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By Ben Arnold O. de Vera, Researcher
PHILIPPINE information and communication
technology (ICT) firms should take a closer look at business
prospects in social networking solutions and mobile virtual network
operators (MVNO) in the coming years, according to the Department of
Trade and Industry’s Center for International Trade Expositions
and Missions (CITEM).
During this year’s Communic-Asia, a regional
gathering on the ICT industry, research firm Gartner reported that
web mash-ups will dominate the ICT industry in the next five years.
A “mash-up” combines data from more than one source into a
single integrated tool, resulting in a unique Internet service.
Gartner said that mash-ups’ features are seen
on popular social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook, MySpace,
and Friendster, wherein not only connectivity, but also e-commerce
and trade are promoted.
Gartner also said that SNS would eventually take
the place of marketplaces, as virtual-trading interactions would
become a more effective platform for business deals.
The report also predicted “fundamental
changes” in the semiconductor industry due to the said trend, as
the latter would be tasked to produce chips that would make wireless
social networking possible.
CITEM said the Philippines’ participation in
this year’s Com-municAsia in Singapore was warmly received, as
many local ICT firms received important trade inquiries from
companies abroad.
For instance, MVNO solutions, which are virtual
networks providing wholesale services to retailers or mobile service
providers, received significant inquiries from Australia, Singapore
and the US, according to Joel Sapul, president of Sysnet Integrators
Inc. The company provides complete voice and short messaging service
MVNO services in Italy, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Philippine games development services also made
a lot of buzz among potential clients from Belgium and Australia,
CITEM said.
The Business Processing Association of the
Philippines and the Commission on Information and Communications
Technology led the country’s delegation to this year’s
CommunicAsia, including local companies such as Tsukiden Software,
Imperium Technology, Berthaphil, Inc., Philcall, Globe Business and
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.
Future business matching activities were also
scheduled with Australian, British and Israeli companies.
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