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THE most exciting buzz these days in the business
hemisphere is caused by the TMT sector—or Technology, Media and
Telecommunications to anyone who might have been hibernating in
cyberspace in recent times.
According to research conducted
by top US investment bank Morgan Stanley, there are several key
related trends in the global TMT industry, including the tremendous
rise in emerging TMT markets and the compelling growth of global
residential broadband services.
Added to this is the fact that
the global Internet is increasingly mobile-centric because of the
availability of mobile devices that are getting more and more
compact, and functional laptop computers that offer increasing
levels of connectivity and mobility. As a result, mobile services
with basic Internet connectivity are therefore expected to enter
their own “sweet spot” (to use the market term) of adoption
within two years.
Another factor is the
accelerating pace of global innovation, with the innovation coming
from outside the United States in areas related to broadband and
mobile Internet, with global investors appearing to be willing to
support it.
All in all, Internet leaders, for
the most part, are well positioned, and increasingly, are vying to
become next-generation communication hubs.
Which probably explains why in
the Philippines there are companies gearing itself to join the
sunrise TMT industry.
A case in point (based on its
latest disclosures filed at the Philippine Stock Exchange) is listed
company Information Capital Technology Ventures Inc. which through
its board of directors has approved an amendment to the primary
business purpose of the corporation to allow it to engage in the
business of providing telecommunications (VAS), media (except mass
media) and information technology products and services.
The ICTV board qualified that the
amendment is subject to the approval of ICTV stockholders and to the
applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and
the Philippine Stock Exchange.
Some interesting developments
transpired at the recent meeting of the board of directors of ICTV.
The board elected four new members with differing illustrious
backgrounds and areas of expertise, from telecommunications and
information technology, to mass media, and to financial services and
investment banking.
From amongst the new directors,
the Board elected a new chairman in the person of Babe Romualdez,
columnist of the Philippine Star, publisher of People Asia Magazine,
and president of the Manila Overseas Press Club.
The board likewise elected
Marcelito Ordonez thereby granting representation to ATR-Kim Eng
Capital Partners Inc., the largest independent investment house in
the country today.
With the above developments there
is reason to be optimistic about what the year 2008 will bring in
the TMT market—not to mention the market interest being generated
to check out what innovative services the new entrant, ICTV, has to
offer in this exciting sector.
WHEN it comes to metallic
creativity, Daniel de la Cruz is in a class of his own—as was
proved when he staged his very first solo exhibition some time last
year at the Ayala Museum were nearly all the exquisite pieces were
snapped up within a day of the show getting started.
So fittingly, in the wake of Holy
Week, he is staging his second solo exhibition which is entitled
“Parangal” and is, as he says, “a tribute to Christ our
Savior.”
And this exhibition comes with
good Christian intent. A portion of the proceeds from this event
will go to the One La Salle Fund which aims to raise money to
provide scholarships for deserving students nationwide.
The exhibition opens today (March
27—and ongoing until April 6) at 5:30 p.m. at the third-level
lobby (Figaro area) of Shangri-la Plaza in Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong
City.
E-mail: bizzfizz_98@yahoo.com
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