Information Policy

Predictions for 2008

eLearn Magazine's annual and ever-popular look at e-learning's near future includes predictions from 23 experts.

http://www.elearnmag.org/subpage.cfm?section=articles&article=58-1

Is MySQL's Fate the Future of Open Source?

Never mind that Sun has been increasingly active in the open source world, with its donations of code in the form of OpenOffice.org, OpenSolaris and Java; never mind that in some sense Sun's origins go back to the roots of free software: the fact remains that probably the most important of the rising business stars has been swallowed up. The question is: are we seeing the beginning of the end for all the open source startups?

http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/mysqls-fate-future-open-source

Kazakhstan: Censorship of Independent Websites

ARTICLE 19 is deeply concerned about the selective application of Internet regulations and the suspension of major independent websites in Kazakhstan

On 18 October 2007 the authorities in Kazakhstan blocked four independent websites which published links to audio files containing politically sensitive telephone conversations alleged to feature senior government officials. In the files the speakers use strong language to discuss Rakhat Aliyev, a former ally of President Nursultan Nazarbayev who now lives in exile in Europe.

One of the blocked sites, kub.kz, is hosted outside Kazakhstan. It was subsequently suspended by the official website regulator, the Kazakhstan Network Information Center (KazNIC), under the ⌠Regulation for the Allocation of Domain Space in the Kazakhstan Segment of the Internet■ which prohibits sites with the .kz domain from being hosted abroad. However, the KazNIC website itself (http://nic.kz) is hosted in the USA, suggesting the selective targeting of specific websites. No prior notice or warning was sent to the websites to enable them to address the alleged irregularities.

As of 29 January the site kub.kz remains suspended. The audio files and transcriptions thereof are freely available on other sites.

This regulation goes contrary to the very nature of the Internet itself as is a global network of communication. Kazakhstan is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees the right to freedom of expression, and as such is legally bound not to introduce any regulation or act in a manner that is contrary to the ICCPR's purpose and spirit. Furthermore, Kazakhstan's Constitution and a number of other international agreements also impose upon it a duty to protect and respect freedom of expression and information, which inter alia includes protection of Internet content and its infrastructure from technical or other undue interferences. Freedom of expression also includes the right to criticise public officials, who are further expected to display a greater degree of tolerance to criticism than citizens.

The Internet is an extremely important medium of communication and expression. Under international human rights law on the right to freedom of expression, any restrictions on access to the Internet must be very carefully scrutinised: any such measures should be provided by law, pursue a legitimate aim (eg the protection of the rights or reputation of others) and be necessary (rather than simply "useful" or "appropriate") in a democratic society. Outright restrictions on access to the Internet, such as the blocking of access to particular independent websites, do not fulfil this test and are therefore unjustifiable obstacles to the realisation of the right to free expression.

ARTICLE 19 calls on the Kazakhstan authorities to allow kub.kz, and the Internet generally, to operate free from interference, subject to the very narrow exceptions envisaged by international human rights law.

Research Speculates Sprint Needs WiMAX Funding

Telecom research and market analysis firm Maravedis recently released a study on the future of wireless broadband and WiMAX in the United States; the report speculates that Sprint Nextel will not be able to complete its ambitious nationwide WiMAX plans without drumming up additional funding.

The report also notes that WiMAX, as a technology, faces more hurdles than simply Sprint's recent revenue issues. Although the report predicts big opportunities for WiMAX in the 700 MHz band, Maravedis doesn't expect any real developments to appear before 2010.

The report suggested that WiMAX technology is currently two years ahead of rival Long Term Evolution, but support for LTE is gaining. The report concluded the two may eventually converge. The Maravedis report predicts that LTE will be the dominant mobile broadband technology in 2012.

Despite the carrier's hard times, financial investment advisory magazine Barron's, said shares in Sprint Nextel are actually looking cheap, and that the company has valuable unused spectrum, which only gains in value over time.

http://communicationsdirectnews.com/do.php/120/28855?7649

Study shows eBay buyers save billions of dollars

Independent research by two statisticians finds buyers saved $7 billion that they might have otherwise been ready to pay.

Buyers save billions of dollars each year bidding on eBay auctions, according to a new study that quantifies the benefits online consumers enjoy over and above what is derived by sellers, or eBay itself.

The independent research by two statisticians from the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business found buyers saved $7 billion that they might have otherwise been ready to pay in a study of eBay auction behavior in 2003.

Applying the same analysis to 2004 buyer data, consumers saved $8.4 billion, said Wolfgang Jank, one author of the study. A linear projection of the research findings would mean consumers saved around $19 billion during 2007, Jank said.

http://www.news.com/Study-shows-eBay-buyers-save-billions-of-dollars/2100-1038_3-6227935.html?tag=nefd.top