Gjermund's Web

Wikis and Internet Business Models

This is too good to be unposted, at least for my own records.   Check out this video from Podtech.

Robert Scoble , the video guy from channel 9, interviewed Ross Mayfield, , Mr social software, on Wikis. Wikis will change the way employees work together.  Yes, you have the big ugly ERP systems that sometimes speeds up process transaction times, but the really unspoken part and where the HUGE potential lies for enterprises are transparency of information across the organization.  Pushing e-mails with attachments is way too much used, because it’s really inefficient compared to a correctly used wiki, or what about a wiki blog!  Mid way into the video the interview things start to become interesting (probably because I read Ross blog on an off during the last 3-4 years…)

Mid way, the guys track off theme (this is why a Scoble interview might be good) and start to speak about working business models and the next thing on the Internet.  I disagree with Ross that you have to have a clear revenue model, although it makes sense.  We have seen top success histories like Skype with a really vague revenue model and YouTube with only ads to prove that point. But, he does not argue against the You Tubes validation, which of course is ridiculous (USD 1.6 Billion) when there absolutely no clear income model there.  Sure, people says: “Google bought it for their advertising vehicle”, but I really think they bought it before Yahoo or MS got around.  Why? - to protect their own Google Video service - now, that makes sense to me and then they got it cheep, because 2006 is the video year on the Internet!

Now, I guess it’s just a matter of time before Social Text is part of MS, another why?  - because MS need a wiki tool for their business software solutions.  The one they’re launching is not good enough and Ross knows it, check out the J on his face.

It's a good day for America

As expected, the democrats raised again and took control of Congress, HURRAY!

Yeah, it's a good day for America, not because the Democrats won, but it shows the system works.  People are tired of the current administration misjudgements and changes are made when really wanted.  Some changes are already in place as the long loved Rummy finally had to go.  Well, the real decisions are still made by the President, but the democrats will make his world more complicated. Team Bush is of course disappointed about this result, but he is anyway a sitting duck ending his 2nd period.

America has to clean the closet, and some of the long term goals for both Democrats and Republicans should be:

1. Get rid of the Patriot Act (Orwell's 1984 just became a step closer with that one)
2. Controlled withdrawal from Iraq (USA went in there because of a CIA lie!)
3. Controlled withdrawal from Afghanistan (Did nobody learn from history?)

I predict that in 2 years time the President will be a Democrat or a moderate Republican, woman or man, but not another neo-Republican. A female democrat called Hillary could be the safest bet at this time, but I like that guy from Chicago with the arabian name, he could be the best choice at this time...

.mobi will change the Internet

"dotMobi is the first – and only – top level domain dedicated to delivering the Internet to mobile devices. dotMobi will revolutionise the use of the Internet on mobile devices. dotMobi is designed to guide mobile users to made-for-mobile Internet content and services that can be accessed with confidence.dotMobi is the first – and only – top level domain dedicated to delivering the Internet to mobile devices. dotMobi will revolutionise the use of the Internet on mobile devices. dotMobi is designed to guide mobile users to made-for-mobile Internet content and services that can be accessed with confidence"  clipped from dotMobi.

So, is this a new money machine for domain registrar companies?  YES

So, it will not change the Internet?  YOU'RE WRONG BUDDY!

and this is why:

• Stakeholders in the .mobi project are Telecom, Internet and Software Industry leaders, such as: Nokia, Vodafone, Google and Microsoft. They make business on traffic on the Internet and in wireless networks, and the way we access Internet is their main target here.
• .mobi sites will be designed for mobile devices, meaning it will be enjoyable to visit them even with slower network speed and tiny screens. The .mobi domain will become the mobile surfers guarantee that the web site visited will respond in a good way.
• .mobi will, as sites pops up, gradually enable full Internet access to all mobile users around the globe, also in areas with no land lines, and this will increase Internet usage dramatically. To use .mobi in marketing will become of great importance within 24 months.  Will marketing of sites look like this: - Get your new mobile on: amazon.com/.mobi or - Be updated on cnn.com/.mobi?
• Search!  Google has already a new search service targeting mobile prepared web sites.  Others will follow, since mobile web search is the new search area for growth, think about that!
• New business ideas targeting mobile devices is nothing new, but .mobi will add jet fuel to this development - based on the points above.

I've read that some executives in large companies and Internet analytics been claiming that this is not something that will change anything, since their existing web sites can also target mobile devices.  They claim that the .mobi is a hype with no other value that protecting their brand.

OK, you're right from the conservative viewpoint, but did you forget the user experience? Ask yourself these questions:

• How will the user know if your .com site will be designed for my mobile device?
• Will the user take the chance that your web site is prepared for mobile devices, lets say; within the next 5 years?
• Can your business live with this question marks in the near future, when businesses have to target mobile devices?

Alright I can't, and I have for now secured my .mobi domain interest, but to my big surprise have several large companies not done this? E.g. - here in Norway, believe it or not, it seams that even some of the leading media companies have already lost out on securing their domains.

Well, this is IPR control in practice and somebody is not paying attention. Who's gonna pay if this really takes off?  Norwegian press is so far staying away from this blunder... no wonder since two of the largest media sites (dagbladet.no and aftenposten.no) have already lost their .mobi domains.  I should really receive provision from the .mobi consortium for my views, just yesterday - I made a friend secure his personal name interests. I told him that even if it does not take off it could be cool to have, right BAB :-)

After 9/11 came blogging

Today, its time to blog.

A friend called me 5 years ago and told me one of the World Trade towers had exploded and collapsed. After checking the news 24/7 and watching the first tower and then the other one collapse, the whole situation appeared unreal - it still does today.

A few months later I sat down with a friend of mine, Rob, in Chicago and we discussed the possible upcoming invasion in Iraq.  Looking away from the evidence of “hidden weapons of destruction” that we today know as the biggest propaganda SCAM in modern time, I told Rob that an invasion could become another Vietnam for the US, and that is bad, but the worst result would be new seeds for angry people and hate against the US and Europe.  As for Rob, the process of making Iraq democratic after a western model was a reason to do it anyway, and thats a noble idea. In hindsight I’m sad that I and not Rob were closer to where we are today.

Since 9/11 has web-blogging become popular, and it is becoming an interesting way of open communication between people in and outside of a conflict.  No borders are visual, blogging is free if you have a computer and a web connection, so it’s makes it easier to communicate where content varies from fillings to really good stuff.  Just think about it, we just unleashed the power of 500 Million reporters!

Today, inhabitants of Israel and Lebanon communicate on blogs their feelings, meanings and every day experience. Chances are there will be a greater understanding about why these terrible things are happening, and the next time around may the leaders be forced to find a better solution.  Maybe Hisbollah is prevented to launch rockets, and the prime minister of Israel misses out on the next election for office if Israel attacks?  All this, because the local support team knows better?

War, should of course always be the absolute last resource, but this is never followed.

Improved communication should have an impact, before, during, and after a conflict.  Lack of communication and understanding between 2 conflicting parties increases chances of war.

Sure, we can increase the security with the result that personal rights are gradually removed and we’re on the fast track to George Orwells 1984 (George, you where 20-30 years too early!), and maybe prevent some disasters, but does it help us in the long run?  NO! (reason not stated, think about it)

The best way is to listen to angry people and find solutions (same stuff as in negotiations, you win and I win, and we get something better…) and not try to make grounds for more angry people, tell me... who benefits from that?

Did we learn anything from 9/11?

Probably not, but preventing terrorism from either side starts with you and not your neighbour. By being open to the fact we're all influenced by well directed propaganda. Luckily web-blogs are the new toolset to close in on the truth by including more people in the discussions. In the end we all got some power, because we're all part of the local support team, and that counts. The danger is reduced personal freedom, but the freedom of speach has never been better.

Summer Holidays 2006

Check out the pics from Western part of Norway and the famous Lofoten Island range in the north, many new places for me as it was time to spend some more time in the old country.

well, back to work, what happend?