UK Broadband application for licence variation | Ofcom
Ofcom consulted on permitting a variation in UK Broadband's 3.5GHz license.
The variation asked that UK Broadband to allowed to: -
* use the license in a technology neutral manner (i.e. they can decide what technology to use).
* remove the limitation of only fixed terminals.
* increase the maximum in-band power level to +29dBW/MHz.
Ofcom are planning to grant the variation but limit mobile terminals to 5dBW/MHz and issue the new license as soon as is practical.
This may stimulate UK Broadband's growth, though they are still only offering limited coverage and limited areas.
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22 Kasım 2007 Perşembe
21 Kasım 2007 Çarşamba
Skype make users change numbers
Introducing the 3 Skypephone
It seems users in the UK with 020 7 numbers are being forced to change them by mid December 2007, that's about 2 weeks.
When BT make changes they give about 2 years notice.
It seems the numbers allocated belong to Gamma Telecom, so has Skype had a falling out with them? Or did they change UK providers and they don't have a porting agreement with Gamma. Whatever the story is, users are not happy - especially users who have printed their SkypeIn details on business cards.
As Skype are not UK based, Ofcom who would normally stop things like this happening, cant really do much, though new EU regulations might change that as well as Ofcom regulations forcing anyone who operates in the UK to abide by UK regulations.
It seems users in the UK with 020 7 numbers are being forced to change them by mid December 2007, that's about 2 weeks.
When BT make changes they give about 2 years notice.
It seems the numbers allocated belong to Gamma Telecom, so has Skype had a falling out with them? Or did they change UK providers and they don't have a porting agreement with Gamma. Whatever the story is, users are not happy - especially users who have printed their SkypeIn details on business cards.
As Skype are not UK based, Ofcom who would normally stop things like this happening, cant really do much, though new EU regulations might change that as well as Ofcom regulations forcing anyone who operates in the UK to abide by UK regulations.
Upgrading Digital Terrestrial Television | Ofcom
Upgrading Digital Terrestrial Television | Ofcom
There are currently 6 DTT multiplexes and 3 are used for Public Service Broadcasting. Ofcom is planning to clear one of these mutliplexes (Multiplex B, licensed by Ofcom to BBC Free to View Ltd) by moving the existing programming to spare channels in other multiplexes.
Multiplex B will then utilise new standards DVB-T2 (instead of DVB-T which gives and improvement of about 30%) and MPEG4 (instead of MPEG2, a 50% saving in bandwidth).
This could be completed by late 2009/early 2010 in the Granada area while HD broadcasts could start by 2012, with the rest of the country as the digital switchover occurs.
Users could utilise their existing set-top-boxes to view existing channels, but the new channels would only be available to new boxes supporting the DVB-T2 and MPEG4 standards.
Ofcom proposes to invite organisations with Public Service Broadcaster status – principally the BBC, the Channel 3, 4 and 5 licensees and S4C – to set out how they would use the upgraded capacity on Multiplex B.
This is good news as it will allow HD broadcasts on a free-to-air platform. Unfortunately most users will need new STBs, Linux users will rejoice as platforms such as MythTV and other DTT systems can already decode MPEG4.
The consultation closes on 31/01/2008
There are currently 6 DTT multiplexes and 3 are used for Public Service Broadcasting. Ofcom is planning to clear one of these mutliplexes (Multiplex B, licensed by Ofcom to BBC Free to View Ltd) by moving the existing programming to spare channels in other multiplexes.
Multiplex B will then utilise new standards DVB-T2 (instead of DVB-T which gives and improvement of about 30%) and MPEG4 (instead of MPEG2, a 50% saving in bandwidth).
This could be completed by late 2009/early 2010 in the Granada area while HD broadcasts could start by 2012, with the rest of the country as the digital switchover occurs.
Users could utilise their existing set-top-boxes to view existing channels, but the new channels would only be available to new boxes supporting the DVB-T2 and MPEG4 standards.
Ofcom proposes to invite organisations with Public Service Broadcaster status – principally the BBC, the Channel 3, 4 and 5 licensees and S4C – to set out how they would use the upgraded capacity on Multiplex B.
This is good news as it will allow HD broadcasts on a free-to-air platform. Unfortunately most users will need new STBs, Linux users will rejoice as platforms such as MythTV and other DTT systems can already decode MPEG4.
The consultation closes on 31/01/2008
Emissions Growth Must End in 7 Years, U.N. Warns [Washington Post]
This is an associated NY times article from Dec. 4.
Climate Talks Take on Added Urgency After Report http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/world/asia/03bali.html?th&emc=th
Climate Talks Take on Added Urgency After Report http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/world/asia/03bali.html?th&emc=th
19 Kasım 2007 Pazartesi
15 Kasım 2007 Perşembe
Review of the wholesale broadband access markets 2006/07 | Ofcom
Review of the wholesale broadband access markets 2006/07 | Ofcom
The consultation relates to broadband in the UK. Ofcom has segmented the UK into areas where BT or Kingston Commuications (KCOM) are the only providers of broadband and then were there are other operators in the exchanges.
The breakdown is: -
* those geographic areas covered by exchanges where KCOM is the only operator (“the Hull area”).
* those geographic areas covered by exchanges where BT is the only operator (“Market 1”);
those geographic areas covered by exchanges where there are 2 or 3 Principal Operators AND exchanges where there are 4 or more Principal Operators but where the exchange serves less than 10,000 premises (“Market 2”).
* those geographic areas covered by exchanges where there are 4 or more Principal Operators and where the exchange serves 10,000 or more premises (“Market 3”).
Ofcom has decided that it is a requirement to provide Network Access on reasonable requests, requirement not to discriminate unduly, requirement to publish a reference offer, requirement to notify terms and conditions, requirement to publish technical information, and requirement to have accounting separation.
The most significant bit is that in Market 3 areas Ofcom has decided that (in terms of broadband) BT no longer has significant market power (SMP) and it will be revoked in those areas.
The consultation relates to broadband in the UK. Ofcom has segmented the UK into areas where BT or Kingston Commuications (KCOM) are the only providers of broadband and then were there are other operators in the exchanges.
The breakdown is: -
* those geographic areas covered by exchanges where KCOM is the only operator (“the Hull area”).
* those geographic areas covered by exchanges where BT is the only operator (“Market 1”);
those geographic areas covered by exchanges where there are 2 or 3 Principal Operators AND exchanges where there are 4 or more Principal Operators but where the exchange serves less than 10,000 premises (“Market 2”).
* those geographic areas covered by exchanges where there are 4 or more Principal Operators and where the exchange serves 10,000 or more premises (“Market 3”).
Ofcom has decided that it is a requirement to provide Network Access on reasonable requests, requirement not to discriminate unduly, requirement to publish a reference offer, requirement to notify terms and conditions, requirement to publish technical information, and requirement to have accounting separation.
The most significant bit is that in Market 3 areas Ofcom has decided that (in terms of broadband) BT no longer has significant market power (SMP) and it will be revoked in those areas.
14 Kasım 2007 Çarşamba
Raising Confidence in Telephone Numbers | Ofcom
Raising Confidence in Telephone Numbers | Ofcom
Ofcom introduced the 03 range (which are charged at local rate) to encourage companies to migrate from 0870 numbers. To this end, Ofcom were going to mandate the anyone using 0870 services would have to pre-announce the call rate before the call was connected to make the consumer aware of any charges. This was to have taken place in Feb 2007.
Ofcom have been made aware that some automatic emergency services (alarms etc) make use of 0870 numbers and these would be adversely affected by the pre-announcement (they would time out and therefore the call would not complete).
Ofcom are working with the affected service providers and hope to bring in the new regulations in the spring of next year.
Ofcom introduced the 03 range (which are charged at local rate) to encourage companies to migrate from 0870 numbers. To this end, Ofcom were going to mandate the anyone using 0870 services would have to pre-announce the call rate before the call was connected to make the consumer aware of any charges. This was to have taken place in Feb 2007.
Ofcom have been made aware that some automatic emergency services (alarms etc) make use of 0870 numbers and these would be adversely affected by the pre-announcement (they would time out and therefore the call would not complete).
Ofcom are working with the affected service providers and hope to bring in the new regulations in the spring of next year.
Wireless Telegraphy Licence Exemption - Automotive Short Range Radar | Ofcom
Wireless Telegraphy Licence Exemption - Automotive Short Range Radar | Ofcom
Ofcom are consulting on the use of automotive short range radar that operates in the 24GHz band (21.65 to 26.65 GHz), following an EU directive to make this band available.
Automotive equipment may interfere with radio astronomy systems which also use this band, so Ofcom wish to have exclusion zones around radio astronomy sites and equipment must automatically or manually deactivate around such sites.
The consultation closes on 31St Decemeber 2007.
Ofcom are consulting on the use of automotive short range radar that operates in the 24GHz band (21.65 to 26.65 GHz), following an EU directive to make this band available.
Automotive equipment may interfere with radio astronomy systems which also use this band, so Ofcom wish to have exclusion zones around radio astronomy sites and equipment must automatically or manually deactivate around such sites.
The consultation closes on 31St Decemeber 2007.
TED Talks John Doerr: Seeking salvation and profit in greentech
About this Talk
"I don't think we're going to make it," John Doerr proclaims, in an emotional talk about climate change and investment. Spurred on by his daughter, who demanded he fix the mess the world is heading for, he and his partners at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers embarked on a greentech world tour -- surveying the state of the art, from the ethanol revolution in Brazil to Wal-mart's (!) eco-concept store in Bentonville, Arkansas. KPCB is investing $200 million in green technologies to save the planet and make a profit to boot. But, Doerr fears, it may not be enough.
"I don't think we're going to make it," John Doerr proclaims, in an emotional talk about climate change and investment. Spurred on by his daughter, who demanded he fix the mess the world is heading for, he and his partners at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers embarked on a greentech world tour -- surveying the state of the art, from the ethanol revolution in Brazil to Wal-mart's (!) eco-concept store in Bentonville, Arkansas. KPCB is investing $200 million in green technologies to save the planet and make a profit to boot. But, Doerr fears, it may not be enough.
13 Kasım 2007 Salı
Numbering Policy | Ofcom
Numbering Policy | Ofcom
In March 2007 Ofcom mandated that all next Sexual Enterntainment Services must use numbers starting with a 098 prefix and this came into force on Thu 08/11/07. Existing services running on 0909 and 0909 can continue to use these ranges, though no new 0908/0909 numbers will be allocated.
On Monday 09/11/07 Ofcom also opened up the 0902 and 0903 number ranges for PRS (premium rate services) which can be applied for using the S9 “The Numbering Application Form”.
Ofcom also announced that the new 03 number range is being used and there have been over 13 million numbers allocated to more than 80 providers. 03 numbers are expected to replace 084/087 numbers for public organisations etc.
In March 2007 Ofcom mandated that all next Sexual Enterntainment Services must use numbers starting with a 098 prefix and this came into force on Thu 08/11/07. Existing services running on 0909 and 0909 can continue to use these ranges, though no new 0908/0909 numbers will be allocated.
On Monday 09/11/07 Ofcom also opened up the 0902 and 0903 number ranges for PRS (premium rate services) which can be applied for using the S9 “The Numbering Application Form”.
Ofcom also announced that the new 03 number range is being used and there have been over 13 million numbers allocated to more than 80 providers. 03 numbers are expected to replace 084/087 numbers for public organisations etc.
6 Kasım 2007 Salı
Open Handset Alliance
Open Handset Alliance
The Open Handset Alliance seems to have been launched on Nov 5th 2007 and the website is run by Google, so it looks like this will be the basis for the GPhone.
The core technology comes from Android (which was set-up by ex Danger i.e. SideKick management).
An SDK is going to be made available from the site on Nov 12th 2007. The software will be released under an Apache 2 style license (allowing licensees to modify the code without putting the modifications back) which is hopefully going to allow commercially different variants.
They have various partners including various handset manufacturers, so it looks like the GPhone may be a set of software services on a technology platform rather than specific hardware.
The Open Handset Alliance seems to have been launched on Nov 5th 2007 and the website is run by Google, so it looks like this will be the basis for the GPhone.
The core technology comes from Android (which was set-up by ex Danger i.e. SideKick management).
An SDK is going to be made available from the site on Nov 12th 2007. The software will be released under an Apache 2 style license (allowing licensees to modify the code without putting the modifications back) which is hopefully going to allow commercially different variants.
They have various partners including various handset manufacturers, so it looks like the GPhone may be a set of software services on a technology platform rather than specific hardware.
5 Kasım 2007 Pazartesi
3 Kasım 2007 Cumartesi
Mayors, Looking to Cities’ Future, Are Told It Must Be Colored Green [NY Times]
The US Conference of Mayors site is here, along with videos:
http://www.usmayors.org/USCM/home.asp
Bill Clinton: 'Green' Economy Offers Great Rewards
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/45148/story.htm
http://www.usmayors.org/USCM/home.asp
Bill Clinton: 'Green' Economy Offers Great Rewards
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/45148/story.htm
LinkedIn going to Facebook
It's rumoured that LinkedIn is about to be snapped up by Facebook. The business networking market has dried up as Facebook dominates the social networking space, and LinkedIn is suffering.
A combined Facebook/LinkedIn would make a very powerful networking site, attracted business and youth markets. interesting times ahead.
A combined Facebook/LinkedIn would make a very powerful networking site, attracted business and youth markets. interesting times ahead.
Pet Survival Kits to prepare for emergencies
Due to the recent minor earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area, I purchased a Cat Survival Kit from this site.