NG Online News

Top of the Tweets

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 02:45:00 +0000

24^th November 2010 marked the first time the APAC market has had the opportunity to participate in the iStrategy Conferences and the consensus is positive. By 11.30am the conference had secured first place as Australia's top twitter topic.

Held in Sydney, Australia at the Sheraton on the Park Hotel the iStrategy Conference 2010 began with a sterling keynote discussion from Haresh Khoobchandani - Chief Marketing Officer for Microsoft, APAC, and what a way to begin. Haresh focused on several key areas for the 300 strong audience of top APAC marketers about how to listen to your consumers, to engage with them and most importantly how consumers are now adapting and changing much faster than advertisers are. It was inspirational for our senior level marketers to hear that they have an opportunity to redefine themselves as marketers in one of the best professions to thrive within. Now that is a keynote.

A delegation of 300 senior marketers from a variety of different verticals are bound to be vocal in their social commentary and today proved no different. When Joe Millward - Innovations Manager - Social Media for Gloria Jeans Coffees wins an iStrategy social media contest of a Starbucks coffee voucher, the tweets kicked off with fervor.

Standout speakers were all involved, just look at the twitter feed. From the buzz happening in the Buzz Numbers interactive workshop to the dynamic performance from Adrian Kinderis -CEO of Ausregistry discussing the future for domain names as "purchasing your own piece of Internet real estate" and topped off by Clifford Rosenberg - Managing Director of Linkedin ANZ whom I think everyone wanted to have a personal conversation with, the day was full in a social sense and a mental sense of content, comment, and marketing inspiration. All facets of a person's ability to listen, raise a question, take notes, tweet, network, discuss and mind share were all covered in Day One, and now we face Day Two.

Day Two gets underway in a few hours with Mark Wynne - President South East Asia for Kimberly Clark. Feel free to follow us on Twitter for more marketing insights and social engagement #istrategy2010 #sydneyistrategy

Time To Cash Out US Dollars

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:44:00 +0000

November 18, 2010 [AfricaBusiness.com]

By Michael Canfield
American Correspondent

This is a unique time in our history.

Worldwide economic uncertainty has put us all on notice. GOLD IS ON THE RISE. Here in the United States, we’re pummeled with daily forecasts of national home foreclosures in the millions and as seen on every block of America by those of us lucky enough to be alive and well. Unemployment reports that are so dismal, it’s questionable that the United States Government is giving us the actual numbers for fear of reprisal. Americans are divorcing and living below the poverty line at an all time high. Anguish and stress is written on every ones face. Tempers are high, road rage is outrageous. Drug abuse is running rampant and its effects are felt at all levels of American society. God has been ban from schools and Government buildings… and polite society cannot understand why violence in class rooms is increasing at an unprecedented rate and whore like decisions on Washington’s Capital Hill are the norm. I wonder why?

The powers that be seem to be putting their heads in the sand or at the very least blaming others insisting they did not create the problems we’re facing today. The solutions offered are so far off the mark it’s not even funny.

Take the American advertising paid for by the real power elite in America today, through the use of TV and Internet. Are unrelenting in an effort to drive home a picture of how wonderful it is to BUY-BUY-BUY. They must live in Alice In Wonder Land. In Hitler’s day it was called propaganda. The standard of living in America is declining at historic rates, more in line with the “D” word. When it’s all said and done the Great Depression of 1932 may well seem like a picnic. Only time will tell. GOLD IS A GREAT BAROMETER.

The United States Fed Chairman, Ben Bernanke, has opened the flood gates and the American printing presses take off… Yes it’s time to print fiat money (IOU’s) backed by hot air. America is BANKRUPT, but no one is saying the B word. American manufacturing backbone has been systematically dismantled, in the name of short term profits and competition from abroad, resulting in substantially reduced taxes as employers shed unwanted overhead of workers and equipment. Most of America’s capital equipment has been sold and sent to places like China and Japan and even India so they can manufacture stuff and send it back to America. We are in debt up to our eyeballs. How much? No one really knows. It’s in the tens of trillions perhaps one hundred trillion or more. Take every man woman and child in the world (over 6.5 billion) and divide into 100 trillion to understand the magnitude of American debt. That’s about $15,384.61 per person for every man woman and child in the world. But hey, its Americas problem so let’s divide it by the 300 million Americans that’s $333,333.33 per person, kids and babies included. Well let’s tax the rich. Ok… take a look. With less then one percent of Americans controlling all the wealth of America we could further divide the debt by 3 million Americans and that would put the debt squarely on the shoulders of the money people. That equates to 33.3 million dollars of debt for the top 3 million wealthiest Americans. What are the chances of that? The vast middle class is doing a vanishing act right before our eyes. In their wake are a substantial group of Americans now living under the poverty line. So who exactly is going to pay?

Our taxes do not meet our obligations! Our obligations are treated like sacred cows, from Health care, to a military might that has no limits on spending. Dishonest pork (side agreements for agreeing to sign a bill) goes with every major bill of the day passed by the legislatures at every level of Government. Yet bridges, schools, infrastructure and families are failing. In my town, a new bridge is being built, that sounds like good news. The only question I have is what traffic is it bridging? It leads to nowhere… At this time our city is laying off and cutting back police and school teachers… but we can build a bridge to nowhere. Can you say pork? Not to worry, we can print more fiat money. That way we can pay our obligations with fake dollars, ops… I mean fiat dollars.

This is insanity and it is repeating history. But never on this scale…! Not now, not ever has intentional inflating been successful in the long run. Unless you consider the art of making war a goal rather then the result of a frustrated political solution. American middle class will be gone in a very short time. It’s already happening! And they are angry. There armed and can be dangerous. This is a plan paved with INTENTIONS to take us to hell… not just America, I mean all of us on this planet. It is the domino effect of insanity that will get us all. Wait do nothing and you will see!

Contrary to Government diatribe, we’re all human beings with God given rights of self awareness and free will. You would think we could do the right thing under such dire circumstances. Except we live in an economic worldwide network so rigged and controlled by a few perverted, power hungry, selfish, unregulated, unholy, demon like beings that it is almost impossible to know or experience our own personal God given right of free will. Therefore it’s almost impossible to do the right thing. Where did it start? Who sold us that bill of goods anyway?

The Good News!

The bottom line: MASSIVE INFLATION IS ON IT’S WAY, LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN WITH NO BRAKES. We all know that Gold is the bellwether indicator. It’s a great opportunity now for short term GOLD buying. That’s the good news!

The Bad news!

The leadership of America and other parts of the world are suffering from delusions of grandeur lead by personal selfishness and a desire for holding on to power at any cost. Their goal is to sugar coat the effects of our collective economic condition. The failure to publicly accept the fact we’re bankrupt and we have to deal with it. No, it’s much better for future generations to absorb the sorrows of reaping what we sow, these power mongers are trying to put off the inevitable. Government directed Inflation is nothing more then theft with foreknowledge. That makes it a felony, a criminal event, but with no consequence. After all, who can we blame? If it was done by an individual like you or me we would be jailed. It’s called bank fraud, writing checks with no money in the bank! And the worst part of it is there is a massive worldwide effort organized by a few to convince us all it’s for our own good. Stimulate consumerism say the experts from the Fed, get Americans buying goods and services with dollars that have some purchasing power still there… Buy our way out of this problem with our meager saving. INFLATION will not run wild… we can control it! Wow what a load of crap.

First of all, let me refresh your memory, Germany went through the same thing as have the French and others. History is very clear. Only those countries by comparison to America today would be considered small. And just think of the Hell Adolf Hitler was able to make from this kind of an event. Then connect the dots… massive financial connections with all countries of our world. America is a country in debt. We HAVE NO MANUFACTURING to speak of, our kids are sucking up TV as though it were education. Hip or slick advertising campaigners present themselves as educators and the parents are letting their kids go with it and the lies march on. America stopped producing workers and engineers. We produce lawyers (professional liars) and MBA’s minted from the school of no experience like cookie cutter armies that couldn’t find their own thoughts if their life depended on it. But they all will swear it’s true if legal says so, after all legal knows what’s right! Right? Can you imagine a world run by lawyers, financed by power hungry mongers with cookie cutter MBA’s, I can, Idiots one and all, directed by the demon INSPIRED men of this world. Need I mention a name? It’s sounding more like science fiction then fact but don’t be deceived. Truth always seems stranger then fiction until it’s in our face. Economic war is on the horizon now. And make no mistake, wars and rumor of wars are in the hands of lawyers, guided by the unholy.

The Ugly News!

I can only report what I have seen and know. This is the really ugly part. Why? Because, it is now in play, the US Fed is buying up US Bonds with nothing but fancy paper called fiat money. Newly printed US dollars, back by more of the same “hot air” (IOU’s). Bernanke’s stated goal is to spend 600 – 900 BILLION US (IOU’s) dollars per year until the problem is solved! No limit in sight! Many of the big banking firms have gone on record stating this United States Fed policy is geared to flood the world with US dollars, more likely to be 3 or 4 TRILLION US dollars before we’re finished! And that is peanuts! When you consider that in relative terms it’s a token payment of the American debt and balance of trade amounting to 100 trillion or more… Who’s going to pay it?

As Americans, we were the buyers of last resort for the worlds production of stuff. Most of the stuff is JUNK. Lead by slick advertisers telling us it’s cool. Here’s some pabulum to quench our thinking. We are told that we must listen to our doctors tell us how to live allegedly longer lives. I ask for what? When I look at Americans whether they are rich or poor, they are FAT and dummied down. On dating services, they call it “a few extra pounds” yeah sure… Of course we must pay collectively for health insurance that could bankrupt America and the average citizen in America as well. Given we have established the highest hospital and doctor rates in the world that now amounts to years of our personal income, when added up as a lump sum for even simple illness calling for a week or so in bed at a hospital. No problem, our employer’s will pay the insurance premiums. Who’s kidding who? We have no employers and the ones we do have are electing to NOT pay to the extent of the law. Small businesses are all but decimated. I know firsthand, because I’m a small business man and have spent the better part of my life as one. Small business was the back bone of America. That was before Wal Mart. Now the drum beat for the unemployed; own your own service business or franchise. Not a chance Godzilla! The big multi-nationals are contracting personal services abroad with the cheapest service providers doing cookie cutter work all the way to MBA. Need your phone answered or a slick personal sales pitch… no problem, some nice lady from the Philippians can handle it. Once again competing with small business in the service arena, the last vestige of American revenues and the holy grail of the new world order. So they say? Whoever they are? Have you ever tried to compete for attention just to do some service business? Try Google, if you’re a small business person, you will find the truth once again. Advertising is for the rich folk. Once again proving Americans are like sheep, the problem is we’re sheared out! America is no longer an Economic Power. It’s a lame duck, a sick puppy, a sheep with no fur, we’re drowning and we will take you down with us!

America is suffering from hyper inflation now!

But you just don’t see it yet! It’s being hidden with smoke and mirrors. The first crack happened a few years back when the financial house of cards started coming apart. No kidding its true. The black art of derivative’s (an MBA specialty) is blamed and at the same time has allowed the clever lawyers to came to our rescue and covered it up. Genius for sure! The truth is masked by the national housing bubble that burst as a part of the last trickledown effect from massive layoffs, factory shut downs, services being off-shored and fake money lending from credit card scams of galactic proportion to home loans given without regard to credit worthiness. If you were American with a heartbeat you would have qualified for a home loan of really any amount you desired. Wow that’s cool. I deserve the best. Give me one of these masons please. What’s your income sir? Well I’m not sure, how much do I need to make to qualify? Hmmm let’s say $200,000 per year income. Don’t I need to show my w-2 income forms. Nope! Okay… 200K it is. Oh by the way what do you do? I’m in the SERVICE business. I drive a bus! Great… your approved! Multiply this millions of times and simply add it to some derivative package. Hey its still floating around somewhere. Well until… NOW! It’s time to wake up, it’s here and it’s hidden like a cancer, its insidious and its growing daily. As the first light of truth oozes out to the light of day it will devour the world. Is there a real doctor in the house? We have an insidious disease that is infecting us all.

In the short term this hidden Inflation may work for America by selling fake dollars at the expense of the rest of the world. Let’s call it payback time! It’s a little like saying, I have an insidious cancer, so I will share it with my children and my children’s children and the rest of the world and as a result of my thoughtfulness my diligence, my foresight and my concern for all mankind… I will be blessed by God Almighty… and be healed of my cancer. Fat chance!

People’s knee jerk reaction for anyone holding American Dollars is to buy now before the dollar loses more of its value. That’s good news for the American Government that cooked up this scam, but most of us (the majority of Americans) will not be effected because we do not have any money anyway. Unless your old and on a social security. It’s funny how the government has curtailed any adjustments for inflation just before they drop the hammer on us all. And isn’t it funny that the Federal Government employs more people then any company in America and they pay more then double the average street pay for the same job and are given regular cost of living adjustments to keep up with inflation? There has got to be a lawyer here somewhere. I’m sure it’s perfectly legal. Oh sure you hear about how it will take a wheelbarrow full of dollars to buy a loaf of bread. But who cares how many zeros are behind a number if you were using a debit card… smile. China will be bagged and tagged for its conspiracy to own America’s debt in exchange for puffing up their manufacturing through American consumerism. Can we say payback! Who’s next? Any takers? America has some great US dollars on sale! I would recommend India as the next big buyer.

How much real value is lost already?

When America was backed by gold, a 20 dollar gold piece cost 20 dollars. Today it takes 70 twenty dollar fiat bills to buy one 20 dollar gold piece. Soon, we will need hundreds of 20 dollar fiat bills to buy one 20 dollar gold piece. How much of this fiat money do you own?

The short term effect is the creation of a huge financial bubble I call pent up INSIDIOUS INFLATION, when it lets go in America hyperinflation will set in that will be felt around the world.

My recommendation: Sell US Dollars as fast as you can and buy Gold. Hedge your assets now before it’s too late. Gold producers of the world… make hay while the sun shines, but don’t forget to keep a little for yourself.

Trick me once call it learning. Trick me twice and call me stupid. Trick me thrice and we go to war.

Your eyes and ears correspondent to the American economy of the day.

To your Success…

Michael Canfield
michael@jitla.com

author of:

Revelation Book 7 (http://www.RevelationBook7.com)
JITLA The Promise Fulfilled (http://JITLA.com)
Stepping Stones To out of print

NBN Discussion with Detail � Where Was the Senate?

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:27:00 +0000

While the Greens and independent senators question the Government over reports it will not hand over the NBN business plan until next month, 100 movers and shakers from the Australian Utilities sector were treated to a detailed overview of the NBN Company and its key policies at the NG Utilities Australia Summit, held last week on 8th-10th November at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort and Spa, Gold Coast. In this closed door environment the key objectives and challenges facing the rollout of a national broadband network were openly debated and discussed with particular focus on how it will relate, engage and generally work with the Energy & Utility Sector.

Summit Spokesperson Tyron McGurgan commented today, that "perhaps we should have extended an invitation to the Senate to join us in these in depth NBN discussions. The utilities industry is facing enormous change and challenges and the NG Utilities Summit happened to be taking place at the right time, with the right people involved for the sector. The utilities sector is experiencing an unprecedented paradigm shift that holds promise of opportunity, but knowledge of significant risk. Our summit ensured that we gave the industry elite ample opportunity to have their heads down for real debate and detailed discussions. These changes will pave the future for the utilities industry as it will for Australia, we all just want to make an informed decisions".

The timing of the NG Utilities Summit comes more than 18months on from the announcement of the Rudd Government's grand NBN plan. With comments out today from Opposition Communications spokesman Malcolm Turnbull stating "The Government will say or do anything to obstruct transparency and avert independent analysis of the most expensive public infrastructure project in Australian history", it's a shame that Malcolm wasn't able to participate in the NG Utility Summit's keynote led by Gareth Simmons - GM Commercial Strategy Networks, NBN Co.

Gareth Simmons, led a fantastic discussion and analysed the NBN plan. Summit audience members included the country's top utility industry executives, such as, Ian McLeod - CEO, Ergon Energy, Jim Mitchell - MD, Synergy, Peter Birk - CTO, Energy Australia, and Brad Page - CEO, Energy Supply Association of Australia, inevitably this resulted in conversations that consisted of real content and in depth analysis.

Summit spokesperson Tyron McGurgan surmised from the discussions that there is understandable confusion in the sector and executives were asking hard questions throughout. With such change taking place for the sector there was a resounding sense of wanting to know where it is going and what could the implications be. I feel the Utilities sector believes the concept of the NBN is a positive one and has substantial benefits for the sector in the long term. However there are real concerns about how the NBN will integrate with the current network infrastructure and with such enormous change, how great will the adjustment period be. It was a fascinating few days.

The consortium of industry executives plan to review the NBN's development at the NG Utilities Summit in August, 2011 deeming that the sector at this point needs to stay on top of the changes, by keeping industry information channels open regarding the NBN roll out given the implications it will have across every aspect of the sector. Future discussions highlighted will centre around how distributors and retailers will pass on the benefits of the NBN to consumers and end users -what the value proposition is.

The NG Utilities Summit was heralded by Jacqueline Clark - CEO, MBC Global as the "benchmark event for the Utilities sector within Australia". Stating that "it provided a fantastic platform for Utilities companies to meet and discuss pressing issues within the industry in a very relaxed and professional environment" Jacqueline said in her keynote speech. "Next time I'll be sure to ask the Senate along, just to keep them updated," joked Summit spokesperson Tyron McGurgan.

The ability to Predict and Act

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:08:00 +0000

A top line up of 70 of Australia’s leading Supply Chain executives from the following sectors: Health, Retail and Consumer, Telecoms, Energy and Industrial, are spending three days in November in a closed door environment on the Gold Coast to discuss best practice supply chain management. The overall aim is to rethink supply chain structures by discussing the key areas of concern for companies such as selecting the right 3pl ,driving improved supply chain performance, reverse logistics, and how to address demand and supply forecasting in such volatile market conditions, including the effects of the currency war.

Analyst partner, IDC have shown that there is a strong notion of rethinking supply chain structures, with an effort to move to more of a variable-cost-driven approach rather than a fixed-cost-driven network. Through the implementation of effective BI strategies, companies can now understand the consequences of any business decision, which allows them to operate at a new level of intelligence – far beyond sense and respond – and move towards the ability to predict and act.

At NG Supply Chain Australia, leading industry executives; Simon Ellis – Practice Director, Supply Chain Strategies, IDC, Craig Stokoe – Global Procurement Manager, Aristocrat, Peter Fouskarinis – GM Supply Chain, Country Road, and Vince Aisthorpe – Manager Supply Management, Tarong Energy will examine the many facets to Supply Chains of the future. The increased role of business intelligence and analytics tools in the supply chain and procurement processes, the competitive challenges driving businesses to rethink their analytics strategy, and the key elements of a successful business intelligence and analytics initiative, with a specific focus on its key role in procurement and spend analysis.

Supply Chains of the Future will become more complex and involve more participants as discussed by Colin Kempter - Principal Consultant, ECN Group. As such the requirement for technology that provides supply chain agility is going to increase. Software needs to be much more agile and cost effective in order to adapt to the ever changing business requirements. A new breed of (Software as a Service (SaaS) technologies that can be implemented quickly and that have the ability to enforce your business policies throughout your supply chain community without high costs and lengthy development cycles are becoming key areas of focus and spend. In a short amount of time SaaS has become a leading supply chain technology enabler.

SaaS, amongst many other industry leading solution technologies, will be areas of key discussion and focus for the industry executives at the NG Supply Chain Australia Summit as businesses rethink their supply chain structures. Until recently, the most important parameters for supply chain designs has been related to cost efficiency and on-shelf availability. The Global Recession has brought new factors into the equation and now supply chain executives have to figure out the best way forwards.

GDS Investigates Sports Fixing Scam

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:49:00 +0000

Is there really such a thing as a sports fixing scam? In some sports, absolutely; in others, the answer isn't quite so clear.

A "sports fixing scam" simply means that things aren't as they appear to be. While a professional football game may appear to be totally legitimate, what is going on behind the scenes? Are referees leaning toward one team to win, making bad calls? It has long been believed by many that horse racing often engages in a sports fixing scam; everyone except the general public spending money to bet on the race knows which horse is going to win prior to the race ever starting.

A sports fixing scam doesn't necessarily mean you will only lose money if it involves placing a bet. There are many things that may be considered a sports fixing scam. Some people are certain that all professional sports that are televised are fixed in some way; football, basketball, soccer and other sports that people dearly love and often revolve their lives around are franchises that participate in sports fixing scams. TV networks "hold hands" with these leagues; they pour billions of dollars in to these much-loved sports and "fix" games so that the drama runs high and fans keep coming back for more.

What does this mean to you? Even though you may never believe that your favorite professional team would be involved in a sports fixing scam, think about all of the time and money you may have invested. Satellite TV or special sports channels so you can enjoy the games, tickets to attend the game, trading cards, placing bets - it's important that you are completely dedicated to these teams, so that you are willing to spend money.

Not surprisingly, the explosion of the internet has contributed to the sports fixing scam today; sports money scams are on the rise. In most cases, these so-called sports games and activities claim that you can make easy money. While there are many methods that are not straight forward and honest when it comes to betting on sports, the sports fixing scam often involves an individual or group of individuals actually "fixing" the results of a game, match or race. People believe they can buy their way in to some sort of secret system that will guarantee a win.

This type of sports fixing scam is believed by many to take place in football and other athletics, along with car or motor sports racing and horses. In this example, members of a sports organization or even players may "throw" the results of a game or race. Why is this done, and what are the benefits? The ones "throwing" the results or others that they are involved with can rake in a large bet that has been placed.

Is there such a thing as a sports fixing scam? Some individuals are absolutely certain this type of things goes on, while others think it may simply be an overactive imagination on the part of those who purport that it does go on behind the scenes. Whether or not there is a sports fixing scam in every type of sport is really not known; no matter what the answer is, it's doubtful that the general public will stop enjoying their favorite sports any time in the near future.

Click here to check out other GDS International scam articles.

Related articles:

CIO's Goal Not Green | Chinese Internet regulations | The journey of a tweet | Social media and terrorism

GDS Investigates Job Scams

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:49:00 +0000

Job scams have been around for decades, but are rampant today due largely to poor economic conditions. Many innocent people fall victim to job scams and in their efforts to make money, they often lose a portion of what money they do have. When searching for work, how can you spot a real opportunity and know that it isn't a hoax?

Why are there so many job scams both online and off today? Unscrupulous people realize that many people are desperate to find work, and they take advantage of that fact. In addition, even individuals who are intelligent and possess a good amount of common sense are more vulnerable during hard times. They are desperate, and all of those "too good to be true" offers sound even more enticing.

According to CNN, individuals who can least afford to part with their money are often the one's who become victims of job scams. Most often, the victims are women between the ages of 18 and 49 who have children to support and only a high school education. How can you avoid being taken in by any of the thousands of job scams that are so prevalent today?

1. Don't fall for those emails promising riches if you just "click here". People you do not know are not going to email you with a legitimate job offer. By clicking on a link in an email from someone you do not know, you could be putting yourself at risk for identity theft or putting the health of your computer at risk.

2. Never pay for employment. The internet is the basis for more job scams than ever before; there are all sorts of "work from home" schemes that claim that you can make thousands per day - but there is usually a cost. Don't fall for it.

3. Ignore all of the "beautiful riches" you see online. Even when you are searching for something else online, there are plenty of banners that claim you can "make money while you sleep" or become a millionaire in days. Fancy cars, mansions, exotic destinations - these things can all be yours in a short time if you just join the program and follow instruction. Run, do not walk, from these types of job scams.

4. Do your due diligence and perform a little research. Whether you get an email in your inbox or find a company in your search for work, do some research so that you have a better idea of whether or not it is legitimate. With most job scams, you won't find the company listed with the Better Business Bureau. Find out if anyone else is actually employed by the company through forums or message boards; you can learn a lot about the company's reputation, if indeed they do even have a company.

5. Use your common sense. The old adage "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" holds true in this case. There are far more job scams on the internet than there are actual jobs. Look at the contact email address of the company; if it is a free email account such as Yahoo or Gmail, use caution. Most legitimate companies have their own private email address.

Today, job scams can lead to not only the loss of a bit of your money, they can even lead to identity theft or fraud. Put the tips above to work in your search for employment, and avoid job scams.

Click here to check out other GDS International scam articles.

Related articles:

CIO's Goal Not Green | Chinese Internet regulations | The journey of a tweet | Social media and terrorism

GDS International Investigates Scams on Twitter, Facebook

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:50:00 +0000

Social networking is huge today, but beware of running across a celebrity scam; Twitter, Facebook and MySpace are sites where you may run in to all kinds of trouble if you innocently believe that a post is being made by the actual celebrity. While many celebrities do interact with followers or post messages, falling for a celebrity scam can bring on a host of problems that can involve you personally and/or your computer.

Celebrities enjoy being socially active and communicating with friends and followers just as the rest of us do; that being said, there are plenty of spammers, identity thieves and even paparazzi who invent a celebrity scam in order to obtain your personal information. To the average user, everything looks on the up and up. It really is difficult to tell the difference between the real thing, and a hoax designed to steal either your money or your identity - or both.

In a celebrity scam, never-before-heard news is often involved. It may be scandalous or even totally unbelievable, and is meant to be so provocative that you cannot help but click on the link. This is where things can go horribly wrong, as the celebrity scam is designed to entice you to click, so that you can be taken advantage of. Supposed profiles of celebrities may also put you at risk; they may link to malicious phishing sites that are meant to trick you in to giving out personal information. The links look authentic, but in a celebrity scam may lead to a site that looks official and asks you to sign up as a member. Depending on the information you give out in signing up, fraudulent activities such as online purchases that you did not make can occur.

A celebrity scam can also lead to malware or spyware being placed on your PC without your knowledge. Usually, hot celebrity gossip is involved; in order to read or hear the scoop, you have to download a file. This is where the trouble begins; as you download the file, spyware installs on your computer. This software is capable of not only stealing your personal information such as credit card numbers and passwords, it can also damage your computer, causing it to become slow or even crash.

How do you prevent becoming the victim of a celebrity scam? As with other potential scams, use common sense. Change your passwords frequently, especially on social networking sites. Avoid using the same password for all of your online activities. In addition, ensure that your computer has a reliable firewall, as well as anti-spyware software and an up-to-date anti-virus program. Lastly, never give out your bank account or credit card numbers if you are not 100% certain you are dealing with a legitimate operation! By putting these measures in place and being smart, you can avoid becoming the victim of a celebrity scam.

Click here to check out other GDS International scam articles.

GDS International Investigates Global Warming Scam

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 15:50:00 +0000

The global warming scam is the biggest hoax in history, according to some. Started by Al Gore in 1995, the global warming scam is responsible for a great deal of alarm throughout the world population. Also known as "climate change", there are both believers that feel it is real, and non-believers who are certain that there is no such thing.

According to Earthpro.info, the global warming scam is the biggest scam in history. This site proposes that environmental and political motives were behind the manipulations of long-term scientific data by some less than reputable scientists. As government continued to fuel the movement with large research grants, more unscrupulous scientist jumped on the band wagon. Eventually, the global warming scam was taking hold all over the world, though most were completely gullible and believed all of the hype.

Over the years, many things have been attributed to the global warming scam; people were convinced that insecticides, car fuel emissions and other "greenhouse" gases, carbon dioxide and other substances were contributing to the future condition of the atmosphere for our children. Today, there are people who are still taken in by the global warming scam, but the topic is not as threatening as it once was.

Many believe the topic has long been overblown and misdirected. Below you will find some of the most convincing evidence that the global warming scam is just that - a scam.

Evidence really is not so convincing, according to scientists. A group of more than 17,000 scientists found that the human release of methane, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases did not contribute significantly to the heating or destruction of the Earth's climate or atmosphere.

Scientists study temperatures in the lower troposphere via satellite readings. Temperatures in this area are the most indicative of global warming, if it were real. These reliable sources show no warming in the years since this method has been in use some 30 years ago.

Urban development generates heat, which is why some land-based temperature stations show higher than average temperature readings; as the land continues to be developed in to crowded suburban, city and metropolitan areas, a higher temperature reading is normal.

The global warming scam has long been a threat and even a frightening thought to many; even efforts to reduce human greenhouse gas emissions in a rapid manner would not affect the fact that the Earth's climate is changing. What it would do is cost billions of dollars, as attempting to reduce U.S. carbon dioxide emissions requires much higher energy taxes.

The global warming scam, according to some, is simply a ruse designed to enable environmental advocacy groups to raise billions of dollars in government grants and contributions. Is it a hoax, or isn't it? Some believe that the global warming scam is simply an attempt by politicians and unethical scientists to predict doom and gloom, while wasting big money to fund their cause. Whether or not global warming is a scam is still a question in the minds of many; perhaps this is a topic that will not be resolved in our life time.

Click here to check out other GDS International scam articles.

GDS International Investigates the Renewable Scam

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:19:00 +0000

Clean energy, green energy, whatever you like to call it, be careful that you do not get taken in by a renewable scam. Today, everyone is looking to save money and improve the earth's environment at the same time. Falling victim to a renewable scam may leave you with far less money in your bank account than you now have; in fact, you could become the victim of identity theft.

The rush to invest in green energy alternatives is a perfect opportunity for con artists to earn a few bucks through a renewable scam. All over the United States, fraudulent individuals are coming up with supposed "alternative" energy solutions. Just recently, a renewable scam surfaced in Missouri when investors poured over $100,000 in to a start up company making claims that a car they were in the midst of producing would run on pure tap water. The company was shut down and investors were lucky this time; they got their money back.

The solar industry is another area of "green" energy where consumers are likely to become the victim of a renewable scam. An 82 year old San Diego, California woman had a solar power system installed on her roof, and paid the company $40,000 for the work. The woman had the project done because an ad in the paper stated that the government would issue a 100% rebate on the solar power system, which of course she did not receive. In this instance, she paid $40,000 for what turned out to be a $20,000 system - and the renewable scam surfaced when the company forged the woman's name in an effort to get the promised rebate for themselves.

Most individuals really have good intentions when looking for renewable energy sources. Whether it is oil, gas or alternative heating and cooling sources, people should beware that there are crooked people just waiting to implement a renewable scam that will pocket them a bundle of money.

Another example of how gullible people can be occurred when Patrick T. Kelly began a company that claimed to have invented an amazing technology involving a battery generator that would offer power to a household for 20 years using the amount of water that would fill a bathtub. This renewable scam pulled in many investors who were convinced that this was the real deal; Mr. Kelly was later charged with fraud.

In recent years, alternative energy has become a popular place to invest your money, but always be on the lookout for a renewable scam; it is a challenge to determine which investments are legitimate and which are scams, to say the least. Many people have lost huge sums of money by investing in these scams; unfortunately, most people take the "it won't happen to me" approach, which puts them at risk for becoming a victim of a renewable scam.

Whether it is solar panels, windmill-driven energy, alternative fuel sources for cars or anything else termed "green" or "alternative energy" in today's society, consumers are urged to do their due diligence and research before investing. It just may save you from being the next victim of a renewable scam.

Click here to check out other GDS International scam articles.

GDS International Investigates Nigerian Email Scam

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:49:00 +0000

Nearly everyone has heard of the Nigerian email scam, and many have been made victims. Today, with economic conditions causing financial disaster for many, the Nigerian email scam may look like an easy way to make some much needed money. This method of gaining your bank account information has been around for decades; to ensure that you are not the next victim of the Nigerian email scam, read the warnings and tips below.

If you receive emails that appear to be from Africa and address you in a very polite manner, do not fall prey. A Nigerian email scam frequently makes mention of depositing money in your bank account, usually large sums of money. This may be due to transferring funds from a wealthy, respected persons bank account to yours from accounts that are "frozen", or supposed job opportunities.

Consider what the sender is offering you, and ask yourself "why". Common sense goes a long way toward avoiding the Nigerian email scam. Why would someone you have never heard of choose you to receive huge sums of money? More importantly, why would you give a complete stranger your bank account or other financial information that may put you at risk of identity theft?

Watch for email addresses that appear important or official at first glance. Often, those participating in a Nigerian email scam will use free email accounts, but place information at the beginning that sounds impressive. An example of this would be KingFinancialInstitute@yahoo.com. These are email accounts made up for the sole purpose of sending out fraudulent emails to innocent people.

Those who do fall for the Nigerian email scam may receive documents through the mail that look authentic. This is to further convince you that all is on the level, so that you may then supply a blank letterhead along with your bank account information; you may also be asked to provide funds to cover the transaction, plus attorney fees or transfer costs. When someone pulls off the Nigerian email scam and gains access to your bank account details, they can literally wipe you out financially.
What should you do if you suspect that someone is attempting to pull the Nigerian email scam on you?

If you receive an email asking for your assistance in transferring money from Nigeria to your bank account, forward the email to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov. Additionally, do not respond to these emails; if you do, you may subject yourself to further harassment.

Each year, about the Nigerian email scam is responsible for about 400 successful scams, resulting in millions of dollars in losses to the victims. It is estimated that about 250,000 scammers every year participate in this fraudulent activity. If you fall victim to the Nigerian email scam, report it to the proper authorities, even if you are embarrassed by your gullibility. It may assist in catching the scammers, and preventing other people from getting taken advantage of.

Click here to check out other GDS International scam articles.

Related articles:

Blogging: Not for the young? | The journey of a tweet | iPad: The iPhone on steroids? | Survey says Android will soon take over the world

GDS International Investigates Mobile Banking Scam

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:48:00 +0000

Do you use your smartphone to do your banking? A mobile banking scam is making it a bit more dangerous to carry out your financial transactions on your smartphone, so be warned. The mobile banking scam is one in which your financial information can be obtained, putting you at risk of financial ruin.

Earlier this year, a mobile banking scam was going on that involved the Android mobile phone platform. Android was owned by Google at the time; Google removed the applications, which they described as a method of acquiring members financial information fraudulently. The chances that you may become the victim of a mobile banking scam are increasing due to the popularity of being able to bank from your phone; the simple act of downloading and installing an application that could potentially be fraudulent puts you at risk.

With technology advancing at such an alarming rate, scammers think up new and innovative methods of trying to steal either your money, or the information needed to gain access to your money. How does a mobile banking scam work? Here is an example:

You receive a text message stating that there is some type of problem with your account. You may be alerted that your account has been compromised in some way, that your debit card has been deactivated, or some other such alarming message. In a mobile banking scam, the sender will attempt to get you to call customer service at once so that the problem can be resolved - and they also provide the phone number.
Since many people believe these alarming messages, they are not cautious when they call the number and are asked for private information such as a social security number, bank account or debit card number and other details that can allow a total stranger to get access to their account. Once the perpetrator has access to this information, they can wipe out your bank account, and steal your identity.

What should you do to avoid a mobile banking scam? Upon getting a text message claiming a problem, pay very close attention to the name of the bank. Is it familiar, and is it a bank in your local area or one that you have an account with? Unless you know for certain that it is your bank, ignore the text message completely and delete it. In fact, in order to avoid a mobile banking scam it is best to disregard all messages, even if you believe it to be from your bank. Simply call your bank as soon as possible, and they can tell you if any messages have been sent or if there is a problem with your account.

Falling for a mobile banking scam can literally destroy your life. When a total stranger is participating in fraudulent activity for the purpose of stealing your identity or your money, the effect to your life can be catastrophic. Be cautious, use common sense and do not be made a victim of a mobile banking scam.

Click here to check out other GDS International scam articles.

Related articles:

The journey of a tweet | Chinese Internet regulations | FST EU | GDS International

GDS International Investigates Internet Banking Scam

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:25:00 +0000

Are you at risk of being taken in by an internet banking scam? If you bank online you are. Modern technology has made our lives easier and more efficient than ever before; however if you bank online beware that falling for an internet banking scam could spell financial ruin. Not only that, your identity could potentially be stolen - and that would be devastating to your life.

Online banking is convenient and saves us so much time - but you must be cautious and use common sense to avoid an internet banking scam. Checking your account balance, making withdrawals or deposits, and paying bills online is a luxury no one would have dreamed possible years ago. Unfortunately, as technology continues to evolve, it continues to fall in to the hands of those that are hungry for money just as often. Many people have made the decision to take their banking offline once again, simply because they want to avoid being taken in by an internet banking scam.

When should you be suspicious? If you receive an email claiming there is a problem with your account or that urges you to take action immediately, be extremely cautious. Most legitimate banking institutions will not do this; they will call to talk to you in person. If an email takes on a sense of urgency or asks for private details such as your social security number or account numbers, do not respond and call your financial institution at once. This is likely an internet banking scam, which you want to avoid at all costs.

Keep in mind that vicious people intent on taking your money or your identity in an internet banking scam can create email addresses that look authentic - they can also create websites that replicate those of the genuine financial institution; to the average person, these websites appear to be the real thing. The best thing you can do to avoid an internet banking scam is to use your common sense. Why would you give someone online you cannot see any of your private information, when you can pick up the phone and call your bank to check things out?

In an internet banking scam, you may wonder how someone who sends you a fake email knows which financial institution you use. For example, if you bank with Liberty Bank and you get an email with that name in the address, how did the perpetrator get it? They didn't - they just took a guess and got lucky. Do not think that because the name of your bank is included in the email address or body of the email that it is authentic, because odds are it is an internet banking scam.

If you do get an email that you believe to be fraudulent, simply contact your bank. It really is that easy, and will save you from a great deal of grief. Do not respond to bogus emails, and never email back with any of your personal information. Follow these tips, and you will never be the victim of an internet banking scam.

Click here to check out other GDS International scam articles.

Brands and social media | The rise and fall of telecoms | The First Mobile and Video In Recruitment Conference | Social media and terrorism

GDS International Investigates Scams Since The Recession

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:25:00 +0000

The top 10 scams since the recession began seem to target those who were hit the hardest, including those who lost jobs or had their hours significantly reduced.

Some of the top 10 scams since the recession include bogus government grants, mortgage-foreclosure aid scams, phony job-hunting pitches and phishing/spoofing. When people are hit financially and are often desperate, these offers can look authentic and attractive.

Below is information regarding the top 10 scams since the recession began:
Help seeking government grants - Internet ads often describe help getting federal grants. These ads often claim that for a fee, you will receive leads to government grants. Many people have provided credit card information to get these leads, only to lose their money.

Phishing/spoofing - Another of the top 10 scams since the recession began is phishing or "spoofing". This often involves e-mails that request information, often in a threatening tone. These e-mails may claim that an account is about to be closed, or that there are balances due. In this way, those committing fraud can gain access to user names, passwords and even credit card information.

Nigerian money offers - This scheme has been around for years, and is one of the top 10 scams since the recession. The family of a rich political figure who has passed or been imprisoned cannot access a frozen bank account, but the money can be deposited in a foreign account. You are offered a portion of the money if you allow the money to be deposited in your account; upon depositing, you transfer the money to the family. Scammers get access to your banking information, and can then wipe out your account.

"Free" trial offers - People who are experiencing financial difficulties often look for free merchandise. In this scenario, an individual clicks on an ad offering free trial offers of products; in the end, they are often charged hundreds of dollars for merchandise that was supposedly free.

Foreclosure rescue - The top 10 scams since the recession include foreclosure rescue; many people are losing their homes due to the economic conditions, and crooked businesses contact these home owners claiming they can save their homes. The home owner pays a huge fee, after which the company usually either does nothing at all or convinces the home owner to sign over the title.

Rounding out the top 10 scams since the recession are:

Work at home opportunities in which individuals can supposedly earn big money - but they have to pay a fee first. Of the top 10 scams since the recession, this is one of the biggest and most convincing.

Fake checks, in which the victim is selling a big-ticket item such as a car, the buyer writes a cashier's check larger than the selling amount, asking for the victim to return the difference. The check is eventually found to be "bad", and the victim is responsible for the money.

Internet auctions, lotteries, and prizes/sweepstakes are the remaining of the top 10 scams since the recession. People are very vulnerable and susceptible to fall prey to these scams when times are hard; it is essential that individuals remember that when something sounds "too good to be true", it usually is. Keep these top 10 scams since the recession began in mind, so that you can avoid being victimized.

Click here to check out other GDS International scam articles.

Related articles:

Afriacom 2010 Shaping the Telecoms Ecosystem

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 16:38:00 +0000

While only three weeks remain before the launch of AfricaCom 2010; final adjustments are currently being made to the conference agenda, with additional speakers adding further variety to an already extensive programme. The supplementary speakers allow for greater representation of the broad telecommunications ecosystem (operators, vendors, regulators, OTT providers), with their topics of discussion reflecting the ever changing telecoms landscape.

DAY ONE

Day one will proceed with the Broadband Data Service stream acknowledging the growing importance of Mobile Health in Africa, by way of a new panel discussion. Providing health care workers with access to information, where access is extremely limited, is critical to affording better care to patients in Africa. The new session will examine how collaboration between public and private organisations has proven successful in South Africa. This through the implementation of a Mobile Health Information System and Internet-capable smart phones, pre-loaded with a reliable clinical library. The session will be led by Qualcomm, with contributions from representatives of the Eastern Cape Department of Health / Port Elizabeth Hospital Complex, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, MTN and AED Satellite.

Global newsmaker, Google, will be represented in the Value-Added Services stream by Nicholas Heller, head of New Business Development for the EMEA region. Heller joins the Mobile Content Panel; and will be presenting his views on the changing mobile content ecosystem, in particular, how to monetise opportunities for content / apps owners.

DAY TWO

Day two will play host to WiMAX Africa stream, with two new speakers providing fresh perspectives on the topic. Tomi Davies will present the launch of Mobitel, Nigeria's new WiMAX operator. Dumisa Ngwenya, General Manager - Engineering and Technology at South Africa's regulator ICASA, will give his perspective on the WiMAX vs. LTE debate. His presentation will follow those of Orange Botswana's Wilfried Yver and GSMA's Ross Bateson, who will also compare the technologies.

In the Marketing, Pricing & Loyalty stream, Anwar Soussa (Chief Commercial Officer of Telecel Zimbabwe) will share his experience in the Marketing Panel; addressing issues of brand, segmentation, pricing and more.

Turning attention to the Capacity & Wholesale session; the presentation on IPx will be presented by John van Vianen, CEO of iBasis, who says: "I'm delighted to speak at AfricaCom, which is a great forum to meet the mobile community and also exchange, discuss strategies and the future of mobile services in Africa. Moreover, our participation to the Capacity & Wholesale event at AfricaCom reflects our increased focus and work in Africa."

These new contributions add to an already demanding programme, covering topics as varied as LTE, marketing, mobile money, innovation strategies and more; by representatives of the major stakeholders in Africa's telecommunications market: leading operators MTN, Orange, Vodacom, Telkom, Etisalat, Expresso Telecom, as well as major equipment and solutions providers such as Corning, Ericsson, Huawei, Intelsat, Motorola, Nokia-Siemens Networks and ZTE - to name but a few.

Find out more and register to attend AfricaCom at: www.comworldseries.com/africa

ABOUT INFORMA TELECOMS & MEDIA

Informa Telecoms & Media is the leading provider of business intelligence to global telecoms and media markets.

Our aim is to provide actionable, strategic advice and forecasting on all aspects of converging mobile, fixed, entertainment and IT markets.
Driven by constant first-hand contact with the industry our team of analysts and researchers produce over 300 annual events and intelligence services including news and analytical products, in-depth market reports and data sets.

We benefit from outstanding people, including 100+ analysts, researchers and journalists across 14 countries. Our customers include major blue-chip vendors, operators, and regulators in addition to key players from the financial and content communities.

We are proud of the role we play in bringing the industry together and keeping 100,000 individuals better informed.

CONTACT DETAILS

For information on the conference programme: Julie Rey, Tel: +44 20 7017 5394 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +44 20 7017 5394 end_of_the_skype_highlighting email: julie.rey@informa.com

For information on marketing, press and registration: Caroline Wiezien, Tel: +44 20 7017 5605 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +44 20 7017 5605 end_of_the_skype_highlighting email: caroline.wiezien@informa.com

CIO�s Goal Not Green

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:51:00 +0100

Recently CIOs have been dealing with an array of challenges. It seems that the ‘green issue’ has been dropping down the CIOs list of priorities with spending caps hampering any green ambitions, due in part to the evolving nature of the CIO role. At last it seems that the CEO is becoming aware of the cost savings that can be involved in turning to the CIO. At the CIO US summit (hosted by GDS International) business leaders from companies such as Dr Pepper Snapple Group INC, Adecco Group NA, JP Morgan Chase and DHL Express US agreed that by aligning the correct goals with broader cost cutting initiatives money could be saved.

The attendees wanted to discuss sustaining transformation within their company. They believe that to succeed in today’s fast-evolving and increasingly complex global environment technology strategy must be driven by business innovation and new service solutions.

“Today’s CIO needs to manage complex IT transformations or major shifts in strategy and explain how those directly benefit the business.” Christine Kincaid – SVP Security Global Strategy, Citigroup

Christine went on to discuss how keeping strategic business compliance, privacy and security on a roadmap can further complicate a company’s plan, resulting in higher costs in delivery complexity as you layer the requirements from inside your IT organization and outside sources such as legal, regulatory oversight groups and shareholders. Executives are having to take a hard look at their IT spends as the economy continues to squeeze business and consumers alike.

It is evident that the job of a CIO is to navigate their way through opinion experts, industry hype and an avalanche of white paper reports without falling victim to unnecessary risks, all the while having to explain and justify spending their budget, as well as the direct results of that spend.

It is now the job of the CIO to speak out they must understand the language of business and step out of the shadow of the back office in order to change business direction. This ‘new’ CIO understands that if a company refuses to transform they will lose out to competition in an economy where technological advancement is a given. Business now depends on technology and in many cases the CIO is now in the position to take a leadership role ensuring they internalize the processes for success.

Cloud or not to Cloud � That is the Question

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:50:00 +0100

The IT world is locked in an ongoing debate over the usefulness of Cloud Computing; those who believe it directly affects ROI, and those who waver in its importance and believe there is no sure way to keep data safe within the Cloud. To help clarify the debate, the European Financial industry is assembling in the Netherlands for the FST Summit Europe from the 21 – 24, September.

This committee of CIO’s, CISO’s, Heads of Architecture and Compliance have highlighted cloud computing as a major talking point and are specifically interested in the pitfalls as well as the benefits to determine if this is a viable solution for cost saving initiatives. With representation from major financial institutions like Credit Suisse, Rabobank International, UBS Allianz and Deutsche Bank the need to look at solutions that save on a tight IT budget can be used when providing effective security, data storage and infrastructures.

Markus Shulz, the Global Compliance Officer at Zurich Financial Services explained on Wednesday that in a post-financial crisis, regulation is expected to increase, specifically in a short term environment, but will likely have long-term effects. While there are many facets to the implications of an increasingly regulated financial environment, this concept does set the stage as to whether cloud computing would survive the obstacles of a strongly regulated industry.

Another consequence of Markus Shulz’s regulated environment is that Senior Management are scrutinized more than other levels of leadership, and these are the budget holders and implementers of cost effective technologies solutions and infrastructures. These are the IT professionals that will be able to determine whether the cloud computing market has matured enough to handle the needs they face when providing kpi’s to the C level directors.

From a security standpoint the cloud computing technologies need to prove that all aspects of its environment are safe from hackers and prying eyes. The major decisions facing successful implementation of cloud technologies is whether to use a solution providers cloud or bring the cloud inside and oversee the process internally. Vmware and McAfee were locking horns on this issue. Vmware has taken the standpoint that a hybrid cloud that enables enterprises to hand the transfer of flow between internal data and private clouds and is the most viable option. On the other hand, McAfee is boasting of its ability to provide stronger imbedded security options for private cloud development based on its recent acquisition of Intel. The argument relies on IT departments running the cloud exclusively internally whilst understanding that most public clouds cannot provide the security and infrastructure required of a versatile enterprise.

While the end of this gathering will provide clarity as to the arguments associated with the numerous potential outcomes for implementation of cloud computing, the undeniable consensus is that cloud computing is going to be with us for a number of years. One thing that stands as a testament to the financial industry is that it is able to work in every industry and translate problems and obstacles into bridges toward success.

Australia leads gas frontier

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:47:00 +0100

US Company Chevron Corp have just announced drilling success in the Carnarvon Basin offshore of Western Australia; this has been closely followed by Woodside Petroleum Ltd. It seems that Australia is the gift that keeps on giving and investment into exploration and production is proving itself popular among Australia's neighbors.

Limited oil reserves mean that Australia and its leading industry executives are looking to gas for the future. In the last few years alone gas has shown remarkable growth both in domestic and export markets. With over 190 TCF (trillion cubic feet) of gas resources still untapped industry execs have stated their claim that "more investment is a guarantee not a probability."

Dr Beverly Ronalds, the Group Executive; Energy at CISRO, has a budget of $140 million and has agreed to meet at the Next Generation Gas Australia event. Companies have been looking at the development of unconventional gas such as CSG (coal seam gas) which have been proposed as the best bet for reducing emissions. This has been backed by Westside Corporation who have just completed drilling three new appraisal wells in Queensland's Bowen Basin and will join the NG Gas Australia committee. CSG is also the best bet for Australia in their quest to become the largest LNG exporter in the Asia Pacific region.

According to the Australian Parliament, gas exports are projected to increase to around 60 percent of production by 2020. We are about to enter the next stage of a ‘gas boom' that will enrich the economy and see Australia emerge as a key supplier of raw materials fuelling Asia's development. The recent discoveries in both the Pluto and Wheatstone projects are just a couple of those planned around Australia to target the rising demand for cleaner burning fuel, both globally and more specifically in Asia,

With so much change on the horizon the industry needs to invest in the future. This has lead to the congregation of executives from Adelaide Energy, Central Petroleum, Amadeus Energy, Icon Energy and Santos who will be meeting to discuss their investment plans, new drilling and production technologies and how to make gas extraction from these sources commercially viable and environmentally friendly.

Across industry sectors we are seeing the growth opportunities across Australia and reaping the rewards but we must be aware of the challenges involved in such rapid growth. Organizations must overcome the potential delays in development in order not to slow the process of delivery to those continents becoming more and more reliant on Australia's resources.

Related articles:

Next Generation Utilities Australia | Online Digital News | iStrategy 2010: Bridging the gap in Social Media Marketing | iPad: US release - April 3rd

Lessons to learn for new trans-sector projects

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:26:00 +0100

Australia has become one of the world's leaders in developing a trans-sector grid through the implementation of the National Broadband Network (NBN), first supported by the Labor Party.

With entrance of The Hon. Julia Gillard MP, the first woman Prime Minister elected in Australia, concerns are arising over the coalition's plans to implement FTTN (fibre to the node) instead of NBN, which was introduced by Shadow Communications Minister, Tony Smith.

The impact a shift in trans-sector development will have for Australia is being closely watched and will be discussed by top utility companies across Australia at the Next Generation Utilities Australia Summit 2010. Such industry leaders believe that by linking smart grids with other network services like e-health, educations and entertainment, long-term goals of the country's power grid can be met.

Smart grid technologies are concepts that are vital to utility companies across the globe when creating functional infrastructures for the transmission of user data. Smart grid development is also fraught with challenges from aging equipment and workforce to inter-state jurisdictions and other legal hurdles.

One commonality that is transparent through IT or operational differences is the need for Energy Management Systems. Reducing energy consumption, improving the utilization of the system, increasing reliability, predicting electrical system performance and monitoring, controlling, and optimizing the performance of generation and transmission system are areas that have been the focal point for utilities providing quality service to their customers. These are areas where lessons can be learned when developing new and effective trans-sector environments.

The focus of how to take the success utilities bring with developing infrastructures and translating that success to new trans-sector areas will be closely followed by Andre Botha, General Manager of Networks at Aurora Energy, Simon Middap, CIO at Energex, Peter McIntyre, General Manager of Network Development & Regulatory Affairs at TransGrid, and Mike Torr, Business Manager Meter Assets at Trust Power.

New technologies have been instrumental in enabling energy to be provided cheaply and efficiently. Strong network management in the grid is important to providing quick response times to outages and notifications, decreasing complaints and continually assessing the power delivery of the distribution system. These are additional areas that require utilities to be a major player in developing functional trans-sector infrastructure.

Related articles:

GDS International | Next Generation Utilities Australia | High-speed broadband for all | Online Digital News | Apple's iPad revealed

CIO committee calls for cloud

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:18:00 +0100

Last week saw the meeting of the leading CIOs from Latin America's most successful companies at the CIO LA summit (hosted by GDS International). The meeting was called as a result of the increasingly sensitive approach needed to operate business in our current economic climate.

The CIO Committee believes that there is a growing need to work outside of the box; in essence to create a forward thinking and visionary approach to the IT departments within every company. Latin America has traditionally been seen by the rest of the world to be behind when it comes to information technology. However, a recent announcement from Cisco stated that the company is hoping to form new partnerships within the region, which will boost the level of IT skills. The committee, who met in Mexico last week, believe that the next few months will see an increase in the need for professionals with a greater understanding of technology within their sectors. Increased investment and outsourcing data storage will help the continent to build on the more basic needs of better communication and government support systems for Latin America.

"It is up to each and every CIO to seek out and take responsibility for the most cost-effective and productive IT systems and strategies in order to create opportunity out of an increasingly rocky landscape. Quite frankly, IT is a game changer" David Broffman, Project Director

Key to conversations was the impact of cloud computing on the IT sector. The cloud is not new to business but the potential it holds to transform the internal workings of a company are still being discovered. At the moment, cloud computing is very much in the early years. Chuck Hollis - VP and Global Marketing CTO, EMC Corporation understands that we are still seeing security and networking issues. For bigger companies with large amounts of data there are risks to handing this over to a remote provider. We are seeing a "if you want a job doing, do it yourself" attitude which requires dedicated work from IT service staff. The agility of a business can make or break how it reacts to varying economic changes.

Business depends on quick response times, so it is vital that everyone has access to all relevant information and can keep up with the current economic climate.

"The Journey to the Private Cloud requires a transformational approach that balances an ambitious architecture with a solid operational framework. The result is rationalized business processes, applications and platforms that align with business imperatives - giving you the efficiencies, control and choice you need to thrive in this economy." Chuck Hollis - VP and Global Marketing CTO, EMC Corporation

The CIO committee last week comprised of Patricio Melo, COO/CTO, Banco de Chile; João Lencioni, CIO Latin America, GE; Marcos Semola, CIO, Shell; and Jose Luis Fernandez Serrano, CIO Mexico, Pepsi Beverages Company. Now more than ever, companies can see the need to migrate towards cloud computing but are wary of the risks.

Related articles:

When technology fails to work for us | Online technology of 2009 | Netflix Streaming Movies Online | The growth of Mobile Technology

Industry heads confront political upset

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:12:00 +0100

Australia has seen political turmoil over the last week, but the mining industry has stood strong. The Next Generation Mining Committee understand better than most that they need to prepare for whatever the outcomes of the elections may be by continuing to move forward and investing in the places that will ensure continued growth.

The meeting itself took place last week in Perth. John Nicolaou - Chief Economist at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Western Australia spoke of the ‘good times ahead', he went on to discuss the strong belief that Western Australia will return to the high growth path that was seen as the norm throughout the last decade. Nicolaou believes that this will be backed by the strong links with the rapidly developing economies in Asia. Duncan Calder - President, Australian China Business Council also confirmed this when he discussed the business relationship between Australia and China. Over the last 12 months Australia has seen China become its biggest investor. Asia's insatiable appetite for resources backing its growth means that they alone have been a major contributor to Australia's mining boom. Calder believes it is the way that Australia positions itself in the market now that will define its relationship with the continent into the future.

Brendon Pearson - Deputy Chief Executive of the Minerals Council of Australia discussed the more contentious issue of the day, the mining taxes faced by Australia. The Australian PM Julian Gillard has already stated that the mining tax will not be scrapped, but companies such as Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, who were in attendance at the NG Mining summit, would stand to benefit from the scrapping of a mining profits tax and carbon trading plans. Pearson discussed the current press interest in the industry, as government and politicians search for a public consensus. Australia's Mineral exports are now paying billions of dollars in carbon costs while competitors in Europe, Asia and the United States face no such charges. The failure of emissions legislation means that the Australian parliament now has an opportunity to design a carbon pricing scheme that will work in harmony with global initiatives to reduce emissions and foster new technologies, in turn protecting Australia's exports for the foreseeable future.

Despite the current political upset Australia's economy grew at its quickest pace for last three years in the second quarter of 2010. These results were based on a 5.6 percent rise in export volumes generated by the mining boom. The talk among the committee was a definite appreciation for what has been achieved since the start of the year and a belief that the good times can continue. Australia is now one of the strongest developed economies in the world and the executives in attendance at the NGM summit were reluctant to put this down to a one off mining boom.

Related articles:

iStrategy 2010: Bridging the gap in Social Media Marketing | The growth of Mobile Technology | Kenyan businesses to be sensitized on East African common market