Stephen Fry tops Twitter (well almost) | Mobile Industry Review
This article was written (by my good self) on Saturday 7th Feb and Stephen Fry @stephenfry had somewhat over 100,00 users. As of Sunday 9th of Feb 2009 at 4pm he has 152,375 followers. Obama has 246,262. 3rd place goes to CNN with 144,643 and poor Kevin Rose (of Digg/Rev3/etc) only has 102,051.
OK so Stephen Fry is now 2nd in the Twitter ranks, but it's the speed at which he's got there which is surprising.
Obama has been going for 1.9 years (i.e. about 693 days) which is about 355 new followers per day. Kevin Rose (and the publicity machine of Diggnation etc) has achieved his following in about 766 days which is 133 followers per day.
Mr Fry has achieved an average of 733 new followers every day since joining Twitter. His stats are completely skewed of course since he gained at least 50,000 during the weekend following his appearance on Jonathan Ross @wossy a few weeks ago (who is now on 69,871 followers which means he's getting 998 new followers per day). Philip Schofield @schofe) is also climbing up the ranks fast (though only with 42,542 followers).
Since Stephen Fry, Jonathan Ross and Philip Schofield are pretty much British institutions, does this mean that UK Twitter use is increasing as dramatically?
The other side of this is how does Twitter hope to make any kind of money? They have raised VC, the number of users is increasing dramatically, but so are the costs. Just delivering Stephen Fry's tweets must require lots of infrastructure and hardware. Are they gearing up for a sale? Who could buy them? Personally I'd guess the only possible suitor is Vodafone who could bring back SMS for tweets and roll the system out to Asia where everyone is used to sending stuff by SMS and would pay for it. Vodafone are probably big and ugly enough to pull it off.
2009/02/08
Extending Premium Rate Services Regulation to 087 Numbers | Ofcom
Extending Premium Rate Services Regulation to 087 Numbers | Ofcom
Ofcom has confirmed that PhonePayPlus will regulate calls to 0871 and 0872 numbers that are charged above 5p per minute up to 10p per minute, 09 numbers from 5 through 10p per minute will also come uder PhonePayPlus regulation.
This will come into force on August 1st 2009. Consumers using these numbers should: -
* be better informed about the price of calls.
* be able to complain about excessively long call waiting times.
* be better protected from scams.
Ofcom has confirmed that PhonePayPlus will regulate calls to 0871 and 0872 numbers that are charged above 5p per minute up to 10p per minute, 09 numbers from 5 through 10p per minute will also come uder PhonePayPlus regulation.
This will come into force on August 1st 2009. Consumers using these numbers should: -
* be better informed about the price of calls.
* be able to complain about excessively long call waiting times.
* be better protected from scams.
Digital dividend: clearing the 800 MHz band | Ofcom
Digital dividend: clearing the 800 MHz band | Ofcom
Ofcom is holding a consultation on what's being called the 800MHz band. Some parts of the band are expected to become free after Digital Switch Over (DSO) in 2012.
Ofcom were planning to release 112MHz of spectrum after DSO comprising of: -
* a smaller, upper band of 48 MHz at 806-854 MHz (channels 63-68)
* a larger, lower band of 64 MHz between 550 MHz and 630 MHz (channels 31-35, 37 and 39-40)
This has subsequently been increased to 128MHz by clearing out channel 36 used by aeronautical radar and channel 38 by radioastronomy.
Many countries in Eurpoe have followed the UK's lead and are making spectrum available, but they are proposing to open up more spectrum in the 800MHz band comprising of 72 MHz at 790 - 862 MHz – channels 61 - 69.
After DSO channels 61 and 62 were expected to be used by DTT (digital terrestrial television) and channel 69 for programme-making and special events (PMSE), mainly wireless microphones. However Ofcom has valued the released spectrum at around £2 - 3bn and wants to move DDT and PMSE to channels 38 - 40).
Ofcom believes that the costs of clearing channels 61, 62 and 69 will be modest compared to the benefits. They estimate it will cost around £90-200m. These costs could be met by new licensees in the 800 MHz band and/or the Government.
By moving DDT from those bands, users will have to retune their digital set-top boxes (or they may lose EPG information), however that should only take a few minutes and shouldn't cause a major impact.
By making the spectrum available, innovative new services could run in the 800MHz band such as wireless broadband or new mobile services. It is in the best interests of the UK that Ofcom are allowed to proceed with this plan (800MHz has very good building penetration so blanket wireless coverage of an area is possible as per current TV coverage).
The consultation closes on April 20th 2009.
Ofcom is holding a consultation on what's being called the 800MHz band. Some parts of the band are expected to become free after Digital Switch Over (DSO) in 2012.
Ofcom were planning to release 112MHz of spectrum after DSO comprising of: -
* a smaller, upper band of 48 MHz at 806-854 MHz (channels 63-68)
* a larger, lower band of 64 MHz between 550 MHz and 630 MHz (channels 31-35, 37 and 39-40)
This has subsequently been increased to 128MHz by clearing out channel 36 used by aeronautical radar and channel 38 by radioastronomy.
Many countries in Eurpoe have followed the UK's lead and are making spectrum available, but they are proposing to open up more spectrum in the 800MHz band comprising of 72 MHz at 790 - 862 MHz – channels 61 - 69.
After DSO channels 61 and 62 were expected to be used by DTT (digital terrestrial television) and channel 69 for programme-making and special events (PMSE), mainly wireless microphones. However Ofcom has valued the released spectrum at around £2 - 3bn and wants to move DDT and PMSE to channels 38 - 40).
Ofcom believes that the costs of clearing channels 61, 62 and 69 will be modest compared to the benefits. They estimate it will cost around £90-200m. These costs could be met by new licensees in the 800 MHz band and/or the Government.
By moving DDT from those bands, users will have to retune their digital set-top boxes (or they may lose EPG information), however that should only take a few minutes and shouldn't cause a major impact.
By making the spectrum available, innovative new services could run in the 800MHz band such as wireless broadband or new mobile services. It is in the best interests of the UK that Ofcom are allowed to proceed with this plan (800MHz has very good building penetration so blanket wireless coverage of an area is possible as per current TV coverage).
The consultation closes on April 20th 2009.
2009/01/31
TwitterFone: Send Messages to Twitter with Voice
TwitterFone: Send Messages to Twitter with Voice
Well so far so bad, signed-up and it sent an access number. Dial the access number and "Sorry the service is unavailable at the moment". Not a good start.
Dialing in to Tweet seems somewhat a long winded way of doing things, but if it all starts working more comments to follow.
Well so far so bad, signed-up and it sent an access number. Dial the access number and "Sorry the service is unavailable at the moment". Not a good start.
Dialing in to Tweet seems somewhat a long winded way of doing things, but if it all starts working more comments to follow.
2009/01/28
Ofcom publishes list number misusers
Ofcom has published a list of companies and/or individuals who they have determined that have misused telephone numbers.
The list currently contains the following entries: -
28/01/09 Company Jack Barnard Telecom Services
no 05445012 Limited
28/01/09 Individual Jack Barnard
28/01/09 Company Telconline Inc
28/01/09 Company Stealthnet Limited
no. 04515234
Ofcom will not allocated numbers in the range 070, 087 (except 0870) and 09 Premium rate numbers. All telecoms providers are advised to check the list periodically and not supply telecoms services on those number ranges to those companies.
The list currently contains the following entries: -
28/01/09 Company Jack Barnard Telecom Services
no 05445012 Limited
28/01/09 Individual Jack Barnard
28/01/09 Company Telconline Inc
28/01/09 Company Stealthnet Limited
no. 04515234
Ofcom will not allocated numbers in the range 070, 087 (except 0870) and 09 Premium rate numbers. All telecoms providers are advised to check the list periodically and not supply telecoms services on those number ranges to those companies.
2009/01/23
Lingerie by Agent Provocateur - Love me Tender, or else!
Lingerie by Agent Provocateur - Love me Tender, or else!
This is NOT safe for work, but Agent Provocateur have done a great valentines video.
This is NOT safe for work, but Agent Provocateur have done a great valentines video.
2009/01/19
Peer Awards Homepage
Peer Awards Homepage
The Mobile Peer Awards will be announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 16th.
There's some interesting companies on the mobile space.
Also I'm on the jury ...
The Mobile Peer Awards will be announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on February 16th.
There's some interesting companies on the mobile space.
Also I'm on the jury ...
Main Page - Scavenger
Main Page - Scavenger
A new cure for SPAM? It's a system that ISPs install on their network and it monitors mail looking for odd patterns. It does not read the body of the email, it just looks at the sender, recipient, source and destination machines.
It's based on work done by Richard Clayton and his spamHINTS website.
Currently the software is not ready for production use, but EXA Networks are developing it and maintain an archive which is freely accessible.
A new cure for SPAM? It's a system that ISPs install on their network and it monitors mail looking for odd patterns. It does not read the body of the email, it just looks at the sender, recipient, source and destination machines.
It's based on work done by Richard Clayton and his spamHINTS website.
Currently the software is not ready for production use, but EXA Networks are developing it and maintain an archive which is freely accessible.
2009/01/16
Google cuts services and fires 100
Google has culled some services it doesn't feel are core to it's operation these include Dodgeball (the mobile social media company), Jaiku (though it will remain in service and ported over to Google's app engine and then released under an Apache open source license), Google Notebook wont be accepting new users, Google Catalog search and Mashup Editor are being closed and Google Video wont accept any new content (push to YouTube).
100 staff are also being got rid of (mainly in recruitment).
It's surprising Google os closing Dodgeball which it acquired in 2005, it had the promise of competing with social media sites like Facebook, but was never developed and the directors left a while ago stating they didn't like the direction Google was taking it. That direction seems to be nowhere.
Google is concentrating on it's search and mobile applications.
100 staff are also being got rid of (mainly in recruitment).
It's surprising Google os closing Dodgeball which it acquired in 2005, it had the promise of competing with social media sites like Facebook, but was never developed and the directors left a while ago stating they didn't like the direction Google was taking it. That direction seems to be nowhere.
Google is concentrating on it's search and mobile applications.
2009/01/15
Steve Jobs steps down as CEO
It's only temporary (currently until the end of June) while he sorts out his health problems - that's what Mr Jobs stated in a memo to Apple employees.
Analysts are saying the departure may be longer.
Most companies wouldn't really care if the CEO departed (or had a break), but Jobs is seen as the thing that makes Apple what it is and it cant work without him. Jobs does take an active interest in what goes on in Apple, but as any company it can go on without him.
Most of what Apple is regarded for is based on the design of the products and that's mainly down to Jonathon Ives who is their Product Design guru (and of course a Brit).
It's sad that Jobs is ill, but it shouldn't affect how Apple works - hopefully shareholders will take that view too.
Analysts are saying the departure may be longer.
Most companies wouldn't really care if the CEO departed (or had a break), but Jobs is seen as the thing that makes Apple what it is and it cant work without him. Jobs does take an active interest in what goes on in Apple, but as any company it can go on without him.
Most of what Apple is regarded for is based on the design of the products and that's mainly down to Jonathon Ives who is their Product Design guru (and of course a Brit).
It's sad that Jobs is ill, but it shouldn't affect how Apple works - hopefully shareholders will take that view too.
Nortel files for bankruptcy
Nortel has filed for Chapter 11 and 15 bankruptcy protection in Delaware. It has also filed for protection in Canada and it's assumed European and other areas will also file for protection.
Nortel was one of the telco giants and it's unlikely it will disappear as so many telcos (both old school and new wave) depend on Nortel for core network equipment such as telephony exchanges etc.
Even if they do go under, they'll emerge under the wing of someone like Alcatel-Lucent or another huge operator.
Nortel have been struggling for a while and the credit crunch is the last straw that broke the camel's back.
Nortel was one of the telco giants and it's unlikely it will disappear as so many telcos (both old school and new wave) depend on Nortel for core network equipment such as telephony exchanges etc.
Even if they do go under, they'll emerge under the wing of someone like Alcatel-Lucent or another huge operator.
Nortel have been struggling for a while and the credit crunch is the last straw that broke the camel's back.
2009/01/13
Google releases Picasa for Mac
There's two Mac versions Picasa for Mac which is the full application which allows basic editing and touch-up features for images.
Picasa web albums upload is a small utility that allows iPhoto galleries or photos that the user selects to be uploaded to Picasa on-line.
Though most Mac users will be used to iPhoto, Windows users who've migrated to a Mac and are used to using Picasa will welcome the new addition, it's pretty similar to the Windows version.
Google are starting to produce Mac software, but they're still lagging compared to what's available for Windows.
Picasa web albums upload is a small utility that allows iPhoto galleries or photos that the user selects to be uploaded to Picasa on-line.
Though most Mac users will be used to iPhoto, Windows users who've migrated to a Mac and are used to using Picasa will welcome the new addition, it's pretty similar to the Windows version.
Google are starting to produce Mac software, but they're still lagging compared to what's available for Windows.
2009/01/09
UK broadband speeds 2008 | Ofcom
UK broadband speeds 2008 | Ofcom
Ofcom perfomed a survey on UK broadband speeds, to gather information on consumer perception and to measure actual broadband speed and quality.
Ofcon found that the average measured speed was 3.6Mb/s (45% of the rated maximum of 8Mb/s) and that the average maximum speed was 4.5Mb/s (56% of the rated 8Mb/s maximum).
Speeds vary considerably between consumers, with one in five getting less than 2Mb/s (on an 8Mb/s rated line).
83% of consumers are happy overally with their broadband service.
Speeds vary significantly by times of day, getting slower in the evening and 5 - 6pm Saturday was the slowest. On an 8Mb/s line, the speed degraded by 30% during evening peaks.
The full report also measures further parameters such as upload speeds, latency, packet loss, DNS and jitter; we find a similar pattern of poorer performance during the evening peak time. The summary only analyses download speeds.
Ofcom perfomed a survey on UK broadband speeds, to gather information on consumer perception and to measure actual broadband speed and quality.
Ofcon found that the average measured speed was 3.6Mb/s (45% of the rated maximum of 8Mb/s) and that the average maximum speed was 4.5Mb/s (56% of the rated 8Mb/s maximum).
Speeds vary considerably between consumers, with one in five getting less than 2Mb/s (on an 8Mb/s rated line).
83% of consumers are happy overally with their broadband service.
Speeds vary significantly by times of day, getting slower in the evening and 5 - 6pm Saturday was the slowest. On an 8Mb/s line, the speed degraded by 30% during evening peaks.
The full report also measures further parameters such as upload speeds, latency, packet loss, DNS and jitter; we find a similar pattern of poorer performance during the evening peak time. The summary only analyses download speeds.
2009/01/07
Craigsphone puts craigslist classifieds on your phone | iPhone Central | Macworld
Craigsphone puts craigslist classifieds on your phone | iPhone Central | Macworld
Craigslist is hugely popular in the US and is a classified listing service. Now the listings are available on the iPhone.
The app has been developed by Next Mobile Web.
It is possible to browse for listings in your local vicinity, but this feature only works in the San Francisco Bay Area and Manhattan.
Craigslist is hugely popular in the US and is a classified listing service. Now the listings are available on the iPhone.
The app has been developed by Next Mobile Web.
It is possible to browse for listings in your local vicinity, but this feature only works in the San Francisco Bay Area and Manhattan.
2008/12/22
iPlayer on MacOS X and Linux
The BBC's iPlayer is at last available for MacOS X and Linux users as it has now been released as iPlayer Desktop which runs under Adobe's AIR technology.
Adobe AIR has been available for Windows and MacOS X for some time, but it's just been released for Linux.
This should satisfy some of the critics of the BBC as iPlayer has been available for Windows XP since 2007.
Adobe AIR has been available for Windows and MacOS X for some time, but it's just been released for Linux.
This should satisfy some of the critics of the BBC as iPlayer has been available for Windows XP since 2007.
UK Frequency Allocation Table 2008 | Ofcom
UK Frequency Allocation Table 2008 | Ofcom
Ofcom has published the UK Frequency Allocation Table for 2008 covering spectrum from 9 kHz to 275 GHz.
There's also a link to Roke's nice PDF which shows who's using them and what they are for.
Quite a useful resource for any wireless/radio heads.
Ofcom has published the UK Frequency Allocation Table for 2008 covering spectrum from 9 kHz to 275 GHz.
There's also a link to Roke's nice PDF which shows who's using them and what they are for.
Quite a useful resource for any wireless/radio heads.
2008/12/10
Devices for Developers - Android
Devices for Developers - Android
Google has released an unlocked version of the T-Mobile G1 for developers costing $399. Shipping to the UK is expensive at around $170 (but this includes import duty).
The phone is both SIM unlocked and the bootloaded is also unlocked so developers can load any version of Android their want i.e. they can build a custom version of Android and use that (T-Mobile's G1's have a locked bootloader that will only run T-Mobile's signed versions of Android).
Google make most of the source to Android available here. Some parts can not be open sourced as they interact with the hardware and as such could effect the GSM networking itself, which means the phone would never get FCC or other approvals.
Google point out that this is a developers' platform and not and end-user phone. Currently they are limited sales to single device to developers registered on their app platform.
Google has released an unlocked version of the T-Mobile G1 for developers costing $399. Shipping to the UK is expensive at around $170 (but this includes import duty).
The phone is both SIM unlocked and the bootloaded is also unlocked so developers can load any version of Android their want i.e. they can build a custom version of Android and use that (T-Mobile's G1's have a locked bootloader that will only run T-Mobile's signed versions of Android).
Google make most of the source to Android available here. Some parts can not be open sourced as they interact with the hardware and as such could effect the GSM networking itself, which means the phone would never get FCC or other approvals.
Google point out that this is a developers' platform and not and end-user phone. Currently they are limited sales to single device to developers registered on their app platform.
2008/12/09
IWF statement regarding Wikipedia webpage
IWF statement regarding Wikipedia webpage
As expected the IWF has backed down on the blacklisting of the Virgin Killer album cover on Wikipedia.
It is highly likely that the image is in fact illegal according to UK legislation, unfortunately it's also available in lots of other places like Amazon and Google images.
The IWF didn't really have an option but to back down, or blacklist all the other sites too which would have caused the transparent proxies run by the ISPs to fall-over or at least respond incredibly slowly.
The way the blacklisting works is for the site IP address to be checked first and if there's a match, then redirect the web request through a transparent proxy which will then URL match.
If something like Amazon or Google get on to the IP list, then EVERY request made to those sites will go through the proxy and they are designed for that level of traffic.
As expected the IWF has backed down on the blacklisting of the Virgin Killer album cover on Wikipedia.
It is highly likely that the image is in fact illegal according to UK legislation, unfortunately it's also available in lots of other places like Amazon and Google images.
The IWF didn't really have an option but to back down, or blacklist all the other sites too which would have caused the transparent proxies run by the ISPs to fall-over or at least respond incredibly slowly.
The way the blacklisting works is for the site IP address to be checked first and if there's a match, then redirect the web request through a transparent proxy which will then URL match.
If something like Amazon or Google get on to the IP list, then EVERY request made to those sites will go through the proxy and they are designed for that level of traffic.
2008/12/08
Virgin Killer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Virgin Killer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It seems that the album cover (which features a naked "child") has been blocked by the IWF (or Internet Watch Foundation).
The IWF maintains black-lists of URLs which relate to child pornography, terrorism and other "unsuitable" material for the general populace.
If the material is hosted in the UK, the IWF will warn the ISP or hosting company and then report them to the Police, if it's outside the UK, it goes on the blacklist.
ISPs have implemented a system that was based on what was BT's Cleenfeed. When a URL is posted by the IWF, the ISP's system will initially check the IP of EVERY http request and pass see if it matches the site referrenced in the offending URL. If so the request is passed to a transparent proxy where URL checking is performed. If the URL matches the ISP then blocks the content (and the error returned differs from ISP to ISP, Virgin seem to respond with a 404 Content not found, while Demon respond with a 403 saying administrivally blocked).
Wikipedia noticed the block when suddenly a lot of requests from the UK started coming from a few transparent proxies located on various ISP networks (as the initial check is IP based, every Wikipedia request would go through the proxy).
Now Virgin Killer has become one of the most searched requests on Wikipedia !!! Of course the album art is available on several other sites which haven't yet been blocked.
It seems that the album cover (which features a naked "child") has been blocked by the IWF (or Internet Watch Foundation).
The IWF maintains black-lists of URLs which relate to child pornography, terrorism and other "unsuitable" material for the general populace.
If the material is hosted in the UK, the IWF will warn the ISP or hosting company and then report them to the Police, if it's outside the UK, it goes on the blacklist.
ISPs have implemented a system that was based on what was BT's Cleenfeed. When a URL is posted by the IWF, the ISP's system will initially check the IP of EVERY http request and pass see if it matches the site referrenced in the offending URL. If so the request is passed to a transparent proxy where URL checking is performed. If the URL matches the ISP then blocks the content (and the error returned differs from ISP to ISP, Virgin seem to respond with a 404 Content not found, while Demon respond with a 403 saying administrivally blocked).
Wikipedia noticed the block when suddenly a lot of requests from the UK started coming from a few transparent proxies located on various ISP networks (as the initial check is IP based, every Wikipedia request would go through the proxy).
Now Virgin Killer has become one of the most searched requests on Wikipedia !!! Of course the album art is available on several other sites which haven't yet been blocked.
2008/12/04
Shazam Amplifies Music Database by a Third - FierceWireless
Shazam Amplifies Music Database by a Third - FierceWireless
Shazam is a service that identifies music. Initially a user would dial a Shazam number, hold the phone to the radio or other source and the system would then identify the track. Now Shazam have an iPhone and other clients.
Shazam have added an additional 2 million tracks to their database covering more diverse North American, Asian and European music.
Shazam uses very clever algorithms to compare the music playing with segments in their database.
As Shazam have to have all the music in digital format, they're also a very good source for licensing a digital music collection for download sites and on-line digital jukeboxes.
Shazam is a service that identifies music. Initially a user would dial a Shazam number, hold the phone to the radio or other source and the system would then identify the track. Now Shazam have an iPhone and other clients.
Shazam have added an additional 2 million tracks to their database covering more diverse North American, Asian and European music.
Shazam uses very clever algorithms to compare the music playing with segments in their database.
As Shazam have to have all the music in digital format, they're also a very good source for licensing a digital music collection for download sites and on-line digital jukeboxes.
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