Monday, October 22, 2007

What are you selling? Here's a thought for all you mobile phone users with access to Web-based media from analyst firm Berg Insight. In a new report, it predicts that ad-based revenue models will  have a "profound, long-term impact" on the mobile industry. "Traditionally, telecom operators have focused their attention on maximizing revenues by managing network traffic," says Johan Fagerberg with Berg. "Now we have a different breed of players like google who want to maximize their advertising exposure and revenues by generating as much traffic as possible. This force may prove formidable enough to disrupt the traditional telecom business model by shifting the focus from selling voice minutes to selling advertising space." 10:58:16 AM    comment []

Trips Got a busy week this week after a busy weekend. I worked a men/women doubleheader at Wittenberg University Saturday. Beautiful day in Ohio for soccer (and football, too, I guess). The season is winding down. I just have two college and two high school games left. In high school, I somehow got picked to be the referee of a Regional final match (boys big school division)--that's the "Elite 8" in our progression; then I got the referee assignment for a State Final match at Columbus Crew Stadium on November 9. It'll be my third state final. always an honor to do those games. After that I have to find the motivation to keep running and keep the 12 pounds off that I've lost this summer and fall. Today I'm flying to St. Louis to attend the GE Fanuc (or GE Intelligent Platforms as I just read in a newsletter from ARC Advisory Group) User Conference. Reports from there Tuesday and Wednesday as I also wrap up the November issue of Automation World. Then Thursday I'm flying to Raleigh, NC for the grand opening of the Schneider Electric Automation Competency Center. Get home late Friday. (the reasons for only four soccer games left--I'm missing the week of district tournaments, not to mention a trip to Shanghai to attend the Advantech User Conference or Tokyo to attend a trade show event--if only there were three of me) 7:37:38 AM    comment []

Political interlude I'm seeing reports from the election in Poland, and the "pro-business" candidate appears to be winning by a large margin. But get this, he isn't the "conservative" candidate. When I studied political science in the late 60s, business and politics were separate issues. Now, business and politics are often quite intertwined. The church I am a member of is large (for our area) and supports several mission endeavors. We had a couple of people who run an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico speak yesterday, and they spoke of problems getting a permit through the local government in order to drill a water well for their new facility. Later the worship leader showed slides from some of our Haiti trips (where we support a school, among other things). The government in Haiti is in an atrocious state. It started me thinking about the role of government (this ties the three observations together). If government can't supply a stable, safe environment in which people can transact business and prosper across a broad spectrum of society, then misery and even chaos ensue. With all the ideas and money we export from the US, if only we could influence stable governments that provide that environment, freedom will eventually spring up everywhere. I dislike (strongly) labels. But consider that for most of the world, business isn't "conservative," it's actually quite revolutionary as it frees people to pursue dreams and provides growth in living conditions. Anyway, too often there's a sort of "buyer's remorse" after an election (you didn't get what you thought you were getting), but I hope this works out well for Poland--which will help Europe's progress, which in turn helps our progress. Now, if someone could bring that to Haiti and end the misery there... 7:27:28 AM    comment []