ICT Observatory - with some interesting point on Open Source

Subject: ICTD News for 14 April 2003
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 09:05:01 -0400
From: ICTD Newsmaster <ictdnews@undp.org>
To: ictdnews@undp.org

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UNDP's ICT for Development (ICTD) Observatory keeps an
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CONTENTS

OPEN SOURCE
Bearing the Costs for Free Software Projects
An Introduction to Open Source Communities

E-BUSINESS
Online Shopping From Aisle Four
In Searching the Web, Google Finds Riches

INTERNET GOVERNANCE
IQ Test for Rebuilding Iraqi Net

TECHNOLOGY/R&D
Top Telecoms Firm Plans to Enter Kenya

TELECOMM/INFRASTRUCTURE
Bangladesh Government withdraws restrictions on Internet phone

PRIVACY/SECURITY
Peeping cameras everywhere

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OPEN SOURCE
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---- Bearing the Costs for Free Software Projects
One trend I've noticed as more and more Open Source/Free Software projects flow into the mainstream public, is
that the general public assumes that if they can download it for free, everything associated with that project
must be free, including providing hosting, updates, mailing lists, and documentation. They don't seem to realize
that time costs money. Power costs money. Bandwidth costs money. Servers cost money. Backup media costs money.
If anything, Free Software is anything but "free" in terms of cost.
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/perl/news/articles.pl?id=5120&do=gpage

---- An Introduction to Open Source Communities
The premise of this report is that open source software communities are one of the most successful and least
understood examples of high-performance collaboration and community-building on the Internet today. Other types
of communities could benefit enormously from understanding how open source communities work. This report
describes what open source communities are and how they work. (PDF)
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/perl/news/articles.pl?id=5113&do=gpage

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E-BUSINESS
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---- Online Shopping From Aisle Four
Customers pick up this tabletlike wireless computer, which snaps onto a shopping cart, and swipe their discount
card through it, bringing up a list of the items they purchase habitually and a locator map showing them where
in the store to find their groceries. The computer uses infrared beacons to locate your position in the store to
within a few feet, so it can also call sale items to your attention.
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/perl/news/articles.pl?id=5119&do=gpage

---- In Searching the Web, Google Finds Riches
Google, a private company, does not disclose revenue or profit. But it says it has been profitable for nine
consecutive quarters. Moreover, its executives have privately told the board that revenue will soar from less
than $300 million in 2002 to $750 million or more this year, with gross profit margins of 30 percent, according
to a Google executive and several people who have knowledge of the company's financial situation.
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/perl/news/articles.pl?id=5117&do=gpage

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INTERNET GOVERNANCE
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---- IQ Test for Rebuilding Iraqi Net
The grassroots proposal seeks to fund the reconstruction of Iraq's Net infrastructure by selling Internet
addresses ending in .iq -- the country-code suffix in Iraq's domain name. Due to trade sanctions and other
issues, no dot-iq domains are currently active. But the charity project's sponsors, which include British ISP
Onega, say the domains -- with the country-code suffix that connotes high intelligence -- could be auctioned off
to worldwide Internet users for a hefty sum.
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/perl/news/articles.pl?id=5114&do=gpage

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TECHNOLOGY/R&D
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---- Top Telecoms Firm Plans to Enter Kenya
Operating under the name "NyayoSat," Gillat Alldean (Africa) has installed a shared hub offering solutions to
provide high-speed data networks to large enterprises, small-scale businesses, government agencies, and
non-governmental organisations. The network features a small satellite dish and sophisticated networking
equipment and software, allowing companies to connect the operations of their branches by satellite.
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/perl/news/articles.pl?id=5116&do=gpage

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TELECOMM/INFRASTRUCTURE
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---- Bangladesh Government withdraws restrictions on Internet phone
Country's ICT experts welcomed the major decision that they said would open up new windows for ICT business
bringing more and more foreign exchanges. One such window will be setting up call centers in Dhaka linking up
international organizations. So far, India is dominating the business through linking its stations in Bangalore
and Goorgaon.
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/perl/news/articles.pl?id=5118&do=gpage

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PRIVACY/SECURITY
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---- Peeping cameras everywhere
Unusual behaviour for a New York tour guide, but Brown is offering a view of the city that few visitors or
natives see. His ?Video Surveillance Tour of Manhattan? scans rooftops, storefronts and utility poles for some
of the thousands of surveillance cameras perched across the city.
http://www.sdnp.undp.org/perl/news/articles.pl?id=5115&do=gpage

To facilitate co-ordination regarding the introduction of OSS SW in Vietnam

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