After my recent visit to Montevideo in Uruguay to discuss the eLAC initiative led by ECLAC, I realized that there is a quite strong basis of Internet Governance experts in the region. It was really a wonderful experience to see that these experts come not only from government representatives but also from the (so called) technical community, civil society and the private sector.
When we first met in Geneva for the prepcom meeetings of WSIS only very few people around the world were acquainted with the concept itself. No government or stakeholder knew where the discussion or debate should focus. Perhaps that is why we were only able (sounds easy..but it was not)to come out with these 4 principles of internet governance: multilateral, democratic, transparent and multistakeholder.
The priniciples still hold and everyone in the negotiating table were really involved and had a deep understanding of them. Some (unaware) tried to raise old discussions on the subject but automatically (not really) things were back where they belong.
Needs to be said that ECLAC at a very early stage of the post WSIS process made a substantial contribution in building a theoretical framework to understand all of the sectors and concepts involved in the information society.
By the way digital agendas are also evolving well...
Saturday 25 September 2010
Tuesday 7 September 2010
Technology, Innovation and Competition... Virtues of the Internet World
Vertical Separation and Apps
I was thinking the other day how the new model of "apps" may trigger the so called vertical separation between content providers and carriers...
Guess what? The model is pretty much on its way. No regulation was needed. I (and yourself and everybody) may now downolad an app (content) from our mobile device without any apparent "authorization" or "approval" from our mobile carrier.
As long as the app developer has managed to make it through apple (iphone) or RIM (blackberry)or anyother, we may have the content or app we want.
Competition, again, is the key issue. Competition in the app market is pretty much guaranteed. There are thousands of app developers. Competition in the devices market that allow the apps to run should not become a bottle neck. Innovation is there. Besides BB and iPhone, Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericcson may all compete and provide a more vigorous app market.
Competition in carriers...mmm there is plenty of room for improvement, but as long as they do not intervene in deciding what kind of apps may or may not be downloaded things will find their way.
The access market is still an issue. That is where regulators should participate. Then I should get back to work... Before that..
Convergence and the Apple TV (or the like)
Another issue for vertical separation. Since iTunes (an a few others)is a legal and accepted mean for downloading content I foresee for tv as we know it now to radically change in the near future.
It is well known that VoD (video on demand) is becoming more popular. The logic is pretty simple people want to watch what they want to watch when they want to. Perhaps only sports will become time sensitive..and news. Then why hire 200 channels if we are not going to watch them all the time.
If universal access to broadband becomes a reality and broadband speed increases, no one will have an incentive to subscribe to any pay tv offer. Why? What is that you want to watch? A movie? Choose it from iTunes (and probably from another platform) pay for it and download it, then use a device like apple TV (I do not work for apple ok?) and watch it on your tv set at your convenience. A soap opera? A drama or comedy series? Act accordingly.
News? Try youtube or perhaps all of the information and interactive news available in the Internet not only from big broadcasting corporations but also from independent means that are available in the Internet.
a Football match?... If broadband speed increases you may be able to watch it online.
Who wants to go to blockbuster anymore! Or to hire expensive pay tv packages... or even make a phone call (oops) through the PSTN?
I ll better go back to work.
I was thinking the other day how the new model of "apps" may trigger the so called vertical separation between content providers and carriers...
Guess what? The model is pretty much on its way. No regulation was needed. I (and yourself and everybody) may now downolad an app (content) from our mobile device without any apparent "authorization" or "approval" from our mobile carrier.
As long as the app developer has managed to make it through apple (iphone) or RIM (blackberry)or anyother, we may have the content or app we want.
Competition, again, is the key issue. Competition in the app market is pretty much guaranteed. There are thousands of app developers. Competition in the devices market that allow the apps to run should not become a bottle neck. Innovation is there. Besides BB and iPhone, Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericcson may all compete and provide a more vigorous app market.
Competition in carriers...mmm there is plenty of room for improvement, but as long as they do not intervene in deciding what kind of apps may or may not be downloaded things will find their way.
The access market is still an issue. That is where regulators should participate. Then I should get back to work... Before that..
Convergence and the Apple TV (or the like)
Another issue for vertical separation. Since iTunes (an a few others)is a legal and accepted mean for downloading content I foresee for tv as we know it now to radically change in the near future.
It is well known that VoD (video on demand) is becoming more popular. The logic is pretty simple people want to watch what they want to watch when they want to. Perhaps only sports will become time sensitive..and news. Then why hire 200 channels if we are not going to watch them all the time.
If universal access to broadband becomes a reality and broadband speed increases, no one will have an incentive to subscribe to any pay tv offer. Why? What is that you want to watch? A movie? Choose it from iTunes (and probably from another platform) pay for it and download it, then use a device like apple TV (I do not work for apple ok?) and watch it on your tv set at your convenience. A soap opera? A drama or comedy series? Act accordingly.
News? Try youtube or perhaps all of the information and interactive news available in the Internet not only from big broadcasting corporations but also from independent means that are available in the Internet.
a Football match?... If broadband speed increases you may be able to watch it online.
Who wants to go to blockbuster anymore! Or to hire expensive pay tv packages... or even make a phone call (oops) through the PSTN?
I ll better go back to work.
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