Enough of the catch phrase, thats just to get people’s attention, I’d just get straight to the point. The next mobile company in Australasia to get people to use mobile internet to its full potential and do so with good value is going to win. Full stop. Period.
Why do I say this? Well in my opinion its the next killer app second to texting. Texting was great because it brought in that interactivity and it was quick and easy. It is also cheap. That has now evolved. Mobiles are now smarter. It has GPS in them, and have java applets that can run applications. Applications such as Facebook, Youtube, Bebo. All those sites that the younger generation (15-25) use, Vodafone has a big opportunity to tap that market.
Recently, Twitter has been promoted by such things as the competition between Ashton Kutcher and CNN having 1 million followers. If Twitter does take off in NZ, (and not just for the geeks like me) then there is a whole market that can be upgraded to be using 3G. Its not just about using a 3G phone because I would make a bid to say that not many of the general populace use it or even know what 3G really implies or even use it to its full potential.
I will put my stake down now and say that whoever gets the market to transfer to them to use the mobile web, they are going to be far better off. Time will tell.
What is Section 92a? There has been so much controversy over this in New Zealand and even some people around the world like Steven Fry have protested about this in their own way. The initial Section 92a stated that once accused of downloading infringing copyright material the ISP is then responsible for terminating the users account without any question whatsoever.
This law essentially means that there does not need to have justice system in place. The traditional “Innocent until proven Guilty” is not even in effect here, just three strikes and you’re ‘out’. No Internet. Nothing. Zip. Nada. They might as well as cut off our right arm.
Whoever wrote and then approved that law has got to be nuts. Firstly they have forgotten entirely about the justice system. Where do these people get a fair trial? Where is the justice in all of this? Also, cutting off Internet access altogether? There are punishments that are meant to deter people but there are others that are too totalitarian and extreme. The use of the Internet has made its way into our daily lives. From Internet banking, to getting information, it makes things more convenient its slowly becoming the only way to get things done. A simple question, what happens when a business never even conducted any such activity in any way yet they were accused by a disgruntled employee/s? Remember three strikes and its good bye to the Internet? Second, they are cutting off a lifeblood for ISPs. Their main revenue is people using Internet. Cut that off..uh huh.
This law was meant to have passed by 28th Feb but because of the calamity of the issue and the attention that it got, the government has now said that the law will be modified based on the government and the ISPs agreeing with the terms. They have till 20th of March 2009 (or some date) before they come to an agreement. If after six months they still have nothing, then the law will slide and be suspended.
My bet at this stage is that the law will be suspended. No one (on both sides) in their right mind would want to have their accounts terminated.
I have stayed in Wellington well over a year now. What was very compelling for me to move to Wellington were two things. The first was family reasons. I had one brother that was staying here, and the second was that I was under the impression that Wellington had a very good transport infrastructure. I cannot drive, due to medical reasons, so I need to live in a city that has good public transport. I am from Hamilton and although Auckland was closer, Auckland is one of those cities that is so sprawled out without a very good infrastructure that everybody needs to have a car to get anywhere.
So I guess I was kind of surprised when I came to Wellington to find that the buses on where I am staying do not arrive in a timely manner on certain parts of the day. People say to me that it is just my route (which is Brooklyn), and I suppose that in some ways it is. I am just not sure. You see, sometimes the buses come late, or sometimes they even come to early. It is all too much for me sometimes, and I just give up.
I suppose that this is something that I was not made aware of when I made my decision to go to Wellington, or I did not pay heed of it. In either case, I think that I have gotten used to it now, and I have just learned to come that little bit earlier than before.
I have a strong belief that if one says something then it is important to keep their word, or just follow through with what they say. What drives me nuts is someone that asks for something and then when I take the time to do what they wanted, they either fire back saying that it doesn’t matter. I have taken the time to do something for them and then all of a sudden they just say “Forget about it”. I find that rude. I have taken the tim and it just feels like that when they back out they don’t appreciate what I am doing and they are just wasting my time.
After reading an article in the Dominion Post I was interested to read that John Key’s (NZ’s prime minister) bids on his cast on Trademe shot up to $10,000 or so. Originally I thought it was for the cast only but it includes morning tea with the man. The money Key raises will go to a charity. Apparently Key is nervous about the amount being raised.
Everything is winding down at my stay in Hamilton. I am due to go back to work next week. I have mixed feelings about this as coming back does bring back memories. The work that I did here was more aligned to my skillset. I had more control over things. As a few friends of mine said, “Your potential is under utilized”.
I have given this much thought and the more that I have thought about it, the more I agree with it.
Anyway, who knows what 2009 will bring. I have my plans and currently bringing that to fruition. Lets see how that goes.
Well I have arrived back home last Sunday. It has been quite relaxing and I do not plan to get to any work done over the holiday…although I was planning to get something done. I do plan to get some Alpha Five database work sorted out but we will see. I have to do something and be a bit productive.
I have to start to plan some new projects in the new year and hopefully we will get something sorted out. Anyway will post later.
