Wind

...the Greek operator is seriously "flying". Perhaps it should be the only operator globally that focuses that much on air flights in and out. Not only now you can be in touch via SMS and accepting calls in the airplane, a service that is supported in most airlines such as Quantas, Malaysia Airlines, Emirates and TAP, but also you can be connected to the Internet. In both cases the communication is based on satellite networks. This is the outcome of wind's collaboration with Aeromobile and OnAir networks.


Additionally, you could become a pilot flying over Athens and getting some flying lessons for free if you buy the new Sony Ericcson C905 in the Family program. There are 1,000 flights waiting for the lucky mobile users. Greece is a small market and with 3 major operators, the competition is really high and innovative offers at this point of the mobile revolution is the only weapon today. Surprisingly, Wind is the only operator that comes up with great ideas and soon might climb up to the 2nd place which now belongs to Vodafone. The lesson is that the only field that is left to compete is efficient cost programs related to minutes and attractive gifts such as learning to fly and not only that could push the user to switch operator and get locked in for at least 1 year contract.


Whats left? I guess my favorite, travel packages and vacations to exotic places..

China

Things are even worst for the USA that is seriously topping the recession in the shoulders of the other countries. Recently the US ministry of economics has announced that China was the USA's golden sponsor for Septemeber 2008. Thats not ofcourse about all the Chinese restaurants that are rapidly growing feeding the
Americans with the americanized chinese springrolls, but about the US debt that is growing. The US ministry of economics announced that China has topped out Japan making the Americans grateful to the Chinese empire and then to their Japanese buddies.


Crunching the numbers in, China has a bill of $585 billions to "cash out" (doubt it) and Japan $573,2 billions. Proudly the 3rd country in the list is the UK with $228,4 billions, really far away from the top. Now, Obama wants to support the auto industry with another $50billions... Is that new "freakonomics" or what? Guess, China and Japan need to work harder to finance the Presidential plans and save GM, when literally they are riding bikes or they are walking to work? Isnt that an excited story with plenty of suspence that will keep us wondering for a while? On the other hand excpect another flood of Chinese and Japanese products, surfing the US market unregulated and tarrif free :-) Whenthe credit cards will be maxxing out, the international trade agreements might not be enough to excuse the above huge bills and then the USA might collapse for ever..

content

Lots of discussion lately on interactive content and digital content production. Most of the European markets including Greece are trying to adapt IPTV solutions, examining platforms and content over the pipe. The Telcos seem to have an advantage looking for content in different markets that they are heavily investing into, leaving the local content producers out of the game.

Is IPTV a viable solution in Greece? When the government and all are investing in broadband, the answer is yes. What really needs is serious planning and collaborations identifying the subscribers needs. The interactive content can easily fuel people's excitement, making them pay for it and isnpire others to create the right channels, with interesting program and content. Culture and entertainment should be the top needs to start with, including international production on travel and cooking.

On Telecoms brings Fox channel to the screen, creating a fully subtitled 24/7 program. Fox International Channels is distributing High-Definition content also for mobile platforms: FOX Life HD, Next HD, National Geographic Channel HD and FOX Mobile. Whats really interesting is to see the competitors reaction that perhaps are still negotiating with similar content distributors. Early IPTV markets are really interesting and offering excitement and surprises with the enntertainment and access to new stuff not only for the investors but also for the users.

Books

...finally I'm going in and into serious publications. I am really happy, cause finally my research will be included in book chapters on relevant topics.Thus, two of my papers that lation are both mainly on new technology forecasting and regulation will be published next year in two different books.
"Fourth-Generation (4G) Wireless Networks: Applications and Innovations"
A book edited by Adibi, Sasan and Mobasher, Amin - published by IGI Global(IDEA Group).


Then, I have another paper on forecasting and regulation that will appear in:
"Regulation and the Evolution of the Global Telecommunications Industry" edited by A. Gentzoglanis & A. Henten, by Edward Elgar Publishing


Finally two other papers have been already published in the special issue in the journal of Communications and Strategies, Ultrabroadband Networks, IDATE, November 2008. The first paper was on QoS and the other one was on new technology forecasting and regulation.

Its been a productive year, cause last year I was stuck, doing only conference papers, due many life's changes, but finally here I am, surviving. Concluding, I can easily call 2008 a fruitful academic year, thanks to my partners and collaborators that supported me. I 'm going in guys - thank you!

-E

ebusinessforum

And yes, digital TV will arrive slowly to Greece, since the EU has announced the full transition to the digital world by 2015. Advanced countries will do that much faster, following the US that is a few hundred days away based on Shelly.
On the other hand FCC recently OKs unlicensed access to vacant TV airwaves. That U.S. regulator's decision seen as a victory for Google, Microsoft, Moto and others, against broadcasters.

But Europe is getting there. Being part of the ebusiness forum public consultation's team, I got the feeling that people will get there sooner or later, since some piolot digital broadvasting has already started from the government channel. however there is still lots of discussion and consultation on the future available TV bands, the upcoming digital services, the benefits and drawbacks. The ebusiness forum always puts effort into new things and is really exciting the fact that we will draw some new actions to promote digital TV with perhaps some EU financial support.

Digital TV in Greece is not a Sci-Fi project any more and I am confident that will soon happen even with some international support and guideline. People are really excited and love the opportunity of the new TV, either that is digital broadcasting or even IPTV, altough it is really early for Greece right now. The Telcos are still wondering, but they should definetely keep a very close look to our tema's progress and future plans, since our coordinator is the ministry of transportation and communication.