla.; Biddeford,Maine; Ashland,Ohio; and Tigard,Ore.

The study found that 11,227 out of 39,037 state and local governments surveyed -- just 29 percent -- had an official government Web site online in 2006. However,every state and nearly all large cities and counties have one. County Web sites serve roughly 92 percent of the population residing in counties; similarly,city Web sites serve about 92 percent of the population residing in cities. About 60 percent of township residents are served by a township Web site.

From http://www.public-cio.com/ 11/29/2007

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ASIA: UAE Dubai E-Governance Draws Bold Strategy for 2007

Dubai e-government's e-services director,Salem Al Shair has unveiled Dubai e-governments bold mission for year 2007 at the International Conference on Technology (ICT),Cairo. The government is planning enhance the delivery of public services to the region by announcing 90% of all government services will be available by the end of this year. Dubai e-Government is displaying its portfolio of e-Services to the upper level of the Middle Eastern business community. Government is promoting the development of e-Governance throughout the region. The e-Governance system translates directly into good governance,developing a transparent relationship between citizens and governments where there is no place for corruption or ineffectiveness. Through Dubai e-Government's comprehensive web portal,citizens,residents,visitors and business enterprises can access more than 2,000 electronic services,including payment of traffic fines,payment of Municipality fees,applying for visas for friends and relatives,renewing health cards,company registration,among others. Government is planning to multi-channel approach of the initiative encompasses four broad elements,including the web portal,www.dubai.ae; the mobile portal,http://mobile.dubai.ae; mDubai,the mobile channel for communication with government departments via SMS,and the bilingual call centre,AskDubai.

From http://i4donline.net/ 01/21/2007

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EUROPE: E-Justice - Cross-Border Use of IT in the Justice Sector

At their informal meeting in Dresden,the Ministers of Justice of the European Union have agreed to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the cross-border support of the justice sector through information and communication technology (e-justice) and to intensify cooperation in this field. "In a European area of freedom,security and justice with porous borders,information technology-based support of the justice sector must not end at the internal borders. As the internet demonstrates,information technology serves to overcome borders. To varying extents,all EU Member States successfully employ information and communication technology as a means to support justice sector activities,or plan to do so in the near future. Therefore it is time now to establish the basis for using e-justice at the European level ¨C for the benefit of citizens seeking justice and of enterprises as well as in the interest of improved cooperation among judicial organs in Europe",stated Brigitte Zypries,Federal Minister of Justice and JHA Council President. Providing comprehensive electronic access to the justice sector throughout Europe is an ambitious project. Due to differences in legal systems in the individual Member States,judges and lawyers are seldom familiar with cross-border issues,even though this would be necessary given the increasing internationalisation of legal relations. Another aspect is the linguistic diversity in Europe. Furthermore,there are questions with respect to security,data protection and technical incompatibilities. "In my view,solving these questions does not require the creation of a new central infrastructure at the European level.

Information technology systems that function well and that meet the special requirements of national legal systems are already established in the Member States to support the justice sector. Generally,these national solutions are based upon considerable investments of financial and human resources which need to be applied for future use. The aim should therefore be coordination and networking among the individual Member States' systems,which will continue to be operated in a decentralised manner",Ms. Zypries explained. A successful example of this approach is a project conducted by Germany,France,Spain,Belgium,the Czech Republic and Luxembourg to network national criminal registers. In 2006,this project commenced actual operation with the exchange of electronic data. This project's success proves that it is possible to ensure the fast and efficient cross-border exchange of information without having to make major alterations to national IT systems. The Ministers of Justice have agreed to coordinate,at the European level,the approaches undertaken so far to network the justice sector in Europe and to begin developing standards. The conference "Work on e-Justice",to be held in Bremen from 29-31 May,will provide the venue for a more detailed exchange of experience. Presentations and panel discussions will focus on the following topics: the justice portal as a link between different legal systems; cross-border communication among parties to judicial proceedings; the exchange of information between national judicial registers; procedural models for standardisation at the European level and associated legal issues. The subsequent presidencies of Slovenia and Portugal will continue to pursue these topics.

From http://www.publictechnology.net/ 01/17/2007

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'Quiet Revolution'Stirring in Ireland E-Government

South Dublin County Council was the big winner at the Irish e-Government awards as the authority's Connect website bagged two gongs,including the overall title. Prizes in 11 categories were presented at the ceremony in Dublin on Thursday night. The contest,now in its third year,recognises excellence and creativity in technology initiatives in the public sector. Connect was awarded the Local Irish e-Government award and the overall Irish e-Government award at the ceremony. "The competition was quite steep so to be recognised was a tremendous feeling," Lorna Maxwell,project manager of Connect,told ENN. "Within the council we have embraced technology and it's turned around the way we work; the Connect office is a paperless office."

The Connect website is aimed at bringing technology to local communities through four initiatives. Connect Web provides training to community groups on developing websites,with over 100 sites designed through the project in the past year. Connect School has provided every teacher in St Aidan's school in Tallaght,Dublin with a laptop. On Monday,every first year in the school will be provided with a laptop to encourage interactive learning. "We want to make learning more interactive and interesting," said Maxwell. "We hope this will lead to better attendance and better performance by the students involved." The website's Connect Centre provides advice to community groups on how to use technology in community centres,while the Connect Me service provides locals with access to information about local businesses and resources. South Dublin was joined by local authorities from Meath,Waterford and Mayo on the winners'rostrum. Waterford City Council won the Irish Language award while Meath County Council took home the Intranet Irish e-Government award. Mayo County Council received the e-Accessibility award.

Other winners on the night included the Department of Finance,which won the Central Government award for its www.etenders.gov.ie site and Failte Ireland,which claimed the Project Management award for its www.dublin.ie site. "There is quiet revolution happening under our noses within e-Government," said Maeve Kneafsey,managing director of Elucidate and a member of the judging panel for the awards. "These highly innovative projects,right around the country,are revolutionising the way we,the citizens,do our business with the public sector," she said. (by Emmet Ryan)

From http://www.enn.ie/ 02/23/2007

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UK Government Portal Goes Mobile

Directgov,the UK government's online portal for public services,has just launched a version of the site for mobile devices. Interactive agency Cimex was commissioned to develop the mobile service,available at www.direct.gov.uk/mobile on internet-enabled mobile phones and devices. Users of the mobile site can enter a postcode to search for local information,including solicitors,legal advice,councils,and where to access the internet. They can also use the site to connect to the Learndirect advice line for free careers and education information. There are plans to develop the mobile site over the next few months,to offer 3G services such as video content and provide access to local health,education and travel services.

From http://www.enn.ie/ 12/06/2007

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UK Glasgow Saves 9 Million Through Eprocurement

Glasgow City Council has saved ¡ê9 million by changing the way it buys goods with the successful implementation of an ambitious eProcurement Programme. The Council spent an average of ¡ê650 million a year on goods from 20,000 suppliers until it embarked on a rapid transformation of procurement processes 18 months ago. Now,procurement has been significantly improved with the development of a centralised approach to the management of services and supplies and the implementation of cutting-edge purchase to pay technology (PECOS) to users across the Council. The accelerated delivery of commodity-based contracts,the consolidation of demand across the organisation and the implementation of the new purchasing system are expected to produce savings of ¡ê21 million over the Programme's three-year rollout ¨C savings that will be diverted to frontline services. The first and second phases of the Programme have been successfully delivered to over 2,500 staff from 8 of the 9 council departments. These staff are now using PECOS,which is integrated with SAP,to raise purchase orders,receipt goods and pay invoices electronically with 279 adopted suppliers.

The electronic processing of invoices alone will generate savings of ¡ê2 million when the rollout is complete. The Council is now processing a larger volume of transactions than any other eProcurement Scotland (ePS) customer organisation. Since February 2006,177,098 purchase orders have been processed for a value in excess of ¡ê15,630,355.68 million. Education Services is the final council department to make the transition to the new system. At that time,around 5,000 employees will be empowered to carry out their own ordering and receipting. Strategic sourcing work will also continue to realise more coherent and accountable purchasing. Frank Rowell,Head of Corporate Procurement,said: "Procurement in the Council has come a long way. Its rapid transformation from reactive to strategic and the transition from manual to electronic purchasing processes have dramatically reduced the Council's procurement costs." John Sherry,Head of eProcurement Development said: "The programme's success continues to exceed our expectations,bringing mutual advantages to the Council,suppliers and the ePS Scotland national programme. If other organisations can follow in Glasgow's footsteps,the potential for significant public sector cost savings is massive." Last year,the Council became the 8th local authority to join the ePS service and began implementing one of the largest eProcurement programmes in the UK's public sector.

From http://www.publictechnology.net/ 01/15/2007

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Winners Announced in UK E-government National Awards 2006

The winners in the e-Government National Awards 2006 were presented with their Awards on the evening of 17th January 2007,at a black tie dinner at the Savoy Hotel attended by a who's who of 440 senior council and civil service leaders and Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden MP. The awards are the UK's highest level commendation for the best e-Government services - services which,through innovative online delivery or IT implementation,have positively transformed the lives of citizens,local communities,business and stakeholder groups. The winners and finalists highlight the massive benefits to UK Citizens of services like online school admissions,TransportDirect.info,the Connexions helpline,and numerous council e-services improving citizens'lives in localities across the UK. Winners of the 11 Awards categories were chosen from among the 345 nominations from across the public sector. Councils,central government departments,the NHS,non-departmental public bodies and charities are all among the Finalists - showing a great diversity and spread of achievement in e-Government right across the UK.

The Awards were run by e-Government news service PublicTechnology.net and supported by the Cabinet Office e-Government Unit,the Office of Government Commerce,the Society of Information Technology Management (Socitm),and SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers). Platinum sponsor was KPMG,and also sponsoring were SunGard Public Sector and O2. A powerful and impassioned keynote speech at the Awards dinner was given by Pat McFadden MP,Cabinet Office Minister with responsibility for Transformational Government. Winners were presented with their accolades by Government CIO John Suffolk and Peter Fanning,deputy Chief Executive of the Office of Government Commerce. Pat McFadden,Cabinet Office Minister with responsibility for Transformational Government says: "Using technology in reforming our public services to fit around the needs of the citizen is essential. But it is not just central government which has a role to play here,organisations across the public sector all need to provide the best possible service to their users ¨C whether individuals,businesses or whole communities. We support these Awards and in doing so we support the efforts of all those organisations who are committed to best meeting the needs of their customers."

The Winners are: Award category: e-Government excellence: in Leadership & Professionalism. Sponsored by KPMG. For providing leading e-Government strategies and professional development which contribute to achieving positive transformation. Winner: London Borough of Waltham Forest: for its ICT Strategy and its delivery. Award category: Central e-Government excellence: for Citizen-focused online services. For e-Government services delivering proven citizen-focused services. Joint winner: Transport Direct; Joint winner: Department for Education and Skills: The Connexions Direct national website and helpline. Award category: Central e-Government excellence: Team success. Sponsored by SunGard Public Sector. For proven team-working or partnership activity which has delivered more than the sum of the parts. Winner: The Home Office and the Police Information Technology Organisation - for the IMPACT Programme team; Highly commended: NHS: For the Picture Archiving Communications System (PACS) programme team. Award category: e-Government excellence in Shared Services Sponsored by O2. For proven shared services which have delivered effective shared services and efficiency gains. Winner: The Warwickshire Direct Partnership,who have reaped the rewards of a joint CRM system.

Award category: Local e-Government excellence: Team success. For proven team-working or partnership activity which has delivered more than the sum of the parts. Winner: West Sussex Accessible Services Partnership. Highly commended: Scottish Borders Council - for the Online Borders programme. Award category: Local e-Government excellence: Strategy Delivering local e-Government strategies for local circumstances. Winner: Fife Council: For its strategy for a supply teacher messaging system. Highly commended: Dundee City Council: For the Digital Dundee modernisation strategy. Award category: Local e-Government excellence: Efficiency for using electronic service delivery to improve local authority efficiency. Winner: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council for its big efficiency gains through its eProcurement initiative. Highly commended: Essex County Council Libraries for its RFID Project,giving borrowers 'self-service'in their local library. Award category: Local e-Government excellence: Take-up & usage growth. Ensuring high & growing take-up of an e-enabled service through effective service delivery & marketing. Winner: Hertfordshire County Council: for the leading the national e-service,online school admissions. Highly commended: Bassetlaw District Council - Marketing campaigns for its e-Revenues activities. Award category: Central e-Government excellence in Take-up and usage growth for delivering high & growing take-up of an e-enabled service through effective service delivery & marketing. Winner: The National Archives'digitisation programme. Award category: e-Government excellence: Education for public sector online or electronic educational services which transform learning. Winner: North West Learning Grid for its work with DiDA Delivered. Highly commended: Oldham Sixth Form College: For the Junior University project.

Award category: e-Government excellence for other public sector organizations for Non Governmental,Non-Departmental Public Body or voluntary sector organisation which has delivered e-Government services which succeed for the target audiences. Winner: Shelter's free housing advice website,Advice online. How did the judges come up with the winners? The e-Government National Awards judging panel followed a rigorous assessment procedure. the judges were looking for nominations which showed clear evidence of excellence in the following areas: Demonstrable achievement of strategy or tactics in e-Government by organisations,services,projects,teams,people or suppliers; Evidence of growth of take up ideally sustained; Commitment shown by staff - teams and individuals; Ability for good practice to be adopted by others in the public sector; Evidence of substantive/measurable impact.

From http://www.enn.ie/ 12/06/2007

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UK Torfaen Council Uses Mobile Technology to Transform Public Services

Torfaen County Borough Council (CBC) in Wales is responsible for delivering first-rate public services to the county's 90,000 residents. The council provides a complete range of services,including social,health,education,environmental and leisure. Since the majority of Torfaen CBC's staff work out of the office,visiting constituents and businesses in the area,the council decided to adopt a range of mobile solutions. This has enabled these staff,and the council as a whole,to offer fast and reliable services to its customers. Located on the borders of the Brecon Beacons in South East Wales,Torfaen Borough Council (CBC) is renowned for being one of the most forward thinking councils in Wales. It has used technology to transform and modernise the services that it offers its customers. Employing 5,800 staff,including social workers,hospital staff and teachers,Torfaen CBC provides its constituents with hundreds of services such as consumer advice; council tax benefits; social care; recycling services; planning applications; and road markings,to name but a few. Given that the majority of the council's staff spend most of their time out of the office,the ability to stay in touch with customers and colleagues whilst on the move is essential.

Many of the council's workers provide home help and social care services and they frequently need to make up to 10 or 20 visits per day within a radius of 20 miles of the council's headquarters. For these staff,fast and reliable communications are vital. To implement a successful mobile working practice,Torfaen CBC decided to adopt a series of solutions from T-Mobile,including BlackBerry devices for email and internet access on the move; T-Mobile web'n'walk data cards for internet access for laptop users; and handsets for voice communication. "As a result of having access to T-Mobile internet enabled mobile devices as well as BlackBerry,the efficiency and productivity of our staff has increased," explains Farooq Dastgir,Head of ICT at Torfaen CBC. More than 1,400 of the council's mobile workers have been equipped with a T-Mobile handset,whilst another 450 have been provided with BlackBerry devices. These workers,who include truancy officers,housing repair staff and IT engineers,need to be able to receive and respond to emails whilst on the move. Added to this,the council is also providing some of its senior and technical management with T-Mobile web'n'walk laptop datacards.

By providing these staff with up to broadband speed internet access when they are out of the office,they can still work on documents on their laptops,eliminating ¡®dead time'. Torfaen CBC's mobile expenditure has been significantly reduced. The council worked with T-Mobile to tailor a highly competitive price package that precisely matched its mobile requirements for both voice and data communications. A fully transparent pricing structure ensures that the council can accurately predict monthly expenditure,which is vital for the finance department. Since adopting BlackBerry devices,Torfaen CBC has noticed significant increases in the productivity of many of its staff. For instance,the council's IT engineering department,which services computers and IT systems in sites such as schools,hospitals and leisure centres,has vastly improved its performance. As Dastgir states,"Our IT engineers are required to look after 122 sites,which has always been difficult.

Since these engineers have been given BlackBerry devices,their productivity has increased by 30 percent,meaning that they are often able to visit two or three extra sites every day. This has really allowed the team to expedite response times and improve the service that it provides to Torfaen's schools and hospitals." The adoption of the BlackBerry amongst the council's mobile staff has streamlined operations and transformed the way in which work is allocated within the council. For instance,home help and community care workers no longer need to travel into the office at the beginning of the day to pick up the details of their jobs for the day. This information is now emailed direct to their BlackBerry devices,saving them time and allowing them to see more customers and spend more time with those who require special attention. As Dastgir remarks,"The BlackBerry solution enabled us to maximise the potential of our workforce. We can now manage everyone's diary from our central office and send out detailed and accurate information to all of our field staff. We can select employees for each job depending on their location and workload."Added to this,Dastgir is also looking to provide more of the council's staff with BlackBerry and T-Mobile laptop cards.

From http://www.publictechnology.net/ 01/26/2007

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NORTH AMERICA: US Elections Commission Toughens E-Voting Standards

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has voted to create standards for the certification testing of the often-controversial e-voting machines. The EAC said having federal standards is consistent with the 2002 Help America Vote Act,which was put in place to answer concerns raised by the 2000 elections.

Free Direct Marketing Lists Consumer and business lists with targeted leads to help you grow your business. Hoping to boost confidence in electronic voting,the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has voted to create standards for the certification testing of the often-controversial e-voting machines. The commission voted Thursday to adopt the Voting Systems Testing and Certification Program,a manual focused on evaluating and certifying e-voting machines.

Security Standards Machines that fail to meet standards for security ,among other factors,will be de-certified by the commission. The program is meant to hold e-voting vendors,many of whom are under fire for past problems and a perceived lack of security,accountable for the systems they sell to local jurisdictions. The EAC said having federal standards is consistent with the 2002 Help America Vote Act,which was put in place to answer concerns raised by the 2000 elections,when many believed votes in Florida,which tipped the presidential election toward George Bush,were uncounted or counted incorrectly. "Election reform has made great improvements," said Paul DeGregorio,the commission's chairman. "EAC's new testing and certification program is one more step in the federal election process to ensure the integrity and reliability of voting system operation." The 74-page manual details the process the commission will follow for certifying voting machines,and is based in part on the agency's review of the 2006 elections,which once again saw e-voting under fire in many jurisdictions. Critics of electronic voting machines say they are subject to hacking and human error,and say they deny voters the chance for an accurate recall if results are in dispute because in many cases,machines do not create a paper record of votes cast.

Voluntary Testing For now,the testing program is voluntary,though a number of states have mandated that vendors have their machines federally approved before putting them into use. To improve the testing process,the EAC is having a technical committee work on new specific guidelines for the machines. An updated version of those guidelines is due to be prepared by next summer,though it isn't expected to be finalized before 2009. Many states are hoping to have enough time for testing and certification to be completed in advance of the early 2008 presidential primary elections. It's not clear whether the standards will require so-called "direct" voting machines to create a paper trail of votes cast,but that is being considered,the commission said. In fact,the Technical Guidelines Development Committee recommended in a report released earlier in the week that paperless voting be eliminated. Though several election jurisdictions experienced high-profile disputes over e-voting in the September primaries and November mid-term election cycles,the EAC said that of the 6,700 districts allowing e-voting,102,or 1.5 percent,reported problems. Still,with close elections in states such as Virginia helping to tilt the balance of power in the U.S. Senate,the accuracy of e-voting is again an issue for many activists.

Open Debate By and large,e-voting machines appear to have worked with relatively few incidents during the November election cycle. However,in Maryland,some machines malfunctioned and caused long lines and other problems,including a run on paper-based absentee ballots. Voting rights groups urged voters to use the paper ballots to ensure their votes would be counted and,if necessary,could be re-counted. Meanwhile,Diebold Election Systems disclosed that some of the code securing its voting boxes had been leaked. In addition,security researchers published a report saying that many machines could be hacked,a report that the industry has disputed. Requiring printed confirmation of e-votes would be a huge step toward building confidence in the new technology,e-voting expert Avi Rubin,who has studied electronic voting under a National Science Foundation grant,said. In fact,the inability to confirm that votes are recorded accurately is one of the primary flaws in electronic voting,which Rubin compares to transferring money using an ATM and not getting a printed receipt. "Without paper ballots that can be physically examined,the only recount possible is a review of the votes recorded by the machine itself," he explained. "If those votes were recorded incorrectly,no recount will fix the error. The incorrect result could never be detected,much less corrected." (by Keith Regan)

From http://www.enn.ie/ 12/06/2007

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US E-Government Sites Stagnant

Staff WriterSatisfaction with federal government Web sites rose slightly in the fourth quarter of 2006. According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index or ACSI out of 87 federal Web sites measured the total increase in satisfaction was .3 percent for a score of 73.9 on ACSI's 100-point scale. The rate of increase has stagnated and is about the same for the fourth quarter of 2005. After three years of continuous increases,over the past year the aggregate e-government satisfaction score has changed by just a half point. Satisfaction is a major factor in obtaining widespread use of e-government Web sites. "Standards,compliance and security are all good things,but a scorecard based only on these components is missing the citizens' perception of the Web experience," said Larry Freed,CEO of ForeSee Results. "The most crucial factor in whether e-government will achieve its promise is whether citizens feel it meets their needs and expectations - if not,they'll stick with more expensive and less convenient ways of dealing with the government." The public's view of government Web sites are shaped by other sites they visit from retail sites to online banking sites. Because of budget restrictions it can be a challenge for government Web sites to compete with the private sector when it comes to innovation or improvement.The gap between the private sector sites and the government sites is not that large. The category of government portals and department main sites scored 74.9,a .1% increase from last quarter,but 1% higher year over year. This puts e-government only 1.4% behind private sector portals,which scored 76. Other findings include 44 percent of measured sites have a higher score than the previous quarter. Search and navigation are top priorities for improvement on government sites. (by Mike Sachoff)

From http://www.webpronews.com/ 01/02/2007

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CHINA: Online Gov't Portals Improve Transparency

Government portal websites using the domain name of "gov.cn" in China had surpassed 12,000 by the end of June,according to China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) statistics. China's first government portal website was set up ten years ago by south China's Hainan provincial government. Over 90 percent of departments under the State Council,provincial and city governments,as well as 77 percent of county governments have their own websites now. The former State Economic and Trade Commission,now known as National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC),along with other 40 departments and ministries,launched an online-government project in 1999. The State Council general office issued a five-year plan in 2001 on the nationwide implementation of government affairs informatization,which has greatly boosted the development of government portal websites at all levels. As contents are enriched and functions consistently strengthened,government websites have evolved into an important platform for the transparency of government affairs and fostering of a service government.

The central government portal website was officially opened on January 1,2006,providing latest updates on hot topics concerning the general public,official explanations of laws and regulations and the latest features on government affairs. Since its opening,the website has posted over 500 State Council documents,and 250 issues from State Council Gazettes. Nearly 60 news briefings by the State Council and other departments were broadcasted live through the website. About 1,000 news items,both in Chinese and English,were posted on the website daily,making it an important source for people both at home and abroad to educate themselves about China's government affairs. Timely,accurate and complete government information published by government websites at all levels play an important role in improving the government image and transparency. Highlighting one example,the Ministry of Commerce's website published over 1,700 business news items,2600 laws and rules relating to commerce,and nearly 560,000 commercial news items over the pass three years,becoming a major source for the public to discover the country's business policies.

These government websites have also sought to improve their online service quality. Shanghai municipal government's website provides over 1,670 kinds of service items,including the option to download 6,000 forms for different services. The Ministry of Agriculture opened an online office complex to provide "all-in-one" services including policy consultation,guidelines and result inquiry service for those waiting for administrative approval. New forms are also used by government websites to communicate with the general public. The central government portal website invites some officials from governments,both central and local,to conduct online dialogues every month. The interactive communication has attracted more people to participate in the social economic activities through the government website.

From http://www.china.org.cn/ 12/29/2006

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Government Complaints Website Opened

A government website specifically designed to receive public complaints about malpractices in various fields opened on Saturday. According to Qu Wanxiang,vice minister of Supervision,complaints typically involve schooling and medical treatment with high costs and difficulty of access often being cited. Other complaints concern inadequate compensation in cases of land requisition and house repossession,substandard treatment of workers in instances of corporate restructuring and bankruptcy,and wage arrears problems for construction teams and migrant laborers. "People are welcome to report problems through the website," Qu said at the inauguration ceremony. Qu,who is also deputy director of the office of the State Council responsible for rectifying malpractices,said the ministry and the office will investigate complaints posted on the website. The online portal will also be used as a sounding board for public opinion and to analyze highlighted social situations. The website www.mos.gov.cn/gjb will carry examples of complaints and remedies.

From http://www.china.org.cn/ 12/31/2006

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Gov't Information Office Opens Website

The Information Office of the State Council opens a website on Jan 1,2007. The website,www.scio.gov.cn,will release information on important government issues,white papers,activities arranged by the office and exchanges with foreign governments,media and cultural institutes. The website currently only has a Chinese language version. The content includes an introduction of the office,news releases,work news,cultural exchanges,international cooperation,communication theories,news from China and a brief introduction of China. It also provides information about spokesmen,government white papers,as well as network services including e-mail. Cai Wu,director of the office,said he hoped the website would serve as "a bridge of communication between the government and the public,and a window for the world to understand China."

From http://www.china.org.cn/ 01/01/2007

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Shenzhen's Cyber Police Net 6,000 Calls

Shenzhen's "cyber police" appeared in public for the first time on Friday -- their first since the launch of their on-line fight against net crime a year ago. Eight officers,including two policewomen,who represent the two cartoon characters on many of the city's Web sites,made their appearance at a press conference held by the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau. Since their launch,the two characters "Jingjing" and "Chacha," two Chinese characters for police -- Jingcha in Chinese,have received more than 6,500 reports directly on the Internet. More than 1.2 million people have visited their online reporting platform by clicking on their images. The reported cases were mostly tip-offs about harmful information including obscene information,politically dangerous information and Internet viruses. In one case,the mobile phone and MSN address of a woman surnamed Zhu,working for an IT company in Huaqiangbei,were made public on the Internet in April 2006. Zhu was said on the Web site to be available for pornographic services. Zhu's case was promptly investigated by the cyber police,who tracked down the culprit,He,two days later. He was detained for five days. The eight officers offer a round-the-clock service at the public security bureau where they receive online reports of cases and monitor the Internet.

They promise to respond to online reports within 10 minutes. "Jingjing" and "Chacha" have been patrolling more than 850 Shenzhen Web sites including BBS and online forums where they can spot and delete harmful information. The Ministry of Public Security is also planning to introduce cyber police to other parts of the country,according to media reports. A survey made by the media and cultural development research center of Shenzhen University indicated that 70 percent of those surveyed think surfing on the Internet is much safer with cyber police's protection. And more than 60 percent think that cyber police can effectively control harmful online information. But some are worried whether the cyber police can balance supervision with safeguarding people's rights and freedom of speech.

From http://www.china.org.cn/ 01/29/2007

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China Provides Access to ID Database to Curb Fraud

Con artists and swindlers in China who try to use fake ID will have a tougher time trying to pass themselves off as someone else now that the public has access to the Ministry of Public Security's population database. Anyone can now send a text message or visit the country's population information center's website,to check if the name and the ID number of a person's identity card match. If they do match the ID cardholder's picture also appears,said the Ministry,adding that no other information is available to ensure a citizen's privacy is protected. Completed at the end of 2006,China's population information database,the world's largest,contains personal information on 1.3 billion citizens. Giving public accessing to the database is also designed to correct mistakes if an individual discovers that their name,number and picture don't match. Millions of dollars are lost each year by people who use false identities. According to the Ministry of Public Security,about 90 percent of people who commit crimes hold fake ID cards.

From http://www.chinaview.cn 02/09/2007

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JAPAN: Gov't to Open New Website for English Translation of Japanese Laws

The government decided Tuesday to open a new website in 2009 to offer English translations of Japanese laws and regulations in an attempt to attract more foreign investment. Currently,the Cabinet Secretariat provides on its website the English translation of more than 10 laws,including the Penal Code,the Civil Code,the Unfair Competition Prevention Act and the Patent Act. In fiscal 2009,the Justice Ministry will take over the task of providing translations of laws and will open a website which will have search and reference functions for legal terms and clauses,government officials said.

From Kyodo News 12/19/2006

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Ministry Web Site to Put Child Safety First

In an effort to improve the day-to-day living environment of children,the government is to provide advice on how to avoid accidents involving children on one of its Web sites from April. Accidents,such as children falling off something or swallowing objects they are not meant to,are the most common cause of death among young people. The government,working closely with the Economy,Trade and Industry Ministry,will gather information about accidents involving children that are caused by items they encounter in everyday life,such as toys and electrical appliances,from the National Center for Child Health and Development in Setagaya Ward,Tokyo. This information will then be used to create a database including information on how and where these accidents took place and what kind of injuries the victim suffered. By analyzing this data,the government hopes to be able to suggest preventive measures. For fatal accidents where the details of what happened leading up to the incident are unclear,the government plans to set up an investigative team to examine the scenes of accidents to gain a better understanding of how they occurred. In cooperation with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology,a Tsukuba,Ibaraki Prefecture-based research institute that examines accidents involving children,medical and engineering researchers will analyze children's physiology and behavioral tendencies to determine how accidents occur and then propose preventive measures to the government. These measures will be posted on the Economy,Trade and Industry Ministry's Web site,which will also have a feature that will use computer graphics to reconstruct the incident. The government will provide the information it gathers to manufacturersand municipalities in the hope they can use it to develop safer products and also improve the safety of playground equipment. According to a 2004 population survey,accidents are the leading cause of death in people aged between 1 and 19,accounting for 1,490 of 7,405 deaths that year.

From The Yomiuri Shimbun 01/01/2007

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New Govt Web Site Set to Help Shoppers,Struggling Retailers

The Economy,Trade and Industry Ministry is set to launch a Web site that will provide information on shopping malls and centers throughout the nation,in an effort to revitalize city centers hit by a decline in retail sales,the ministry said. The Web site,set to launch in March,will allow both store representatives and government officials to upload information about sales,special offers and events. The center of many cities are now lined with what are referred to as "shuttered-store streets," so called because a decline in profits has forced many shops to close. The ministry said it hopes the site will stimulate commerce across the nation. The ministry is to hold a meeting in January at which representatives of major shopping centers and areas will decide on a name for the site,as well as how the site could best be used to attract more shoppers. Organizations or shops that want to use the Web site to flag sales and events will be required to register with the ministry before uploading information. The ministry said it is considering including an interactive map of Japan on the site,which would enables users to find other shopping centers across the country by clicking on the map. It said the site will also include pages that have been optimized for viewing on mobile phones. Customers will be able to e-mail the site and provide feedback on shopping centers they have visited. Other customers and shopping centers can refer to the feedback.

From The Yomiuri Shimbun 01/04/2007

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SOUTH KOREA: New Web Site Tells Pay at 295 Public Institutions

About 30 percent of the nation's public institutions are paying more than 50 million won ($53,800) per year to their average non-executive employees,the Ministry of Planning and Budget said.The ministry today opens a Web site ¨D Alio (http://www.alio.go.kr) ¨D on which 295 public institutions,including state-run companies and state-invested research institutes,have to release wage agreements and other major decisions that could burden their finances. The system has been introduced "to watch and prevent loose management of public institutions that are operating on people's tax," said a spokesman for the Planning Ministry.After gathering data from the public institutions,the Planning Ministry said there are 90 institutions that paid above 50 million won on average to their non-executive employees last year.The state-run Korea Development Institute ranked at the top with 85 million won in annual salary on average.Another state-run bank,the Export-Import Bank of Korea,took second place,paying 72 million won to an average worker.Three state-invested research institutes ¨D the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials,the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute and Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science ¨D ranked third to fifth,with around 70 million won in pay."State-run banks are less controlled by the government in wages than other public institutions," said Bae Kook-hwan,director of public institution reform in the Planning Ministry. "And state-run research institutions give relatively high average pay,because they have many employees with doctoral degrees." Average pay in the nation's top 100 private firms is 55 million won. Korea has 314 public institutions. Institutions that do not show wages through the Alio site include the Bank of Korea and the Financial Supervisory Service. They will show pay on their own Web sites.

From http://joongangdaily.joins.com/ 12/29/2006

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Electronic Government System to Replace Old Paper Cards

The government hopes to see its paper-based record management system replaced by an electronic management system soon. The Civil Service Commission revealed last week (Jan.18) that all the personnel information handled through paper cards will be carried out by the electronic personnel management system "e-saram" instead. The paper-based personnel records have long symbolized the personnel management system of public servants. The commission plans to start full implementation of the government electronic management system in February at the earliest when the proposal is expected to be officially passed at a Cabinet meeting. The proposal calls for all paper-based documents since 1963 that hold personal and performance-related information on public servants to be transferred to electronic files. The proposed revision also reduces the amount of documents required when applying for initial government positions or transfers. The commission has been distributing the e-saram system to government agencies since 2001 for computerization of overall management,and the e-saram system is reportedly currently functioning at a 94.7 percent usage rate. The commission however,plans to allow the paper-based system to continue until late this year,so organizations at different stages of transferring files can still relay data to one another in either paper or electronic form. The commission hopes the electronic management system helps keep records in a more systemic and orderly manner and speeds up the process of obtaining information and statistics. Previously,related officials had the double burden of maintaining both electronic and paper-based data.

From http://www.korea.net 01/22/2007

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Gov't to Tackle Incompatibility Issue Between Vista and Korean Websites

Microsoft Korea launched Windows Vista,Office System 2007 for home PC users on January 31 boasting its enhanced security and three-dimensional graphic functionality. But despite this advantage,the new system's strong security features are creating problems in Korea. The incompatibility between the Vista and Internet sites is an emerging problem. According to government officials,for now,many Koreans are experiencing problems when they download government data or do Internet transactions due to the enhanced security measures. Vista Users complain about seeing shaky screens or being unable to access content when they want to download data or want to view video clips on major portal sites. The incompatibility occurs as Vista has discontinued the use of the "Active X" technology,a security tool used by most Korea-based Internet websites. In order to tackle the problem and make the Vista system work in Korea,the government is aiming to upgrade more than 5,000 electronic government systems so that it can solve the incompatibility issue. If everything goes as planned,the government will upgrade its systems by the end of April,enabling Vista users to download government-issued documents and data without problems. The government will set up a help center to further ensure the compatibility between Vista and Korea-based Internet sites. When the issue is solved,the government expects the economic rebound to grow stronger. For one,officials say Korea may see increase in sales of liquid crystal displays or LCDs because Window Vista's functional enhancement will lead to increased demand for bigger LCDs as they are considered a better fit for three-dimensional graphics and video-clip viewing. Also hopes are rising that as more users opt for Vista worldwide,Korea may be able to export more advanced memory capabilities,including flash memory and dynamic random access memory chips.

From http://www.korea.net/ 02/21/2007

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MONGOLIA: E-Governance to Be Supported

R.Gonchigdorj,Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy,received Thursday Mr. James David,Director of International Republicans Institute (IRI). At the meeting,the two men exchanged views on the issues related to collaboration between the IRI,Parliament and its Standing Committees and on activities of the Parliament development program,which is jointly carried out by the two sides. They also raised questions on processes of approval of the regulations of Parliamentary Standing Committees and high-ranking state officials and organization of the public forum on draft laws,implemented in Parliamentary electoral constituencies. The above forum will be held shortly in the Parliamentary electoral constituencies of the lawmakers,elected from Arkhangai aimag. J.David expressed his willingness to develop the bilateral collaboration in the development of E-governance and in working out draft laws.

From http://www.montsame.mn 02/08/2007

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Mongolia to Roll Out New Customs Platform

Mongolia is upgrading its customs system,in line with e-government efforts to improve efficiency and transparency. The upgrade,to be financed by a USD5 million loan from the Asian Development Fund (ADF),will see the existing manually operated system transformed into an internet-based system with a centralised database. Currently,traders must obtain official stamps and signatures from various customs points -- a process that can be subject to human error,delays and corruption. The loan from the ADF is being supplemented by a USD500,000 grant from Korea's e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund,and by counterpart financing of USD1.26 million from the Mongolian government. The project will be rolled out over three years by the Mongolian Customs General Administration.

From http://www.enn.ie/ 01/17/2007

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INDONESIA: E-tendering Will Improve Transparency,Official Says

As part of the effort to strengthen transparency in the procurement of goods and services,State Minister for National Development Planning (Bappenas) Paskah Suzetta launched the first stage of an internet-based procurement system Friday that will eventually cover all government projects,Paskah said the system,which during the first stage would provide information on development projects to be put out to tender,would eventually incorporate the e-procurement systems already operated by a number of ministries and government agencies. He said the new procurement system would not only speed up the tender and procurement process,but also save taxpayer money. "As regards measures to increase transparency in line with the 2003 presidential decree,we have managed to save between 20 and 40 percent of the procurement budget from 2004 until 2006," Paskah said. "With that in mind,we hope that through this new effort to strengthen transparency,we will save between Rp 45 trillion (around US$5 billion) and Rp 90 trillion from the 2007 budget," he said. Of the total Rp 763-trillion national budget for this year,Rp 504 trillion is allocated to the central government and the rest to local administrations,while about Rp 240 trillion of the total budget will be spent on the procurement of goods and services.

Also speaking during the launch of the new system,Corruption Eradication Commission chief Taufiqurrahman Ruki said that between 10 and 50 percent of the state procurement budget,depending on the government department involved,had been misappropriated in 2006. "If we take the sum total of budget leakage from every administration,as well as state-owned enterprises,the figure could reach up to Rp 60 trillion in 2006," he said. Ruki said that even though the new system would not be able to fully eradicate malfeasance in the procurement process,he was optimistic that it would significantly reduce it. The publication of tender information,dubbed "e-announcement",is the first stage of a more extensive e-procurement program that will eventually involve all stages of procurement,starting with the official announcement and continuing through the bidding process right up to final payment,all carried out electronically through the Internet. The system is scheduled for full deployment next year. E-announcements can be accessed on-line at www.pengadaannasional-bappenas.go.id,where users are supposed to be able to access an extensive list of government procurement projects for 2007,plus a list of blacklisted companies. As of the time of writing,however,no lists had been uploaded onto the website. However,Bappenas Director for Procurement Policy Development Agus Rahardjo said 11 central government institutions,nine provincial governments and 10 municipal administrations were ready to participate in the program.

"Some local administrations hesitated due to technological constraints,but that excuse is no longer acceptable now as Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam has stated its readiness," Agus said,referring to the fact that Aceh is one of the most technologically backward provinces in the country. Agus also admitted that some national ministries were more prepared than others to participate in the program. "I fully understand that some ministries have developed their own procurement programs and applications. But not to worry,we can simply adapt these to our system," Agus said. The Public Works Ministry is one of the central government departments that is most prepared to participate in the program as it has been operating a basic e-procurement system since last year. "We have succeeded in saving Rp 652 billion from our budget thanks to our semi e-procurement program," said Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto,who was also present at the launch.

From http://www.thejakartapost.com 01/06/2007

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RP Ranks Poorly in ICT Index

There are still a lot of Filipinos who have no access to computers and the Internet,according to data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) based on an international study. Out of 65 Asian countries studied,the Philippines ranked a poor 51 in terms of the e-Readiness index. This dismal ranking is a result of the low connectivity in terms of broadband and wireless Internet penetration. Also,most of Filipinos are still unable to have access to personal computers. The Philippines ranked in the middle of most of the ICT indices. Under the e-government category,the country was ranked 41 out of the 191 countries studied,70 out of 115 in network readiness,97 out of 180 in ICT diffusion and 94 out of 180 in digital opportunity. "Generally,the ICT scenario in the country was better than the situation in Cambodia,Indonesia,Lao P.D.R.,Myanmar and Vietmam," the study said. However the country lagged behind Singapore,Malaysia,Thailand and Brunei Darussalam. In addition to this,the study said businesses are still resisting technology. "The slow adoption of e-business practices among consumers and businesses contributed to its poor ranking," the study stated.

The study,conducted by global technology policy and management consulting firm McConnell International,said electronic preparedness measures a nation's capacity to participate in the digital economy. It likewise said electronic preparedness is a source of economic growth in the era of interconnectedness and the requisite to carry out successful electronic business. As a result,it would be difficult for any business or a country to grow substantially if the main electronic pillars are not in place. The firm said countries who have only taken a first step denotes complacency which has an adverse effect to future development. On the other hand,an e-ready society is one that has the necessary physical infrastructure (high bandwidth,reliability,and affordable prices),integrated current information and communication technology (ICTs) throughout businesses (e-commerce,local ICT sector),communities (local content,organizations online,ICTs used in everyday life,ICTs taught in schools),and the government (e-government). Meanwhile,the country performed relatively well in terms of the quality of infrastructure,openness to trade and investment,vision regarding digital-age advances and high educational level.

From http://www.abs-cbnnews.com 01/08/2007

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MALAYSIA: Initial Phase of E-judiciary Launched

PUTRAJAYA: After numerous delays,the initial phase of the Electronic Judiciary (E-Judiciary) system has been launched. There will be smoother court processes to reduce the acute backlog of cases,numbering over 8,000. Among the functions to be implemented in 11 courts involved in a pilot project in Kuala Lumpur and here are Case Management System,Court Recording and Transcription System and Common IT Infrastructure. The project,which began in September 2004,cost more than RM27mil. The system,which will enable Internet registration of cases and easy access to court records and past cases,will eventually be extended to all 410 courts nationwide. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz,who presided over a symbolic ceremony to signify the roll out of the system,said the "Malaysian-made" system was more comprehensive than the electronic system in the US,Britain,Australia,Hong Kong and Singapore. "It will be good if this Malaysian product can be extended to other countries which do not have a system of their own," he told reporters yesterday. Also present was Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim. Nazri said the allocation for the project was RM30mil under the Ninth Malaysia Plan,adding that the cost for the entire project comprising three more phases would be submitted during the mid-term review of the Plan.

From http://star-techcentral.com 01/11/2007

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Malaysia Still Slow in E-Governance Initiatives

Malaysia has been ranked as No. 43 worldwide in e-Government programmes. United Nations'e-Government's report shows that Malaysia has been ranked as No. 43 in the Southeast Asian region. Malaysia is still behind of Korea,Singapore,Japan and Philippines in taking the e-Governance initiatives globally. According to industry observers,continuous e-Government progress requires serious planning. Malaysian Government agencies need to consider in terms of embracing effective e-Government implementation. Government agencies need to understand that the transformation from traditional Government to e-Government is an ongoing process. The actual e-Government implementation involves a transformation,much more than simply adding a few Web sites for Government departments and agencies. E-Governance is not just about services for citizens but it also include the transformation from traditional government to e-Government.

From www.i4donline.net 01/30/2007

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ePerolehan Targets RM10b Volume by 2010

eGovernment flagship,the ePerolehan (eP) online procurement system,is targeting a procurement volume of RM10bil by 2010,said Commerce Dot Com Sdn. Bhd. executive director and chief executive officer Datuk Azizan Ayob. Commerce Dot Com is the developer of eP under the authority of the Ministry of Finance (MoF). The company also maintains the eP system. To date the eGovernment system has posted a 100% year-on-year increase in procurement volume to RM2bil for 2006. Total local purchase orders made by all 28 government ministries surged to 170,169 for 2006,compared to 107,033 the year before. "We are thrilled to surpass the RM2bil mark. This sets a positive momentum ahead for ePerolehan as we strive towards achieving RM10bil in 2010," Azizan said in a statement on Wednesday. For 2007,procurement volume via eP is expected to hit RM3.5bil. Other than the core central contract and direct purchase modes of procurement,a substantial growth is expected from the procurement mode of goods and services via ministry tenders and quotations,ministry contracts as well as newly introduced procurement mode of eBidding,said a company statement. Moreover,the MoF is targeting to expand eP to another 555 government procurement offices nationwide,it said. Last year,the top five ministries transacted actively through eP were the Ministry of Internal Security,the Ministry of Health,Ministry of Home Affairs,Ministry of Finance and The Prime Minister's Office. Currently there are more than 78,000 active MoF registered suppliers who are linked to the electronic procurement system. Incorporated on June 21,2999,Commerce Dot Com is a joint venture company formed between Puncak Semangat Sdn Bhd of Malaysia and NTT Data Corporation of Japan. The government of Malaysia owns one special share through the MoF.

From http://thestar.com.my 02/21/2007

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PHILIPPINES: GSIS to Issue New,More Improved Ecard to Members

Government employees in Oriental Negros can look forward to a more advanced GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) eCard next year after the agency launched its GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (G-W@PS). With the pioneering e-government program comes the second generation GSIS eCard called the eCard Plus which will replace the old GSIS eCard issued in 2004. Local GSIS Acting Technical Assistant Larry Lee Alcaide said the schedule of enrollment of government employees here for the eCard Plus is set between January to March 2007. Enrollment will be via clustering of towns and cities here,he said. A team from GSIS will go to each cluster to accept and process the enrollment of GSIS members in the area. Clustering as well as the schedules for enrollment will be announced later,said Alcaide. There are more than 17,800 active GSIS members in the province,he added. The new eCard Plus is all that a GSIS members needs to access and make use of the G-W@PS kiosk technology,a 55-inch high,ATM-like machine with a 28-inch by 16-inch touch screen monitor. The kiosk can identify a GSIS member,display all of the member's records and process loan applications of members without any documentary requirement.

The kiosks will be installed in strategic government office locations nationwide. Along with this innovative technology,GSIS is also offering another cash advance to its members called the eCard Plus Cash Advance Program (eCAP) worth P10,000. The eCAP is among the first loan or financial assistance programs to make use of the G-W@PS technology. The eCAP is payable in three years with a low interest rate of 12% per annum based on diminishing balance. Once the GSIS member has the eCard Plus,he or she can transact the eCAP thru the G-W@PS kiosk electronically and online. Once approved,the proceeds of the eCAP will be immediately credited to the member's Union Bank account. Meanwhile,the tough economic reforms introduced by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are now paying off in terms of increasing investment,creation of more jobs and expanding small and medium enterprises and broadening opportunities for productivity and excellence of the people.

http://www.pia.gov.ph 12/21/2006

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EV Online: The Road to E-Government in Eastern Visayas

E-Government in Eastern Visayas (EV) will soon be realized through the full implementation of the EV Online,which is now on its first stage,established through Resolution No. 43,series of 2006 of the Regional Development Council (RDC) with funding provided for the development of the EV online portal,individual websites of RDC members and the operating expenses for its implementation. This good news was bared by Teresita Escobar,admin and finance coordinator of the Eastern Visayas Information Sharing Network (EVISNET) in her powerpoint presentation during a meeting with IT coordinators of RDC members without regional websites held recently at the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) regional office. According to Escobar,the rationale behind e-Government is to enhance access and delivery of government information through the internet; build better relationship between the government and the public; and improve core operations through faster and cheaper delivery of information to a wider group of customers. The primary models of e-Government,Escobar said,includes Government-to-Citizen orGovernment-to-Customer(G2C);Government-to-Business(G2B);andGovernment-to-Government (G2G) where the most anticipated benefits include improved efficiency,convenience and better accessibility of public services.

In the first of the five stages of website development from the United Nations-American Society for Public Administration (UN-ASPA),which is the Emerging Web Presence,the site serve as source of public information,information on the government,frequently asked questions (FAQs),and contact numbers,Escobar said. On the other hand,Escobar emphasized that Eastern Visayas Online will provide various public information and services through the internet,enable the government/public to use the internet widely in all public affairs,and provide faster and efficient government transactions where anyone anywhere can go online anytime,not only to get the information they need but also to actually receive services,complete transactions,and communicate with government agencies. Escobar further said that the purpose of having an EV Online portal is to develop and host the websites of RDC members without websites,to update and improve those currently with websites,and continuously provide updated,relevant and useful information. RDC is the primary institution in the region which sets the direction of economic and social development of the region and through which regional development efforts are coordinated. It's members is composed of regional line agencies,local government units,private sectors,and non-voting members.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/ 12/30/2006

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BOC to Form National Electronic'Single Window'Group

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) is set to form an oversight committee that will supervise the operations of a major information sharing network for customs and shipping port agencies. The network,called the National Electronic Single Window,is actually part of an international Single Window Project of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) that hopes to improve the import/export and customs operations in the 10 member-countries of the ASEAN. Each of the member- countries will have to implement their internal Single Window and ultimately connect each other for more efficient import and export processing. This is expected to be completed by 2012. The steering committee will be led by the Department of Finance and will be composed of at least seven agencies that are linked to the BOC. The group for the oversight committee is expected to be formed in the second quarter of the year. In a phone interview with INQUIRER.NET,BOC Deputy Commissioner and MIS Head Alexander Arevalo said the BOC has been signing memorandums of agreement with several key government agencies to be part of the National Single Window.

Some of those that have signed up with the BOC late last year are the Philippine National Police,Philippine Economic Zone Authority,Department of Agriculture,the Association of of International Shipping Lines and Bankers Association of the Philippines. Arevalo said the BOC has pending agreements and linkages with diesel manufacturing groups,the Philippine Ship Agents Association and the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines,Inc. The agreements range from acquisition of electronic permits and clearances,shipping manifests,import/export documents,advanced ship profiling and other custom-related requirements,as well as intelligence network. Arevalo said they intend to get all agencies that are working with the BOC to be part of the Single Window program within this year. Likewise,among their plans for this year is to implement a completely Internet-based network for Single Window partners as well as a wireless solution composed of a cellular phone SIM (subscriber identification module) card for mobile-related services. "We hope to have a seamless electronic-to-mobile communication system for all BOC-trading agencies," he said.

Currently,the BOC is using IP phones for its voice communication requirements. Arevalo,who was the former chair of the ASEAN Single Window Committee,said they intend to fully implement its computerization by the middle of 2007. Arevalo noted that Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had pledged 1.6 million US dollar grant for the continuation of its computerization and the completion of the National Single Window program. Arevalo also said that they are also pursuing two other grants: 10 million US dollar grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and another 500 million US dollar grant from the US Embassy. The JICA grant will be primarily used for data warehousing and data mining requirements while the US Embassy grant will be for trade transparency and data access systems. The BOC previously received a 500 million peso grant through the Commission on Information Technology e-Government Fund and another 1.3 million euro grant from the European Union.

Arevalo said the completion of the National Single Window project would result in the speeding up customs processing especially for importers and exporters and reduction of graft and corruption. Most importantly,the National Single Window project will allow the Philippines to trade easily with the rest of ASEAN since each country will follow an agreed set of recognized customs standards for more efficient trading among different importers and exporters.

From http://archive.inquirer.net/ 01/13/2007

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SINGAPORE: Website Launched for Singaporeans to Give Views on 2007 Budget

The government's Budget statement for financial year 2007 will be delivered by Education Minister and Second Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam in Parliament on Thursday,February 15. A website has been set up for Singaporeans to give their suggestions or feedback for next year's Budget. The website address is www.singaporebudget.gov.sg.

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com 12/06/2006

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New Helpline Launched to Offer Advice to Migrant Workers

SINGAPORE: There are some 670,000 foreign workers in Singapore. But on average,only 200 of them approach the Manpower Ministry for help every year. Ahead of International Migrants'Day on 18th December,a helpline for migrant workers in Singapore was launched on Sunday. The helpline was set up by civil society organisation Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) and telecommunication company Telcom 1515. It will be manned by 19 volunteers - most of them foreign workers from the Philippines,Indonesia,Bangladesh and Myanmar. Having worked and stayed in Singapore for some time,these volunteers are better able to lend transient workers,especially those from their homelands,a sympathetic ear or give advice to those in distress. The helpline number is 1800 888 1515 and it is open from 2pm to 8pm on weekdays,and 10am to 8pm during the weekends. Huge medical bills may be one source of distress for foreign workers. The Manpower Ministry is currently considering a medical insurance scheme for them. Halimah Yacob,Assistant Secretary for NTUC,says: "The MOM's proposal - they are considering whether to make it compulsory or not. I think they should; it is the government's responsibility to make sure that employers provide medical care for their foreign workers." Healthcare subsidies for Singapore's permanent residents and foreign workers will be revised from October next year.

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com 12/17/2006

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Public Gives Budget Feedback at REACH Website

Members of the public have been logging on to the REACH website to air their views on the Budget. Minister of State for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hua and Chairman of the REACH panel Dr Amy Khor were on hand to answer queries real-time online. It is the first time REACH has organised a townhall meeting online. But the response was quite muted,with only 11 registered users logging on to air their views and ask questions. Ms Lim Hwee Hua said: "To be fair,this is the first time we're doing it. It's an experience we have to learn from,whether it's in the area of publicising this to more people and to get more participation or whether it's the right time of the day,bearing in mind it's pretty close to Chinese New Year as well." Among the key points discussed were whether enough is being done for the middle income group and if the non-English speaking Singaporeans have avenues to air their views on the Budget. Dr Amy Khor said: "We are also using other means to reach out to the non-English speaking population,for instance through our ministerial dialogues that can be conducted in Mandarin." More of these interactive townhall meetings will be planned later in the year for upcoming issues of interest.

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 02/16/2007

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VIET NAM: E-customs System Ready in 2008

HA NOI ¡ª Viet Nam General Department of Customs is expected to officially launch its e-customs declaration procedures on imports and exports nationwide next year. The hi-tech system is designed to standardise procedures throughout the country and shorten the time it takes to clear customs. E-customs was piloted at HCM City and Hai Phong Customs Departments. By the end of last December,e-customs declarations had been carried out on 215 businesses with an average volume of 90 manifests a day. A total of 21,000 declarations with a total export turnover of US$1.7 billion have so far been carried out electronically. The new system has shortened the time it takes to clear customs and simplified administrative duties that previously hindered the work of customs' staff,said the General Department of Customs. E-customs declarations on crude oil imports has been used successfully in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province's Customs Department. During a six-month trial period,it slashed the time it takes to clear customs from 15 days to 10 minutes,the General Department of Customs said. Petechim's director in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province,Tran Thong,said the oil company typically got through around 30 customs declarations forms a month. Crude oil generates huge tax revenues for the Government and account for 70 per cent of the total import-export tax collected by Ba Ria-Vung Tau Customs Department. From May 5 to December 12,2006,the Customs Department processed nearly 400 customs' declaration forms with a total tax revenue of VND3.8 trillion ($238 million). However,the department said the Internet service,which uses a fixed telephone line,was too slow.

From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn 01/19/2007

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State to Revamp Financial IT Systems

Viet Nam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) yesterday signed an agreement with the Ministry of Finance to modernise the Government agency's information and communication technology that oversees management of the financial sector. The project,aptly named "Building ICT infrastructure for the finance sector",aims at enhancing the ministry's productivity.

From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/ 01/20/2007

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BANGLADESH: Govt. Promotes ICT4D Project

Bangladesh Government has supported the Amader Gram (Our Villages) ICT4D Project to provide appropriate knowledge and ICT intervention for villagers of the country. Currently,the Amader Gram ICT4D Project is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in twenty villages of Bagerhat and Khulna Districts in southwest Bangladesh. The agency is supporting the project by providing ICT skills,which enables villagers to get information and use it to improve their lives. The project has initiated a fellowship program for the University students.

From http://www.egovonline.net/news/ 01/23/2007

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INDIA: New E-Project,Agrisnet for Farmers

The Union Agriculture Ministry is launching more comprehensive project,named Agrisnet for framers to bride the gap between the virtual and real India. The project named Agriculture Resources Information System Network (Agrisnet) under the consideration of the Government of Kerala,will allow farmers to access the internet and gather information on all aspects of farming from the kiosks to be put up at Krishi Bhavans. The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation is funding the project by INR 49.47-crore under the Ministry of Agriculture. The main aim of the project is to provide hardware and Internet connectivity to the block level farmers. National Informatics Centre (NIC) is implementing the project. The project would be implemented as a joint venture between the central and state governments. According to Deputy Director,IT,of the Department of Agriculture,K P Harikumar,with the implementation of Agrisnet,internet kiosks would start at all the Krishi Bhavans in the state. Computerisation in 750 out of 1,008 Krishi Bhavans was done under the macro-credit scheme of Central Government in 2002-2003.

From New India Press 12/05/2006

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Online Petition Filing System Launched in Krishnagiri,(India)

As a part of e-Governance project,the online system of filing petitions has launched in Krishnagiri,Tamil Nadu (India). It would be the first online system of filing petitions in the state. Santhosh Babu,Collector of State has developed the system through the help of National Informatics Centre (NIC) and launched the system at the Collectorate and village panchayats of Mookandapalli and Poonapalli in Hosur. More than 600 petitions were registered on the first day. Villagers can file their petitions through panchayat kiosk or from home by logging on to www.krishnagiri.tn.nic.in/gdponline. Each petition has a separate Grievance Code Number,which will show the status of that particular petition. Even people can check the status of their petitions by calling on the toll free number to be provided in upcoming call centre in Hosur. The Collector will monitor on the status and the number of the petitions pending with each department. The main of the scheme is to reduce interaction between people and government offices,and maximise interaction between people and Government. Out of 337 panchayats in the district,computers have been provided to 110 panchayats.

From The Hindu 12/06/2006

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Haryana Vigilance Bureau Launches the Website Against Corruption in India

In India,The Haryana State Vigilance Bureau has launched the website against corruption. The Director-General of the Haryana Police and Director of State Vigilance Bureau,Ranjeev Dalal launched the website,www.haryanavigilance.gov.in. The website is designed by the bureau with guidance from the Haryana Information Centre. He told that any person can contact the authorities through the website and complain against a corrupt officer. On the security purpose,the name of the person would be kept secret.

From http://www.i4donline.net/news/ 12/08/2006

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State Government Introduces Online Monitoring System in Orissa,India

The State Government has decided to introduce on-line monitoring system to check the rising trend of maternal mortality and infant mortality rate in Orissa,India. The Health Department has issued notification for this monitoring system. All information related to inflow of patients in hospitals,number of woman coming for delivery would be available online. The Orissa Government has also decided to constitute patient welfare committees at the district,sub-division,and block level. The government will provide INR1 lakh each to sub-division and block level patient welfare committee. Even the Patient Welfare Committee would also provide financial assistance to poor patients. The State government has also decided to install 30 mobile diagnostic centres in the State. All the modern facilities would available in the mobile diagnostic centres.

From Daily Poineer 12/12/2006

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MP,Chattisgarh (India) Initiate E-Procurement Project in Their Departments

In India,the states,Madhya Pradesh (MP) and Chattisgarh are setting up e-Procurement programme across all their departments and officials. MP and Chattisgarh are setting up e-Governance plan in all their departments. Nextenders as well as Wipro has bagged the order from both states. Nextenders would be part of e-Procurement process in MP for five years and three months,while for five years and six months in Chattisgarh. MP has already issued a cabinet order for e-Procurement process. According to Anurag Srivastava,IT secretary,MP states,didital signatures would be used for on-line forms and information would be encrypted. Madhya Pradesh Society will carry electronic tendering to promote IT in the state. Nextenders will use the three tier architecture on Microsoft for the projects and for database SQL. e-Procurement process would run on servers. MP will have its data centre and disaster recovery centre in Mumbai by next month. NetMagic will manage both the centres. The company has selected VSNL and Airtel for providing bandwidth in MP. The cost of each project is around INR 4 crore. Recently,the company has tied up with Wipro to provide front end and back end support. All government departments of Chattisgarh are involved in e-Tendering process at an independent level. Later on,all these departments would be integrated into e-Procurement. In MP,BHEL and Antares were the other bidders for the project,and C1India and Tenderciti were the other bidders in Chhatisgrah. Nextenders is also doing e-Procurement for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the public works department in Assam.

From http://www.egovonline.net/ 12/18/2006

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Indian Government Plans to Computerise Employment Exchange

Soon the Employment exchange of India is becoming computerised. The Central Government is agreed to bear 75% burden of the project under the National e-Governance Programme (NeGP). Computerisation programme under NeGP will also include delivering services like application registration to a citizen through a single-window. The National Informatic Centres (NICs) of the respective states will prepare the software for the state employment exchanges. The project will form part of the list of 15 state mission mode projects (MMPs) mandated under NeGP. Initially,NeGP will implement the project in 15 MMPs. The Government is specially targeted for two states for e-Processing of employment exchange. The states like Andhra Pradesh,Karnataka and Kerala have already implemented computerisation of database,the only need to take it in shape.

From Economic Times 01/03/2007

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OERC Becomes E-Commission for Consumer's Benefits of India

The Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) is becoming e-Commission by launching its portal,www.orierc.org for the people of Orissa,India. The new portal of OERC allows the consumer to file petition online. Consumer would be able to see the details of his bills and payment on this site. OERC has became the country's first such commission,which has adopted e-Governance for fulfilment of its desired objectives in an effective manner. The commission has developed its own website,Oracle database like Regulatory Information Management System,Cesu Billing Information System (CBIS) and Case Tracking System,which facilitated the smooth adoption of e-Governance. On this site,the power utilities can enter,query and analyse data relating to finance and operation,technical and planning through RIMS. Commission user can exchange their views,share information through the Discussion Forum provided in the portal.

From Daily Poineer 01/12/2007

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Kerala Govt. Launches Online Asset Filling System

Kerala (India) State Government has launched a computerised asset recording system for Government employees of state. Chief Minister of the state,VS Achuthanandan has launched the Electronic Recording System for government employees. The "Electronic Recording System" would be available for the staff in the General Administration Department. This would be the first kind of system to be launched in the country.

From Daily Poineer 02/02/2007

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Legal Information Institute Launches Web Portal in India

The new website of the India Legal Information Institute will provide all legal information without any fee. The India Legal Information Institute's new website,www.indlii.org will provide free of cost all legal information,including judgments of the Supreme Court,High Courts,tribunals and even district courts. The institute is committed in collecting all legal information about India from all available sources; publishing it on the Internet with free and full public access; granting the public rights to use legal resources without any restriction; creating awareness of the availability of free legal resources; removing hurdles to providing information and coordinating with other institutions to explore sources and utilisation of legal information. Initially,all judgments of the Supreme court would be available online,later on judgments of the Allahabad,Calcutta,Bombay and Delhi High Courts would also be available online.

From The Hindu 02/02/2007

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GAIL Launches E-Tendering System in India

Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL),India has launched the e-Tendering system as taking its initiative steps in the direction of e-Governance. U D Choubey,CMD of GAIL has launched the e-Tendering system on February 13,2007. He emphasised that e-Tendering tool will provide transparency to public. GAIL has already launched the e-Procurement of non-stock items in India. This platform will provide digitally signed tender and bid documents for user authentication and has facility for vendors to upload queries. The e-Procurement implementation through SAP-SRM is being carried out with IBM as the Implementation Partner and SAP giving Program Expert Consulting. The system for e-Tendering has been designed and developed on the SAP-SRM platform and is suitable to handle Single/Two envelope system for Limited/Open Tendering. The process also conforms to Contracts and Procurement (C&P) procedures and Government guidelines. The system also gives the facility for Time and Date Digital locking/ opening of electronic tender. The system enables on-line submission of Technical bids and Price bids in standard format.

From Money Control 02/14/2007

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PAKISTAN: PTA to Establish 400 Telecentres in Rural Areas

ISLAMABAD (February 03 2007): Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has launched a telecenter project to provide modern telecommunications and Internet facilities in rural and far-off areas. Under the project titled 'Rabta Ghar,'400 telecenters would be established in the first phase for which the equipment worth Rs 50,000 each would be provided free of cost. Applications have been invited from eligible candidates. These telecenters will be provided to those individuals who are unemployed with at least intermediate qualification. They will arrange a shop or room of the size of 10x12 ft (minimum). Females of rural areas fulfilling the criteria may also apply. According to PTA here on Friday,individuals from those villages and union councils will be considered for "Rabta Ghar" where the population is 4,000 to 10,000 and no public telephone or net cafe facility in the radius of 5 km is available. In case of Balochistan,applications can also be forwarded at Tehsil level. If more than one application is received from an area,the most suitable applicant will be selected. In the first phase of the project,PTA with the support of telecom operators,will establish 400 "Rabta Ghar" all over the country.

Telecom operators have pledged their support to PTA for setting up these "Rabta Ghar" including PTCL (100),Mobilink (100),Ufone (50),Instaphone (15),Intel (10),Worldcall (Payphones in all Rabta Markaz) while PTA will be sponsoring 125 "Rabta Ghar" bringing the total to 400. PTA has also arranged free delivery,installation and training of the "Rabta Ghar" equipment on the premises/location of the selected individuals by Intel through its Genuine Intel Dealers (GIDs). PTA has prepared training CD/manual for the selected "Rabta Ghar" owners and the GIDs will provide the basic necessary training to them. Applications can be submitted on the prescribed application forms through mail before February 15 to Deputy Director (Rural Cell),PTA H/Qs Building,F-5/1,Islamabad. PTA's Zonal Offices will verify the details provided in the application forms and after proper verification the list of selected individuals will be displayed on PTA's website. In addition,PTA Zonal Office will notify the selected individuals. Further information can be obtained from Telephone Nos. PH: 051-9225329-31 Ext: 147 or email address: rabtaghar@pta.gov.pk. It may be added that a "Rabta Ghar" (Telecenter) is a small business set up that provides PCO,Internet,Fax,Printing and Scanning services to small communities. A "Rabta Ghar" owner can earn approximately Rs 5,000 per month.

From http://www.brecorder.com/ 02/03/2007

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IRAN: TCI Will Extend Cellphone Services to 8 Countries

Telecommunications Company of Iran (TCI) is planning to extend mobile phone network services in eight countries in Central Asia and Africa,the TCI chief said here on Friday. Vafa Ghaffarian told Fars that Iranian mobile phone operators have been allowed to begin marketing activities in eight countries,which he did not name. "The government has earmarked funds for this project," he said,adding that the office of deputy minister of information and communication technology (ICT) for international affairs and domestic mobile phone operators are working on the initiative. Last week,Ghaffarian,also a deputy ICT minister,said the general contractors (GCs) in the groundbreaking project to develop the national cellphone network have undertaken to complete 50 percent of the job by December 21,stressing,however,that the project has shown a progress of 22 percent so far.

"If they manage to get half the job done by late December,it would have a positive impact on the work as it proceeds," he said. The official further said that after 50 percent of the project is completed,the company will decide on the remaining half. "We hope that we will manage to distribute one million SIM cards per month by mid-February," he said,adding that a total of 3.1 million SIM cards are expected to be ceded in the period. In October,President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at the ceremony to sign the agreement between the Ministry of Industries and Mines and the Ministry of Science,Research and Technology to manufacture mobile phones that Iran is ready to produce all telecoms equipment. Iran announced this week it has signed a contract with the leading international mobile phone maker Nokia for manufacturing mobile phones inside the country.

From http://www.iran-daily.com/ 12/02/2006

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KAZAKHSTAN: Technology Park to Be Created in South Kazakhstan

Umirzak Shukeyev,governor of South Kazakhstan region,charged scientists with a task to create a technology park in the region. He made such statement at a meeting with scientists Friday,Kazakhstan Today correspondent reports. Mr. Shukeyev reminded that four technology parks were developing in Kazakhstan. "I analysed their experience and in my view the most successful,correct,and systematic experience is in Uralsk - it is the technology park "Algorithm",- he said calling the scientists to create an identical technology park. The governor noted that "the profile of the region should be determined. Our pharmaceutical industry is developing well,an oil refinery is operating well,on the basis of which a petrochemical venture can be created. A lot of very valuable material is used for black oil and sink. We could also develop new sorts of cotton,not by selection,but by genetic modeling." Besides,the governor drew attention of the audience to "a very powerful advantage - a special economic zone. We can situate the technology park on the territory of this special economic zone,and correspondingly there will be no taxes. I believe that we can achieve in one year what Uralsk achieved in two years."

From http://eng.gazeta.kz/ 01/08/2007

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Old Turkish Inscriptions Transferred to Electronic Form in Kazakhstan

Old Turkish inscriptions in Kazakhstan were transferred to electronic form within the framework of a project carried out by Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan,enabling the ancient texts to be used in computers. Erden Kajibekov,head of the Language Committee of Kazakhstan`s Ministry of Culture and Information,stated that the electronic corpus of the old inscriptions,formed thanks to such project,would offer wide opportunities for researchers and readers. On the other hand,Nepil Bazilhan from the ministry`s Cultural Heritage Program noted that the electronic program comprised of more than 300 old Turkish inscriptions and tablets such as Orhon,Yenisey,Talas and Turpan. Bazilhan said that the electronic copy of the inscriptions consisted of historical information on the monuments,an explanatory section of the researches conducted on the works,original texts,transcription of the original texts with Latin alphabet,translation in Kazakh language,as well as photographs,original copies of the texts on the monuments,criterion and a dictionary.

From http://www.turkishpress.com/ 01/23/2007

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TAJIKISTAN: The Challenge of E-Government

Analysts say a new e-government programme will set higher standards for transparency and good governance than the authorities in Tajikistan have ever been subjected to. On January 28,Transport and Communications Minister Abdurahmon Ashurov announced that his department had finalised an e-government programme to allow a rapid information exchange among all official agencies,regional authorities and the public. The programme was approved by the government as long ago as 2004,and a pilot project involving 20 government agencies began in March last year. Zafar Saidov,director of the state news agency Khovar,said Ashurov's announcement indicated that the programme was about to be implemented in practice. He explained that e-government would entail setting up a government internet network,creating a government portal and individual websites for state institutions,and providing more public internet access points. Saidov estimates it will take 18 months to two years to complete all this work.

Muhammadi Ibodulloev,coordinator of the E-Community Project with the Civil Initiative for Internet Policy group,highlighted some of the practical difficulties that the scheme will come up against. For example,many state institutions have computers but these are not part of an integrated network. There is also a shortage of IT specialists to design websites and create databases. But he said,"The main problem is whether the government is ready to launch such a project. When we talk about e-government,we mean a government that is constantly online and ready to answer questions put by the public." Other commentators say the government itself will have to change before the new system's potential can be exploited. Political scientist Shokirjon Hakimov says that even if e-government comes into being,it will not by itself improve the dialogue between society and government. "There won't be significant changes to the government's working methods and systems until it stops hiring personnel on the basis of local and regional allegiances,corruption and other negative phenomena,and starts employing new people who suit the needs of a modern society," he said.

From http://www.iwpr.net/ 02/02/2007

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UZBEKISTAN: Political Parties Encouraged to Build Their Websites

The Institute for the Study of Civil Society together with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation conducted a roundtable meeting entitled "Political parties and Internet" on 29-30 January in Tashkent. The representatives of the Uzbek Agency of Communication and Information took part in the meeting. The aim of the event was to discuss the opportunities offered by Internet in the promotion of a particular political line,formation of public opinion,supporting two-way communication between the voters and the parties. At the roundtable participants discussed the need for the creation and the content of political parties'websites. Germany's experience in the sphere was studied. For this purpose Konrad Adenauer Foundation invited experts from Germany to tell the audience about the priority directions in the operation of the websites of political parties in an online regime,online PR-campaigns,etc. The specialists of the Uzbek Agency of Communication and Information said Uzbekistan had created the legislative framework,telecommunication infrastructure and all the conditions for the formation and development of several national information resources of interest to the population and state agencies.

Taking into consideration the growing importance of information and information exchange in the modern society,a national information environment is being formed,national information resources are being created and promoted. For the purpose of bringing to order and further development the extensions of the www.uz national information-search system,a technological platform for the hosting and technical support and provision of security of online state information resource has been created. Active development of the national Internet segment has led to the increase in the number of Internet users to 1.7 million people,and the number of collective access (internet cafes) to 634. The speed of Internet connection to international information networks has reached 230 Mbit/sec. Wireless access technology (Wi-Fi) is developing and expanding rapidly. A task has been set to increase the number of national online information sources,and improve the quality of websites registered in the UZ segment of the Internet (second level www.uz websites totaled 3,639 as of 1 January 2007).

To date the websites with entertainment,technical or private content prevailed,however today a stable increase in the official information of state agencies,educational,social,informative and media nature is being observed. Improvements have been observed in the online broadcasting of TV and radio programmes of Ozbekiston,Yoshlar,Mashal and Dostlik channels. Today,638 newspapers,198 magazines,55 publications and 4 information agencies are present in Uzbekistan (according to http://mmf.uz),of them more than 50 have online versions. Roundtable participants also reviewed the reports,such as "Architecture" of e-government","Role of Internet in PR-campaigns","Importance of Internet to government agencies responsible for public relations","Experience of foreign political parties in using Internet",etc.

From http://news.uzreport.com/ 01/30/2007

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Centre for Electronic Governance to be Created

Centre for Electronic Governance will be created in Uzbekistan under Association of enterprises and organizations of information technologies (IT Association). On Thursday,8 February,ten enterprises,which wished to become official partner of centre,signed a memorandum of understanding between partners of Centre for Electronic Governance under IT Association. APC (Kazakhstan),Baik Technologies; East Telecom; Micros,Microsoft (Kazakhstan),Nuron Savdo; Oracle (Kazakhstan),Sharifa-T and Unitech,as well as Uzbek Agency for Communication and Informatisation (UzACI) signed memorandum and became partners of newly created centre. The main aim of the centre is to organize regular demonstration area of new hardware and software in e-Governance. It is expected that the centre will present opportunity to its partners to promote their goods and services in e-Governance,carry out scientific research,and promote creation of information society.

The main task of the centre will be development of methodology on integrated information system and enforcement of concept on single architecture of e-Government,which envisages creation of united government resources,portals and information systems. The centre will position itself as single marketing,consulting,scientific and educational establishment,which directs its efforts to develop e-Governance in Uzbekistan and promote solutions of the project. The centre will also promote idea on Single National Information Space and introduction of single standards,which will allow to unite e-systems and simplify search and selection of corresponding solutions.

From http://business.uzreport.com/ 02/08/2007

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AUSTRALIA: Phone Connection and Fault Repair Remains Strong

The Australian Communications and Media Authority's (ACMA) Telecommunications Performance Data report for the September 2006 quarter,released today,showed strong performance from the industry in meeting new connection and fault repair standards,the Minister for Communications,Information Technology and the Arts,Senator Helen Coonan said. The report demonstrates how AAPT,Optus,Primus and Telstra have complied with their Customer Service Guarantee (CSG) obligations. The CSG covers fixed phone services,particularly the time it takes to connect and repair telephone services. "Telstra and other providers performed strongly in the September 2006 quarter. Telstra completed 96 per cent of its new service connections and 92 per cent of fault repairs within the timeframes set down by the CSG. Optus and AAPT completed 93 per cent and 97 per cent of their new service connections within the CSG timeframes respectively," Senator Coonan said. "ACMA considers any result of 90 per cent or more to be satisfactory. This report demonstrates that the telecommunications regulatory framework is delivering results to consumers. "I am also pleased to see that the percentage of payphone faults cleared within three working days in remote areas has increased by two per cent since the June quarter. "However,Telstra's performance in repairing payphone faults in remote areas is still too low at 71 per cent. Given the importance of payphones in remote communities,including Indigenous communities,there needs to be significant improvement in fault repair timeframes. I will be seeking Telstra's co-operation to ensure that repair performance can be significantly enhanced." More generally,the report shows Telstra's payphone availability nationally was at 99 per cent,which is consistent with its June quarter results.

From http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/ 01/11/2007

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Interim Determinations and Reasons in Two Line Sharing Service Telecommunications Arbitrations

Following a process of consultation,the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has today issued the reasons supporting interim determinations made in December 2006 for telecommunications disputes regarding annual charges for the supply of the Line Sharing Service (LSS)*. Interim determinations were made in Line Sharing Service arbitrations between Telstra and the following parties: Chime Communications Pty Ltd,and Request Broadband Pty Ltd. The interim determinations provide that: The LSS Annual Charges payable by a party to Telstra for the LSS are $38.40 per LSS per annum ($3.20 per LSS per month). The interim determinations were made on 21 December 2006,and the charges will apply between the parties for no more than one year. However,the ACCC intends to progress the arbitration of these access disputes towards a final determination as a matter of priority,and is looking to make final determinations by no later than 31 March 2007. The charges specified in the interim determinations will replace Telstra's LSS annual charges of $9 per month,which Telstra has continued to apply notwithstanding that the ACCC (2005) and the Australian Competition Tribunal (June 2006) has each ruled that a charge of this amount is not reasonable. In making the interim determinations,the ACCC has applied its long-standing LSS pricing principles (2002),and also the previous rulings that have been made by the ACCC (2005) and the Australian Competition Tribunal (June 2006) concerning a reasonable approach to setting LSS annual charges.

Consistent with the ACCC's published approach since declaration of the LSS (August 2002),a contribution to the costs of providing a telephone line has not been included in LSS annual charges at this stage,as line costs are being fully recovered in other charges. It should be noted that since 2000,Telstra has significantly increased line rental prices paid by consumers and businesses (such as from $11.65 to $27.23 (GST exclusive) for the majority of its retail residential customers) to recover line costs from line rental revenues. Allowing a contribution to line costs in LSS charges at this time would permit Telstra to double-dip from revenues earned on fixed-voice and ADSL services in over-recovering line-related costs. While Telstra has to date chosen to set line rental charges at a level that fully recovers line costs,following consultation on a draft interim determination in these disputes (October 2006),Telstra proposed an alternative approach to the recovery of its line-related costs,that could have consequences for the pricing of the LSS and for the wholesale line rental (WLR) service. Under Telstra's proposal,a contribution to the recovery of line-related costs would be included within LSS annual charges,with a reduction in charges for the WLR service. While Telstra's willingness to reconsider its approach to the recovery of line costs is welcome,the initial suggestion of Telstra as how to implement this initiative was not acceptable,as: it results in charges across LSS and WLR that are too high,and an immediate introduction of a new price structure could unduly harm competition,due to the consequences for competitors who have relied on Telstra's previous price structures in making investment decisions.

The ACCC does not consider it is appropriate for the access seekers to continue to pay LSS annual charges at the rate of $9 per month while alternative price structures are considered by the parties. It is noted that Telstra has long been able to implement a rebalancing of LSS and WLR charges but had not sought to do so prior to the circulation of the draft interim determinations. The ACCC strongly encourages Telstra to take this opportunity to put forward a reasonable rebalancing of the pricing of LSS and WLR. The ACCC remains open to considering alternative approaches for the purposes of setting prospective LSS annual charges in a final determination. It is also strongly encouraging the parties to negotiate a resolution of the dispute that has regard to charges applying across the LSS and WLR service. However,the ACCC considered that an interim determination should be made in these access disputes that reflects current circumstances,including Telstra's long-standing approach to the recovery of line costs. The ACCC will publish on its website further details of its reasons for making these interim determinations so as to inform the debate on the LSS and encouraging more reasonable LSS prices to apply across the market. * The Line Sharing Service (referred to as a Spectrum Sharing Service by Telstra) has been regulated since 2002. The line sharing service allows the copper wires that provide voice telephony to also be used to supply broadband internet services by using the low frequency part of the copper line spectrum for voice and making the high frequency spectrum portion available for data. Access seekers obtain access to the high frequency portion of the spectrum to supply broadband internet. Telstra retains the ability to provide voice services obtain line rental revenue and voice call revenue.

From http://www.accc.gov.au/ 01/16/2007

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Centrelink on the Job

CENTRELINK has set a mid-year target for completing the delay-plagued installation of an $125 million national data network. Contractors have begun the rollout of fresh bandwidth,including fibre cabling,to hundreds of the agency's offices around the country as it beefs up its numbers of web-based applications. The rollout is taking place as part of Centrelink's $312 million IT Refresh project,which will upgrade or replace much of the agency's computer and communications infrastructure. Centrelink put the data network project to tender in October 2003 but the tender process was affected by a series of delays,including an early decision to expand the initiative to make it more competitive for Australian companies. Carriage services contracts were eventually awarded to Optus,Uecomm,Soul Telecommunications and Nextgen in late 2005. Dimension Data picked up a network hardware deal in January 2006. The value of the contracts pushed the estimated cost of the project up by $25 million to $125 million. A Centrelink spokeswoman said all of its customer service centres and call centres were expected to be connected to the network by the end of June and some sites in Queensland and Victoria had already been hooked up.

From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 02/06/2007

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Feds Adjust to Skills Shortage

THE federal Government has begun rationalising information and communication projects in commonwealth agencies as the skills shortage in information technology starts to bite. Special Minister of State Gary Nairn announced the strategy in December at an industry conference in Stockholm. Mr Nairn said government agencies should stop using siloed and segregated approaches to e-government. The Government's lead information and communications technology governance body,the Australian Government Information Management Office,had established a committee to stop the government making multiple investments in projects that achieved much the same goals. "If there is a common investment that has already been made,it should be reused,and if there is scope for common processes and systems to be redeveloped,this should be done once rather than multiple times," he said. Early last year,AGIMO appointed 10 senior departmental officials to make up a committee to manage technology reforms. Called the Business Process Transformation Committee,it has been working closely with chief information officers in key federal government agencies. Mr Nairn said the committee had found four major areas of federal government practice that needed reform: business reporting,grant management,record and document management and online recruitment. Australian Bureau of Statistics chief information officer Jenine Borowik said the review would help the federal government to manage the IT skills shortage.

"There are so many IT-related opportunities out there concerning what government wants to do with IT and concerning what the sector wants to do,and there aren't enough school leavers choosing IT as a career,so people can see that there's a shortage," Ms Borowik said. Another role of the committee is to help agencies deliver e-government services more consistently and improve adoption of standards across government. "There's probably a number of reasons why citizens expect more consistent services from government," Ms Borowik said. "They don't want us to waste money by doing the same thing in lots of different ways unless there are good reasons,and they expect government to be cost-effective." A spokesman for Mr Nairn said single sign-on access was one area the Government was seeking to standardise across its agencies. Government processes needed to be reviewed whenever new technology was adopted,he said. Although the committee was working towards goals set out in the federal e-government's strategy statements,its targets had not been set out in dollar terms,he said.

From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 02/06/2007

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Medicare off Limits Without Smartcard

MORE than 16 million Australians will lose access to Medicare and all other commonwealth welfare services by 2010 unless they sign up to the Howard Government's proposed Access Card. Using smartcard technology,the Access Card is to become the Government's new method of delivering $100 billion in benefits while cracking down on identity fraud estimated to cost taxpayers up to $4 billion a year. The Government wants to sign up to 35,000 people a week to the card from April next year,and intends that all Australians needing it will have one by June 2010. Seventeen separate government cards covering services such as Medicare,Centrelink and Veterans Affairs will be rolled into a single piece of plastic that carries a microchip. The card's surface will include the user's name,digitalised signature,a biometric photo,card number and expiry date. The user's date of birth on the face of the card will be optional. Also stored on the chip will be information including the user's gender,residential address,concession status,Medicare number,emergency payment number and an optional PIN number. The user will have control over the inclusion of further information such as organ donation,health alerts,mobile phone number and emergency contact details. At this stage,the Government has left open the possibility that the card's use could be extended to a wider range of applications,including public transport use. Facing protests that it could be used as a general identity card or subject to "function creep",the Government insists that people's privacy will be protected by law. Access Cards will not be required to be carried at all times.

From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 02/07/2007

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NEW ZEALAND: System Promises Better Comms During Disaster Response

A local software company is developing a new technology which they claim will massively improve government responses in disasters and national emergencies. The IP-based technology from TeamTalk Ltd,called P25,allows agencies to talk directly to each other when required,while providing much greater security and privacy. "P25 has benefits for a range of central and local government agencies - particularly emergency services,which need to be able to communicate with each other in cases of major disasters or national emergencies",the company claims in a statement. "However these organisations also need to be able to communicate privately the rest of the time - and P25 ensures their calls and data are encrypted and can't be overheard by anyone outside the organisation",said TeamTalk managing director David Ware. "Over time we can see this being valuable to agencies such as Ambulance,Fire Service,Police,the Ministry of Fisheries,Justice and other government agencies,as well as private organisations like high-end security companies,energy retailers and port companies." P25 technology is standards-based and supports handsets from a variety of manufacturers including Motorola and Tait Electronics. TeamTalk says the P25 network is operating in Wellington and is in the final stages of testing. The company plans to introduce the new technology throughout the country.

From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ 02/01/2007

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Next Generation Enterprise Information Management Solution

At this year's Online Information Event,NetworkedPlanetgave the first UK showing of TMCore07,a next generation Topic Maps-based information management solution for the distributed enterprise. TMCore07 integrates directly into EPiServer or MS Office 2007 via SharePoint,to provide large and growing organisations with a quick and direct way for employees to locate and present data from across multiple systems. The solution locates and structures information with the aim of 'vastly improving'knowledge sharing and speed up day-to-day processes by ensuring workers can rapidly access relevant data. Kal Ahmed is Founder of NetworkedPlanet: "Employees within large organisations need access to a plethora of data to do their jobs as quickly and efficiently as possible,yet this information is usually located on a range of different systems. A task as seemingly straightforward as generating a customer invoice may require data from invoicing,CRM and financial accounting systems - not to mention any historic order information - all of which take time to locate,as this may require searching or navigating through multiple interfaces. Topic Maps technology provides the solution for bringing those access points together in a single,unified and searchable interface.

"By mapping each respective source of information,data from any source can be viewed and manipulated through a single interface which can be accessed by anyone in the organisation," Kal Ahmed continued. "In the case of the Norwegian Post Office implementation,the TMCore integration ensures valuable corporate assets are easily found using an effective 'concept,role and workflow'based system." TMCore is NetworkedPlanet's server platform for developing enterprise-scale knowledge and information management applications. The TMCore server stores and manages 'topic maps'of an organisation's internal databases,documents and employee knowledge which comprises of different "topics" - employees,departments,services,documents etc. Each topic holds information about itself,links to related documents and can also be connected to any other topic creating a knowledge web of relationships and information resources that can be browsed or searched by end-users. The result is a detailed index of the organisation's information resources across a number of systems via a single unified information portal.

From http://www.networkedplanet.com/ 12/07/2006

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Cisco Pledges M investment for ICT-related Microcredit Financing in Developing Countries

Cisco announced that it will pledge million dollars to support ICT-related micro-financing initiatives within the global ICT Empowerment Network,a new collaborative microcredit financing program launched today by Professor Muhammad Yunus,a Nobel Prize Laureate and managing director of Grameen Bank,in partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ICT Empowerment Network is a virtual network of organizations working together to help the underprivileged earn sustainable incomes. Through its network of ITU-Cisco supported Internet Training Centres,Cisco will work with the ITU and Grameen Bank to provide eligible students micro-credit loans to undertake their information and communications technology (ICT) education. In addition,Cisco will work with ITU and Grameen Bank to help eligible graduates of ITU Internet Training Centres receive entrepreneurial business training and/or mentoring as well as micro-credit start up capital to launch their own ICT-related businesses."I am very excited at the level of commitment and support from ITU Connect the World partners,like Cisco,who can translate creative ideas into action to make a difference in the developing world," Yunus said. "The ongoing success of the ITU-Cisco Internet Training Initiative worldwide demonstrates what can be accomplished through effective public and private sector collaboration for sustainable development."

In 2002,Cisco and the ITU launched the Internet Training Center Initiative for Developing Countries with the goal of setting up 50 centres around the world by 2003. The effort has led today to the establishment of 66 such ITU-sponsored centres in 56 countries,including 20 least-developed countries. ITU-Cisco Internet Training Centers leverage the comprehensive curriculum created by the Cisco Networking Academy Program,which will celebrate 10 years of ICT education in 2007. There are Cisco Networking Academies in roughly 165 countries worldwide serving half a million students annually."Education and enhanced ICT skills have proven to expand communities,so increasing access to ICT education in the developing world through micro-credit financing is a great idea," said,Mr. Yoshio Utsumi,secretary-general of the ITU. "The continued growth of Internet Protocol networking in the developing countries,especially through active support from government and private sector leaders,will yield tangible benefits for the global economy as a whole." "The ITU continues to be a leader in ICT development programs and partnerships worldwide that help narrow the digital divide," said Tae Yoo,Cisco vice president of corporate affairs and executive lead for corporate social responsibility. "This opportunity for Cisco to provide a replicable and sustainable platform for people to enter the ICT world through education and entrepreneurial pursuits is a great example of the impact that effective public and private partnerships can have in the developing world."

From http://www.mb.com.ph/ 01/01/2007

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E-commerce to Gain Momentum in 2007 Predicts Hybris

According to hybris,www.hybris.com,a product information management (PIM) and e-commerce vendor,2007 will be the year of e-commerce as new trends in consumer and industry practice,coupled with new technology such as Web 2.0,moves the potential of e-commerce to new levels. The company's prediction is in line with many leading analysts and industry commentators who have been speculating on the emergence of e-Commerce 2.0. Ariel Ludi,CEO of hybris,said: "Many new technologies are coming on stream ready for 2007 and end user and business trends mean that the convergence of these will see a massive drive for e-commerce in 2007. Many consumers are willing to adopt new technologies as the benefits of online shopping become widely recognised; this,along with the willingness of retailers and business to try and push out new types of service will see many news types of e-commerce emerging in the market." Robert Garf,Research Director at AMR Research,said: In the late 1990s through mid-2002,retailers invested in first-generation e-commerce applications to meet growing consumer demand. Because these rudimentary,standalone,and often times highly-customized systems thwart retailers' efforts to meet evolving cross-channel consumer expectations,a majority of retailers are in the process of a technology do-over."

Amongst the trends that hybris has identified in the market that will see an upswing in e-commerce activity during 2007 are the following: Better website accessibility and usability thanks to increased use of AJAX,Drag & Drop and One-Page-checkout facilities; More Multi-Channel Commerce solutions for business users based on a single data and pricing information source; More user friendly and socially sympathetic commerce websites thanks to Web 2.0 software tools with greater community and user input and involvement; Increased use of a sales catalogue on retail websites with features such as the intuitive turning of pages; Increased used or ASP multi-tennant solutions which will save money as it can; manage all tenants on a single platform; Comparative online customer service stats will be available so retail sites and others can ensure they are providing top levels of service and competitiveness; Increased accessibility of digital downloads thanks to functionality such as Software as a Service; Greater integration with physical stores (store pickup,returns,POS terminals); More multi-national e-commerce websites will be established which will led to a need for more international payment solutions including automated tax and delivery calculation; Integration of advertorials in shops e.g. of partners (cross selling) as ad spending on the internet further increases; hybris supplies standard software solutions for the media-independent management of product information and its distribution over both online and print channels.

From http://www.managinginformation.com/ 01/11/2007

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Nokia,Motorola Top Cell Makers

Finland's Nokia remains No. 1 in the cell phone industry.The industry's No. 2 player,Motorola of the United States,also maintained its position but fell back slightly.Korea's Samsung Electronics stayed at No. 3 and LG Electronics of Korea was ranked No. 5. The rankings are from Strategy Analytics,a research firm.Nokia and Sony-Ericsson were the only two cell phone firms to improve their operating profit,year-on-year. Nokia,the biggest market share holder,increased its operating profit 15.3 percent,slightly higher than the previous year's 15.1 percent.Profit at Sony-Ericsson rose to 11.8 percent from 7.1 percent the previous year. Motorola,LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics all failed to increase their profit from a year ago. The average price for a Sony-Ericsson phone increased,while all other brands offered lower prices,based on the American Selling Price,or ASP.An average Sony-Ericsson cost $177,while the average at Nokia was $122 and $131 for Motorola. Korean companies Samsung and LG offered their cell phones at average prices of $172 and $160. Competition is lowering the prices,but the growing mobile phone market in developing countries is another reason for the decrease in prices,analysts said.In countries with low income,phones with lower prices tend to sell more. Meanwhile,the annual number of mobile phones sold globally topped one billion for the first time last year.

From http://joongangdaily.joins.com 01/27/2007

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Top Ten Mistakes in Web Design

Since my first attempt in 1996,I have compiled many top-10 lists of the biggest mistakes in Web design. See links to all these lists at the bottom of this article. This article presents the highlights: the very worst mistakes of Web design. (Updated 2007)

1. Bad Search Overly literal search engines reduce usability in that they're unable to handle typos,plurals,hyphens,and other variants of the query terms. Such search engines are particularly difficult for elderly users,but they hurt everybody. A related problem is when search engines prioritize results purely on the basis of how many query terms they contain,rather than on each document's importance. Much better if your search engine calls out "best bets" at the top of the list -- especially for important queries,such as the names of your products. Search is the user's lifeline when navigation fails. Even though advanced search can sometimes help,simple search usually works best,and search should be presented as a simple box,since that's what users are looking for.

2. PDF Files for Online Reading Users hate coming across a PDF file while browsing,because it breaks their flow. Even simple things like printing or saving documents are difficult because standard browser commands don't work. Layouts are often optimized for a sheet of paper,which rarely matches the size of the user's browser window. Bye-bye smooth scrolling. Hello tiny fonts. Worst of all,PDF is an undifferentiated blob of content that's hard to navigate. PDF is great for printing and for distributing manuals and other big documents that need to be printed. Reserve it for this purpose and convert any information that needs to be browsed or read on the screen into real web pages. Detailed discussion of why PDF is bad for online reading.

3. Not Changing the Color of Visited Links A good grasp of past navigation helps you understand your current location,since it's the culmination of your journey. Knowing your past and present locations in turn makes it easier to decide where to go next. Links are a key factor in this navigation process. Users can exclude links that proved fruitless in their earlier visits. Conversely,they might revisit links they found helpful in the past. Most important,knowing which pages they've already visited frees users from unintentionally revisiting the same pages over and over again. These benefits only accrue under one important assumption: that users can tell the difference between visited and unvisited links because the site shows them in different colors. When visited links don't change color,users exhibit more navigational disorientation in usability testing and unintentionally revisit the same pages repeatedly. Usability implications of changing link colors; Guidelines for showing links.

4. Non-Scannable Text A wall of text is deadly for an interactive experience. Intimidating. Boring. Painful to read. Write for online,not print. To draw users into the text and support scannability,use well-documented tricks: Subheads; bulleted lists; highlighted keywords; short paragraphs; the inverted pyramid; a simple writing style,and; de-fluffed language devoid of marketese. Eyetracking of reading patterns.

5. Fixed Font Size CSS style sheets unfortunately give websites the power to disable a Web browser's "change font size" button and specify a fixed font size. About 95% of the time,this fixed size is tiny,reducing readability significantly for most people over the age of 40. Respect the user's preferences and let them resize text as needed. Also,specify font sizes in relative terms -- not as an absolute number of pixels.

6. Page Titles With Low Search Engine Visibility
Search is the most important way users discover websites. Search is also one of the most important ways users find their way around individual websites. The humble page title is your main tool to attract new visitors from search listings and to help your existing users to locate the specific pages that they need. The page title is contained within the HTML tag and is almost always used as the clickable headline for listings on search engine result pages (SERP). Search engines typically show the first 66 characters or so of the title,so it's truly microcontent. Page titles are also used as the default entry in the Favorites when users bookmark a site. For your homepage,begin the with the company name,followed by a brief description of the site. Don't start with words like "The" or "Welcome to" unless you want to be alphabetized under "T" or "W." For other pages than the homepage,start the title with a few of the most salient information-carrying words that describe the specifics of what users will find on that page. Since the page title is used as the window title in the browser,it's also used as the label for that window in the taskbar under Windows,meaning that advanced users will move between multiple windows under the guidance of the first one or two words of each page title. If all your page titles start with the same words,you have severely reduced usability for your multi-windowing users. Taglines on homepages are a related subject: they also need to be short and quickly communicate the purpose of the site.

7. Anything That Looks Like an Advertisement
Selective attention is very powerful,and Web users have learned to stop paying attention to any ads that get in the way of their goal-driven navigation. (The main exception being text-only search-engine ads.) Unfortunately,users also ignore legitimate design elements that look like prevalent forms of advertising. After all,when you ignore something,you don't study it in detail to find out what it is. Therefore,it is best to avoid any designs that look like advertisements. The exact implications of this guideline will vary with new forms of ads; currently follow these rules: banner blindness means that users never fixate their eyes on anything that looks like a banner ad due to shape or position on the page; animation avoidance makes users ignore areas with blinking or flashing text or other aggressive animations; pop-up purges mean that users close pop-up windoids before they have even fully rendered; sometimes with great viciousness (a sort of getting-back-at-GeoCities triumph).

8. Violating Design Conventions Consistency is one of the most powerful usability principles: when things always behave the same,users don't have to worry about what will happen. Instead,they know what will happen based on earlier experience. Every time you release an apple over Sir Isaac Newton,it will drop on his head. That's good. The more users'expectations prove right,the more they will feel in control of the system and the more they will like it. And the more the system breaks users'expectations,the more they will feel insecure. Oops,maybe if I let go of this apple,it will turn into a tomato and jump a mile into the sky. Jakob's Law of the Web User Experience states that "users spend most of their time on other websites." This means that they form their expectations for your site based on what's commonly done on most other sites. If you deviate,your site will be harder to use and users will leave.

9. Opening New Browser Windows Opening up new browser windows is like a vacuum cleaner sales person who starts a visit by emptying an ash tray on the customer's carpet. Don't pollute my screen with any more windows,thanks (particularly since current operating systems have miserable window management). Designers open new browser windows on the theory that it keeps users on their site. But even disregarding the user-hostile message implied in taking over the user's machine,the strategy is self-defeating since it disables the Back button which is the normal way users return to previous sites. Users often don't notice that a new window has opened,especially if they are using a small monitor where the windows are maximized to fill up the screen. So a user who tries to return to the origin will be confused by a grayed out Back button. Links that don't behave as expected undermine users'understanding of their own system. A link should be a simple hypertext reference that replaces the current page with new content. Users hate unwarranted pop-up windows. When they want the destination to appear in a new page,they can use their browser's "open in new window" command -- assuming,of course,that the link is not a piece of code that interferes with the browser's standard behavior.

10. Not Answering Users'Questions
Users are highly goal-driven on the Web. They visit sites because there's something they want to accomplish -- maybe even buy your product. The ultimate failure of a website is to fail to provide the information users are looking for. Sometimes the answer is simply not there and you lose the sale because users have to assume that your product or service doesn't meet their needs if you don't tell them the specifics. Other times the specifics are buried under a thick layer of marketese and bland slogans. Since users don't have time to read everything,such hidden info might almost as well not be there. The worst example of not answering users'questions is to avoid listing the price of products and services. No B2C ecommerce site would make this mistake,but it's rife in B2B,where most "enterprise solutions" are presented so that you can't tell whether they are suited for 100 people or 100,000 people. Price is the most specific piece of info customers use to understand the nature of an offering,and not providing it makes people feel lost and reduces their understanding of a product line. We have miles of videotape of users asking "Where's the price?" while tearing their hair out. Even B2C sites often make the associated mistake of forgetting prices in product lists,such as category pages or search results. Knowing the price is key in both situations; it lets users differentiate among products and click through to the most relevant ones. (by Jakob Nielsen)

From http://www.useit.com/ 02/12/2007

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ASIA: A Promising Land for ICT

As so-called "Telecom Olympia" ITU (International Telecommunication Union) Telecom World 2006 dropped its curtain down here Friday,many participants agree the Asian market is a promising land for the world telecom industry and holds great opportunities for international telecommunication technology (ICT). This event,the first ever held outside Geneva in its history,attracted almost all global telecom giants except Nokia and over 140 Chinese enterprises,making a contrast to the last one in which Siemens,Ericsson,Alcatel were collectively absent. "It is not easy for Hong Kong to win the hosting right," elected Vice Secretary General of ITU Zhao Houlin said. Since many multi-national telecom companies agree that China and Asian markets are growing rapidly while the European market is already fostered,so such an event should be held in a place close to developing markets. Over 50 Canadian companies attended this year's expo. "Although I can hardly imagine how important this event will be in ITU history by now,I can say it is one of the best that I have attended," Canada's Department of Industry Communications Research Center President Veena Rawat said,adding that she was very much impressed by the fast development in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong telecom industry. At the two-storeyed Siemens exhibition pavilion,communication official Uta Apel said Asian telecom markets,particularly in China and India,are growing surprisingly fast. Siemens has attached great importance to the Chinese market and has invested 200 million euros (240 million U.S. dollars) in the research of 3G standard TD-SCDMA. It has also established a joint venture with China's Huawei. Allen Timpany,CEO of Vanco,the leading global Virtual Network Operator listed in London,said its company has reached an milestone of 100 percent growth in the Asia-Pacific region and 150 percent in China over the past 12 months. During the period,Vanco has doubled the number of sites under management in the region to 2,300 and opened an office in Shanghai. It plans to open a new office in Hong Kong in two months in order to meet the need of business expansion. China has endorsed TD-SCDMA as its standard for 3G mobile communication and pledged to put it into commercial operation during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Since the timing of 3G issue has yet decided,Chinese government officials,Chinese enterprises'directors and even Chinese reporters were the targets of multi-national companies. China Day,the first in the history of ITU's Telecom World expo,is seen as a climax of exchanges between Chinese telecom industry and its counterparts around the world. "This expo is better than I have imagined," ITU Secretary General Yoshio Utsumi said. Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce,Industry and Technology Joseph Wong said ITU Telecom World 2006 has generated an over-expected 900 million HK dollars (115.38 million U.S. dollars) for Hong Kong's coffers. The event has also attracted 62,000 visitors,including 540 CEOs and officials from 48 countries and regions,another figure over expectation according to ITU.

From http://english.people.com.cn/ 12/09/2007

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eMusic Eyeing Asia After Strong European Launch

CANNES,France (Reuters) - Digital music download service eMusic says it is eyeing a launch in Asia after a successful rollout across Europe in 2006. EMusic became the first service to launch in all 27 European Union member states when it rolled out in September,taking on iTunes in some of the big markets such as Britain and Germany. In its search for further expansion,the New York-based eMusic is looking toward Asia and Japan in particular. "Aggressive international expansion is on the calendar for us. The Asian markets are interesting but they're challenging." EMusic said it believed it was now Europe's second biggest digital music provider,although there were no official industry figures to confirm this. "In 150 days since the launch we've sold 4.5 million tracks and we think that makes us the undisputable number two," Chief Executive David Pakman told Reuters in an interview in London late last week. "On the whole we (have seen) that the convergence rate (of people looking at the Web site to becoming a subscriber) is higher in Europe than the U.S. which suggests that there is pent up demand here for legal,easy to use,digital services." EMusic is second to iTunes in the U.S. market,the world's biggest music market,putting it ahead of well known brands such as Rhapsody,MSN Music,Napster and Yahoo. EMusic differentiates itself as the only one on a large scale delivering songs in the MP3 format,meaning they can be played on any portable music player,including the iPod. Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes can only be used with an iPod while music from other legal services such as Napster or Rhapsody cannot be used on the mass-selling device.

Music Majors EMusic's policy of making tracks available to all formats has resulted in none of the four major music companies,which are responsible for about two-thirds of the music sold worldwide,supplying to the service. Pakman said he was still talking to Vivendi's Universal Music,Sony BMG,EMI Group and Warner Music but until they agreed to distribute in the MP3 format,it would not carry their songs. Instead,eMusic offers some 2 million tracks from 13,000 independent labels covering jazz,blues,classical and everything in between to its 250,000 subscribers. And Pakman is not complaining. "The older consumer is terribly underserved by retail today yet it is the only segment that is still buying music in meaningful numbers," he said,explaining that older consumers were less likely to opt for illegal services. "It's better to have a more diverse selection and cater to a lot of people's taste." As well as providing a wide range of music for a monthly fee,eMusic also offers advice from a team of 120 experts on music while subscribers can rate and review songs. "We have a two million track catalog and just over two thirds of it sell every quarter," he said. "We spend a lot of time guiding people." The company now has Asia in its sights. In a report released last week,the international trade body the IFPI said Japan was the first market where the growth of digital music had made up for the loss in physical sales. But according to Pakman some 70 percent of the music sold there was indigenous Japanese music and each label would need to be licensed before it could be sold on the service. Music experts would also need to be signed up for a Japanese unit and any launch could take a couple of years to prepare. (by Kate Holton)

From http://news.yahoo.com/ 01/21/2007

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IP Telephony Carrier Market Strong in Asia-Pacific Through 2011,Says Research Firm

The Asia-Pacific region will be the strongest regional performer in the IP telephony-carrier market through 2011,according to research firm Dell'Oro Group. The growth in Asia-Pacific will come in part from China and other developing countries in Asia-Pacific that continue to expand voice service availability,as well as from Japan and more advanced countries that are replacing their circuit infrastructure with next generation network (NGN) equipment in order to offer the latest subscriber services,noted the firm. "Large enterprises have led the way in the deployment of IP telephony,and now we are seeing small and mid-sized business also realizing the benefits of VoIP," said Alan Weckel,Analyst of IP Telephony Enterprise Research at Dell'Oro Group. "Large enterprises are now testing the waters with Unified Communications solutions that promise to provide users with a cohesive communications experience in which voice,instant messaging,video,and email are integrated together," Weckel added. The North American market is forecast to grow through 2011,albeit at a slower rate than Asia-Pacific. "North American service providers,possessing mature voice networks,are currently investing in enhanced broadband services,such as IPTV,that enable them to better compete with cable operators," commented Steve Raab,Director of IP Telephony Carrier research at Dell'Oro Group. "During the next five years,the replacement of circuit switch local exchanges in North America will be increasingly linked to the adoption of IP Multimedia Subsystem,or IMS. Service providers will use IMS as a common core to offer converged fixed,mobile,and multimedia services," said Raab. (by Eric Mah)

From http://www.digitimes.com/ 02/02/2007

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EUROPE: Multinational Companies Leaving UK over Taxes

Many big companies are considering moving their headquarters or operations out of Britain because of the rising tax burden. Some companies have already moved to Bermuda,Experian has located its headquarters in Ireland and HSBC has warned that it might have to rethink being based in London because British taxes on business are increasing while those in most other countries are going down.

Free Whitepaper - Winning the PCI Compliance Battle Download this free white paper and see how Qualys streamlines PCI Compliance by helping merchants scan and remediate vulnerabilities,and submit PCI compliance directly to their acquiring banks,all through the same easy to use,on-demand interface. Several multinationals are considering moving their headquarters or operations out of Britain because of the rising tax burden,the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is warning. "I've come across a couple of multinationals,there are one or two others also thinking about it," Richard Lambert,director general of the employers'group,told The Business ahead of the CBI's conference which opens on Monday in London.

Other Options
Several Lloyds of London companies have already moved to Bermuda,Experian has located its headquarters in Ireland and HSBC has warned that it might have to rethink being based in London because British taxes on business are increasing while those in most other countries are going down. "There are others that are brooding about it. Companies have more options,especially big ones," Lambert said. "It's not a flood,more a trickle,but it has to be watched," he said. Issues of concern to business other than tax include infrastructure ,planning issues,regulation and skills,he said. Lambert pointed out that the Conservative Party voted against a compromise European directive on hazardous materials agreed under the British presidency last year. He accused the Tories of "seeking to out-green the government on green issues" by opposing the directive from a green perspective.

Regulating Minimum Wage Increases On the minimum wage,Lambert said that "it is time for a pause in the rate of increase. The national minimum wage brought benefits overall but has risen very significantly in real terms." Britain is now at a point where further real increases would hit jobs and investments,Lambert said. He called for further increases in the minimum wage to be no higher than inflation. The CBI supports a pause before extending the free movement of labor to Romania and Bulgaria,Lambert said. He said that almost all of the migrants that had moved to Britain from the former Eastern European countries had found work,adding to demand and providing a supply shock to the economy,plugging skills shortages. But he acknowledged that the numbers had been vastly greater than predicted,putting pressure on infrastructure. British economic growth will reach 2.7 percent this year before slowing down a little next year,Lambert said. On the renewed housing market boom,he added: "Were I still on Bank of England's monetary policy committee,I would certainly be thinking carefully of the potential inflationary consequences."

From http://www.ecommercetimes.com/ 11/27/2007

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UK IT Recruitment Reaches Its Peak: Local Authorities See Budgets Stabilise

The boom in IT recruitment in local authorities is over,as budgets stabilise following five years of investment in egovernment,according to new research. The study by user group Socitm,IT Trends in Local Government 2006/7,looks at how the move to delivering online public services has affected councils' abilities to sustain a state of change and modernisation. IT recruitment had been growing steadily in the sector,though has now stabilised due to shrinking budgets. ¡®For the past five years the IT functions in local authorities have been taking on more staff. Several thousand new jobs have been created through this period. But this year's results suggest that this growth has come to an abrupt end,' the report says. (by James Brown)

From http://www.itweek.co.uk/ 01/11/2007

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NORTH AMERICA: E*Trade Anticipates Strong '07 Results

E*Trade has traditionally focused on retail investors,but is now trying to capture new sources of earnings growth by targeting assets of the "mass affluent" -- those with $50,000 and $500,000 to invest -- who are considered to be underserved by traditional brokerage houses like Merrill Lynch & Co. and Morgan Stanley.

Free Direct Marketing Lists Consumer and business lists with targeted leads to help you grow your business. E*Trade Financial (NYSE: ET) on Thursday said profit in 2007 could exceed Wall Street expectations in a year the online brokerage hopes to expand overseas and begin to offer customers the ability to trade cross-border stocks. Strong earnings aren't the only big plans for the San Francisco-based online brokerage. The company said it intends to switch its stock listing back to the Nasdaq,its original home after going public in 1996,from the New York Stock Exchange.

Big Year Ahead E*Trade said it expects 2007 profit between US$1.65 and $1.80 per share on revenue between $2.75 billion and $3 billion. Wall Street currently expects earnings of $1.73 per share on $2.68 billion in revenue,according to an analyst poll by Thomson Financial. The figures represent profit growth between 15 percent and 26 percent from its 2006 earnings projections,while revenue is forecast at 14 percent to 24 percent higher. However,the company will take a series of one-time gains in 2006 after unwinding a number of investments -- including its stake in E*Trade Japan. E*Trade is expected to report its fourth-quarter and full-year results in late January. "We're seeing continued organic growth in our targeted customers -- the ones that are active traders,but most importantly the mass affluent," said Chief Operating Officer R. Jarrett Lilien. E*Trade has traditionally focused on retail investors,but is now trying to capture new sources of earnings growth by targeting assets of the "mass affluent" -- those with $50,000 and $500,000 to invest -- who are considered to be underserved by traditional brokerage houses like Merrill Lynch (NYSE: MER) and Morgan Stanley.

Going Global Lilien also said the company wants to expand internationally,where it currently derives about 10 percent of its business. He wants to increase that portion to 30 percent by 2010 by building out European operations. E*Trade expects to launch or acquire a bank in the UK this year. In addition,Lilien said customers by the second quarter will be able to directly trade stocks in some foreign markets. "We want to flip the switch and let our U.S. customers benefit from our international structure," he said. "We'll be the first mainstream player of any kind to do this." E*Trade currently has operations in Japan,Hong Kong,France,German,the UK,and Canada. At some point,customers in all regions would likely be able to trade stocks from other markets,he said.

Nasdaq Move As for its return to the Nasdaq,the brokerage said it will transfer its listing to the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol ETFC. E*Trade moved to the NYSE in 2001. Lilien said one reason for the move was an agreement with the Nasdaq to promote its corporate services business to companies listed on the exchange. E*Trade currently manages stock option trading on behalf of employees at a number of companies,including Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) and Apple Computer (Nasdaq: AAPL). Details of the deal were not disclosed. Rich Adamonis,a spokesperson for the New York Stock Exchange,said it "declined when approached by E*Trade" for a similar agreement. The NYSE is already home to a number of major brokerages that have similar services,and none have any agreements in place with the exchange. "We're looking to grow the corporate base that we have now,and grow the amount of potential new customers and do a better job of retaining that money as people exercise options or stock," Lilien said. Looking toward 2007,he said no major acquisitions are in the works -- and that instead the company focuses on organic growth and spot acquisitions overseas. E*Trade had at one point been in talks with every major player in the discount brokerage space,including Charles Schwab (Nasdaq: SCHW). The CEO said E*Trade is still open to the possibility of joining forces with another broker.

"We'd be all right if we're left alone because we'll be the traditional household name five years from now," he said. "But,if someone comes,we have no choice but to listen." Shares of the company rose 35 cents to close at $22.76 on the NYSE Thursday,and added another 37 cents in after-hours electronic trading. (by Joe Bel Bruno)

From http://www.ecommercetimes.com/ 12/15/2007

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US Gates Foundation Expands Web Access Program

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation says it will expand its program to give people access to the Internet in libraries and other public places to Botswana,Latvia and Lithuania. In 1997,the foundation began putting money into Internet access in the United States at a time when only one in four libraries was connected. Email communications are critical business tools that carry a number of risks. MessageLabs free 7 day email audit can help organizations to evaluate their own exposure to these risks. The audit will tell you exactly how your business is faring in the battle against viruses. Learn more. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation says it will expand its program to give people access to the Internet in libraries and other public places to two Eastern European countries and the African nation of Botswana. The foundation on Thursday announced grants totaling US$17.5 million to Botswana,Latvia and Lithuania as a step in a seven-year plan to support increased Internet access in public libraries in other countries.

Connecting the World In 1997,the foundation began putting money into Internet access in the United States at a time when only one in four libraries was connected. Now that virtually all American libraries are online,the foundation has turned some of its attention to the rest of the world,where it says 87 percent of the world's population lacks access to the Internet. The Global Libraries initiative has been moved to the foundation's new global development department because foundation officials see a connection between access to information and escaping poverty.

Wiping Out Poverty Technology can help alleviate poverty by improving the way people can use government services,connect with work opportunities,grow a business,learn about health issues that affect them and communicate with others across the world," said Martha Choe,director of the foundation's Global Libraries initiative. The grants to Latvia and Lithuania are the foundation's first forays of any kind in Eastern Europe,although foundation officials said they expected the global development department to announce other grants in the region. The grants,which will be matched with government contributions from the three countries,will pay for computers,training and planning. In addition to library Internet connections in the United States,the foundation has previously supported libraries in Chile,Mexico and Canada. (by Donna Gordon Blankinship)

From http://www.ecommercetimes.com/ 12/21/2006

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CHINA: Approve Another 5 National Software Export Bases

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) has granted five cities -- Guangzhou,Nanjing,Hangzhou,Chengdu and Jinan -- the status of national software export base,entitling them to special treatment and financial support from the government. With the six existing bases -- Beijing,Shanghai,Tianjin,Xi'an,Shenzhen and Dalian -- China now has eleven national software export bases. Vice-minister of commerce Yi Xiaozhun said the ministry will help these bases develop software brands for the international market. Support for the bases will include interest rebates,R&D funding,personnel training,corporate qualification certification,export credit loans,credit insurance,commercial information and protection of intellectual rights. Statistics show that the value of China's software exports were multiplied 14 times in a six-year period from 1999 to 2005,rising from US$250 million to US$3.59 billion. The 11 software export bases contributed 80 percent of the total volume. According to a plan drafted by the MOFCOM,China will boost software exports to US$10 billion by 2010. To attain the goal,software exports will need to grow at an annual rate of no less than 25 percent.

From http://www.china.org.cn/ 12/04/2006

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Hong Kong Ready to Launch 3G

To cope with the demand created by mainland's development of the network in future,Hong Kong is ready to launch 3G services using TD-SCDMA standard,the Office of the Telecommunications Authority said yesterday. Speaking at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World 2006 expo,the authority Deputy Director-General Ha Yung-kuen said he was confident that Hong Kong operators would be interested in providing services using the standard. The standard,currently undergoing tests,is being regarded as a "home grown" standard as its development was spearheaded by the mainland companies,such as Datang Telecom. But it was not officially announced as yet when the 3G licence would be awarded in the mainland. Ha said the four 3G operators in Hong Kong,SmarTone,Hong Kong CSL,Hutchison 3G HK and Sunday,were given frequencies to operate 3G service on both W-CDMA standard and TD-SCDMA standard.

The operators had launched 3G service on W-CDMA standard since 2004/2005. But Ha said the operators could launch TD-SCDMA service at any time in Hong Kong according to their own business plan. He said the situation was mature to develop TD-SCDMA 3G services. The government still holds two licences of TD-SCDMA standard,and would sell them to interested parties if none of the four operators willing to provide 3G service based on the standard. Ha said none of the four operators had expressed plan to offer services on TD-SCDMA standard. He,however,was confident that the service had market demand in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Wireless Development Centre had commenced a test on TD-SCDMA technology,with the support of Datang Mobile. Datang Mobile and Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association had also jointly organized a TD-SCDMA application development program in July.

ITU strategy and policy unit head Tim Kelly said the mainland could afford to have its own standard for 3G because it is the world's largest market. Even if the mainland adopted the homegrown standard,Kelly said manufacturers could easily adopt the requirement and produce phones that could be used for multiple standards. Kelly said it was important for the mainland to spread communication technology use to rural areas in the future and he expected the mainland market would continue to grow.

From http://www.china.org.cn/ 12/07/2006

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Cisco Invests $50 Million in Chinese Communications Firm

Cisco has become the largest foreign investor in China Communications Services after announcing a $50 million investment in the newly public company. With the investment,Cisco has committed more than $700 million in venture funding to nearly 30 Chinese companies.Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) announced a US$50 million investment in the newly public China Communications Services,making the U.S. network equipment maker the largest foreign investor in CCS.CCS,formerly a subsidiary of the state-controlled China Telecom Group (CTG),went public earlier this month on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. CTG,as well as state-controlled China Mobile and China Unicom,are the other big investors in CCS.CCS helps large Chinese service providers such as China Netcom design and build Internet and other telecommunications networks. With the investment announced Wednesday,Cisco has committed more than $700 million in venture funding to nearly 30 Chinese companies. Other recent investments include e-learning company Ambow and gaming company Shanda.However,doing business in China remains risky even for Cisco,the most highly valued company in Silicon Valley with a market capitalization of nearly $165.5 billion Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) ,Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO) and Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) came under political fire earlier this year for operating in China.

The country's communist government is holding 260,000 people in ideological "re-education" camps,according to the U.S. State Department.After the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989,Congress prohibited U.S. companies from exporting products used for crime detection and control.The sanctions apply to old-fashioned items such as handcuffs and guns -- not modern technology from blue-chip tech companies. A growing number of human rights advocates and politicians -- including Rep. Tom Lantos,D-Calif. -- are asking the Commerce Department to modernize the list of prohibited items. Advocates say the Department of Commerce should ban some software -- which Chinese officials could use to compile databases of suspected enemies of the state -- and some telecommunications technology that could help the government identify dissidents or censor information.It's unclear how long Cisco -- which is ambitiously expanding in China,India,Russia and other developing nations -- can stave off a political backlash.Earlier this month,the school board in Dover,Penn.,voted to delay the purchase of a $416,661 phone system from Cisco for fear the contract could contribute to oppression in China. The board is studying Cisco's effect on China's human rights abuses and censorship."It's a risky market," said analyst Erik Suppiger of Pacific Growth Equities.

"But with a quarter of the world's population,it's one you can't run away from." Cisco doesn't break out profits by country,but executives are committed to helping build the telecommunications infrastructure in China,the world's largest mobile communications market. They say investing in CCS and startups will help improve human rights."We want to help build innovation and drive middle-class growth. It paves the way for strong economic growth that builds a broader base in the economy within China," said Ned Hooper,Cisco vice president of corporate business development. "China is one of the most important of the emerging and new markets ... not only because of the scale but the innovation that's going on there."£¨by Rachel Konrad£©

From http://www.ecommercetimes.com/ 12/14/2006

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Beijing to Open Online Hotel-booking Center for 2008 Olympics

The Beijing tourism administration will open an online accommodation booking center before March next year for visitors to the 2008 Olympic Games. The Beijing Municipal Tourism Bureau's website,www.bjta.gov.cn,will be linked to the official website of the 29th Olympic Games,said Xiong Yumei,deputy director of the bureau on Friday. The administration plans to recommend at least 1,000 budget hotels on the website,providing about 100,000 beds. The website will feature pictures of the hotels and introductions in three languages - Chinese,English and French. "In 2008,these budget hotels will be introduced in eight languages for the convenience of visitors," Xiong said. The bureau announced the first batch of 253 budget hotels on Friday,which have all passed the service standards for quality. According to the standards,the hotels must all have service guides,signs,and menus in both Chinese and English. They must also have facilities for visitors to pay by credit card,and have Internet connections in rooms. All hotels will be issued with a price guide for reference.

The tourism administration also named 134 star hotels in Beijing as "green hotels" on Friday. They have all passed the State standards which require the setting up of eco-friendly managerial systems and facilities,and the adoption of technologies that conserve water,energy and reduce waste. Beijing is expected to receive about 500,000 visitors from abroad during the 17-day games. Xiong said she believed Beijing has the capacity to accommodate the visitors. In the 11 months this year,Beijing has accommodated 3.63 million overseas visitors,an increase of 7.5 percent over the same period last year. Beijing now has 4,023 non-star hotels and 674 star hotels,which provide a total of 570,000 beds. At least 89 hotels have applied to be graded next year. By 2008,the number of star hotels in Beijing will reach 800.

From http://www.chinaview.cn 12/18/2006

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Online Spending Increases

Chinese Internet users spent 276.76 billion yuan on Internet services in 2006,almost 50 percent more than the previous year,as their number rose to 136 million by the end of 2006,the Internet Society of China said yesterday. The society said in its Internet Guide 2007,jointly prepared with consulting firm DDCI,that Chinese Internet users spent about 170 yuan a month on services like Internet connection,online shopping and online games last year,almost 8 percent higher than the amount in 2005. Total consumption increased as the number of Internet users rose from 111 million at the end of 2005 to 136 million in 2006. The report was the first released by the society on the Internet sector,which covers 50 categories and surveyed over 80,000 individuals and 900 companies. The China Internet Network Information Center,which has so far released 18 sets of statistics on Chinese Internet users on a six-monthly basis,is yet to release its own figures. "The result of this report shows the growth has been very strong,but this industry is still in a very rudimentary stage," said Huang Chengqing,secretary-general of the Beijing-based organization.

The report also said 20.8 million Chinese were frequent bloggers,while 101 million routinely read blogs. Beijing-based Sina defended its title as China's No1 Internet portal,but its peer on the NASDAQ,NetEase,took over Sohu to become the second most popular portal in the world's second-largest Internet market after the United States. "In China,integrated service providers like portals have a natural reason to exist,because the size of the market is small and Chinese users'knowledge of the Internet is highly concentrated," said Hu Yanping,one of the authors of the report. Online advertising,the main revenue source for Internet portals,saw a sustained high growth of over 50 percent to 5 billion yuan in 2006,up from 3.3 billion the previous year. In the highly competitive search engine market,the growth was also brisk from 1.05 billion yuan in 2005 to 1.57 billion yuan in 2006. The report showed 80 percent of Chinese users search on Baidu,while 36 percent have used Google for searches and 26 percent use Yahoo! China. Domestic firm Baidu had only 40 percent of the market share in terms of revenue,while Google claimed 18 percent the smallest gap of recent reports on the search engine market. Recent reports said Baidu's share was twice that of Google's in China.

From http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ 01/11/2007

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China Mobile to Buy Majority Stake in Millicom's Pakistan Unit

China Mobile Communications Corp.,the world's largest wireless phone operator by users,will buy a majority stake in Millicom International Cellular SA's Pakistani cell-phone unit in the Chinese company's first overseas investment.China Mobile,based in Beijing,will pay $284 million in cash for an 89 percent holding in Paktel Ltd.,Luxembourg-based Millicom said yesterday in an e-mailed statement. Rainie Lei,a spokeswoman for China Mobile Ltd.,the Hong Kong-listed unit,confirmed the details of the deal. The Chinese company failed in July last year to buy Millicom,which has networks in 16 emerging markets including Latin America and Africa. China Mobile wants to export to emerging countries the marketing tactics and technology it developed in the rural areas of China,the world's largest market by users. The so-called enterprise value of the transaction is $460 million,including debt,the Millicom statement said. The government in China last month said technology companies should invest more in African and Southeast Asian nations with which the country is deepening ties. Lou Qinjian,deputy minister at the Ministry of Information Industry said in a Dec. 19 speech posted on the ministry's Web site that government departments should adjust loan,insurance and foreign exchange policies to support such overseas technology investments. Shares of China Mobile rose 1 percent to HK$71.50 in Hong Kong as of 10:04 a.m. local time,compared with 0.3 percent gain in the Hang Seng index. £¨By Janet Wong£©

From http://www.bloomberg.com/ 01/22/2007

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Sources: Microsoft to Set Up MSN Center in China

Software giant Microsoft is setting up a research-and-development center in Shanghai for its online MSN service,its first such center outside the United States,sources familiar with the plan said on Wednesday. The move came after Microsoft saw setbacks in its online services in China,including the resignation of a top executive responsible for the company's Windows Live unit in China late last year. The center,which will cost up to $20 million,will also have a technical support team for Microsoft's online communication tool MSN Messenger,which has become part of everyday life for teenagers and young professionals in China. "It's a clear signal that Microsoft won't give up its online MSN service in China even though it may have some problems in its local operations," said one source,who declined to be identified. "Twenty million dollars is really small money to Bill Gates,but it's important to notice that Microsoft has chosen Shanghai for its first overseas MSN R&D center," the source added. The R&D center,based in Shanghai's Zizhu Science Park,where chip giant Intel already has a research office,will develop Internet software,the sources said.

MSN Messenger has more than 20 million users in China,the world's second-largest Web market with around 137 million users. Microsoft could not immediately be reached for comment. The plan to set up a MSN R&D center in China also indicates that the company is eager to take advantage of the relatively flexible working environment and large pool of engineering talent,said Doug Crets,Hong Kong-based analyst at Media Partners Asia. "We're seeing things being done in China that are often squelched or squandered in the U.S. or other western countries," said Crets,referring to China's relatively lax attitude toward intellectual property,which may allow for more experimental technology and business ventures. "It's like going back to the old fashioned 'tinkering with the Web'feeling here," he added. The investment by Microsoft,which set up a research-and-development center in Beijing in 1995 but as yet no R&D facility for the popular chat service MSN,may help to consolidate its leading position in China where global players are also hunting for profits. For example,industry sources told Reuters last week that Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. is finalizing a deal with partners,including private equity heavyweight IDG,to launch a networking Web site venture in China within a few months.

Luo Chuan,former head of Microsoft's Windows Live unit in China and also responsible for the China site of the company's MSN portal,resigned from Microsoft at the end of 2006. Now,Luo is tipped to become the first chief executive for MySpace China,an online networking Web site similar to MSN. "The MSN R&D center in Shanghai is also part of Microsoft's efforts to become localized," said the first technology source. The source said MSN China is also partnering with Shanghai Media Group,one of the country's biggest media companies,on online video and shopping business. The new MSN R&D center may develop software to provide technical support to the partnership.

From http://news.zdnet.com/ 01/31/2007

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Yearning for E-Commerce in China

The Chinese consumer demographic is changing dramatically. The frugal,conservative aging population does not buy online,wear designer fashions or play Internet-based games. The generation of middle-class youth has more disposable income and is not afraid to spend it. This bodes well for multinational companies that hope to tap into China's fever for e-commerce. Many analysts argue that Chinese consumers are conservative spenders and not willing to buy on credit or engage in e-commerce. The numbers initially seem to support such arguments,as China's household savings rate sits at 40 percent versus less than 1 percent in the U.S. Credit card penetration is low,with fewer than 50 million cards in circulation for an emerging middle class of 250 million. While China's Internet users will hit more than 140 million by the middle of 2007 and will overtake the U.S. as the largest group within the next few years,critics believe that e-commerce will never take off here because,as a matter of culture,Chinese do not like it. However,do these numbers and conclusions incorporate the seismic shifts in consumer habits in China that have been taking place in the last decade? The answer is a resounding no. These skeptics fail to look at the changing demographics of China's consumers. Sales are now being led by a younger generation that is willing to buy on credit and shop online.

In surveys and interviews that the China Market Research Group conducted with Chinese youth between the ages of 18 and 28 in Shanghai,Beijing and Guangzhou,more than 80 percent said they were willing to buy items online and over 70 percent said they would use a credit card if they could. The results indicate that old stereotypes of Chinese consumers stuffing yuan under their mattresses can no longer be attributed to the increasingly well-off middle-class Chinese youth segment. This bodes well for multinational companies that hope to tap into China's fever for Web 2.0 and e-commerce. It is true that older generations of Chinese do save a lot -- many have lost their pensions and are worried about paying skyrocketing medical costs. Most economists look at these age groups and argue that China's economy will have problems in the future if the government cannot jump-start consumer spending. However,many of these economists have been far too simplistic in their analysis of the future of China's household savings rates in the coming decades. Consumption patterns are very different for Chinese born after 1978 -- China's baby boomers. They have experienced 30 years of economic growth and political stability similar to those born during the post-World War II years in the U.S. Our surveys show that Chinese between the ages of 18 and 28 save very little or actually buy on credit because they are so optimistic about China's economy and their own earnings potential.

Their salaries are regularly increasing 25 percent a year as the competition for even junior talent is fierce and they job-hop like mercenaries. These young professionals want to show their status in the workplace and spend nearly all of their salary on items such as Nokia (NYSE: NOK) mobile phones,Zara clothing,and Estee Lauder cosmetics. In focus groups we conducted in Beijing,more than 70 percent of young women making between US$500 and $2,000 a month expected to travel to Hong Kong and/or Thailand in the next three years. Instead of running up bills on a MasterCard or American Express (NYSE: AXP) the way consumers in the U.S. do,Chinese youth finance their lives of leisure by borrowing from their parents and grandparents. Having experienced the bitterness of the Communist-Nationalist Civil War and the Cultural Revolution,older Chinese are determined to see their children -- almost always their only child -- happy and want to live vicariously through them and,therefore,shower them with money. Chinese youth overwhelmingly want credit cards. To date,there are fewer than 50 million credit cards in China compared with more than 1.1 billion debit cards.

However,2006 saw the addition of 15.6 million credit cards and 200 million debit cards,so more Chinese are adopting credit cards. This is a big jump from 2004,when only 10 million cards were in circulation. The trend will continue as the Chinese banks up their services to compete with the onslaught of foreign banks such as Citigroup and HSBC that are bulking up their offerings in China due to liberalized regulations. The No. 1 reason so few people have credit cards,according to our findings,is not that they do not want one but that it is simply too difficult for the average Chinese person to get approved for one. They have to spend far too long dealing with an inefficient system of credit checks and subpar service,where consumers regularly have to wait in two-hour-long queues to see a teller,unless they have VIP cards. Another problem is that even if you do get your hands on a credit card,domestic cards still lack viable credit limits because of weak risk-management departments. We interviewed one wealthy Chinese man who charges more than $1 million a year on his international American Express card but cannot get a Chinese credit card with a credit limit of more than $20,000. Even that comparatively high limit was only possible because he knows the chairman of the bank personally and has built up trust through transactions involving his company.

Chinese banks are also pushing to issue more credit cards to stave off flocks of Chinese shifting their money to foreign lenders. The state-owned China Daily newspaper conducted an online poll that showed 57 percent of Chinese wanted to switch their savings to foreign banks once they are able to in March. Chinese banks are continuing to reform and see credit cards as an important component of their futures if they want to compete on an international level. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Bank of China have each issued 10 million credit cards to date,and market leader China Merchants is pushing hard to develop credit cards for use in online transactions. China Merchants has done more than any other Chinese bank to come up with co-branded credit cards for use by Chinese consumers -- especially younger consumers. To date,China Merchants has forged relationships with Young Card,Bertelsmann,Rayli,Hello Kitty,MSN mini,Ctrip,Air China and China Southern,to name a few. The rise of virtual currency used in online gaming environments in China shows that Chinese youth love e-commerce -- if taking part is convenient. Because of the lack of credit cards in circulation,for many Chinese consumers the first introduction to e-commerce comes through the use of virtual currency. Several hundred million dollars'worth of virtual currency was purchased last year,and the size of the virtual currency market is growing 30 percent annually.

The numbers have become so large that the Chinese government has issued warnings about the effect virtual currency can have on China's financial stability -- money supply problems,inflation,and avenues for money laundering. Millions of Chinese youth are spending hours each week playing online games,writing blogs,chatting through instant-messaging services such as QQ,and streaming music from portals such as Baidu.com. To facilitate online transactions and retain active users,many of these Internet sites have minted virtual currency that can be exchanged for goods and services. Chinese netizens like virtual currency because acquiring some does not require a credit card or even a bank account. Tencent,the provider of the leading QQ instant-messaging service and leading online game host,is China's virtual-currency leader. Its customers can purchase Q-coins using cash,through mobile phone cards offered in tandem with China Mobile,or up until recently,by winning the coins in online gaming competitions. The coins,which are purchased at a rate of one Q-coin to one yuan,are valuable to online consumers as they can be used to purchase ring tones,use antivirus software,send e-cards and,in some cases,buy tangible goods. When one combines the Q-coins with similar offerings from Netease.com,Baidu and Sina,the virtual-currency market becomes a power that can influence China's financial markets. Although eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) did not do well in China,e-commerce is booming.

Many Chinese are going to online auction sites and stores in search of broader product selection or better deals than they can find around town,and every year more Chinese are flocking to online auction sites such as Alibaba's Taobao or online sellers such as dangdang.com and Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) subsidiary Joyo.com to buy products and services. The aggregate of all online transactions in China is impressive. Last year,the total value of all online transactions,both business and consumer,soared to $127.5 billion,up from $85 billion in 2005. The consumer side represented a fairly small portion of this amount,but with an estimated 50 million Chinese engaged in e-commerce,growth is extremely promising. As more credit cards are adopted,then e-commerce will continue to grow. The demand is there,as shown by the eager adoption of virtual currency. China's banks have to catch up to the demand by issuing more credit cards. Multinational companies that can integrate e-commerce processes to tap into China's emerging middle class will do well.

From http://www.technewsworld.com/ 02/10/2007

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JAPAN: Webmoney to Supply E-money System to HMV

WebMoney,an online money solutions provider,has announced an alliance with HMV Japan. Under the partnership,WebMoney will provide the music retailer with its e-money issuance system whereby HMV users can download audio files at the HMV website (http://www.hmv.co.jp/digital/) by entering a 16-digit prepaid number. HMV will also hold a campaign in which those who spend more than 5,000 yen at stores will be given free download cards for three files.

From http://www.japantoday.com/ 12/21/2006

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Gov't to Promote Telecom Tech Overseas

The communications ministry will set up a task force to promote advanced Japanese telecommunications technologies overseas in a bid to have them adopted as international standards,officials said Thursday. The task force will support Japanese telecom companies'efforts to market their cutting-edge technologies,such as those for "one-segment" terrestrial digital broadcasts for mobile phones and Internet-based networks,to overseas companies,they said.

From http://www.japantoday.com 01/12/2007

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Internet Initiative Japan Invests in DreamArts

Internet Initiative Japan announced on January 31 that IIJ Technology,IIJ's 72.1% owned subsidiary,acquired a 17.1% of stake in DreamArts Corporation on January 31,2007.Tokyo-based DreamArts is engaged in the development and sales of computer software,internet related services,IT solutions and related consulting. IIJ-Tech hopes to develop synergies between its expertise in IP network engineering and systems construction,and DreamArts'expertise in the development and sales of business applications and group software. IIJ-Tech also plans to enhance cooperation with DreamArts in the systems integration business

From http://www.japancorp.net 02/02/2007

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Online Auctions to Refill Tax Coffers

The National Tax Agency is turning to online auctions to sell art,jewelry and other assets seized from delinquent taxpayers,agency officials said over the weekend. If all goes smoothly,sales eventually will include seized real estate,they said. The program likely will start as early as June. Officials are still deciding which private-sector auction site to use. The agency already sells assets seized for nonpayment of income and other taxes,mostly through tenders. The proceeds go to national tax coffers. Last year,the agency began holding live auctions for some items. In recent years,Tokyo and other local governments have used online auction sites to recoup unpaid tax money by selling seized assets. Internet auction sites post descriptions of items on offer,minimum bid prices and other details. Bidders log in and enter maximum bids. The bidder with the highest bid when the auction time limit expires buys the item. The agency auctions will not accept payment by credit card. The transaction must be paid for in cash. While unpaid national taxes have declined annually with the improving economy,929.8 billion yen in total remained owing in fiscal 2005. In the year from July 2005,the agency sold about 6,000 seized items,earning 18 billion yen in revenue,primarily from real estate and other high-value assets. Personal items earn a relatively low rate of return compared with their handling costs,however,and have thus had lower priority. In July 2004,the Tokyo metropolitan government tied up with Yahoo Japan Corp.,which operates the nation's largest Internet auction site,to sell off seized assets. The move spread to other local governments,with more than 100 now using the Yahoo site. Tokyo has conducted 15 online auctions,selling off about 450 items and taking in about 175 million yen. Prices have reached about 1.4 times the initial estimates.

From The Asahi Shimbun 02/05/2007

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SOUTH KOREA: To Launch Commercial Service of Internet TV

Korea will introduce its long-awaited Internet broadcasting service within the year to lead the world in the potentially profitable convergence market,the nation's information minister said Thursday (Jan. 11). IP-TV,or Internet Protocol TV,is one of the Korean government's newly introduced growth engines. IP-TV will allow users to view TV broadcasting through broadband Internet. But efforts have been hampered for the past few years as broadcasting and communications industries remain conflicted on how to regulate the new medium. "Through negotiation with the Korea Broadcasting Commission,we plan to submit a bill to the National Assembly during the first half of the year,and step up efforts to launch the commercial service of IP-TV later in the year," Rho Jun-hyong said. "(A further) delay in the introduction of IP-TV could cause Korea to lose its momentum in the market," he added. Currently,KT Corp.,the nation's largest fixed-line operator,plans to launch the service this year. Hanarotelecom Inc.,the second-largest,is now providing video-on-demand (VOD) Internet TV,a prototype version of IP-TV. Asked about regulation of the communications sector this year,Rho said that the ministry will make efforts to finalize its policy by March on discounted "package services" that bundle mobile and fixed-line products for cheap prices.

"We must inject a boost in the market through competition,while simultaneously providing cheaper communications services for customers," he said. So far,telecom giants such as SK Telecom Co. and KT have been virtually banned from providing such services to their customers,mainly due to concerns that market dominance in one area will undermine fair competition in other service sectors. The government is under pressure to ease related regulations on package products at a time when the local communications market is nearing saturation,with more than four out of five people owning a mobile phone and nearly 70 percent having access to the Internet. Local telecommunications firms are also busy unveiling combined services for their customers. Hanarotelecom has already unveiled the nation's first "triple-play service" that combines fixed-line,wireless and VOD Internet products at discounted prices. "The focus is on how to help customers benefit from the new package services,rather than intervening in the pricing policies of individual communications firms," he noted. Market observers say that the introduction of such new package services would change the landscape of the local communications market by promoting cooperation among fixed-line,Internet and other service carriers.

From http://www.korea.net 01/11/2007

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Medical Tourism Could Be Next Local Attraction

The government will spend 570 million won ($609,000) this year to build a network between local hospitals and foreign travel agencies to allow medical tourists to combine treatment with sightseeing.It's part of the government's efforts to develop medical tourism as a major service product of the nation,emulating Thailand and Singapore. The Ministry of Planning and Budget said yesterday it set aside 570 million won of the new budget for construction of the "one-stop medical tourism service network." For that,the government will choose about 20 qualified hospitals and clinics in Korea and will set up a joint organization with them. The organization will employ coordinators with knowledge of the medical sciences and language skills.The organization will then invite foreign medical institutions,travel agencies and insurers to Korea or will host overseas briefing sessions to advertise the quality of local medical services and start a network with them.Through that network,foreign patients would be able to book medical consultations or treatments at Korean institutions from their home countries and then visit Korea."About 10,000 foreign patients visited Korea last year due to the high quality and affordable prices of the nation's medical services," a spokesman for the Planning Ministry said,expecting the new system will help that number increase to about 15,000.Quoting the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences,the ministry said the nation has reached the world's top level in terms of quality of cancer treatment and organ transplants. And the level of the nation's general medical services has reached 76 percent of the United States' and 85 percent of Japan's. Medical fees in Korea are only one-ninth to one-fourth of those in the United States and one-third to one-half of Japan's,the ministry said.Also,a ministry survey of 190 Japanese people showed they think Korean clinics provide higher-quality services than Japanese clinics for plastic surgery and LASIK eye surgery.The ministry pointed out that the governments of Singapore and Thailand are also nurturing medical tourism services.Medical tourism was one of the saviors of the Thai economy immediately after the 1997-98 financial crisis.

From http://joongangdaily.joins.com 01/26/2007

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IT Beats Effects of Currency

Korean exports of information technology goods rose more than 10 percent in January from a year earlier,boosted by robust sales of semiconductors and flat panel products,a government report showed yesterday.Korea shipped $9.8 billion worth of IT products last month,up 11.6 percent from a year earlier,the Ministry of Information and Communication said. During the month,the nation had a trade surplus of $4.8 billion in the IT sector,it added.January's export growth comes despite a firmer local currency against the U.S. dollar,a seasonal decrease in demand for products and price cuts in memory chips and flat screens.The ministry said exports of semiconductors jumped 60.6 percent from a year earlier to $2 billion. Overseas shipments of flat panel goods also rose 16.8 percent to $1.4 billion,the ministry said.Mobile phone exports grew 2.1 percent to $2.2 billion,snapping a three-month losing streak,it added.

From http://joongangdaily.joins.com 02/03/2007

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INDONESIA: RI Mulls New Broadcasting Technology

Indonesia may adopt European digital broadcasting technology that allows high-resolution television sets to receive sharp images and better sound,the Information and Communications Ministry says. Indonesia should opt for the standard Digital Video Broadcasting for Terrestrial Television (DVB-T) from Europe,said Alexander Rusli,an advisor to the communications minister,on Saturday. He said DVB-T was similar to the PAL system currently in use in Indonesia. "The PAL system is also European. DVB-T,in our assessment,is the most widely used system and it will be economical for us to adopt it because many other countries also use it," he said. The ministry has also looked at the Advance Television System Committee of the U.S.,Japan's Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (IDSB) and Digital Mobile Broadcasting from China. "We can't recommend ISDB from Japan because it's not widely used despite its Asian origins," he said. Before issuing the advice,the National Team for the Switch from Analog to Digital Broadcasting studied the literature,conducted testing and analyzed the potential growth of the Indonesian market. The government also needs to choose a receiver system,known as a set-top box. The current analog TV sets can also connect with the receiver for maximum results in picture and sound. The ministry has invited academics from local universities to assess the most marketable device for Indonesia. The ministry expects local broadcasters to be ready for the change and to plan for all aspects in relation to the conversion. "The government and broadcasters will discuss the time for the introduction and frequency allocation. Hopefully the agreement on a standard system can be finished within a couple of weeks," he said.

Alexander said it could take up to two years for the government to put the whole system into effect and eight years to cut off the old analog technology. In Japan,he added,the government needed 10 years to completely cut off the analog system. "Now,people who have the digital receiver can sample digital output as several local broadcasters are testing the new digital technology by turn," he said. A member of both the Indonesian Consumers Association and the National Team for the Conversion from Analog to Digital Broadcasting,Priyadi,said that the decision on when to terminate the older system should depend on the market. "If within 10 to 15 years many people are still using their old television sets and do not have the required receiver as suggested,then the cut-off period to terminate the analog system should be extended," Priyadi said. Consumer protection activist Agus Pambagyo said Indonesia should also draft a new bill because there was the chance for disputes between the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors. "A new law should anticipate potential disputes over the frequency that will be used," he said. The ministry's and local broadcasters'judgment may not be the only opinion that matters. The Information and Communications Ministry is asking for the public to comment on the new policy by Feb. 16. People can send comments by filling a form available through the Information and Communications Ministry web site (www.depkominfo.go.id) or by sending an e-mail to info@depkominfo.go.id.

From http://www.thejakartapost.com 02/05/2007

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Microsoft Defends Multimillion Dollar Deal with RI Government

Microsoft Indonesia has spoken out on a controversial recent deal with the government,arguing that the deal was initiated by the government as part of its efforts to improve Indonesia's information technology sector as a whole. Microsoft Indonesia president director Tony Chen told reporters Thursday that the agreement had been clinched against the backdrop of the government's efforts to reduce software piracy,including negotiating with major software vendors for the use of their products by government institutions. "As a majority of the computers in government institutions use Microsoft products,we were among the first the government invited," he said. The Communications and Information Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft Indonesia in November last year to provide a total of 35,496 licenses for the Microsoft Windows operating system,and 177,480 licenses for the Microsoft Office productivity suite to government institutions. The MoU will also offer long-term guarantees for the new software investment,ensuring free upgrades for up to three years.

Microsoft Indonesia is also required to work closely with the government in a partnership to improve IT literacy in the country,including providing computers and IT training to schools across the country. Tony said that the MoU -- with a 70 percent discounted licensing price -- would result in savings of up to US$200 million for the government,compared to the $250 million it would cost if the government was to buy licenses at regular prices. The government would also save $60 million on the free upgrades. He said that the agreement also showed the government's seriousness about fighting software piracy,which would help attract more investment to the country's IT sector. Yet the deal has come under fire,including from the House of Representatives,with the critics arguing that it would create a monopoly for Microsoft,and undermine the government's own "Indonesia Goes Open Source" program,which encourages the use of free and open source software in the public sector.

The trend to use free and open source software has emerged in recent years around the world based on various reasons,including antimonopoly sentiment,transparency,cost efficiency and national security. Among the countries and institutions that have gone open source are Peru,the Extremadura region of Spain,the municipality of Munich in Germany,and a number of government agencies in China. Microsoft and other proprietary software developers do not disclose the source codes of their products. Tony said that the government had opted to sign the MoU due to the still-limited use of IGOS,while it needed to move fast to improve both Indonesia's IT sector and public services. Tony's arguments were confirmed by Communications and Information Minister Sofyan Djalil.

From http://www.thejakartapost.com/ 01/19/2007

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New Website Aims to Boost Business

A new national website that links businesses with government agencies was launched this week in Batam as part of a pilot project to boost trade. The National Single Window (NSW) site is being trialed in Batam,a busy trading hub and Special Economic Zone. NSW task force deputy chairman Transportation Minister Hatta Radjasa said during the launch the system was being set up in line with an agreement between the leaders of ASEAN countries. During the Second Bali Concord in 1993,the group's leaders agreed to form an integrated economic community by 2015. Member countries agreed to use the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) communications network to design national trading websites,facilitate the international movement of goods and services and coordinate customs and trading regimes. The system is also expected to cut through bureaucratic red tape and prevent costly corruption. The portal,which can be accessed at insw.beacukai.go.id,has been linked to 20 state agencies authorized to issue trading permits. However,Hatta said the system would only work properly if the officials manning it had the right attitude.

"The system that we have set up is well-intentioned,but it depends on the mentality of those operating it. Our image is at stake here. If we are able to run it well,then we will be ready to join the economic community that will be established later," Hatta said. The national NSW team plans to implement the system in the Customs Directorate and regional offices first. Customs director general Anwar Supriadi said Batam was selected for the pilot because of the large amount of trade occurring there and its strategic location near Singapore and Malaysia,which made it easier to carry out integration tests with other ASEAN countries. "The NSW website is also intended to support Batam,which has been established as a Special Economic Zone. The system will be able to respond to complaints from Singaporean investors who are subject to bribes from corrupt officials," Anwar said. Businesspeople's applications for import and export and licenses can be filed and processed online,meaning they spend less time in contact with officials and shortening the process. Officials operating the system would be paid well but punished severely if they were found attempting to pervert it,Anwar said. Sumatra

Region and Riau Islands Industrial Areas Association chairman Jhon Sulistiawan said the NSW could give Batam an important regional edge. "Singapore already did this 10 years ago. The system will benefit industrial areas that accommodate many investors from Singapore. It will shorten the time for licensing procedures and reduce production costs," Jhon said. After the trial,the system will be set up at Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port this year before it is established nationally.

From http://www.thejakartapost.com 01/03/2007

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MALAYSIA: ICT Market Sees 12% Growth This Year

Malaysia's ICT market was soft for most of 2006,but it achieved the 12% growth forecasted earlier this year by the Association of the ICT Industry Malaysia (Pikom),compared to an estimated 10% in 2005. The most promising industry segment was services; business in the "old-line" segments of hardware,software and systems integration was flat,according to Pikom chairman Lee Boon Kok. While the services segment is still relatively small,it is growing rapidly and should be a major growth engine for ICT over the next few years,he said. Meanwhile,the consumer market segment enjoyed good overall growth. Lower prices and the trend towards mobility had made notebook PCs popular. "The market for notebook PCs has grown much faster than for desktop PCs,and there is strong demand for PDA- (personal digital assistant) type products," said Lee. In 2007,Lee said,Pikom expected the ICT market to grow around 13%. The Government sector should remain the main driver of growth,since the Ninth Malaysia Plan's allocation for ICT projects was double the previous plan's. Pikom hoped to see the Government focus more on consolidating inter-agency application and processes,to provide more advanced public services. Another bright spot in the ICT industry was outsourcing. "Outsourcing companies have started to come and set up operations here,particularly in Cyberjaya. At the same time,local service outsourcing businesses are also coming up," Lee said. He urged Malaysian outsourcing companies to band together to face the highly competitive global market. Lee also said that the digital content and media segment had tremendous potential. But to realise it,Malaysia must address certain infrastructure and market issues: Broadband penetration,local market acceptance of locally-developed content,and positive adoption of technology in schools,universities and homes.

From http://star-techcentral.com 12/20/2006

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Pahang to Start Tech Park in Gambang

Pahang will develop 432ha of land in Gambang here as a technology park that would include components such as a halal food hub,biotechnology,an information and communication technology (ICT) centre and an agritech centre. Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said the project would create activities that would bring about value-added products and boost growth in related sectors under the 9th Malaysia Plan. "The state will work closely with the Federal Government to develop Gambang as the main technology park in the eastern corridor. "We are also drafting a biotechnology masterplan to exploit the rich natural resources in the state," he said during the launching of the draft Pahang Structural Plan at the MS Garden Hotel here recently. He said the state has the biggest permanent forest cover in the peninsula at 1.55 million hectares while peat land was 97,400ha. With tax incentives and competitive land prices,investors would be drawn to set up their plants and make products such as vaccines and medicines through biotechnology research,he added. Adnan said Biotech Corporation,an agency formed to realise the national biotechnology objectives,had already identified 100 potential companies that could churn out products commercially. "Activities generated from biotechnology are expected to contribute products worth between RM45bil and RM3.15tril from 2006 to 2010."

He said the industrial sector was expected to see rapid growth once a biodiesel berth measuring 240m is completed in the second quarter of next year. It would be used to handle biodiesel cargoes from factories in the Kuantan Port industrial area,he added. "Pahang has some 500,000ha of land planted with palm oil trees and its potential in the biodiesel production is huge. "As such,value-added activities should be expedited and more factories must be encouraged to set up operations here," said Adnan. The mentri besar also said the state would work with Malaysian Development Corporation to draw up a blueprint on developing ICT,agro-biotechnology,education,logistics and services,telecommunications and defence. The venture,expected to cost some RM12bil,would be the state's new source of income and guide Pahang to obtain the Multimedia Super Corridor status,he added. The centres of growth would be at Putra Square,Tanjung Lumpur and Gambang,he said. On the development of the Eastern Economy Corridor,Adnan said the state had held a series of meetings with Petronas which would play a key role in an area that stretched from Chukai in the north to Pekan in the south.

From http://star-techcentral.com 12/20/2006

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PHILIPPINES: Zamboanga to Become Major Hub for ICT

THE City Government is gearing up to become another major hub for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) firms as they look for expansion sites outside Metro Manila. The City Council is pushing for the training of youths in ICT-related skills,like call center agent,animation and software development in a bigger scale in a bid to attract ICT firms. "We would like the ICT companies to put up their facilities here as we strive to meet their requirements like manpower and fiber optic," Councilor Kim Elago told Sun.Star Zamboanga. The City Government,he said,visited call centers in Metro Manila and invited them to set up their branches here. "What we have learned in our visit is that many are eager to put up call center facilities here so long as the infrastructures,like fiber optic,and reliable power (source) are in place," he said. The other prerequisite is that of manpower skills. Call center agents,for instance,require high proficiency in oral English,he said. Henceforth,he sponsored a resolution in the City Council that will allocate funding coming from the Youth Summer Program to be used in giving out scholarship to out-of-school youths and newly graduates in enhancing their proficiency in English similar to Technological Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Scholarship Coupon for Work Program. The Youth Summer Program,which pays about P3,000 to students who render job during summer break,has an allocation amounting to several millions of pesos,a considerable amount that would benefits hundreds of job seekers,he said.

The funding would then be re-channeled to pay for training of beneficiaries in call center agent training,according to the councilor. "We would like to show to ICT companies that we are responding to meet their manpower requirements as a precondition for putting their investments here. We would like to project that our city is investment-friendly to ICT companies," Elago said. Beneficiaries to scholarships for call center agent training will be selected by prospective ICT companies like G-Com and People's Support,by way of a prequalification exam,he explained. The opportunity to work in a call center is open to all who are,at least,second year college students,18 years old and above,he said. He said the best training center will be selected from among the existing training centers in the city. The ICT is a growing industry in the Philippines as evidenced by the increasing number of ICT companies that have set up their facilities in the country,and are also aggressively seeking other cities,like Cebu,Davao,Cagayan de Oro,as sites for their expansion,he said. "The advantage of this scheme is that we train the youth for sure employment," he said. Training for other ICT-related skills,like animation and software development,will also be provided in the future,he said.

From http://www.sunstar.com.ph 01/05/2007

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SEAIR Expands Online Ticketing Services,Expects More Traffic

The company,which specializes in domestic tourist destinations,also said it is expecting more domestic traffic as the summer season nears. "While still in its infancy stage,SEAIR's e-ticketing sales continue to grow from mostly foreign sales in Europe,America and even as far as South Africa,accounting for 60% in sales," Patrick Tan,VP for commercial affairs at SEAIR,said. The executive said booking demands will continue to pick up,and SEAIR forecasting as much as 25% of its revenue coming from its e-ticketing services. "On the average,we are able to process 1,000 etickets per month. This translates to about a business of PhP 6 million per month," Tan discloses,predicting that the e-ticketing system will generate as much as a 30% growth in new businesses next year. The executive said with the expanded e-ticketing system,SEAIR will be able to accommodate more reservations to popular destinations such as Boracay,in Kalibo,Aklan,which,he said,continues to be the most popular tourist destination as far as SEAIR is concerned. "About 40% of our traffic going to and from Boracay," he said. Tan meanwhile said SEAIR is also planning to implement a mobile version of its e-ticketing services,called the SEAIR's Mobile Check-In Moduel. Tan said this application will enable passengers from rural destinations such as Busuanga,Camiguin,El Nido,Tawi-Tawi,and Jolo to electronically check-in for flights. The executive said further enhancements on the system are still being added,with the target launch for the service slated early next year.

From http://www.mb.com.ph 01/06/2006

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SINGAPORE: IDA,Cisco Expanding Partnership in Internet Protocol Networking in Singapore

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore and Cisco are expanding their partnership to take Internet Protocol networking further in Singapore. The move builds on a memorandum of intent signed in October last year. Under the latest deal,the two partners agree to explore and implement technologies that will help achieve a ubiquitous computing environment and fuel greater innovation of next-generation networking solutions in Singapore. The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Minister for Information,Communication and the Arts,Lee Boon Yang,and Cisco's chairman and CEO,John Chambers

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 12/08/2006

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OCBC Offers Mobile Banking Platform for Greater Convenience

OCBC Bank says it wants to put a bank into everyone's mobile phone. It aims to enable all customers with a 2.5G or 3G mobile phone to make payments and even open a new account without visiting a branch. And this,the bank believes,will provide banking access 24/7 to its customers anywhere and everywhere. OCBC Bank is hoping to take mobile banking literally everywhere. As it is,banking has taken on a new meaning with the launch of internet banking which allow customers to go online for their banking needs. But OCBC Bank says its latest mobile banking platform will offer even greater convenience. For a start,it has been configured specially for handsets. Patrick Chew,Head of Delivery - Consumer Financial services,OCBC Bank,said: "What we have done is to optimise the screen-size and the technology for a mobile device. So the surfing experience or the banking experience on our mobile phone banking would be all the much better."

The service which was soft-launched in June this year,is available to mobile phone subscribers with all three local telcos - SingTel,StarHub and M1. One of the main problems in using a mobile device for financial transactions is security. OCBC says it addresses this by making the mobile phone - which is a very personalised item - an authentication tool. Patrick Chew said: "But what we have done is to use the same internet banking security which is as secured as it is today. What we have also done is to add on a 2-factor authentication recently to both our internet banking and mobile banking to ensure that our customers enjoy a peace of mind when they go online with us." The service is available either through GPRS or StarHub's i-mode giving relatively quick access to the bank's mobile banking site. OCBC says several thousands early adopters have subscribed to its mobile service to date - a figure it hopes to grow to 10,000 over the next 6 months.

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com 12/08/2006

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Singapore Gov't Funds Mobile Game Developers

The Singapore government has launched a new scheme to support the development of the mobile phone game. Channel NewsAsia reported Saturday that the Media Development Authority (MDA),the Singapore government agency to develop media industry,has introduced a new initiative to fund and mentor mobile phone game developers. Each selected Singapore-based team will be eligible for up to 25,000 Singapore dollars (more than 16.000 U.S. dollars) mobile game prototype development funding and be mentored by local or global game studios and publishers. Up to 10 teams will be selected. Commenting on this new scheme,Seto Lok Yin,director of Industry Development,the MDA said,"Through it,we hope to encourage these teams to enter the arena of mobile game development and showcase their creative and production talents." "We are also looking out for breakthrough concepts with the potential for commercialization in the global marketplace," he added.

From Xinhua News Agency 12/09/2006

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Small Online Businesses Get Boost with New Payment Scheme

Small-time online sellers now have a new payment system that is affordable,fast and easy to use. Singapore's largest online payment gateway,eNETS,has tied up with online payment services provider Chainfusion to launch this service called BuyButtonz. It enables sellers to register themselves and conduct transactions through any website or email within 10 minutes. eNETS said the service creates new opportunities for small-time users,selling any number of items. At present,sellers need to be at least 18 years old and have a registered organisation to do business online. Since its introduction,more than 250 users have registered at http://www.buybuttonz.com Most of the transactions have an average selling price of between S$20 and S$60.

From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 02/21/2007

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VIET NAM: E-commerce Can't Grow Without E-transactions

HA NOI ¡ª The Viet Nam e-Business Forum opened yesterday in Ha Noi with the participation of representatives from Government agencies and businesses operating in information technology and e-commerce,from multinational corporations to small- and medium-sized enterprises. The two-day conference is focusing on Viet Nam e-business in the post-WTO era,the legal framework for dealing with cyber security issues,infrastructure for e-commerce,successful case studies and solutions for small businesses. The past year experienced a significant growth in e-commerce as domestic businesses attempted to access and apply e-commerce to enhance their competitiveness and speed up their entrance into the global market,said Deputy Trade Minister Le Danh Vinh. It was also the first year e-commerce was formally recognised in the law as the Law on Electronic Transactions and a decree on e-commerce took effect,Vinh said. Currently,there are 15 million internet users in Viet Nam and the number was expected to reach 30 million in the next three years,according to the Viet Nam Internet Centre. A large market with a high economic growth rate was likely to drive the strong development of e-commerce in the next few years. A Ministry of Trade survey,however,conducted on 1,000 enterprises in 2006,indicated that only 20-25 per cent maintained a web presence,and the e-commerce function of the websites remained modest. Most websites (93.8 per cent) served only to introduce the company,while 62.5 per cent went on to introduce products and services. The use of e-transaction to allow for on-line orders occurred on only 27.4 per cent of the sites,and on-line payments could only be accomodated on a mere 3.2 per cent of the sites. US Embassy commercial counselor Miguel Pardo de Zela suggested that e-commerce would remain in an initial stage in Viet Nam until more commercial transactions were able to take place over the internet.

From http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn 01/18/2007

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BANGLADESH: D.Net Offers Lady-info Programme in Rural Bangladesh

Development Research Network (D.Net) is making relevant ICT for the poor people of Bangladesh by providing information and knowledge services,which are related to their livelihood. D.NET has deployed multiple ICT channels for testing also channel suitability of the contents. One of the innovated programme from D.Net is "mobile lady",which allows mobile phone in hand roaming door-to-door in villages for making poor people to access livelihood advices through advisers at help desks. D.Net has developed an animation character with the mobile lady,which is named as "MONI",a lady with a by-cycle moves door-to-door to promote telecentre and help line for improving people's access to livelihood information and knowledge. D.Net has decided to change the name of 'mobile lady'with 'info-lady'by using Smartphone. D.Net has decided to use Smartphone to use all benefits for livelihood information and knowledge dissemination system. The info-lady can also offer Pallitathya Help Line services to the every villager.

From http://www.egovonline.net/ 01/24/2007

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Bangladesh Gets IP VPNs

LONDON -- Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel),Asia's leading communications group,today announced that it has formed an alliance with Advance Data Networks System Limited (ADNSL),Bangladesh's leading provider in satellite and wireless solutions,to offer the first international IP-VPN network in Bangladesh. They will jointly deliver Multi-Protocol Label Switching IP-based Virtual Private Network (MPLS IP-VPN[1]) solutions to corporate customers in South Asia,including Bangladesh,India,Pakistan and Sri Lanka. With this landmark agreement,SingTel ConnectPlus IP-VPN now covers all major markets in South Asia,strengthening SingTel's position as Asia's leading IP-VPN provider. Currently SingTel ConnectPlus IP-VPN has extensive coverage in key business cities throughout Asia,Europe and North America. It is a high quality,fully managed and secure networking and integrated communications solution for corporate customers. Mr Wong Soon Nam,SingTel's Vice President of Business Marketing,said: "Through this alliance,companies that have business in South Asia can enjoy a one-stop service from SingTel to connect their regional offices in Bangladesh,India,Pakistan and Sri Lanka. "Trade and investment liberalisation have led to strong economic growth in Bangladesh. This solution is especially effective for businesses in the manufacturing industry that require seamless and reliable communication within a secure network of suppliers,customers and financial institutions with multiple offices. We are proud to announce that one of our first customers is Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation,a top US apparel and sports wear company with interests in Bangladesh. "With our innovative services and reliable infrastructure,SingTel is the partner of choice for enterprises that wish to expand into South Asia."

From http://www.lightreading.com/ 01/30/2007

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INDIA: Andhra Pradesh Government Ties with MIT for Open Source Software

The State Government is tying with the US based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to collaborate with government in the field of e-Governance,data standards and service-oriented architecture in Andhra Pradesh,India. Hyderabad based Institute for Electronic Governance (IEG) has signed MoU with MIT to provide funds and technological assistance for developing and promoting different software components including an open source platform. This initiative step will help to transform and e-Governance and enterprise systems. The state government is also organizing a three-day GITEX seminar-cum-exhibition. The Government is planning to extend its IT education programme for students to regular degree colleges. Satyam Computers and Genpact have bagged the award for the top exporter in the ITES category. States like Bihar,Gujarat,Jharkhand and Chattirsgarh have expressed interest to participate with the government for such programmes.

From Economic Times 01/08/2007

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IT Exports to Touch $31b in '06-07,Says Nasscom

The software and services exports sector is all set to scale new heights with revenues exceeding $31 billion in the current fiscal said Nasscom. According to its yearly Strategic Review report,India is on track to double that figure by 2010. In the last decade the Indian information technology industry has grown its revenues ten-fold,from $4.8 billion 1997-98 to $47.8 billion in 2006-07,the report noted. This pegs the estimated contribution of the industry to GDP to about 5.4%,which has grown from 1.2%since 1998. The similar trend continues in the domestic market too said the report,this year the revenue is pegged at USD 15.9 billon which is a growth of a good 21% from last year. "The last decade is testament to the growing impact that the Indian IT industry is having on the global and local economies," said Nasscom chairman,B. Ramalinga Raju. The top sectors still remain BFSI,Telecom and Hi-Tech,which continue to bring in about 60% revenue of the pie. But other verticals such manufacturing,retail,transportation,healthcare and utilities are also growing rapidly,said the report. The sector would employ 1.6 million people March-end.

From http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ 01/24/2007

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Nasscom to Set Up Rs100-crore Fund for IT Innovation

Mumbai: The National Association of Software Companies (Nasscom) is planning to set up a Rs100 crore fund to promote innovation in information technology. Innovation at various levels has been identified as the next imperative to sustain growth and maintain the edge of Indian IT industry in global markets,Nasscom president Kiran Karnik said in a statement. "The first-of-its-kind initiative by the apex body,the fund would be supported by the industry and would be for driving innovation by IT companies," he added. Meanwhile,seven companies,including Bharti Airtel & IBM India,Evalueserve.Com,HP Labs India,Ittiam Systems Pvt Ltd,Kale Consultants,Strand Lifesciences Pvt Ltd and Monsoon Multimedia India Pvt Ltd,would be awarded for innovation in information technology by prime minister Manmohan Singh on February 9. Bharti Airtel and IBM India were selected for the business model under which the telecom major outsourced all of its IT operations to IBM. Evaluserve.Com was selected for its business intelligence services,customised reports and value-added research,which cater to industries across a wide spectrum. HP Labs India is being awarded for its Gesture Keypad,which is a pen-based input device for phonetic scripts while Ittiam was selected for its advanced digital audio and video signal processing. Kale Consultants'BPO product Revera got wide recognition while Strand Lifesciences has developed a comprehensive and modular data mining and predictive modeling platform. Monsoon Multimedia's `Hava'is the world's first integrated video 'time-shifting'and 'place-shifting'product. The seven companies were selected from a list of 18 companies,which were short listed.

From http://www.domain-b.com/ 02/07/2007

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SRI LANKA: Dialog Pilots WiMAX Service

Sri Lankan mobile operator Dialog Telekom announced yesterday the launch of a pilot wireless broadband internet access service for selected corporate users in Hambantona,Matara,Galle,Kurunagala,Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. The GSM market leader's data communications subsidiary Dialog Broadband Networks (DBN) has deployed a WiMAX network delivering maximum theoretical download speeds of 10Mbps,and plans to extend it across the island later in the year. DBN is also planning to launch fixed wireless telephony based on CDMA technology shortly.

From http://www.telegeography.com/ 01/24/2007

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NEPAL: NT Cuts Internet Tariffs by Up to 83%

The Kantipur Report says that state-owned telecoms company Nepal Telecom (NT) has cut the cost of internet services for ¡®business purposes' by up to 83% five days after the incumbent started buying bandwidth from Indian counterpart BSNL's fibre-optic network,laid along East-West highway,for cross-country data transfer. Until now Nepal's ISPs have been forced to use more expensive means ¨C such as satellites ¨C to gain access to international bandwidth from vendors.

From http://www.telegeography.com/ 01/11/2007

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PAKISTAN: 'Appearing on IT's World Map'

KARACHI (January 26 2007): Pakistan is coming on the international map especially in the realms of IT for the past few years. The Country General Manager of IBM Pakistan,Humayun Bashir,said. He was speaking at the launching of the GBM at a local hotel on Wednesday. Humayun Bashir said Pakistan is coming on the international map owing to the steady GDP growth of six to seven percent which the country has achieved as well as its foreign exchange reserves besides and better governance today. He was of the view that the journey is more or less reasonably clear in terms of improving the governance process. The IBM Pakistan chief pointed out that this is the result of the stability and the growth that the companies like the GBM,banking sector and others are interested in Pakistan. He said that Pakistan has seen foreign direct investment (FDI) in excess of three billion dollars a year on average. This should go up to five billion dollars next year in Pakistan not just in the field of IT,telecom or banking but we are seeing a lot of investment in the energy as well as the construction sector. Humayun Bashir said that some of the initial movers are our brothers and friends from the Middle East. He said that this started with the PTCL,Bank Al Falah,United Bank,Faysal Bank,Union Bank.

From http://www.brecorder.com/ 01/26/2007

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Modern Telecom Facilities for Northern Areas

ISLAMABAD (January 27 2007): Director General Special Communications Organisation (SCO) Major General Shahid Maqbool has said that we are determined to provide modern telecom system facilities to Northern Areas. SCO started SCOM (GSM) mobile service in eight different cities of the Northern Areas said the DG on Friday while addressing a large gathering of government officials and notables on the eve of inauguration of Khaplu digital exchange which has been connected with optical fibre and Shiger digital exchange of 500 lines. Major General Shahid Maqbool,DG SCO is on a visit to Northern Areas in connection with inauguration of a number of digital exchanges linking exchanges with optical fibre and to see physical progress of ongoing revolutionary development works at various far flung locations of Northern Areas. He said that government is ensuring uplift of social and economic prosperity and urban and rural areas of Northern Areas are being connected with modern telecom system by SCO. 26 new digital exchanges installation,provision of SCOM (GSM) mobile phone facilities to eight different cities and laying of 776 kilometres optical fibre plans have been completed,added the DG. He underlined that internet service in all districts of Northern Areas and broad band dialup networks facilities will also be provided by the end of March 2007. Major General Shahid Maqbool said that development activities in telecom sector are not only aimed at providing and expansion of modern telecom facilities in NAs but to provide variety of job opportunities objected for the dividends to be drawn by the local populace having direct bearing on the uplift of their living standard. He also inaugurated completion of laying of optical fibre at Danyore Communication Complex where Danyore exchange has also been digitally and capacity wise upgraded.

From http://www.brecorder.com/ 01/27/2007

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Ufone Expands Network in Rural Punjab And NWFP

ISLAMABAD (January 27 2007): Country's second largest cellular phone operator,Ufone has further expanded its coverage to 16 more destinations in Northern and Central Punjab and North West Frontier Province (NWFP). This is part of Ufone's network expansion plans in the current year and to reach every nook and corner of the country. This step is very much a part of the largest ever expansion of its network rollout worth $550 million. The envisaged plan focuses on the expansion of the network in terms of capacity and coverage in existing and new cities besides providing high-speed wireless data services based on EDGE technology. It is estimated by the end of June 2007,Ufone will be extensively covering all major cities,towns,villages and highways in the country. The cities include Matta,Thanna,Jand,Pindi Gheb,Dir,Lachi,Bafa,Khala Butt,Macklod Ganj,Chak 463/JB,Dijkot,Makkuana,Awagat,Lalian,Dalowal and Rang Pur.

From http://www.brecorder.com/ 01/27/2007

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IRAN: Tupolev Technical Center Planned

Kazan Aircraft Factory (KAPO) is holding talks on the creation of an aircraft maintenance base to maintain and repair Russia's Tupolev Tu-214 and Tu-334 aircraft in Iran. "A recently signed memorandum of intentions envisages the creation of such a base," KAPO deputy general director,Eldar Mingaleyev,told Interfax-AVN. "Iran is going to purchase a large batch of Tu-214 and Tu-334 aircraft from Russia in the near future," he said. A modern aircraft maintenance base is expected to be created in Iran to guarantee a required maintenance level. The official announced that Iranian companies have already placed preliminary orders for some 70 Tu-214 and Tu-334 aircraft. "The creation of a base in Iran is aimed at reducing costs of exploiting Russian aircraft and guaranteeing the due level of airworthiness," he said. Mingaleyev further said the licensed production of Tu-334 aircraft may be organized in Iran in the future,adding that parties will return to the discussion of the issue after Iranian companies get accustomed to the aircraft.

From http://www.iran-daily.com/ 12/11/2006

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Electronic Certificate-Issuing Center Operational

Increase in trade exchanges and emergence of sophisticated economies highlights the need for electronic trade,announced the first vice president on Tuesday. According to ISNA,Parviz Davoudi,who was speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony to inaugurate a digital certificate-issuing center,appreciated the efforts of the Commerce Ministry for collecting,saving,transferring,distributing,classifying and securing data and the Information Technology Council for planning and managing these activities. "Commerce Ministry has taken great strides in the field of information security,which is,in fact,a guarantee of a (successful) electronic trade," he said,adding that with the electronic trade security system becoming operational,businesses would conduct routine affairs without any apprehension about information theft.

Asked about the advantages of the center for Iranian expatriates,he said they can open a wideband and use it for international transactions and benefit from the security services offered by the center. Referring to the cooperation between the center and the High Information Council,he said the council is responsible for information management and defines the responsibilities of each organization,adding that the need for electronic services was felt in banking,social security,health and medicine sectors. He noted the Information Technology Council,which is supervised by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,regulates the information systems in different organizations. "Commerce Ministry,Imam Khomeini Relief Committee and State Welfare Organization have carried out parts of activities," he said,stressing that the provisions of electronic trade are stipulated in the Constitution,for example,those pertaining to money laundering. Davoudi concluded there would be no need for new ratifications and laws for the groundbreaking project.

From http://www.iran-daily.com/ 12/14/2006

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Free SIM Cards After 40m Subscribers

Managing director of Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) has said the company is prepared to offer free SIM cards to new mobile phone subscribers as soon as the number of its existing subscribers passes the 40-million mark. However,Saber Feizi told Fars that free SIM is not on the agenda of the Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology. He stated that once the market becomes competitive enough and the company already has more than 40 million mobile phone subscribers,then it might be possible to consider registering new subscribers for free SIM cards. TCI was established in 1971 with a new organizational structure as the main administration for the entire telecommunication affairs,and Iran Telecommunication Industries (ITI) was also founded in the same year to manufacture the required equipment for the national long-distance network.

TCI has taken great steps in the development of telecommunication networks and,for this purpose has utilized the most advanced equipment and services such as digital switching centers,optical fiber cables,mobile phones,data networks,satellite services,and telephone special services. It has also succeeded in manufacturing more than 80 percent of the required equipment inside Iran. Regarding the privatization of the subsidiaries,Feizi said the ministry has already submitted a proposal to the Privatization Organization and the government concerning the subsidiaries. However,a final decision on this will have to be made by the government. He said some 6,000 telecoms shares have been sold to the general public and 35 percent of company shares owned by the ministry will also be ceded to the private sector by the year end (March 21,2007). TCI's main subsidiaries are Iran Telecommunication Manufacturing Company (ITMC),Iran Telecommunication Industries (ITI),Telecommunication Network Planning and Development Company,Optical Fiber and Solar Cell Fabrication Company and Shahid Qandi Communication Cables Co.

From http://www.iran-daily.com/ 01/14/2007

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Progress Linked to IT

Planning and preparation are vital for having specialist human resources in the field of Information Technology (IT) since the notions of research,development and creativity are part and parcel of IT,reported ISNA. Stating the above at a one-day Electronic Trade Seminar at Shiraz University,secretary of High Council for Information Technology,Abdolmajid Riazi said that the market of ICT was worth well over 2,680 billion euros in 2006 and the only way for the country to ensure sustainable development in the field would be by paying closer attention to computer professionals/specialists,applications (software) and infrastructures. According to him,IT specialists have been neglected to a great extent and without them there will be no applications or infrastructures. Regarding electronic trading,he said that electronic trading is a mode of trading that uses Information Technology to bring together a buyer and a seller through electronic media to create a virtual market place. Thus it is important to assess the performance and the situation of IT in Iran and compare it with the rest of the world.

The country needs to have a comprehensive IT management system in place as this can pave the way for setting up macro projects such as silicon valleys or electronic towns. Meanwhile,Mohammad Hadi Sadeqi,head of Shiraz University,told the same gathering that science plays a decisive role in political,economic and military fields and if neglected it could have irreversible adverse impacts on the national economy and development plans. According to him,the country has no other alternative but to join the race to make optimum use of its advantages and potentials in Information Technology by employing it in managing and processing information,especially in large organizations. In particular,IT deals with the use of electronic computers and computer software to convert,store,protect,process,transmit,and retrieve information. In conclusion,Sadeqi said despite shortfalls at all levels,Shiraz University has managed to take major steps to develop IT,warning that any delay in developing the field could cost the country dearly.

From http://www.iran-daily.com/ 01/14/2007

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Call for Rapid Cellphone Sector Progress

Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Mohammad Soleimani said here on Saturday that if Iran fails to develop its mobile phone network fast enough to catch up with international developments,it will lose its current status to some regional states. The minister told Fars that the ministry has committed to work under Vision 2025 and the Fourth Plan (2005-2010) and that it has to materialize the objectives,which include rapid progress in the cellular phone sector. He said Iran ranks 11th in the Middle East in terms of mobile phone penetration rate,adding that if the country does not develop the industry properly,it will lose ground to Afghanistan in the ranking. The minister blamed his predecessors for the slow progress in the cellular phone industry,stressing that had the sector developed as fast as it does today,the national mobile phone network would not have faced such difficulties now.

Soleimani's remarks come one month after the news of counterfeit SIM cards shook the country's already fragile mobile phone market to the core. A senior telecommunications official said last month that the Special Headquarters for Combating Mobile Phone Network Offenses will identify and disconnect cellphones operating on counterfeit SIM cards. Seyyed Ali Alavian,who heads the Mobile Telecommunications Company of Iran's board of directors,said that the issue of counterfeit SIM cards is not new in the world,stressing that cellphone SIM cards have been duplicated in almost all countries. He said the technologies used in producing new SIM cards are so sophisticated that have made it very difficult to duplicate them,stressing,however,that old SIM cards could be counterfeited with much less trouble.

From http://www.iran-daily.com/ 01/21/2007

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UZBEKISTAN: Around 4,000 Cases of Using Mobile-Phones While Driving Recorded

Some 4,000 cases of using mobile phones while driving a vehicle have been recorded since the beginning of the year 2007,UzA quoted Head Department for Traffic Safety. As reported earlier,on 21 November 2006 the Cabinet of Ministers passed a Resolution "On additional measures to ensure safety on the roads" according to which,starting 1 January 2007 drivers are prohibited to use telephone while operating a vehicle. The Law passed on 26 December 2006 "On introduction of amendments to the Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Administrative Accountability" identifies the measures of administrative punishment for using telephones while driving a vehicle.

From http://news.uzreport.com/ 01/24/2007

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AUSTRALIA: Feds Hope for Spectrum Bonanza

THE federal Government is hoping for a huge windfall from spectrum auctions this year,but industry observers warn that bidders will baulk if the licences come with strings attached. Communications Minister Helen Coonan has been talking up the sale of two unassigned 7MHz television channels as part of the latest action plan to hasten the switch from analogue to digital broadcasting. Senator Coonan says the two new licences,dubbed channels A and B,offer "a very real opportunity for exciting new services to emerge". One channel could offer in-home digital services delivered by television,while the other may be used for more innovative services such as mobile television outside the home. Telecommunications analyst Paul Budde said the sales could bring in hundreds of millions of dollars: "It's no longer just mobile phone operators bidding. Media companies and other content providers are also very interested. "The value will depend on exactly what you can and can't do with the spectrum. "Obviously if the Government seeks to protect the free-to-air broadcasters by restricting uses,it will be very difficult for others to come up with a good business model and make money out of it." The immediate prospects for mobile television are in doubt,as the Australian Communications and Media Authority has warned that mobile signals cause unacceptable interference to adjacent analog and digital television channels. In a confidential report obtained by The Australian under freedom of information laws,ACMA says it is "highly unlikely" the distorted reception around repeater stations will be tolerable for ordinary television viewers.

Mr Budde said the concerns were largely "scaremongering" by the free-to-air broadcasters,which had been resisting change for decades. "As soon as there is a new technology,they've got all sorts of arguments about why it should not be introduced," he said. All wireless systems were subject to some interference,but new technologies had been "finetuned" to minimise problems. "These technologies are global technologies. This is nothing unique to Australia," Mr Budde said. "If mobile television operates in 60 or 70 other countries,obviously it can be done." Australian Digital Suppliers Industry Forum chair Ross Henderson said proper management of transmission and reception of signals should eliminate interference. "Back in the days of analogue,you had to leave a gap between adjacent channels to avoid uncontrolled interference. In essence,free-to-air broadcasters still need a 7MHz pipe,but digital broadcasters can put many more channels down the same-size pipe." If there was interference,digital uses could be limited until analogue services were shut down,Mr Henderson said. Meanwhile,the Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers'Association has called for a firm date for the end of analogue transmissions. The switchover to digital in capital cities was scheduled for December next year but Senator Coonan now says the transition will begin between 2010 and 2012. AEEMA chief executive Angus Robinson said uncertainty over when analogue would end was affecting industry planning. "Unless there is a certain date for switch-off,as opposed to a period during which switchover can commence,the necessary product and content messages cannot be sent to consumers," he said. "Their confusion may develop into resistance and that will further reduce digital uptake."

From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 01/09/2007

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Majors Crank Up Web Wars

THE battle for Australia's $300 million online classifieds market has resumed,with News Limited appointing a new chief to beef up its automotive site and James Packer's PBL Media preparing to launch a property site. The automotive classifieds market in Australia was worth about $560 million in the 2006 financial year,according to News Digital Media operations chief Nick Leeder. But he said barely $50 million of that was spent online. "The market will grow by about 40 per cent this year," Mr Leeder said. NDM,whose parent News Limited publishes The Australian,has appointed Ed Smith to run CARSguide.com.au. Mr Smith,who was previously head of retail segments at St George Bank and chief executive officer at dotcom venture Virtual Communities Ltd,will report to Mr Leeder. "It's a new position," Mr Leeder said. "We are in the process of upgrading the management team at NDM." Mr Smith's appointment follows last year's naming of Stephen Hollings to head NDM's jobs site CareerOne. Mr Leeder said NDM would soon announce a new chief for its search play TrueLocal. Automotive,property and employment classifieds are the "big three" categories online and competing for dominance are the major traditional media companies News,PBL and Fairfax Media along with Telstra's Sensis directories business. Carsales.com.au,controlled by PBL Media,is the leading car classified site,according to research group Market Intelligence. Sensis's Trading Post group is second. Carsguide and Fairfax's Drive.com.au are neck and neck for third place. Carsguide has doubled its monthly unique browser numbers in the past 12 months. The next big move is expected to be PBL's property website Myhome.com.au,which will challenge the dominance of News's realestate.com.au and Fairfax's Domain. Myhome will have equity involvement from real estate companies and Microsoft,which co-owns Australia's leading consumer portal,Ninemsn.

From http://australianit.news.com.au/ 01/18/2007

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Minister Welcomes National 3G Network Investment

The Minister for Communications,Information Technology and the Arts,Senator Helen Coonan,today welcomed the announcement by Optus that it would invest up to $800 million to boost the capabilities of its 3G mobile communications network. "This is great news for Australian consumers ¨C particularly those in rural,regional and remote areas ¨C who will soon reap the benefits of a more competitive 3G market," Senator Coonan said. "Next generation networks enable consumers to access advanced voice and data services that can support innovative applications such as wireless broadband and video phone services. Increasingly savvy consumers are demanding the always-on,anywhere freedom that next generation networks offer." Optus states the investment announced today will extend the coverage of its 3G network from 55 per cent of the population to 96 per cent with services expected to commence early next year. "Coupled with Telstra's recently launched Next G network,Vodafone and Australian 3G pioneers ¡