A tribute to another of the industrialised world’s finest telecommunication institutions, the United Arab Emirates’ Etisalat.

(Here’s some further reading on the subject.)

Guardian Unlimited Business | | French MPs say song downloads must work on any player

All I can say is: Ogg Vorbis is the answer.

“We’ll also fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn, but from wood chips and stalks, or switch grass.”
- GW Bush, State of the Union Address, 31.1.06

And there you have it. GWB’s follow-up to his 2005 asbestos moment.

More on the Great Switchgrass Debate from the Kansas City Star, Agriculture Online, Grist, the Motley Fool. Here’s a study from Auburn University adopted by the US Bioenergy Feedstock Information Network. And yes, you can buy some from the Digging Dog Mail Nursery of Albion, California.

Panicum virgatum indeed!

I subscribe to the view that calling Adam Curry the inventor of podcasting is akin to calling Al Gore the inventor of the internet. Which enables me to have a chuckle at this item posted in the last hour by Frank Barnako on his Internet Daily column on Marketwatch.com (free rego might be required to read this).

Yes it originated in a Murdoch fishwrapper, but this story is just too silly to ignore, as reported by The Register:

Coming Soon: The MP3 Breast Implant

And you thought World Domination was limited to Google these days:

LONDON, Sep 12, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) — eBay Inc. (EBAY)(www.ebay.com) has agreed to acquire Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies SA, the global Internet communications company, for approximately $2.6 billion in up-front cash and eBay stock, plus potential performance-based consideration. The acquisition will strengthen eBay’s global marketplace and payments platform, while opening several new lines of business and creating significant new monetization opportunities for the company. The deal also represents a major opportunity for Skype to advance its leadership in Internet voice communications and offer people worldwide new ways to communicate in a global online era. Skype, eBay and PayPal will create an unparalleled ecommerce and communications engine for buyers and sellers around the world.

“Communications is at the heart of ecommerce and community,” said Meg Whitman, President and Chief Executive Officer of eBay. “By combining the two leading ecommerce franchises, eBay and PayPal, with the leader in Internet voice communications, we will create an extraordinarily powerful environment for business on the Net.”

Founded in 2002 by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, Skype offers high-quality voice communications to anyone with an Internet connection anywhere in the world. The Skype software is easy to download and install, and enables free calls between Skype users online. Skype’s premium services provide low-cost connectivity to traditional fixed and mobile telephones. Skype’s software also offers a robust set of features, including voicemail, instant messaging, call forwarding and conference calling. Upcoming product innovations include Skype video, expressive content such as avatars, and customized toolbars for Outlook and Internet Explorer.

One of the fastest growing companies on the Internet, Skype already has 54 million members in 225 countries and territories. Skype is currently adding approximately 150,000 users a day and has created a thriving ecosystem of products, services, developers, and affiliates. Skype is considered the market leader in virtually all countries in which it does business. In North America alone, Skype has more users and serves more voice minutes than any other Internet voice communications provider.

“Our vision for Skype has always been to build the world’s largest communications business and revolutionize the ease with which people can communicate through the Internet,” said Niklas Zennstrom, Skype CEO and co-founder. “We can’t think of any better platform to fulfill this vision to become the voice of the Internet than with eBay and PayPal.”

“We’re great admirers of how eBay and PayPal have simplified global ecommerce and payments,” said Janus Friis, Skype co-founder and senior vice president, strategy. “Together we feel we can really change the way that people communicate, shop and do business online.”

Zennstrom and Friis will remain in their current positions. Zennstrom will report to eBay CEO Whitman and join eBay’s senior executive team.

A Powerful Ecommerce and Communications Engine

Online shopping depends on a number of factors to function well. Communications, like payments and shipping, is a critical part of this process. Skype will streamline and improve communications between buyers and sellers as it is integrated into the eBay marketplace. Buyers will gain an easy way to talk to sellers quickly and get the information they need to buy, and sellers can more easily build relationships with customers and close sales. As a result, Skype can increase the velocity of trade on eBay, especially in categories that require more involved communications such as used cars, business and industrial equipment, and high-end collectibles.

The acquisition also enables eBay and Skype to pursue entirely new lines of business. For example, in addition to eBay’s current transaction-based fees, ecommerce communications could be monetized on a pay-per-call basis through Skype. Pay-per-call communications opens up new categories of ecommerce, especially for those sectors that depend on a lead-generation model such as personal and business services, travel, new cars, and real estate. eBay’s other shopping websites — Shopping.com, Rent.com, Marktplaats.nl and Kijiji - can also benefit from the integration of Skype.

PayPal and Skype also make a powerful combination. For example, a PayPal wallet associated with each Skype account could make it much easier for users to pay for Skype fee-based services, adding to the number of PayPal accounts and increasing payment volume.

In addition, Skype can help expand the eBay and PayPal global footprint by providing buyers and sellers in emerging ecommerce markets, such as China, India, and Russia, with a more personal way to communicate online. And consumers in markets where eBay currently has a limited presence, such as Japan and Scandinavia, can learn about eBay and PayPal through Skype. Skype can also help streamline cross-border trading and communications.

With its rapidly expanding network of users, the Skype business complements the eBay and PayPal platforms. Each business is self-reinforcing, organically bringing greater returns with each new user or transaction. The three services can also reinforce and accelerate the growth of one another, thereby increasing the value of the combined businesses. Working together, they can create an unparalleled engine for ecommerce and communications around the world.

Transaction and Financial Information

eBay will acquire all of the outstanding shares of privately-held Skype for a total up-front consideration of approximately EUR 2.1 billion, or approximately $2.6 billion, which is comprised of $1.3 billion in cash and the value of 32.4 million shares of eBay stock, which are subject to certain restrictions on resale.

The maximum amount potentially payable under the performance-based earn-out is approximately EUR 1.2 billion, or approximately $1.5 billion, and would be payable in cash or eBay stock, at eBay’s discretion, with an expected payment date in 2008 or 2009. Skype shareholders were offered the choice between several consideration options for their shares. Shareholders representing approximately 40% of the Skype shares chose to receive a single payment in cash and eBay stock at the close of the transaction. Shareholders representing the remaining 60% of the Skype shares chose to receive a reduced up-front payment in cash and eBay stock at the close plus potential future earn-out payments which are based on performance-based goals for active users, gross profit and revenue.

The above-mentioned dollar and eBay share amounts are approximate, based on the Euro-Dollar exchange rate and eBay’s stock price as of September 9, 2005. The final value of the stock component of the consideration may vary significantly from this estimate based on the value of eBay stock at closing.

Skype generated approximately $7 million in revenues in 2004, and the company anticipates that it will generate an estimated $60 million in revenues in 2005 and more than $200 million in 2006. For Q4-05, eBay expects the acquisition to be dilutive to pro forma and GAAP earnings per share by $0.01 and $0.04 respectively. For the full year 2006, eBay expects the transaction to be dilutive to pro forma and GAAP earnings per share by $0.04 and $0.12 respectively, with breakeven on a pro forma basis expected in the fourth quarter of 2006. On a long-term basis, eBay expects Skype operating margins could be in the range of 20% to 25%.

The acquisition is subject to various closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2005.

About eBay Inc.

Founded in 1995, eBay pioneers communities built on commerce, sustained by trust, and inspired by opportunity. eBay enables ecommerce on a local, national and international basis with an array of websites — including the eBay Marketplace, PayPal, Kijiji, Rent.com and Shopping.com — that bring together millions of buyers and sellers every day.

About Skype Technologies SA

Skype, the Global Internet Communications Company(TM), allows people everywhere to make free, unlimited, superior quality voice calls via its award-winning innovative peer-to-peer software for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and Pocket PC platforms. Skype is available in 27 languages and is the fastest growing voice communications offering worldwide. Since its launch in August 2003, Skype has been downloaded more than 163 million times in 225 countries and territories. Fifty-four million people are registered to use Skype’s free services, with over 3 million simultaneous users on the network at any one time. Skype Technologies SA is headquartered in Luxembourg and is growing its offices in London and Estonia. www.skype.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements regarding Skype and the expected impact of the acquisition of Skype on eBay’s financial results. Those statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the timing of the closing of the transaction, the possibility that the transaction may not close, the reaction of the users of Skype’s services, the future growth of Skype’s user base and public acceptance of Internet voice communication services, rapid technological changes in the Internet voice communications sector, the reaction of competitors to the transaction, global developments in the regulation of Internet voice communication services including those provided by Skype, the possibility that integration of Skype’s offerings following the transaction may be more difficult than expected, and the possibility that entry by Skype and eBay into potential new lines of business will not be successful. More information about potential factors which could affect eBay’s business and financial results is included in eBay’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, the company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to eBay on the date hereof, and eBay assumes no obligation to update such statements.

I’m a big user of Google products, slowly gravitating towards using my gmail account as my primary email address, and still trying to get my teeth around Google Talk. Nonetheless, I find the speed of their growth these days somewhat disquieting. Here’s the latest press release from Google. You have to believe if that once Vint Cerf comes on board, Al Gore himself can’t be far behind…

CERF’S UP AT GOOGLE

Vint Cerf, a Founding Father of the Internet, Joins Google as Chief Internet Evangelist

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - September 8, 2005 - Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced that it hired Vinton (Vint) Cerf, the longtime technologist who is widely known as a “founding father” of the Internet, as Chief Internet Evangelist.

“Vint Cerf is clearly one of the great technology leaders of our time,” said Google CEO Eric Schmidt of Cerf, who co-designed the TCP/IP protocols that were used to develop the Internet’s underlying architecture. “His vision for technology helped create entire industries that have transformed many parts of our lives. We are honored to welcome him to Google.”

Cerf will continue his leadership in the Internet community, and help Google build network infrastructure, architectures, systems, and standards for the next generation of Internet applications.

“Google has already made tremendous strides in making access to information on the web a reality for users across the globe, but we’re still in the Internet’s early innings,” he said. “This
medium will enjoy wider-spread use than television, radio or phones, and will ultimately expand beyond planet Earth. Google has always believed in doing things differently, and I believe that places us in a unique position to help bring even the wildest Internet visions into reality.”

Cerf joins Google from MCI, where he led technology advancements since 1982, with a break to return to research at the Corporation for National Research Initiatives from 1986 to 1994. On his return to MCI in 1994, he helped to put MCI on the Internet map. With Robert Kahn, he
recently received the ACM’s A.M. Turing Award, considered “the Nobel Prize for computing,” for his achievements in computer networking. Cerf is also working on the Interplanetary Network, a project of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, which aims to extend the Internet into outer space for planet-to-planet communications. He will also continue in his role as the Chairman of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

Please visit http://www.google.com/press/images.html for video sound bites from Vint Cerf about this announcement.

About Google Inc.
Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

The growth in podcasts over the past six months or so has been bewildering. Because audio is such a linear medium, there is only a finite amount of podcasts that one can listen. It is much more time-consuming and resource-intensive to browse podcasts than to skim over web pages.

I was won over to podcasts when ABC Radio National started putting a lot of its programming into RSS syndication. But while I listen to a lot of non-commercial radio programming on the MP3 player, the podcasts that I consider my favourites are independent efforts.

I figured it was about time I prepared a list of my Top 10 Favourite Podcasts. One thing you’ll notice is that they are all under half an hour in length per episode. While there are a number of longer programs that I like, I think an hour for a single podcast is too long.

There are no podcasts about cricket on the list for the simple reason that there is one person doing them, and The Net Sessions isn’t quite that good yet

Here’s my list:

1. Digital Flotsam
Truly brilliant. A rich, eclectic mix of music, monologue and comedy. PW Fenton is a blues performer and expert and he presents some great set pieces over a wide range of styles. Some wonderful cover versions too (you haven’t lived till you’ve heard Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” performed in the style of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin Alive”). I can listen to these over and over again.
Links: Website, Podcast feed, Blog.

2. Caribbean Free Radio
Cool and atmospheric. Georgia Popplewell’s podcast makes you really feel like you’re in Trinidad. And she’s keen on supporting indy music from all across the Caribbean.
Links: Website, Podcast feed, Blog, Photoblog.

3. Radio Curious (KZYX Mendocino County)
I firt stumbled across Radio Curious in June when I spotted a program in the Radio4All podcast listings entitled “Genocide in Darfur”. First thing I heard was the Gene Autryesque theme tune and I thought “What the…” But this is a fascinating interview series which has been conducted by the urbane Barry Vogel for more than a decade. An incredible range of topics, handled in a warm, engaging manner, and masses of archives online which I am yet to explore in any detail.
Links: Website, Podcast feed.

4. Documentary Archive (BBC World Service)
Some outstanding radio documentaries from the BBC World Service dealing with topics from all over the world. Some recent examples include the re-forestation of Iceland, the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII in some Pacific islands, and the debate over the terrorist threat in the Sahara Desert. Longer documentaries are split into half-hourly instalments, which is good.
Links: Website, Podcast feed.

5. From Our Own Correspondent (BBC Radio 4)
Half an hour of talk, without interviews, sound effects or music. Five or six BBC foreign correspondents each week get to chat about a story they’ve been covering or just give a personal account of life in wherever they happened to be posted at the time. Always interesting, sometimes amusing. Hosted by the doyenne of BBC foreign correspondents, Kate Adie.
Links: Website, Podcast feed.

6. The Bike Show (Resonance FM London)
I’m not a cyclist but this program is at its best when host Jack Thurston interviews his guest while both are on a ride somewhere. Here’s the December 27, 2004 program as an example.
Links: Website/blog, Podcast feed.

7. Life Matters (ABC Radio National)

8. The Sports Factor (ABC Radio National)

9. A Klingon Word

10. TUC Radio

Firefox 1.0.5 has been released. For me it was a seamless upgrade. More info and download links at Mozillazine.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/08/blog_ambulance_chasers/

This item by Andrew Orlowski posted on The Register a couple of hours ago raises some thought-provoking issues about the techie reaction to major breaking news events such as 11/9/01, the Tsunami and Thursday’s bomb attacks in London.

Monique van Dusseldorp, writing for Poynter’s E-media Tidbits, gives what I think is a reasonably objective look at the way the London tragedy has been covered by the “new media”.

Orlowski is right in a sense. Self-analysis of the technological voyeurism of such a disaster is rather obscene (and arguably my post now, written barely 36 hours after the event, falls into that category). I think, in the fullness of time, however, it is worth studying the true value derived from the resultant wikis and moblogs - and what means we have of using these media to eliminate the causes of war and terrorism in the future.