India is the fastest growing internet market in the world with over 23 million active internet users, holding out prospect of a larger growth in the number of netizens.
The top eight metros were driving the growth of internet in India with fast growing adoption in smaller cities, said Manish Agarwal, Vice-President (Marketing) of rediff.Com, one of the leading online community portals.
Kolkata accounted for 1.05 million activer users and was ahead of technology hubs like Bangalore (0.97 million) and Hyderabad (0.95 million).
Kolkata also had the highest percentage of 'innovators' among online users in the country, he said after launch of rediff's new multimedia application 'iShare'.
"iShare comes with a very light and easy to use utility tool which users can install on their PCs and upload multiple files even at a low- speed without having to worry about the source of the file," he said.
For example, he said, users would be able to shoot videos on mobile phones, digicam, digital camcorder and upload it.
Photos and music from any digital camera and MP3 player like ipods could be uploaded on iShare, he added.
Source: ZeeNews
Friday, July 27
Interview with Funpiper's CEO Ajitesh Shukla
Q) What was the Rational Behind Funpiper, the name and the concept?
A) FunPiper.com, initially started as a portal to provide a place for users to let others know about all the fun they had in the weekend or planning for coming weekend. Idea kept evolving and our vision got clear with time. As most of the fun happens on weekends when we get two days holidays(29% of our life), we chose to pursue this idea to make a fun based weekend portal.
I have always been fascinated by the story of Pied Piper of Hamelin. As user shares their fun with everybody and in a way do his bit to spread the fun, I chose the name FunPiper.
Q) What is your current user base and how do you'll plan to scale up in terms of users?
A) We got launched only 15 days back and have been able to gather sizable amount of users only from word of mouth. We are yet to make a formal press release in India and US. As per data, we have 50% of returning users out of all users.
Our target user base is 18-25 years age group. However, as the portal caters to wider need of weekend planning, we expect a lot more traffic from wider age group.
We have planned various strategies for scaling up the user base by using viral methods on our portal and press release/advertisement in news papers, hoardings.
Q) What is your staff strength?
A) We are currently 3 member team.
Q) Who do you consider as competition?
A) One of the direct competitors is Yahoo Local Weekender which is also a weekend planner, but primarily localized. We however also have indirect competitions from facebook, orkut like portals.
Q) Why would a user not post about their weekend activities on facebook or orkut or twitter for that matter and choose to post it on Funpiper.?
A) Orkut is more of a general “Hi, How/what are you doing?”scrapbook and Twitter is just limited to “What are you doing?”. Facebook however provides a proper platform for event planning complemented by social networking. FunPiper.com is different in the way that it has a single focus on weekend planning with a Twitter flavor which is the most current style of blogging also called short message style of blogging. Another differentiator is overall simplicity which has become one of the buzz words in Web 2.0.
Q) Are you planning to have any plugin's in the future? If yes could you delve into details?
A) We are carving out engineering plans to have integration with FaceBook and Flickr and, would go live with these features in coming months. We also have plans for weekend videos to be placed with the weekend fun posts.
Q) Are you currently engaging in any marketing activities to promote Funpiper?
A) We have already started indulging in marketing activities such as working out PR news, promoting our portals to famous bloggers, taking part in startup portals etc. We are yet to release few important features which shall go live in next 10-15 days after which we will go full fledged in implementing marketing strategies starting in India and US. Till then, word of mouth and portal viral features are attracting new users.
Q) Could you please disclose your revenue model?
A) I would only be revealing the revenue model partially. Our revenue model is advertisement and subscription. Advertisement is basically like any high traffic portal which would automatically fetch you CPI and CPC based advertisement revenues. At a later stage, subscription based customer comes into picture. Shortly speaking, vendors interested in promoting customized weekend based offers would be ones who would be paying monthly subscription fees to avail this service.
Q) Have you'll received any funding? If yes could you please delve into details?
A) We are self funded. However, we are planning to pitch for seed funding very soon.
Q) What are your future plans for FUNPIPER?
A) We are working on engineering front to come up with the “Weekend Planner” and other fun features. We are carving out the service portal for our subscription customers. We are also working out our sales and marketing strategies for scaling up our user base.
Source: WATblog
A) FunPiper.com, initially started as a portal to provide a place for users to let others know about all the fun they had in the weekend or planning for coming weekend. Idea kept evolving and our vision got clear with time. As most of the fun happens on weekends when we get two days holidays(29% of our life), we chose to pursue this idea to make a fun based weekend portal.
I have always been fascinated by the story of Pied Piper of Hamelin. As user shares their fun with everybody and in a way do his bit to spread the fun, I chose the name FunPiper.
Q) What is your current user base and how do you'll plan to scale up in terms of users?
A) We got launched only 15 days back and have been able to gather sizable amount of users only from word of mouth. We are yet to make a formal press release in India and US. As per data, we have 50% of returning users out of all users.
Our target user base is 18-25 years age group. However, as the portal caters to wider need of weekend planning, we expect a lot more traffic from wider age group.
We have planned various strategies for scaling up the user base by using viral methods on our portal and press release/advertisement in news papers, hoardings.
Q) What is your staff strength?
A) We are currently 3 member team.
Q) Who do you consider as competition?
A) One of the direct competitors is Yahoo Local Weekender which is also a weekend planner, but primarily localized. We however also have indirect competitions from facebook, orkut like portals.
Q) Why would a user not post about their weekend activities on facebook or orkut or twitter for that matter and choose to post it on Funpiper.?
A) Orkut is more of a general “Hi, How/what are you doing?”scrapbook and Twitter is just limited to “What are you doing?”. Facebook however provides a proper platform for event planning complemented by social networking. FunPiper.com is different in the way that it has a single focus on weekend planning with a Twitter flavor which is the most current style of blogging also called short message style of blogging. Another differentiator is overall simplicity which has become one of the buzz words in Web 2.0.
Q) Are you planning to have any plugin's in the future? If yes could you delve into details?
A) We are carving out engineering plans to have integration with FaceBook and Flickr and, would go live with these features in coming months. We also have plans for weekend videos to be placed with the weekend fun posts.
Q) Are you currently engaging in any marketing activities to promote Funpiper?
A) We have already started indulging in marketing activities such as working out PR news, promoting our portals to famous bloggers, taking part in startup portals etc. We are yet to release few important features which shall go live in next 10-15 days after which we will go full fledged in implementing marketing strategies starting in India and US. Till then, word of mouth and portal viral features are attracting new users.
Q) Could you please disclose your revenue model?
A) I would only be revealing the revenue model partially. Our revenue model is advertisement and subscription. Advertisement is basically like any high traffic portal which would automatically fetch you CPI and CPC based advertisement revenues. At a later stage, subscription based customer comes into picture. Shortly speaking, vendors interested in promoting customized weekend based offers would be ones who would be paying monthly subscription fees to avail this service.
Q) Have you'll received any funding? If yes could you please delve into details?
A) We are self funded. However, we are planning to pitch for seed funding very soon.
Q) What are your future plans for FUNPIPER?
A) We are working on engineering front to come up with the “Weekend Planner” and other fun features. We are carving out the service portal for our subscription customers. We are also working out our sales and marketing strategies for scaling up our user base.
Source: WATblog
Thursday, July 26
Google testing new animated homepages
Google has been experimenting with totally different homepages in both Taiwan and in Hong Kong than what other countries have experienced.
During a conference call the end of last week, Sergey Brin announced that Google has been testing another version of its homepage that adds a row of icons across the top of the search bar, and animated icons below it. The search giant has been taking advantage of the higher broadband speeds in these markets and pushing the types of content they can serve visitors.
Google has also been experimenting with the iGoogle homepages in both Hong Kong and Taiwan. Adding both tabbed content and animated icons for Google services. Will these experiments make their way to the U.S. and other countries in some form? Most likely not. Local culture and higher connection speeds allow for these types of additions in these regions.
Source: PCWorld
During a conference call the end of last week, Sergey Brin announced that Google has been testing another version of its homepage that adds a row of icons across the top of the search bar, and animated icons below it. The search giant has been taking advantage of the higher broadband speeds in these markets and pushing the types of content they can serve visitors.
Google has also been experimenting with the iGoogle homepages in both Hong Kong and Taiwan. Adding both tabbed content and animated icons for Google services. Will these experiments make their way to the U.S. and other countries in some form? Most likely not. Local culture and higher connection speeds allow for these types of additions in these regions.
Source: PCWorld
Microsoft Preps Web Analytics to Combat Google
Microsoft is readying the first limited beta of its forthcoming Web analytics tool for release, it hopes, later this summer. Code-named Gatineau, the product aims to compete with Google Analytics, which is already on version 2. So Microsoft has some catching up to do with Google.
The company began a limited alpha test of Gatineau in early January. Thomas said at the time that the company is hoping to launch version 1 by the end of 2007 but stated that was a goal, not a promise.
Meanwhile, Google Analytics version 1 was released more than a year and a half ago, and version 2 shipped in early May.
Microsoft's Gatineau will, of course, integrate with Microsoft's adCenter – its own pay-per-click engine. But at least one potential user who attended a recent Microsoft briefing in London, hinted on his blog that Gatineau will also provide integration with Google's AdWords.
Source: InternetNews
The company began a limited alpha test of Gatineau in early January. Thomas said at the time that the company is hoping to launch version 1 by the end of 2007 but stated that was a goal, not a promise.
Meanwhile, Google Analytics version 1 was released more than a year and a half ago, and version 2 shipped in early May.
Microsoft's Gatineau will, of course, integrate with Microsoft's adCenter – its own pay-per-click engine. But at least one potential user who attended a recent Microsoft briefing in London, hinted on his blog that Gatineau will also provide integration with Google's AdWords.
Source: InternetNews
Digg switches ads from Google to Microsoft
Digg has dropped Google as its ad provider in exchange for for a three-year exclusive ad deal with Microsoft. Microsoft will be providing the display and contextual advertising on Digg's popular social news site, with traffic estimated at over 17 million unique monthly visitors. The switch over will take place in early August and will impact only US traffic.
Source: SearchEngineLand
Source: SearchEngineLand
Baidu Profit Doubles as China Internet Usage Surges
Baidu.com Inc., the operator of China's most popular Internet search site, said second-quarter profit more than doubled after clients including Motorola Inc. bought more advertising. The stock gained 19 percent.
Net income rose to 141.9 million yuan ($18.8 million), or 4.09 yuan per American depositary receipt, from 58.5 million yuan, or 1.69 yuan, a year earlier, the company said today in a statement. Sales more than doubled to 401.3 million yuan, beating analysts' estimates.
Baidu expanded its market share in China, where it leads closest rival Google Inc. by more than 2 to 1. That helped Baidu lure companies such as Motorola and Alibaba.com Corp. to buy more search-linked ads on its site to market products to China's 162 million Web users. Revenue this quarter may exceed projections, according to a company forecast today.
Source: Bloomberg
Net income rose to 141.9 million yuan ($18.8 million), or 4.09 yuan per American depositary receipt, from 58.5 million yuan, or 1.69 yuan, a year earlier, the company said today in a statement. Sales more than doubled to 401.3 million yuan, beating analysts' estimates.
Baidu expanded its market share in China, where it leads closest rival Google Inc. by more than 2 to 1. That helped Baidu lure companies such as Motorola and Alibaba.com Corp. to buy more search-linked ads on its site to market products to China's 162 million Web users. Revenue this quarter may exceed projections, according to a company forecast today.
Source: Bloomberg
Online Newspaper Audiences Up 7.7% From 2006
MORE THAN 59 MILLION PEOPLE on average--representing 37.3% of all active Internet users--visited newspaper Web sites during the second quarter of 2007.
This is a 7.7% increase over the same period a year ago, according to a custom analysis provided by Nielsen//NetRatings for the Newspaper Association of America. It is level with first-quarter 2007 visits.
These same visitors generated nearly 2.7 billion page views per month throughout the second quarter, the NAA reported Monday. That compares to slightly more than 2.5 billion page views during the same period last year. It represents a decrease from 3.0 billion page views in the first quarter.
In addition, time spent on newspaper Web sites is increasing, the research showed. Users spent a combined 7.2 billion minutes browsing newspaper Web sites during the second quarter during nearly 1.4 billion total visits.
Average second-quarter reach increased to 37.3% in 2007 from 35.56% in 2006.
May 2007 set a record for most monthly visits on record with more than 60 million people visiting newspaper Web sites--a 6.7% increase from the same period a year ago.
While print classifieds are tanking, online classifieds are proving to be a key area of revenue growth for both companies.
Source: MediaPost
This is a 7.7% increase over the same period a year ago, according to a custom analysis provided by Nielsen//NetRatings for the Newspaper Association of America. It is level with first-quarter 2007 visits.
These same visitors generated nearly 2.7 billion page views per month throughout the second quarter, the NAA reported Monday. That compares to slightly more than 2.5 billion page views during the same period last year. It represents a decrease from 3.0 billion page views in the first quarter.
In addition, time spent on newspaper Web sites is increasing, the research showed. Users spent a combined 7.2 billion minutes browsing newspaper Web sites during the second quarter during nearly 1.4 billion total visits.
Average second-quarter reach increased to 37.3% in 2007 from 35.56% in 2006.
May 2007 set a record for most monthly visits on record with more than 60 million people visiting newspaper Web sites--a 6.7% increase from the same period a year ago.
While print classifieds are tanking, online classifieds are proving to be a key area of revenue growth for both companies.
Source: MediaPost
Now Send Rakhi Gifts Online
Giftsallindia.com brings special rakhis like fancy rakhi, silver rakhi, gold rakhi, kid’s rakhi, pearl rakhi, zardosi rakhi, bhaiya bhabhi rakhi, lumba rakhi especially for bhabhi. Giftsallindia.com also offers Rakhi gift hampers, chocolate hampers, rakhi puja thali, rakhi mithai thali, dry fruit thali. These Rakhi gift ideas are excellent to make your Raksha Bandhan memorable life-long with your brother and sister.
This is a unique online gifts store in India, has a wide range of gifts and gift ideas exclusively for Raksha Bandhan. Giftsallindia.com has Rakhi gifts for brother offering different types of rakhi gift hampers, perfumes, apparels, mithai hampers and these gift ideas can make your brother happy on Rakhi. With Rakhi return gifts for sister, brothers can make their sister smile and happy with wide range of perfumes, jewelry, watches, apparels, return gift hampers, mobile phones.
It has express rakhi gifts section, which has exclusive variety of fresh flower gifts, cakes and special rakhi gifts with affordable price range and same day delivery (24 hrs) within whole India.
Source: OpenPR
This is a unique online gifts store in India, has a wide range of gifts and gift ideas exclusively for Raksha Bandhan. Giftsallindia.com has Rakhi gifts for brother offering different types of rakhi gift hampers, perfumes, apparels, mithai hampers and these gift ideas can make your brother happy on Rakhi. With Rakhi return gifts for sister, brothers can make their sister smile and happy with wide range of perfumes, jewelry, watches, apparels, return gift hampers, mobile phones.
It has express rakhi gifts section, which has exclusive variety of fresh flower gifts, cakes and special rakhi gifts with affordable price range and same day delivery (24 hrs) within whole India.
Source: OpenPR
Amazon.com 2Q Profit More Than Triples
Amazon.com Inc.'s second-quarter profit more than tripled, boosted by strong sales of books, music and electronics worldwide. The Web retailer's stock soared in after-hours trading.
Earnings for the three months ended June 30 climbed to $78 million, or 19 cents per share, from $22 million, or 5 cents per share during the same period last year, the company said Tuesday.
Results topped Wall Street's expectations. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial forecast a profit of 16 cents per share.
Revenue rose 35 percent to $2.88 billion from $2.14 billion in the year-ago quarter, beating analysts' expectations for $2.81 billion in sales.
Source: Fobes
Earnings for the three months ended June 30 climbed to $78 million, or 19 cents per share, from $22 million, or 5 cents per share during the same period last year, the company said Tuesday.
Results topped Wall Street's expectations. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial forecast a profit of 16 cents per share.
Revenue rose 35 percent to $2.88 billion from $2.14 billion in the year-ago quarter, beating analysts' expectations for $2.81 billion in sales.
Source: Fobes
MakeMyMarraige.com Adds New Features to Website
makemymarriage.com now support upload of three photos at a time, now you can create your photo album by own & decorate your profile at excellence. Now you can search community based profile in more easy and interesting manner.
Following are new major features in matrimonial website:
- Photo album : Create your own album with least efforts and now you can attach up to three photos in your matrimonial / shaadi profile.
- More space to write : In custom section, now can you write more about yourself and your family members, its time to make your matrimonial profile more decorative then ever. Brides & grooms get better choice now.
- Support for communities : Now we support fully to Kayastha, Maheshwari, Jain, Agarwal, Marwari, Tamil, Telgu, Kannad for Indian matrimonial profiles.
- Easy Search Tool : Quick search is support as new matrimonial search tool for easy search of your matrimonial profile. Adavance search facility is for users who want to search more keenly.
Source: NewsWireToday
Following are new major features in matrimonial website:
- Photo album : Create your own album with least efforts and now you can attach up to three photos in your matrimonial / shaadi profile.
- More space to write : In custom section, now can you write more about yourself and your family members, its time to make your matrimonial profile more decorative then ever. Brides & grooms get better choice now.
- Support for communities : Now we support fully to Kayastha, Maheshwari, Jain, Agarwal, Marwari, Tamil, Telgu, Kannad for Indian matrimonial profiles.
- Easy Search Tool : Quick search is support as new matrimonial search tool for easy search of your matrimonial profile. Adavance search facility is for users who want to search more keenly.
Source: NewsWireToday
Wednesday, July 25
Incredible India website acquires business dimension
The Tourism Ministry's Incredible India website on Wednesday acquired a business dimension with the launch of an e-commerce platform that will allow firms to conduct a host of travel-related activities
The platform, developed jointly by the Ministry along with EVIIVO, a tourism e-commerce company, is accessible on the main site www.incredibleindia.org and will facilitate small and medium industries to conduct a host of travel related business activities, mainly booking of accommodation at the destinations.
Launching the e-commerce platform, Soni said the website has proven to be "singularly the most effective way" to increase tourist inflow - from 3.9 million to 4.43 million from year 2005 to 2006.
Source: DNAIndia
The platform, developed jointly by the Ministry along with EVIIVO, a tourism e-commerce company, is accessible on the main site www.incredibleindia.org and will facilitate small and medium industries to conduct a host of travel related business activities, mainly booking of accommodation at the destinations.
Launching the e-commerce platform, Soni said the website has proven to be "singularly the most effective way" to increase tourist inflow - from 3.9 million to 4.43 million from year 2005 to 2006.
Source: DNAIndia
MySpace Deletes 29,000 Sex Offenders
Popular Internet social network MySpace said on Tuesday it detected and deleted 29,000 convicted sex offenders on its service, more than four times the figure it had initially reported.
Blumenthal, who led a coalition of state authorities to lobby MySpace for more stringent safeguards for minors, and other state AGs have demanded the service begin verifying a user's age and require parental permission for minors. The minimum age to register on MySpace is 14.
The service has come under attack over the past year after some of its young members fell prey to adult predators posing as minors. The families of several teenage girls sexually assaulted by MySpace members sued the service in January for failing to safeguard its young members.
Late last year, it struck a partnership with background verification company Sentinel Tech Holdings Corp. to co-develop the first U.S. national database of convicted sex offenders to make it easier to track offenders on the Internet.
Source: Tech2
Blumenthal, who led a coalition of state authorities to lobby MySpace for more stringent safeguards for minors, and other state AGs have demanded the service begin verifying a user's age and require parental permission for minors. The minimum age to register on MySpace is 14.
The service has come under attack over the past year after some of its young members fell prey to adult predators posing as minors. The families of several teenage girls sexually assaulted by MySpace members sued the service in January for failing to safeguard its young members.
Late last year, it struck a partnership with background verification company Sentinel Tech Holdings Corp. to co-develop the first U.S. national database of convicted sex offenders to make it easier to track offenders on the Internet.
Source: Tech2
Wipro Protos, the New Range of Energy Conservation PCs
Yesterday, Wipro Infotech launched its new range of desktops in the country called Wipro Protos. The latest desktops consume 25% lesser energy than the conventional desktops.
Wipro is the first player in the industry to launch India OEM to market. This product is based on AMD’s.
The new range of the Protos devices supports the 50X15 initiative, which helps to enable affordable Internet access as well as low-power computing capability.
Wipro has not announced the pricing information yet.
Source: TechGadgets
Wipro is the first player in the industry to launch India OEM to market. This product is based on AMD’s.
The new range of the Protos devices supports the 50X15 initiative, which helps to enable affordable Internet access as well as low-power computing capability.
Wipro has not announced the pricing information yet.
Source: TechGadgets
Facebook names ex YouTube finance chief as new CFO
Fast-growing social network site Facebook named former YouTube Chief Financial Officer Gideon Yu as its new CFO, replacing prior finance chief Michael Sheridan, in the latest step toward a potential initial public offering (IPO).
Yu, 36, became chief financial officer of video-sharing sensation YouTube last September, shortly before the company was acquired by Google Inc in a $1.65 billion deal. He remains a Google employee with his start date at Facebook still to be finalized.
Earlier this month, Facebook named Chamath Palihapitiya, 30 an investor with venture capital firm Mayfield Fund LP, as Facebook's vice president of product marketing and operations.
The company has become a darling of Silicon Valley trend-watchers who see the site becoming a major player in the Internet industry, "the next Google" in the shorthand of some analysts here.
Source: WashingtonPost
Yu, 36, became chief financial officer of video-sharing sensation YouTube last September, shortly before the company was acquired by Google Inc in a $1.65 billion deal. He remains a Google employee with his start date at Facebook still to be finalized.
Earlier this month, Facebook named Chamath Palihapitiya, 30 an investor with venture capital firm Mayfield Fund LP, as Facebook's vice president of product marketing and operations.
The company has become a darling of Silicon Valley trend-watchers who see the site becoming a major player in the Internet industry, "the next Google" in the shorthand of some analysts here.
Source: WashingtonPost
AOL reaches deal for targeted ad company Tacoda
Continuing its bid to rely more on advertising as Internet access subscriptions plummet, AOL said Tuesday it was buying a company that delivers targeted ads based on a visitor's browsing habits.
AOL, the online unit of Time Warner Inc., said the acquisition of Tacoda Inc. would help advertisers run more relevant pitches. Visitors who read a lot on new car models, for instance, might suddenly find automotive ads follow them to Web pages on baseball.
Tacoda uses data files called cookies to track the topics of interest to a specific visitor, be it a sport, a make of car or a geographic location.
Behavioral targeting has become increasingly common, even if many users aren't aware of it. Targeting has long been a holy grail for Web sites, though until recently neither the technology was well enough developed nor the audiences particularly defined.
The research company eMarketer projects that spending on behavioral targeting will nearly double to $1 billion next year and hit $3.8 billion by 2011.
Source: MercuryNews
AOL, the online unit of Time Warner Inc., said the acquisition of Tacoda Inc. would help advertisers run more relevant pitches. Visitors who read a lot on new car models, for instance, might suddenly find automotive ads follow them to Web pages on baseball.
Tacoda uses data files called cookies to track the topics of interest to a specific visitor, be it a sport, a make of car or a geographic location.
Behavioral targeting has become increasingly common, even if many users aren't aware of it. Targeting has long been a holy grail for Web sites, though until recently neither the technology was well enough developed nor the audiences particularly defined.
The research company eMarketer projects that spending on behavioral targeting will nearly double to $1 billion next year and hit $3.8 billion by 2011.
Source: MercuryNews
Digg Releases New Widgets for Web Sites
Digg.com released new tools called Digg Widgets that are designed to make it easier to embed content from Digg on to other Web sites.
The widgets allow users to add Digg content to their own Web sites without having to do extra work, wrote Daniel Burka, the company's creative director, on Digg's blog.
Users can customize many aspects of the widgets, including background color, borders, titles and link colors. The widgets also allow users to display Digg counts next to each story.
Digg also announced several updates to its Arc visualization technology, which allows Digg stories and topics to be displayed wrapped around a sphere. Stories with more Diggs have thicker arcs than those with fewer Diggs. The new features of Arc include speed control and improved interaction, making it easier to go from outside the arc to the center. Digg has also made it easier to see who has Digged stories in the Arc.
Source: PCWorld
The widgets allow users to add Digg content to their own Web sites without having to do extra work, wrote Daniel Burka, the company's creative director, on Digg's blog.
Users can customize many aspects of the widgets, including background color, borders, titles and link colors. The widgets also allow users to display Digg counts next to each story.
Digg also announced several updates to its Arc visualization technology, which allows Digg stories and topics to be displayed wrapped around a sphere. Stories with more Diggs have thicker arcs than those with fewer Diggs. The new features of Arc include speed control and improved interaction, making it easier to go from outside the arc to the center. Digg has also made it easier to see who has Digged stories in the Arc.
Source: PCWorld
AllofMP3.com owner faces Jail
Denis Kvasov, the former owner of Russian music site AllofMP3.com, has been charged with violating intellectual property laws in a Moscow court.
He faces a three year jail sentence and a 15 million rouble (€420,000) fine in damages to record companies EMI, Warner, and Universal.
AllofMP3.com, the UK's second most popular source for music downloads after iTunes, was shut down earlier this month after diplomatic pressure was piled on Russian authorities.
Visa and Mastercard had blocked payments for Alltunes, which previously operated as AllofMP3, after the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) accused the website of copyright violation.
Source: TheRegister
He faces a three year jail sentence and a 15 million rouble (€420,000) fine in damages to record companies EMI, Warner, and Universal.
AllofMP3.com, the UK's second most popular source for music downloads after iTunes, was shut down earlier this month after diplomatic pressure was piled on Russian authorities.
Visa and Mastercard had blocked payments for Alltunes, which previously operated as AllofMP3, after the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) accused the website of copyright violation.
Source: TheRegister
Salesforce.com To Alter Controversial Fee Plan
Salesforce.com plans to introduce changes to its controversial "AppStore" referral program next month, moving from a flat margin fee structure for participating partners to an optional "a la carte" plan allowing partners to pay directly for the services they use.
Salesforce.com introduced a voluntary program earlier this year under which partners who agree to pay 10 percent of first-year revenue from sales influenced by AppExchange or Salesforce.com's direct sales staff receive more attentive sales and marketing assistance from the company. Next month, it was slated to increase fees to 25 percent for AppExchange partners enlisting for "premium" referral services. In the past, some partners had chafed over high fees charged for the program.
Also in August, Salesforce.com will roll out a major update to its hosted, on-demand CRM service. The update will include the launch of Apex, the programming platform that will allow customers and partners to built atop Salesforce.com's infrastructure to intensively customize their Salesforce.com deployments and create non-CRM add-on hosted applications. Salesforce.com hopes Apex will help it evolve beyond CRM and become the infrastructure provider for the broader SaaS (software as a service) ecosystem.
Source: crn
Salesforce.com introduced a voluntary program earlier this year under which partners who agree to pay 10 percent of first-year revenue from sales influenced by AppExchange or Salesforce.com's direct sales staff receive more attentive sales and marketing assistance from the company. Next month, it was slated to increase fees to 25 percent for AppExchange partners enlisting for "premium" referral services. In the past, some partners had chafed over high fees charged for the program.
Also in August, Salesforce.com will roll out a major update to its hosted, on-demand CRM service. The update will include the launch of Apex, the programming platform that will allow customers and partners to built atop Salesforce.com's infrastructure to intensively customize their Salesforce.com deployments and create non-CRM add-on hosted applications. Salesforce.com hopes Apex will help it evolve beyond CRM and become the infrastructure provider for the broader SaaS (software as a service) ecosystem.
Source: crn
Condo.com, Terra Networks to introduce bilingual Web site
Condo.com on Tuesday announced it signed an agreement with Terra Networks to launch the first bilingual online condo marketplace.
The co-branded Web site, bienesraices.terra.com, offers the option to view, search and interact on the site in both Spanish and English.
Miami-based Condo.com boasts an inventory of more than $100 billion and condo listings in more than 70 countries.
Terra Networks, a global Internet group, is the largest Web access provider in Spain and Latin America.
Source: BizJournal
The co-branded Web site, bienesraices.terra.com, offers the option to view, search and interact on the site in both Spanish and English.
Miami-based Condo.com boasts an inventory of more than $100 billion and condo listings in more than 70 countries.
Terra Networks, a global Internet group, is the largest Web access provider in Spain and Latin America.
Source: BizJournal
Tuesday, July 24
43% of Low Cost Tavelers, Buy Tickets Online
The Centre For Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) has released results after a recent survey was conducted finding new trends in passenger behaviour following India’s Low Cost Carrier revolution and the country’s emerging economy.
The survey found India’s travelling population was increasingly using LCC as their preferred means of transport, price dependent, and a significant number of those purchasing tickets were using the internet to do so.
43 per cent of the 2000 LCC passengers surveyed throughout airports in India said they bought their tickets over the internet, while 48 per cent said they used a credit card to purchase their tickets.
Figures relating to full service carriers in India were significantly lower, with just 21 per cent buying tickets over the internet, and 31 per cent using a credit card for the purchase. 61 per cent was found to have used a travel agent to buy air tickets.
Source: eTravelBlackboard
The survey found India’s travelling population was increasingly using LCC as their preferred means of transport, price dependent, and a significant number of those purchasing tickets were using the internet to do so.
43 per cent of the 2000 LCC passengers surveyed throughout airports in India said they bought their tickets over the internet, while 48 per cent said they used a credit card to purchase their tickets.
Figures relating to full service carriers in India were significantly lower, with just 21 per cent buying tickets over the internet, and 31 per cent using a credit card for the purchase. 61 per cent was found to have used a travel agent to buy air tickets.
Source: eTravelBlackboard
Sify.com Launches www.chennailive.in
Sify.com, the leading consumer portal from Sify Limited, announced today the launch of www.chennailive.in, the first website for the city of Chennai with live video streaming. The website was launched by Dr C Chandramouli, IT Secretary, Tamil Nadu, at a glittering function at The Taj Coromandel hotel, Chennai on the evening of July 24, 2007.
After the success of mumbailive.in, bangalorelive.in, hyderabadlive.in, chennailive.in is the fourth city portal from Sify.com. A key feature of www.chennialive.in is live video feeds from traffic web-cams stationed at key junctions of the city so citizens can plan their routes by checking the site for the prevailing traffic conditions. Users will have access to live video streaming of the traffic in the city at any given point of time.
The site www.chennailive.in will include video sections across categories like information on the latest happenings in the city (Chennai Diary), gossip & updates on Tamil movies (Kollywood Masala), video reviews of the most happening hot spots in Chennai (Hangouts), hottest deals (Chennai Bazaar), reviews of the best know eateries (Meals Ready), and many more. Other offerings include city news, news in Tamil, classifieds and directory listings, city maps, etc.
Source: BusinessWireIndia
After the success of mumbailive.in, bangalorelive.in, hyderabadlive.in, chennailive.in is the fourth city portal from Sify.com. A key feature of www.chennialive.in is live video feeds from traffic web-cams stationed at key junctions of the city so citizens can plan their routes by checking the site for the prevailing traffic conditions. Users will have access to live video streaming of the traffic in the city at any given point of time.
The site www.chennailive.in will include video sections across categories like information on the latest happenings in the city (Chennai Diary), gossip & updates on Tamil movies (Kollywood Masala), video reviews of the most happening hot spots in Chennai (Hangouts), hottest deals (Chennai Bazaar), reviews of the best know eateries (Meals Ready), and many more. Other offerings include city news, news in Tamil, classifieds and directory listings, city maps, etc.
Source: BusinessWireIndia
Kalam's Internet query on terrorism gets massive response
When outgoing President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam posed a question on the Internet about ways to curb terrorism, he got an overwhelming 30,000 responses from people across the country.
Kalam, called the 'People's President', put forth the question 'What should we do to free our planet from terrorism?' on Yahoo! India Answers six months ago. And thousands of people replied, including the likes of senior police officer Kiran Bedi, tennis player Leander Paes and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Immensely popular with children, the president got 15,000 responses from school students alone. Kalam has selected 10 best answers by kids and the winners will get an educational tour of the Silicon Valley in the US.
The two best answers he chose from the 30,000 were by Sugato Mitra and Karthik Durairajan. The results were declared by Yahoo! Tuesday.
Source: IndiaeNews
Kalam, called the 'People's President', put forth the question 'What should we do to free our planet from terrorism?' on Yahoo! India Answers six months ago. And thousands of people replied, including the likes of senior police officer Kiran Bedi, tennis player Leander Paes and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Immensely popular with children, the president got 15,000 responses from school students alone. Kalam has selected 10 best answers by kids and the winners will get an educational tour of the Silicon Valley in the US.
The two best answers he chose from the 30,000 were by Sugato Mitra and Karthik Durairajan. The results were declared by Yahoo! Tuesday.
Source: IndiaeNews
Online Grading of Diamonds in India
An institute dealing with diamonds in India has launched an online system to verify the diamond grading documents.
The Indian Diamond Institute (IDI), based in Surat, a major town for diamond industry in the country, has taken the initiative to start the online service for verifying the diamond grading documents.
What the consumers need to do is enter the relevant data from the diamond grading report which they obtain after making the purchase. The institute will reverted an authentic grading analysis of the diamonds. The consumers could match the IDI analysis report with the diamond grading report that they have.
Consumers can access the new facility from the institutes's web site www.diamondinstitute.net.
Source: Rediff
The Indian Diamond Institute (IDI), based in Surat, a major town for diamond industry in the country, has taken the initiative to start the online service for verifying the diamond grading documents.
What the consumers need to do is enter the relevant data from the diamond grading report which they obtain after making the purchase. The institute will reverted an authentic grading analysis of the diamonds. The consumers could match the IDI analysis report with the diamond grading report that they have.
Consumers can access the new facility from the institutes's web site www.diamondinstitute.net.
Source: Rediff
Nokia buys online video and photo service Twango
It's been just nine months since Twango launched its free online photo and video sharing service. But in that short period, the Redmond startup has attracted tens of thousands of users and the attention of one very large mobile phone company.
Twango decided to sell, rather than going it alone, because of the financial wherewithal and distribution power of Nokia. It also wanted to allay concerns of customers who use Twango's photo and video service.
This isn't the first time that Nokia has purchased a Seattle area Internet company. Last summer, it completed a $60 million buyout of digital music service Loudeye.
Interestingly, the sale of Twango marks the third Seattle area Internet company – operating from a home office with little outside investment capital – that has been sold to a publicly-traded firm in the past five days. Late last week, Vashon Island's Recipezaar was sold to E.W. Scripps and Bellevue's PremierGuide was sold to Local.com.
Source: seattlepi
Twango decided to sell, rather than going it alone, because of the financial wherewithal and distribution power of Nokia. It also wanted to allay concerns of customers who use Twango's photo and video service.
This isn't the first time that Nokia has purchased a Seattle area Internet company. Last summer, it completed a $60 million buyout of digital music service Loudeye.
Interestingly, the sale of Twango marks the third Seattle area Internet company – operating from a home office with little outside investment capital – that has been sold to a publicly-traded firm in the past five days. Late last week, Vashon Island's Recipezaar was sold to E.W. Scripps and Bellevue's PremierGuide was sold to Local.com.
Source: seattlepi
Search with a Human Touch
Could flesh-and-blood human beings do a better job in online search than the algorithms and bots that power the search engines of Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft’s (MSFT) MSN? iRazoo, a privately held start-up that is touting its “social search” features is hoping so.
iRazoo, which launched its new site Monday, is putting a unique twist on search engine results. Sure, the site has your standard searches ranked by keyword relevance, as well as sponsored links. But Neal Verma, the founder and CEO of iRazoo, said that his site is unique because the top-ranked searches will be based on user recommendations.
Verma also hopes to set his site apart by offering users a simple way to unregister so that their personal information is not stored in cookies.
Verma concedes that in the beginning, the site won’t be that much different from other search sites, since it will take some time for a critical mass of user recommendations to make their way into the company’s database. But Verma is hoping to get people interested in coming to the site by offering them the promise of prizes.
It is an intriguing concept but iRazoo will face an uphill battle. Both Yahoo and Google are investing in their own social search capabilities and the whole concept of search with a human, personalized touch is not new. About.com, now owned by the New York Times (NYT) offers human “guides” to help give people expert advice on various topics.
Another privately held search firm, Eurekster, tried a couple of years ago to revolutionize search with a service that let users see results that were recommended by friends in a social network. The concept of giving away prizes in order to boost search traffic also has been tried before by companies like Blingo and Winzy.
None of these sites have been able to break the stranglehold on search that the oligopoly of Google, Yahoo and MSN have. Can iRazoo succeed where they failed?
Verma said it will all come down to how strong iRazoo’s search results are. And he is confident that the concept of social search will catch on since social networking and user-generated sites are already popular.
“This is the second revolution of search. We’re taking computer-driven algorithmic results and mixing that in with human intelligence. The success of MySpace, Facebook, Digg and Wikipedia shows that people want to take content that’s already there and make it better,” he said. “Google has lost its way by focusing on its ad engine. They have been focusing so much on making the ad model perfect but their search results have suffered.”
Source: CNNMoney
iRazoo, which launched its new site Monday, is putting a unique twist on search engine results. Sure, the site has your standard searches ranked by keyword relevance, as well as sponsored links. But Neal Verma, the founder and CEO of iRazoo, said that his site is unique because the top-ranked searches will be based on user recommendations.
Verma also hopes to set his site apart by offering users a simple way to unregister so that their personal information is not stored in cookies.
Verma concedes that in the beginning, the site won’t be that much different from other search sites, since it will take some time for a critical mass of user recommendations to make their way into the company’s database. But Verma is hoping to get people interested in coming to the site by offering them the promise of prizes.
It is an intriguing concept but iRazoo will face an uphill battle. Both Yahoo and Google are investing in their own social search capabilities and the whole concept of search with a human, personalized touch is not new. About.com, now owned by the New York Times (NYT) offers human “guides” to help give people expert advice on various topics.
Another privately held search firm, Eurekster, tried a couple of years ago to revolutionize search with a service that let users see results that were recommended by friends in a social network. The concept of giving away prizes in order to boost search traffic also has been tried before by companies like Blingo and Winzy.
None of these sites have been able to break the stranglehold on search that the oligopoly of Google, Yahoo and MSN have. Can iRazoo succeed where they failed?
Verma said it will all come down to how strong iRazoo’s search results are. And he is confident that the concept of social search will catch on since social networking and user-generated sites are already popular.
“This is the second revolution of search. We’re taking computer-driven algorithmic results and mixing that in with human intelligence. The success of MySpace, Facebook, Digg and Wikipedia shows that people want to take content that’s already there and make it better,” he said. “Google has lost its way by focusing on its ad engine. They have been focusing so much on making the ad model perfect but their search results have suffered.”
Source: CNNMoney
Facebook owner faces law suit
He will discover next week whether he faces legal action for claims he stole the idea for the $1bn website.
A US judge will decide next week whether Mark Zuckerberg should go to court after three former classmates accused him of stealing the idea, software and business plan for the social networking website.
The three former Harvard students say 23-year-old Zuckerberg stole the idea for the site while working as a programmer on their own social-networking site - called ConnectU.
Zuckerberg reportedly turned down a $1bn dollar bid for Facebook from Yahoo last year - but any legal battle is sure to affect any potential sale.
ConnectU's founders, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and Divya Narendra, are asking for unspecified damages, including any profits Zuckerberg made from using their ideas and they are asking to have control of Facebook handed over to them.
Source: Channel4
A US judge will decide next week whether Mark Zuckerberg should go to court after three former classmates accused him of stealing the idea, software and business plan for the social networking website.
The three former Harvard students say 23-year-old Zuckerberg stole the idea for the site while working as a programmer on their own social-networking site - called ConnectU.
Zuckerberg reportedly turned down a $1bn dollar bid for Facebook from Yahoo last year - but any legal battle is sure to affect any potential sale.
ConnectU's founders, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and Divya Narendra, are asking for unspecified damages, including any profits Zuckerberg made from using their ideas and they are asking to have control of Facebook handed over to them.
Source: Channel4
Next Windows version in 3 years
Software giant Microsoft is planning to ship its next major version of Windows -- currently known as version "7" internally -- within three years, according to media reports.
Very few details are currently available about plans for the new OS other than that it will have 32- and 64-bit versions and will ship in consumer and business editions like Vista.
Microsoft said the outline of Windows 7 was provided particularly for corporate customers who are part of the software maker's Software Assurance licensing programme. Many business customers pay for Microsoft's software under a license agreement called Software Assurance.
Software Assurance is the Microsoft program that allows customers with volume licenses for Windows automatically get upgrades when new versions come out.
In fact, according to a new Gartner report, Microsoft is making several business tools available only via Software Assurance, and Gartner expects this trend to continue.
Source: IndiaTimes
Very few details are currently available about plans for the new OS other than that it will have 32- and 64-bit versions and will ship in consumer and business editions like Vista.
Microsoft said the outline of Windows 7 was provided particularly for corporate customers who are part of the software maker's Software Assurance licensing programme. Many business customers pay for Microsoft's software under a license agreement called Software Assurance.
Software Assurance is the Microsoft program that allows customers with volume licenses for Windows automatically get upgrades when new versions come out.
In fact, according to a new Gartner report, Microsoft is making several business tools available only via Software Assurance, and Gartner expects this trend to continue.
Source: IndiaTimes
Raising eyebrow over regulation of new technology
Emerging technologies such as IPTV, mobile TV, and DTH are set to get shot in the arm with the ministry of communications and the ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B) reaching an agreement on the content, carriage, regulatory and licensing jurisdiction of these new technologies.
In the case of IPTV, the communications ministry will be the regulatory and licensing authority, while I&B ministry will monitor the content provided by broadcasters to telecom players who offer this service. IPTV players can only carry channels registered with the I&B ministry, and for services like video on demand, they will require certification from the Central Board of Film Certification. Internet-based content on IPTV will be regulated by the IT Act.
Some of the players that have entered the IPTV space include MTNL and BSNL. Reliance Communications is expected to join the bandwagon by the end of this financial year.
Source: EconomicTimes
In the case of IPTV, the communications ministry will be the regulatory and licensing authority, while I&B ministry will monitor the content provided by broadcasters to telecom players who offer this service. IPTV players can only carry channels registered with the I&B ministry, and for services like video on demand, they will require certification from the Central Board of Film Certification. Internet-based content on IPTV will be regulated by the IT Act.
Some of the players that have entered the IPTV space include MTNL and BSNL. Reliance Communications is expected to join the bandwagon by the end of this financial year.
Source: EconomicTimes
Order prints of Flickr and Picasa photos online
itasveer, an online photo printing and personalized gifts service, has integrated with online photo sharing services: Flickr and Picasa. This integration would allow all users of Flickr and Picasa to order photo prints and a range of personalized photo products such as t-shirts, mugs, collages etc and get them shipped anywhere in India, without having to upload their pictures again on itasveer. itasveer is one of the first such services in India to integrate with these web services to provide their users a quality printing service in India. Recently, itasveer has been adjudged as the best website in ‘Digital Photo Printing’ category by PC World (India).
To access your Flickr and/or Picasa photos from itasveer, you need to authorize itasveer only once to access them on your behalf. itasveer’s authentication is highly secured and takes care of all the required security measures.
Using itasveer’s services, users both in India and worldwide, can order high quality photo prints and personalized photo merchandise and get them delivered to their homes anywhere in India. itasveer also offers its users a compelling photo sharing experience by providing unlimited storage, personal web pages and the ability to download their original full-resolution images. itasveer was founded by four IIT Delhi alumni in 2006 and is the first and the only regional partner of Microsoft in India for online photo printing services.
Source: IndianPad
To access your Flickr and/or Picasa photos from itasveer, you need to authorize itasveer only once to access them on your behalf. itasveer’s authentication is highly secured and takes care of all the required security measures.
Using itasveer’s services, users both in India and worldwide, can order high quality photo prints and personalized photo merchandise and get them delivered to their homes anywhere in India. itasveer also offers its users a compelling photo sharing experience by providing unlimited storage, personal web pages and the ability to download their original full-resolution images. itasveer was founded by four IIT Delhi alumni in 2006 and is the first and the only regional partner of Microsoft in India for online photo printing services.
Source: IndianPad
Web casting the Next Big Thing?
Recently, Citigroup-owned broadband service provider, YOU Telecom, delivered a smooth bandwidth solution to help one of Chennai's well known hospitals effectively render a dual-location Web cast.
YOU Telecom is now planning on providing this service in 11 other cities of the country.
Web casting aka Internet Broadcasting is the process of capturing, encoding, hosting, and delivering multimedia events -- usually from a remote location -- for the purpose of Internet broadcast.
Live events need an Internet connection while others can be archived for viewing on demand.
A 'one to many' communications medium, a Web cast can be viewed by as many people as possible. All one needs to do is log onto the concerned Web site, and be a part of the Web cast.
Source: Techtree
YOU Telecom is now planning on providing this service in 11 other cities of the country.
Web casting aka Internet Broadcasting is the process of capturing, encoding, hosting, and delivering multimedia events -- usually from a remote location -- for the purpose of Internet broadcast.
Live events need an Internet connection while others can be archived for viewing on demand.
A 'one to many' communications medium, a Web cast can be viewed by as many people as possible. All one needs to do is log onto the concerned Web site, and be a part of the Web cast.
Source: Techtree
Monday, July 23
Yahoo Real Estate Finds New Partner
NewHomeSource.com is the product of Builder Homesite (BHI), a homebuilding organization with 9,700 communities listed in the U.S. BHI and Yahoo Real Estate offer users access to up to date new home information online.
Communities listed on NewHomeSource will be displayed in the featured listings placements on Yahoo Real Estate. "By combining the extensive new home community data found within NewHomeSource.com with Yahoo! Real Estate's user interface and reach, we are providing consumers with an easy and effective method to find the new home of their dreams," said Tim Costello, CEO of Builder Homesite.
Builders will have more exposure and additional advertising opportunities. "NewHomeSource.com is always looking for ways to expand our reach to consumers, and Yahoo! Real Estate is the perfect partner to help us accomplish this mission," said Costello.
Source: WebProNews
Communities listed on NewHomeSource will be displayed in the featured listings placements on Yahoo Real Estate. "By combining the extensive new home community data found within NewHomeSource.com with Yahoo! Real Estate's user interface and reach, we are providing consumers with an easy and effective method to find the new home of their dreams," said Tim Costello, CEO of Builder Homesite.
Builders will have more exposure and additional advertising opportunities. "NewHomeSource.com is always looking for ways to expand our reach to consumers, and Yahoo! Real Estate is the perfect partner to help us accomplish this mission," said Costello.
Source: WebProNews
Social networking sites increasingly targeted by identity thieves
Not content with merely scrounging around in people’s garbage bins for crumpled bank statements and Visa bills, identity thieves are apparently now craning their collective vulture-like necks in the direction of social networking sites.
More pointedly, a related study conducted by online identity consultants Garlik has revealed that more than 33 percent of Internet users in the UK post sensitive personal details on social networking Web sites. This information is being gathered by ID thieves trawling the social network and consequently places the user at considerable financial risk.
In terms of the amount of online information an ID thief actually requires before they can assume someone’s identity to apply for loans and obtain credit cards, it is apparently possible to draw enough from only the bare minimum of personal details. Beyond the criminal attraction of ID theft, some online Web users are actually falling foul of physical burglary after posting both their home address and holiday details on social networking pages.
From a vulnerability standpoint, the likes of MySpace, Bebo and Facebook are believed to be popular haunts for ID thieves. Facebook, which is second only to MySpace, sees many users posting sensitive information including date of birth, phone number, and actual home address directly on their profiles – even though Facebook gives its users absolute control over what does and does not appear live on-site.
While a Facebook representative insisted that Facebook users were encouraged to use the privacy settings open to them via their profiles, a MySpace spokesman merely warned that MySpace exists as "a public space" and that "people should not post anything they do not want the whole world to know."
Source: M&CTech
More pointedly, a related study conducted by online identity consultants Garlik has revealed that more than 33 percent of Internet users in the UK post sensitive personal details on social networking Web sites. This information is being gathered by ID thieves trawling the social network and consequently places the user at considerable financial risk.
In terms of the amount of online information an ID thief actually requires before they can assume someone’s identity to apply for loans and obtain credit cards, it is apparently possible to draw enough from only the bare minimum of personal details. Beyond the criminal attraction of ID theft, some online Web users are actually falling foul of physical burglary after posting both their home address and holiday details on social networking pages.
From a vulnerability standpoint, the likes of MySpace, Bebo and Facebook are believed to be popular haunts for ID thieves. Facebook, which is second only to MySpace, sees many users posting sensitive information including date of birth, phone number, and actual home address directly on their profiles – even though Facebook gives its users absolute control over what does and does not appear live on-site.
While a Facebook representative insisted that Facebook users were encouraged to use the privacy settings open to them via their profiles, a MySpace spokesman merely warned that MySpace exists as "a public space" and that "people should not post anything they do not want the whole world to know."
Source: M&CTech
Google pledges $4.6bn to free wireless spectrum
Google has thrown its weight behind the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) plans to turn the vacated 700MHz radio spectrum into an open wireless network.
The proposal would force the owner of the spectrum bands to allow access to any device, meaning that users would not be locked into subscribing to a carrier in order to use a mobile device, such as a smartphone.
Google pledged to bid at least $4.6bn for the spectrum block should the FCC decide to adopt the plan, which has been put forward by FCC president Kevin Martin.
The sum would meet the proposed reserve price and ensure that the spectrum would not be sold off at a discount over traditional 'closed' frequencies.
However, Google's pledge is largely a symbolic show of support for Martin's plan, as the final selling price of the two bands is expected to be well above $4.6bn.
Source: vnunet
The proposal would force the owner of the spectrum bands to allow access to any device, meaning that users would not be locked into subscribing to a carrier in order to use a mobile device, such as a smartphone.
Google pledged to bid at least $4.6bn for the spectrum block should the FCC decide to adopt the plan, which has been put forward by FCC president Kevin Martin.
The sum would meet the proposed reserve price and ensure that the spectrum would not be sold off at a discount over traditional 'closed' frequencies.
However, Google's pledge is largely a symbolic show of support for Martin's plan, as the final selling price of the two bands is expected to be well above $4.6bn.
Source: vnunet
Online Tax Preparation Service launched in India
Cambridge Technology Enterprises Ltd., a leading provider of comprehensive SOA-based solutions and Enterprise Transformation applications has just announced the launch of its online tax preparation service in India.
Cambridge Technology Enterprise’s (CTE) online tax preparation service is absolutely free of cost as part of the company’s commitment to be a good corporate citizen.
In order to avail of this free service, a user needs to register and answer a few simple questions related to his or her income and savings. This application is designed in such a manner that a completely filled, tamper-proof Income Tax Form is generated.
Besides assisting the tax paying community in India, Cambridge Technology Enterprise’s online tax preparation service will be of help to chartered accountants who file income tax on behalf of their clients.
Source: TechShout
Cambridge Technology Enterprise’s (CTE) online tax preparation service is absolutely free of cost as part of the company’s commitment to be a good corporate citizen.
In order to avail of this free service, a user needs to register and answer a few simple questions related to his or her income and savings. This application is designed in such a manner that a completely filled, tamper-proof Income Tax Form is generated.
Besides assisting the tax paying community in India, Cambridge Technology Enterprise’s online tax preparation service will be of help to chartered accountants who file income tax on behalf of their clients.
Source: TechShout
BwiredIn.com Launches First Ever Business Web 2.0 Affiliate Network
BwiredIn.com is launching a new revolutionary Affiliate Network that combines the power of systems, automation, software tools, and outsourcing services to online business owners.
“The goal is to change the face of how business is done online. Through our network of affiliates and business owners we will create an environment where we will collect analyze and share data that will aid our network in pin pointing exact offers consumers are looking for all while operating in a web 2.0 open source platform. It is a beautiful thing” Says Richard East COO of BwiredIn.com.
It will provide a back office support team in Hyderabad, India to for all members of the network to take advantage of high talent, low cost of operation, and a unlimited talent pool
BwiredIn.com is a part of a world class data company that extensively collects, analyzes data in over 500+ markets from all over the world. They currently have offices in India, New York, Romania, Australia, and the UK while opening offices in Russia, and Brazil. Their goal is to bring quality to the consumer by developing products and services that are data and market research driven in order to deliver products to highly targeted consumers with pin point accuracy.
Source: NewsWireToday
“The goal is to change the face of how business is done online. Through our network of affiliates and business owners we will create an environment where we will collect analyze and share data that will aid our network in pin pointing exact offers consumers are looking for all while operating in a web 2.0 open source platform. It is a beautiful thing” Says Richard East COO of BwiredIn.com.
It will provide a back office support team in Hyderabad, India to for all members of the network to take advantage of high talent, low cost of operation, and a unlimited talent pool
BwiredIn.com is a part of a world class data company that extensively collects, analyzes data in over 500+ markets from all over the world. They currently have offices in India, New York, Romania, Australia, and the UK while opening offices in Russia, and Brazil. Their goal is to bring quality to the consumer by developing products and services that are data and market research driven in order to deliver products to highly targeted consumers with pin point accuracy.
Source: NewsWireToday
Jaxtr User Base Doubles in Past 27 Days
Jaxtr, the company that links your phone to the Web, today announced that its registered user base has reached 500,000 worldwide. Jaxtr has doubled its membership each month since the launch of its public service in March. Over 12,000 users now register per day to call friends and family overseas at the same cost and with the same convenience as calling a friend down the street.
In reaching this milestone, jaxtr also announced the addition of local direct-dial numbers in 18 additional countries, namely India, Russia, South Africa, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Panama, El Salvador, Jamaica, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Germany, Hong Kong and China.
These local direct-dial numbers enable jaxtr users to call friends and family abroad without incurring international charges, even if placing the call from a mobile phone. Likewise, the recipient can receive the call on any ordinary landline or mobile phone.
Source: PRLeap
In reaching this milestone, jaxtr also announced the addition of local direct-dial numbers in 18 additional countries, namely India, Russia, South Africa, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Panama, El Salvador, Jamaica, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Germany, Hong Kong and China.
These local direct-dial numbers enable jaxtr users to call friends and family abroad without incurring international charges, even if placing the call from a mobile phone. Likewise, the recipient can receive the call on any ordinary landline or mobile phone.
Source: PRLeap
Microsoft, Ask.com pressure Google on privacy
Building on their respective efforts to protect consumer privacy, industry leaders Microsoft Corp. and Ask.com, a wholly owned business of IAC ,joined together in the commitment to call on the industry to develop global privacy principles for data collection, use and protection related to searching and online advertising. The companies will work with other technology leaders, consumer advocacy organizations and academics to come together and join them in working on the development of these principles, which could include developing and sharing best practices to provide more control for consumers.
Microsoft and Ask.com are proposing that leading search providers, online advertising companies and privacy advocates convene to engage in an active dialogue to discuss privacy considerations posed by the proliferation of online advertising and search. The goal of the dialogue is to determine ways that the industry can work cooperatively to define privacy principles that take these new considerations into account. The companies will provide an update on their progress in September.
More information about Microsoft's and Ask.com's current privacy policies and practices is available at http://www.microsoft.com/privacy and http://about.ask.com/en/docs/about/privacy.shtml.
Source: CNMoney
Microsoft and Ask.com are proposing that leading search providers, online advertising companies and privacy advocates convene to engage in an active dialogue to discuss privacy considerations posed by the proliferation of online advertising and search. The goal of the dialogue is to determine ways that the industry can work cooperatively to define privacy principles that take these new considerations into account. The companies will provide an update on their progress in September.
More information about Microsoft's and Ask.com's current privacy policies and practices is available at http://www.microsoft.com/privacy and http://about.ask.com/en/docs/about/privacy.shtml.
Source: CNMoney
Raju Vegasna on Zoho
Q) Please share some information about Zoho's founding team.
A) Zoho is part of AdventNet which has been around for 11 years. AdventNet was founded by Tony Thomas and Sridhar Vembu. Zoho is a division of AdventNet focusing on online applications
Q) What was your trigger behind starting Zoho?
A) Around 2001-2003 after the telecom bubble burst, we had lots of engineering resources on hand. So we decided to enter different market segments. Online applications is one of them. We truly believed in online applications and Zoho was born from there.
Q) Till date, Zoho has mainly used Bloggers (TC/GigaOm etc) for increasing product awareness. Being a product from India, how do you plan to reach out to global audience?
A) Most of the awareness actually came from users and bloggers talking about the product. Our focus is primarily on the product. If you have a good product, people will come to you. This is how we gained traction for our other products at AdventNet. We let products do the marketing. Also, many companies spend a lot on marketing. We dont do that. But instead, we have a very good free versions of our products (there is a free version for almost any product in AdventNet). The free versions of our products is our marketing investment. Currently, with minimal marketing investment, 50% of our user base is outside US.
Q) How do you plan to compete with biggies like Google (in online office suite), Salesforce.com (CRM) and MS? Do you plan to target different market segment or play on price?
A) Price is definitely a very important factor and we will compete on price. But competing just on price is not good enough when we go against gorillas. We need to have a very compelling product. In some cases, we need to be 50% better than the biggies to gain 10% of the market share. So we focus on providing better solutions to our customers. A better product that is rightly priced definitely can get decent market share.
Q) Very recently, Google launched Google gears - Do you plan to come up with similar offering?
A) You'll have to wait and see. :)
Q) Online office suite - one of the major challenges is convincing the IT depts to use such tools. While Google can always play on "free" software (and brand equity), how do you plan to increase user adoption of Zoho tools? Especially with regards to concerns over data security?
A) Enterprises with IT Depts are not our target markets. We focus on SMBs (Small and Micro Businesses) who cannot afford a full time IT staff on board. Online applications are ideal for these companies. Zoho essentially becomes an IT department for these SMBs. There is also Home office market. When you purchase a new computer at home, how comfortable are you spending for your office suite that you occasionally use? Thats a great market for us. In fact, ZOHO has derived from SOHO (Small Office and Home Office) which is our target market.
Note that all Zoho tools will remain free for individuals. For businesses, we have some offerings coming soon. Security concerns for online applications will be addressed by different vendors (including us) going forward. It'll be a non-issue in most cases one year from now.
Q) If possible, please share Zoho's future plans/products in the pipeline?
A) In the near future, we are focusing on integration across multiple Zoho applications. You'll see some announcements from us on this. We will also continue releasing new applications over the next few month.
Source: Pluggd
A) Zoho is part of AdventNet which has been around for 11 years. AdventNet was founded by Tony Thomas and Sridhar Vembu. Zoho is a division of AdventNet focusing on online applications
Q) What was your trigger behind starting Zoho?
A) Around 2001-2003 after the telecom bubble burst, we had lots of engineering resources on hand. So we decided to enter different market segments. Online applications is one of them. We truly believed in online applications and Zoho was born from there.
Q) Till date, Zoho has mainly used Bloggers (TC/GigaOm etc) for increasing product awareness. Being a product from India, how do you plan to reach out to global audience?
A) Most of the awareness actually came from users and bloggers talking about the product. Our focus is primarily on the product. If you have a good product, people will come to you. This is how we gained traction for our other products at AdventNet. We let products do the marketing. Also, many companies spend a lot on marketing. We dont do that. But instead, we have a very good free versions of our products (there is a free version for almost any product in AdventNet). The free versions of our products is our marketing investment. Currently, with minimal marketing investment, 50% of our user base is outside US.
Q) How do you plan to compete with biggies like Google (in online office suite), Salesforce.com (CRM) and MS? Do you plan to target different market segment or play on price?
A) Price is definitely a very important factor and we will compete on price. But competing just on price is not good enough when we go against gorillas. We need to have a very compelling product. In some cases, we need to be 50% better than the biggies to gain 10% of the market share. So we focus on providing better solutions to our customers. A better product that is rightly priced definitely can get decent market share.
Q) Very recently, Google launched Google gears - Do you plan to come up with similar offering?
A) You'll have to wait and see. :)
Q) Online office suite - one of the major challenges is convincing the IT depts to use such tools. While Google can always play on "free" software (and brand equity), how do you plan to increase user adoption of Zoho tools? Especially with regards to concerns over data security?
A) Enterprises with IT Depts are not our target markets. We focus on SMBs (Small and Micro Businesses) who cannot afford a full time IT staff on board. Online applications are ideal for these companies. Zoho essentially becomes an IT department for these SMBs. There is also Home office market. When you purchase a new computer at home, how comfortable are you spending for your office suite that you occasionally use? Thats a great market for us. In fact, ZOHO has derived from SOHO (Small Office and Home Office) which is our target market.
Note that all Zoho tools will remain free for individuals. For businesses, we have some offerings coming soon. Security concerns for online applications will be addressed by different vendors (including us) going forward. It'll be a non-issue in most cases one year from now.
Q) If possible, please share Zoho's future plans/products in the pipeline?
A) In the near future, we are focusing on integration across multiple Zoho applications. You'll see some announcements from us on this. We will also continue releasing new applications over the next few month.
Source: Pluggd
Microsoft to set time limit for storing data on Web searches
Microsoft is announcing changes to its privacy policy that set a time limit on how long the company will retain data about customer queries through its search engine.
The policy, seen as an attempt to distinguish itself from Google, also allows people to opt out of targeted ads by third-party advertisers using Microsoft's Windows Live service.
Microsoft will retain the search data for 18 months for several reasons, Cullen said. Search engines rely on analyzing large amounts of data over time to deliver relevant results.
Separately, Microsoft and Ask.com proposed that search providers, online-advertising companies and privacy advocates come up with a common set of global privacy practices for data collection and use.
Source: SeattleTimes
The policy, seen as an attempt to distinguish itself from Google, also allows people to opt out of targeted ads by third-party advertisers using Microsoft's Windows Live service.
Microsoft will retain the search data for 18 months for several reasons, Cullen said. Search engines rely on analyzing large amounts of data over time to deliver relevant results.
Separately, Microsoft and Ask.com proposed that search providers, online-advertising companies and privacy advocates come up with a common set of global privacy practices for data collection and use.
Source: SeattleTimes
Coming soon: Google M for Maori
A husband and wife are developing a Maori language version of the search engine Google in an effort to encourage more Maori to use the net.
Potaua Biasiny-Tule, 32, and Nikolasa Biasiny-Tule, 35, of Rotorua are directing a team of volunteers from around the country translating the search pages into a Google Maori language option.
And their idea has been welcomed by Google's American owners.
Out of 117 language options, Tongan is the only Pacific tongue recognised. But the couple hope the Maori option will be a hit.
Source: NZHerald
Potaua Biasiny-Tule, 32, and Nikolasa Biasiny-Tule, 35, of Rotorua are directing a team of volunteers from around the country translating the search pages into a Google Maori language option.
And their idea has been welcomed by Google's American owners.
Out of 117 language options, Tongan is the only Pacific tongue recognised. But the couple hope the Maori option will be a hit.
Source: NZHerald
Sunday, July 22
India PR Blog Launches PR Job Board
India PR Blog, the popular public relations blog in India, has launched the India PR job board for PR and related jobs in agencies and corporate communications departments of companies.
PR agencies and corporate houses can post job vacancies at their organisations free of cost to the job board. The job board also provides the option to post a job simultaneously on popular sites such as Google™, Google™ Base, Simply hired, Indeed, SimplyHired, Oodle, Edgeio, Vast, OLX, Bixee, and HotJobs® - thus giving recruiters good amount of exposure opportunities of their messages.
These job posts are made available at the job board's independent url, or through the combined India PR Blog RSS feed, or when readers subscribed to the blog on their email, thus accessible to hundreds of PR professionals across the country reading the blog.
Source: NewsWireToday
PR agencies and corporate houses can post job vacancies at their organisations free of cost to the job board. The job board also provides the option to post a job simultaneously on popular sites such as Google™, Google™ Base, Simply hired, Indeed, SimplyHired, Oodle, Edgeio, Vast, OLX, Bixee, and HotJobs® - thus giving recruiters good amount of exposure opportunities of their messages.
These job posts are made available at the job board's independent url, or through the combined India PR Blog RSS feed, or when readers subscribed to the blog on their email, thus accessible to hundreds of PR professionals across the country reading the blog.
Source: NewsWireToday
Job Site Traffic Report
The traffic data above shows that sites, Simplyhired.com and Indeed.com are growing in popularity. With so many Job sites in the market, sites that aggregate jobs are set to continue to grow.
Amoungst the traditional popular Job sites Careerbuilder.com has a bigger annual growth rate than Monster.com although Monster is still the leading Job site on the Internet.
Mashable has put together a great list of 70 Job Sites.
....................................................................................................................
37signals.com - Programming, design, an executive jobs board.
Alumwire.com - Focusing on job searches for college graduates and young alumni.
Amiko - Online resume generator.
AuthenticJobs.com - Listings of companies looking for full-time and freelance web designers.
Bixee.com - Search by keywords, location, or browse by industry.
BookALesson.com - A site for personal instructors in sports and music to find students.
Care.com - Babysitting, nanny, child care, tutoring, pet care and senior care jobs.
Careerbuilder.com - General job search site.
Clickforlessons.com - Jobs board for private instructors in sports, art, music and the like.
Climber.com - Fill out a survey about yourself and get matched to a job by your interests.
CompanyMeetCreative.com - Part time, freelance, and contract job offerings for creative types.
Considerati.com - Technical job listings in Europe.
CoolWorks.com - Job listings for summer and seasonal jobs at national parks and resorts.
Coroflot.com - Allows for creatives to publish an online portfolio and search for jobs.
Craigslist.com - The infamous Craigslist. Select your city and search for jobs in your area.
Cvwarehouse.com - Lets you search for jobs in a confidential manner.
Daylo.com - Post yourself, list any specialized skills you could bring to a job.
Elance.com - Focus on freelance work related to graphics, web design, and content creation.
Eluta.com - Job searches focusing on Canada.
Emurse.com - Helps you convert your resume in to the hResume format for online use.
Findlaw.com - Focusing on hooking up lawyers with clients.
FreshWebJobs - Full-time and freelance web developer jobs.
GetAFreelancer.com - People looking for freelancers of all types.
GiggedUp.com - Post video resumes of yourself for prospective employers to search.
Gladoo.com - Focusing on jobs in India in the technology fields.
Glendor.com - Currently only covers San Francisco, shows jobs by markers on a Google map. Plans to expand to other cities later.
GoFreelance.com - Assortment of freelance jobs that allow you to work from home.
HireAHelper.com - Localized handyman jobs, post your availablility, get hired.
iHipo.com - International jobs and internships.
ILoveMyNanny.com - Directed solely to putting nannies together with families.
Indeed - Searches several job sites, newspapers, associations and company career pages.
Isabont.com - Helps you manage your job search by letting you organize yourself.
Job-a-matic.com - Post job listings, and even add a job board to your existing site
Jobazaar.com - Focuses on small jobs, all the way down to needing someone to mow the yard.
Jobburner.com - Focusing on technical jobs, post your resume and search for jobs.
JobBoardReviews.com - Reviews job boards and helps you pick the right one for you.
JobDig.com - Dedicated to the Midwest, focuses on employment, training and opportunities.
Jobfox.com - Fill out your profile, view your job matches, and let people hunt for you.
Jobneters.com - Jobs from multiple countries, earn rewards for referring others.
Jobpile - Aggregates from numerous jobs boards to let you search them all at once.
Jobsandgigs.com - Design and development jobs boards, features customized RSS feeds.
Jobsearcheasy.com - Browse and search for jobs and earn prizes while you do it.
Jobster.com - Post your resume, get advice, join networks.
Krop.com - Creative and technology job listings.
Layoffspace.com - A site for the unemployed to gather, network and help each other find work.
LinkUp.com - Job aggregator that monitors thousands of employers websites.
Mapdango.com - View classified job listing on a Google map, seeing what is in your area.
Monster.com - One of the best known job search engines.
Odinjobs.com - Intelligent job matching for the technology field.
PageBites.com - Works for both employers and job seekers, searchable by jobs and regions.
Peekface.com - Read reviews of employers written by people with experience in the same company.
Place4Langs.com - Focusing on tutors of foreign languages of all skill levels.
Probook.com - Professional networking site for Canada.
Recruit.net - Millions of jobs from all around the world. Search by keywords and location.
Resolio.com - Create a professional looking resume and publish it online.
SalaryScout.com - Ever wondered if you were getting a fair salary offer? Use this site to compare it to what others report.
SeriousTeachers.com - Focusing on teachers, and schools looking for them.
Sidejobtrack.com - Job tracking, invoicing, reporting & project management for the part-time independent contractor.
SimplyHired.com - Millions of jobs harvested from numerous sources.
Talentdatabase.com - Jobs boards for creative types such as artists, actors, dancers, musicians and much more.
TalentSpring.com - Features a resume builder, get your peers to review, and then search for jobs.
Talkbean.com - Connecting students and teachers from all over the world.
Tutorlinker.com - Tutors list your profiles and let students find you.
Tutorz.com - Specifically made to help tutors and students connect.
WebProJobs.com - Designed with web professionals in mind, features full-time and freelance jobs.
Whototalkto.com - Give people leads in to your former job, while getting tips on the one you want to get.
WiziQ.com - Connecting teachers and students for distance learning.
WorkTree.com - Job search engine with browsable categories including government jobs and Fortune 1000 companies.
Yahoo HotJobs - Jobs board owned by one of the largest web companies.
YorZ.com - Search for jobs or network with people inside your industry.
YourOnRamp.com - Focusing on career women trying to balance work and a personal life.
Zubka.com - Based in the UK, find jobs for yourself and earn money for referring friends to other jobs.
Source: FrostFireBuzz
99acres.com unveils TVC with Taj Mahal as backdrop
Real estate portal 99acres.com, owned by Info Edge India, has unveiled its first TV commercial that lays emphasis on the availability of any and every kind of property whether for sale or rent on 99acres.com.
Set in 21st century, the TVC has the famous Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz as the protagonist. Nothing has changed in their world except that the old Shah Jahan living in today's time zone has still not managed to build the promised monument of love - Taj Mahal due to lack of land. The TVC ends with a broker walking in with his laptop – showcasing 99acres.com.
Source: Alootechie
Set in 21st century, the TVC has the famous Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz as the protagonist. Nothing has changed in their world except that the old Shah Jahan living in today's time zone has still not managed to build the promised monument of love - Taj Mahal due to lack of land. The TVC ends with a broker walking in with his laptop – showcasing 99acres.com.
Source: Alootechie
Bollywood now embracing Youtube
Eros International on Thursday said its 'Bollywood Channel' launched recently on YouTube has registered over 1 million visits to the site.
The channel has also been ranked consistently in the Top 20 'Partner Channels' of YouTube that include mainstream channels such as the NBA, CBS, NBC and more.
The channel offers customers a wide range of content such as 'first-look' at films, events and happenings from Bollywood and music videos, interviews, upcoming film trailers and much more.
Source: HindustanTimes
The channel has also been ranked consistently in the Top 20 'Partner Channels' of YouTube that include mainstream channels such as the NBA, CBS, NBC and more.
The channel offers customers a wide range of content such as 'first-look' at films, events and happenings from Bollywood and music videos, interviews, upcoming film trailers and much more.
Source: HindustanTimes
India faces yet another online security 'threat'
Google Earth is no longer the biggest concern of security agencies. A bigger security threat posed by online mapping is lurking on the Internet.
It is called Wikimapia. The website, which its promoters claim "is inspired by Wikipedia", combines high resolution satellite and mapping imagery created by Google Maps and the easy interactivity of Wikipedia. It is called Wikimapia. The website, which its promoters claim "is inspired by Wikipedia", combines high resolution satellite and mapping imagery created by Google Maps and the easy interactivity of Wikipedia.
Simply put, it means users can go to wikimapia.org, identify locations on the high-resolution maps there and enter more information about the locations. The information gets automatically stored on the maps. The site has already added four million locations since it was created in May 2006. The site can be accessed in 64 languages and a user does not need to be tech-savvy to access all the information available (unlike on Google Earth).
Source: HindustanTimes
It is called Wikimapia. The website, which its promoters claim "is inspired by Wikipedia", combines high resolution satellite and mapping imagery created by Google Maps and the easy interactivity of Wikipedia. It is called Wikimapia. The website, which its promoters claim "is inspired by Wikipedia", combines high resolution satellite and mapping imagery created by Google Maps and the easy interactivity of Wikipedia.
Simply put, it means users can go to wikimapia.org, identify locations on the high-resolution maps there and enter more information about the locations. The information gets automatically stored on the maps. The site has already added four million locations since it was created in May 2006. The site can be accessed in 64 languages and a user does not need to be tech-savvy to access all the information available (unlike on Google Earth).
Source: HindustanTimes
50 Cent Sues Over Internet Company Game
Rapper 50 Cent has a bone to pick with a New York Internet advertising company after it allegedly used a likeness of him in an online game without permission.
Called "Shoot the Rapper", the game apparently shows a rapper resembling 50 Cent walking across a Web page screen. The viewer's objective is to shoot him by using mouse clicks. If successful, a spray of red appears on the screen and the person playing is then directed to the company website.
Peter Raymond, the rapper's lawyer, said that though the character was never referred to as 50 Cent "it looks like him, and there's no doubt the character is intended to be him."
Source: CityNews
Called "Shoot the Rapper", the game apparently shows a rapper resembling 50 Cent walking across a Web page screen. The viewer's objective is to shoot him by using mouse clicks. If successful, a spray of red appears on the screen and the person playing is then directed to the company website.
Peter Raymond, the rapper's lawyer, said that though the character was never referred to as 50 Cent "it looks like him, and there's no doubt the character is intended to be him."
Source: CityNews
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