1. Grid computing -
Sun Microsystem rolling grid initiative where customers will be charge based on per usage kind of deal. For instance, USD 1 for each gigabyte of storage used every month. or USD 1 for each microprocessor per hour for its version of on-demand network computing. This is the next big step in offering IT as a utility instead of a product. Other competitors are IBM and HP. Current grid centres are in Virginia, Texas, New Jersey, Canada and Scotland.
2. Mid market / SME market-
- Sun microsystem is selling Java Enterprise Systems as a software suite for USD50(RM190) annual fee per employee. Means no need to buy.
- Ahnlab Inc, South Korea No.1 information technology security solutions provider, wants to break into the SME market for its V3 Antivirus and Hackshield.
Germany e-commerce up by 76% last year, to annual value of 200bil Euro.
Online retails = 22.3 bil Euro.
B2B transaction = 190.3 bil Euro.
By 2008, 670 Bil Euro.
Among the winner are car manufacturers who benefits by dealing directly with suppliers.
4. Venture capitalist -
VC activities showing upcoming trend.
- Haboo Hotel, an Internet based gaming community for teens. Taken USD2.3 mil last month from benchmark capital and other investor.
- Mercora, IM Radio, an unusual song-sharing network tha turns people's computer into Internet radio stations by letting users stream songs from one another, landed USD5 mil.The software which is free for now, will be charged based on monthly basis.
- Software has the most funded, 5.1 bil.
5. Google -
Profit for the October-December 2004 period were record USD203.1 mil, compared to 27.3 mil on 2003. It is assumed that majority of these volume came from ad sales on both its own search site and through it Ad Sense programme. Total ad revenue from Google site was USD530mil.6. VOIP-
- Security issue. There is need for encryption.
- Latest version of enterprise IM client(not the consumer version MSN messenger) supports SIP voice connections. This is breakthrough for the next generation of VOIP practice where airtime providers having prepared SIP gateways at their site, has the potential to connect to millions of people relying on telecommunications on planet earth. The question is how well can these telco which uses Cisco equipment and based on H.323 can implement a SIP interface very soon.
- VOIP softwares also presents a way for people to show virtual presence in their workplace. It means they can always be connected and low cost. This would turn an hour's delay into productive work.
7. Illegal music sharing.
A school teacher in France was fined up to 10,200 euros for uploading music file on the Internet at a fixed location. This is contrary to peer-to-peer pirates. He was caught apparently based on the fact that he advertised on the newspaper.
8. Breaking Moore's law.
Intel founder earlier predicted that the numbner of transisters on a single chips doubles every 18 months. But current technlogy will inevitably lead the industry into a roadblock. But HP researcher came to a rescue with nanotechnology. Replacing conventional transistors with molecular structures. The new device is made up of a platinum wire crossed by two other platinum wires with steric acid molecles flowing between them. Like a transistor, the structure can manipulate an electrical signal that passes through the crossbar latch.
9. Customer service regulator.
Customer Relationship Management & Contact Centre Association Malaysia(CCAM) has intended to increase its members. Where MCMC is to Telecommunication & CCAM is to customer service. They are providing all sorts of activities.. such as developing guidelines and etc. This could be business channel for customer service oriented software such as CRM solutions and even tmsEKP could benefit from its customer database.
10. RM 500 PC.
The science, technology and innovation ministry has concluded that RM500 would be in line with the country's current poverty level. It means that at any time, anyone could come up with a sum of RM500 for an investment which would last time for several years. But having a PC without Internet connection would be similiar to having a car without petrol. Wi-fi could be the rescue. However, Pikom has stated that it is not commercially viable at this point of time. Perhaps with mini PC imported from Taiwan can come into the picture. Another option is that MiTV could also present a solution for those who can't afford a full set of computer.
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