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Thursday, May 04, 2006
Ng: Software Innovations Philippines
By Wilson Ng
Wired Desktop
On May 8 to 10, the biggest information and communication technology (ICT) event will be held in Manila.
Dubbed as the Software Innovations Philippines, it is meant to provide a venue that will feature not only practical technology but also showcase technologies in three environments: business practice, lifestyle and mobile communications.
With Microsoft as its main organizer, Software Innovations Philippines is expected to attract 8,000 visitors and over a hundred exhibitors at its venue in the Shangri-la Makati.
Other than the exhibits, there will also be an ISV (independent software vendors, the term used by Microsoft to refer to companies that use Microsoft technologies) Business Summit. Expected to attend are owners and managers of over 350 software companies, not only from the Philippines, but also from all over the world. Other stakeholders, including venture capital companies, as well as government officials involved in ICT are also expected to be there.
There will also be a special showcase of business solutions and software vendors that focus on retail, education, health, manufacturing and finance sectors.
There will also be a mobile pavilion that will showcase practical applications of mobile technologies, such as those used in purchasing goods and services, paying through electronic cash and retrieving information.
On the same event, there will also be a lifestyle pavilion that will showcase the home of the future, or the digital home, which will showcase new ways to use technology to research, keep in touch and also digital gaming.
Another reason to go is that representatives from computer organizations in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and Japan are expected to be there. They are expected to form networks and partnerships with local software development houses. Foreign venture capitalists are also expected to share insights on how to get them to be interested in local software development.
This is probably one of the biggest attempts from a private or public organization in the Philippines to promote ICT and create linkages between local software and foreign development companies.
Come to think of it, I saw another news article, which reported that Spain wants to promote the Canary Islands (a group of seven islands off the African continent) into becoming a technology and development center of Europe.
The Canary Islands are primarily known for their beaches. The image associated with the islands is a poolside bar where a person in swimming shorts sits, which is probably not unlike the vision that comes to the mind of the Japanese when you mention Cebu.
However, Spain, which governs the Canary Islands, thinks that the area has a lot of potential as a technology center, and is reportedly planning to spend $3 billion to develop and promote it as such.
The Canary Islands’ total population is just over a million, smaller than Cebu. However, $3 billion is a lot of money for promotion. I am almost sure the whole Philippines has not spent that much to promote itself as an IT hub, yet. It has endured a certain amount of success, but it could have done better. I guess we have something tangible to offer after all, to have gotten this far even without a coherent or massive promotion to get IT investors.
But if our government had more resources and money, where would we be by now as an IT hub?
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 4, 2006 issue)
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