Is Information Powerful?

I always wondered whether information is really powerful?Is every one of us really able to enjoy the fruits of advances in technology?Are developing countries able to take the advantage of internet?Certainly No.There are no.of reasons but i think primary could be following.

Lack of Internet and PC penetration.But i don't think this alone solves the problem and there needs to be right kind of training for people who use it and the user interface should be as simple as Television(Easiest to use and even a house wife adopts) and there is also lack of availability of natural language content at disposal .This lack of push button computing technologies and technology for the sake of technology approach of many High-Tech companies making consumers increasingly loosers.

Lack of internet penetration always makes life difficult for internet start ups(google,skype wannables) in developing countries and you end up loosing even if you got great idea and market.For example in india,internet is mostly used by Corporate workers,College Students and these two categories almost represent more than 90% total internet user base in india. But many of these users again uses Cyber cafes,Offices to surf net and very few surf internet from home.The question is can you build digital life around cyber cafes and offices?

In this case possible solution could be Mobile phone 'coz that's like a poor man's computer in a country like India.In 2006 alone more than 1bn Mobile phones sold around the world and countries like India and China representing major portion in that.But the closed game of Handset manufacturer-Service provider severly denting the chances of exploting innovative services in this market.For example in india most of the WAP services are locked to service provider.There needs to be a open and flexible platform in Mobile Phone market which can enable entrepreneurs to take advantage and create innovative services to empower the new way of information distribution.

Where skype gone?

Skype started like a rebel when it took on telecom industry.After E-Bay acquired it there is not much news from skype and no more rebel applications.Skype seems to be yet another victim of M&As.I hope i am wrong but off late there has been much talk going on podcasting and unfortunately most people still have a wrong perception that podcasting is limited to iPod.But i often wondered if podcasting having that much potential why didn't anybody bring it to mobile phones?I had given thought to it many times but delivering podcasts for free of cost on mobile phones seems really a costly affair and no advertiser wants to rally with you until your service tastes some success.There seems to be no perfect business model and proven player in this podcasting industry.Steve Jobs called it 'Future Radio'.What about voice social networks?Is that next killer application? Social network sites should start promoting voice.Hmm...hope we can solve this conundrum soonly.

Will you buy iPhone

As expected Apple announced phone version of iPod which will debut the market six months from now with a initial price tag of $499(4Gb model),$599(8Gb model) and cingular as the service provider.They also renamed the company as Apple Inc and they increasingly becoming Media and entetainment company where apple already distinguished themselves with innovative iTunes service.
Apple already controlling 75% MP3 Market in US and this new model could also take off well 'coz loyal iPod fans.But i am little skeptic about this hype and hoopla.
1)Isn't $499 too much for phone?
2)It may start off well but apple has to find a way to exercise price tag in the Version 2. like it did in iPod's case.
3)Is zune Microsoft's much hyped yet modest can bring new features and innovation to the market rather than staying copycat?(As Microsoft palnning Europe launch of Zune in the end of 2007)
4)May be by Q1 of 2008 market will be crowded with iPhone clones from handset leaders like Nokia,Motorola,Samsung and ericsson.
5)Will apple allow 3rd party applications,accessories for iPhone?If yes,that could change the landscape of closed game of hand set-service provider.
Apple really have tough game ahead to play it seems.

Got off the Mark

At last it seems happening after many scraps and i am sure i am gonna put some of the exciting and happening stuff here.Watch out.....