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Fwd: Skunkworks Meeting Reminder, Nokia Research, Networked Systems, Today, 9th February 2010
by Phares Kariuki 09 Feb '10

09 Feb '10

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Phares Kariuki <pkariuki(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, Feb 9, 2010 at 11:05 AM Subject: Skunkworks Meeting Reminder, Nokia Research, Networked Systems, Today, 9th February 2010 To: Skunkworks forum <skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> Hi, There will be a Skunkworks meeting today at Teleposta Towers, from 6.00 pm. The panel will be comprised of the following: *Jonathan Ledlie* is a Senior Researcher in Networked Systems at Nokia. His interests include experimental large-scale distributed and mobile systems and ICTD. He has a PhD in Computer Science from Harvard University and is currently based at the Cambridge (US) Nokia Research Center. *Jay Chen* is a fourth year Systems and Networking Computer Science PhD candidate at New York University. His research areas include AI, with a focus on Natural Language Processing, and ICTD. *Brian Omwenga* is a Research Engineer currently working at Nokia Research currently based in Nairobi. His interests include Large Scale Open Systems analysis and design, strategy and ICTD. He is a science master in Technology and Policy from the Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. *Billy Odero* is a Research Engineer at Nokia Research Currently based in Nairobi working on the development of mobile systems for emerging markets. *The projects*: [1] Tangaza - An audio based social networking service on mobile phones [2] NokiaSMSFind - An intelligent sms based search service -- With Regards, Phares Kariuki | T: +254 734 810 802 | E: pkariuki(a)gmail.com | Twitter: kaboro | Skype: kariukiphares | -- With Regards, Phares Kariuki | T: +254 734 810 802 | E: pkariuki(a)gmail.com | Twitter: kaboro | Skype: kariukiphares |

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Re: [kictanet] Reverse engineering - or patent infringement?
by S.Murigi Muraya 09 Feb '10

09 Feb '10

All well & good. If the Chinese listened to these kinds of (valid) points there would be no Huawei or ZTE in existence. Knowledge first (primary) & legalities (later but) not to be ignored. No nation has developed by impressing foreigners but primarily by being civilized (not harming anyone including foreigners), believing in its own people & by promoting learning with its boundaries. SMM -----Original Message----- From: Andrea Bohnstedt <andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 09:47 To: murigi.muraya(a)gmail.com Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Reverse engineering - or patent infringement? Good morning all, I didn't refer to Prof. Kamau, I referred to the statement of Dr Ndemo, which he kindly qualified. I am aware of the debate of generic drugs and the arguments made that the public good should override patent rights. But this is, as I'm sure everyone is also aware of, a complex topic, with an equally complex international legal framework, and as much as it's easy to hate big pharma, I think some recognition needs to be given to companies that invest heavily in R&D. In the Kenyan debate specifically, I would find it counterproductive if senior government officials openly call for patent right infringements (and again, Dr Ndemo did qualify his statement). Apart from the fact that I'd rather like to see innovation encouraged, it does nothing for Kenya's image towards international ICT and tech investors or people looking to outsource processes. Copy right and patent infringement and intellectual property right theft was and is a big concern in China, and Kenya has none of the advantages that China offers to offset these: very low-cost manufacturing environment and a huge domestic market. It's a bit of a contradiction to call for e.g. certifications etc to build international credibility, and then offset it with a signal like this. On the IPad specificially: I doubt that Kenyan companies, even if they managed to copy the IPad, would be able to build it at a lower cost, and the way the education sector is run now, they'd be stolen just as quickly as any book - probably faster. I went to the Intel Classmate launch a couple of years ago and they made a useful point that just handing out kiddie laptops is not the solution: You need the whole ecosystem to make them productive. Electricity, connectivity, a place to lock them up, and importantly a teaching plan that they are integrated into. Have a lovely day, Andrea On 9 February 2010 09:07, Walubengo J <jwalu(a)yahoo.com> wrote: @Andrea, Reverse engineering - or patent infringement? If I was Prof. Kamau, I would carefully ride on both - depending on the convenience of the laws applicable and the demand for public good. Draw the parallel with generic HIV medicines... walu. --- On Tue, 2/9/10, Andrea Bohnstedt <andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> wrote: From: Andrea Bohnstedt <andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com> Subject: Re: [kictanet] Getting a hold on cybercrime against women (cyber pests!) To: jwalu(a)yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 12:40 AM Reverse engineering - or patent infringement? On 8 February 2010 21:01, <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> wrote: Dear listers, Prof. Kamau, University of Nairobi's engineering school has successifully reverse engineered the converter box for digital TV. Those willing to visit the fab lab next week should register with Awiti in my office. His e-mail is nawiti(a)information.go.ke. I am hoping soon we can reverse engineer the ipad so that we can use it to distribute e-books to all kids in the country and avoid this theft of textbooks. Regards. Ndemo. Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: "muriuki mureithi" <mureithi(a)summitstrategies.co.ke> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 18:14:20 To: <bitange(a)jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: [kictanet] Getting a hold on cybercrime against women (cyber pests!) _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: bitange(a)jambo.co.ke Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: andrea.bohnstedt(a)ratio-magazine.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/andrea.bohnstedt%40rat… -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com -- Andrea Bohnstedt Publisher +254 720 960 322 www.ratio-magazine.com

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Is anytthing going on with Automation of Government Reciepting?
by Leonard Aloo 09 Feb '10

09 Feb '10

Listers, Can someone please let me know why with all the ICT brains in Kenya, Government Receipts are still issued in longhand using carbon paper! Without for a moment suggesting impropriety on the part of anyone currently using long hand, one suspects that, if the process is automated, revenue will rise significantly. After all, how does one know that the seven (7) in the customer copy of the handwritten receipt is not accounted for as a one (1) in the duplicate copy. Add zeros to the figures and see what effect it can have (7,000 = 1000; 70,000 = 10,000 etc). Imagine the resultant reduction in taxes. Do the government accounting officers not want to have a dashboard on their computers where they can see revenues coming in in real-time. Does any one know if there is anything going on to remove us from the carbon paper age? Regards, Leonard Obura Aloo Advocate

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Developing Botnets - An Analysis of Recent Activity
by Ian Cook 08 Feb '10

08 Feb '10

All Team Cymru has just published a new information paper detailing the last 6 months of botnet activity we've been tracking. See "Developing Botnets - An Analysis of Recent Activity" at http://www.team-cymru.org/ReadingRoom/Whitepapers The conclusions are quite interesting: HTTP based C&C's have doubled in number, there's a fascinating correlation between HTTP and IRC based DDoS attacks and the so called 'BRIC' countries are hosting many of the new breed of C&C's...except for India. You can also see a brief write up by Brian Krebs here: http://www.krebsonsecurity.com/ Warm regards, Ian -- Ian C Cook Security Evangelist Team Cymru 'To communicate simply you must understand profoundly' Work +1 312 924 5441 Mobile +44 (0) 797 773 1246 Home Office +44 (0) 208 291 0112 Skype ID togglergi PGP Fingerprint: D4CE 9F0D 77E7 3A66 83A6 3133 CBF4 E590 _ //` `\ _,-"\% // /``\`\ ~^~ >__^ |% // / } `\`\ www.team-cymru.org/News/secnews.rss ) )%// / } } }`\`\ http://twitter.com/teamcymru / (%/`/.\_/\_/\_/\`/ www.linkedin.com/in/ianccook ( ` `-._` \ , ( \ _`-.__.- %> /_`\ \ `\ \." `-..- ` ``` /_/`"-=-``/_/ ``` ``` Subscribe to my Security News mailing list at: https://cymru.com/mailman/listinfo/ians_dragon_newsbytes

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Re: [kictanet] Traffic Jams
by Solomon Mburu Kamau 08 Feb '10

08 Feb '10

My solutions to this quagmire. Complaining does not solve anything. It only makes things worse as people would be emotionally stressed to make any meaningful debate. As someone has put it, those who use Thika Road, will have to wait until 2011 to enjoy the benefits of the Super highway under construction. So that means patience. Secondly, only use your vehicle if it is necessary. If you choose to drive and your neighbour does the same, traffic will be unnecesary. The same applies to coming to Nairobi. Do you travel there as a matter of choice, convenience or reason? If in self-employment, ask yourself whether it is necessary to come to Nairobi - assuming you do not stay in the city. You see my friends, there is a need to know why a problem exist so as to find the solution. The last master plan of Nairobi was done when Dr. Gitu was the PS or Director at the Local Govt. Ministry and, it never saw the light of day, unfortunately. Solutions are within and the govt. acts as a medium to reaching the solutions. I rest my case! On 04/02/2010, Wilson kariuki <williekariuki(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > BECAUSE > 1- The land to transform the road network..some of it is occupied either by > rich or poor.. > 2- The pple u choose ie the city council r not doing their JOB > BOOT OUT UR COUNCILLOR > -----Original Message----- > Date: Thursday, February 04, 2010 7:33:22 am > To: mlalahoi(a)googlegroups.com > From: "Terry Shiundu" <terryshiundu(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Re: Traffic Jams > > Hi all, > > It is sad and this is a matter that Kenyan (Nairobians especially) will keep > complaining about if something is not done. I cannot blame Kenyans (I > included) for owning cars and even if we all carried people in our cars, it > would not make a difference coz the matatus also are increasing in number on > our roads. > > Kenya is growing, people are progressing and will keep on buying new cars > daily. The problem is not that passe..*.the main problem is that we're still > using the same road network that was constructed in the 70s when only few > Kenyans owned vehicles*. The problem is that our government and those > charged with the responsibility of planning in this Nation are > sleeping....yet they travel to the Nations and see the development that is > out there....places like SA, India....they have totally transformed their > road networks. Why can't our government do the same? Why can't they > replicate the same thing they see out there, here in Kenya? Or is it that we > don't have qualified men and women > > -- > VACANCIES: http://bit.ly/bU0336 > TECHMTAA BLOG: http://bit.ly/cmRFZR > VALENTINES PLOT: http://bit.ly/dkzaxA > SHOP ONLINE AND GET DOOR DELIVERY: http://bit.ly/cwzi78 > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "MlalaHoi" group. > To post to this group, send email to mlalahoi(a)googlegroups.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > mlalahoi+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/mlalahoi?hl=en > -- Solomon Mbũrũ Kamau P.O. Box 19343 - 00202 Nairobi Cell: (+254-0) 735 431041 Man is a gregarious animal and enjoys agreement as cows will graze all the same way to the side of a hill! AND It is better to die in dignity than in the ignomity of ambiguous generosity! http://dawn-in-kenya.blogspot.com http://smiley2.wordpress.com http://mburu.sikika.co.ke -- VACANCIES: http://bit.ly/bU0336 TECHMTAA BLOG: http://bit.ly/cmRFZR VALENTINES PLOT: http://bit.ly/dkzaxA SHOP ONLINE AND GET DOOR DELIVERY: http://bit.ly/cwzi78 You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MlalaHoi" group. To post to this group, send email to mlalahoi(a)googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to mlalahoi+unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/mlalahoi?hl=en

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KDN Unveils Broadband for SMEs and SOHOs
by Kevin 08 Feb '10

08 Feb '10

I hear KDN has launched a new product for small businesses, 1Mbps for 4,000/=. Is there anything in the market that can rival this? Will this spur the market for broadband uptake?

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Kenya ICT board: What is the real problem?
by Rebecca Wanjiku 08 Feb '10

08 Feb '10

The promise of BPO marketing, digital villages..... www.wanjiku.co.ke Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog: wanjiku.co.ke

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India's Outsourcing Exports at US$50 Billion
by Edwin Onchari 08 Feb '10

08 Feb '10

Hi All, I find this article an incentive in refocusing our energy on the sector (both local and international). All is not lost, and against all critics.we can still get a share of the pie (http://www.pcworld.com/article/188514/indias_outsourcing_exports_at_us50_bi llion.html) India's revenue from exports of IT and BPO (business process outsourcing) services is likely to grow 5.5 percent to US$49.7 billion in the Indian fiscal year to March 31, 2010, according to estimates released Thursday by the country's National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom). The revenue figure includes exports by Indian outsourcers as well as by Indian services and software development subsidiaries of multinational companies including Microsoft, Dell, and Oracle. Nasscom has forecast higher revenue growth in the range of 13 to 15 percent from IT and BPO exports in the next fiscal year to March 31, 2011. India has emerged as a key supplier of IT and BPO services to customers in the U.S., U.K., and other markets. Its business was however hit in the fiscal year to March 31, 2010 by the recession in some of these economies. The growth rate of 5.5 percent estimated by Nasscom for the year ending March 31, 2010 is far lower than the 16 percent estimated by Nasscom for the previous year. The 2009 figure is still an estimate as the results of Satyam Computer Services, a large Indian outsourcer, are still being re-stated, after a financial scandal at the company. Top Indian outsourcing companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys Technologies, and Wipro said in January that they were seeing an improvement in demand for their services from customers in key markets, including the U.S. Indian outsourcing companies have also started hiring in large numbers again. Wipro's IT services business added 4,855 staff in the quarter ended Dec. 31. The company had cut staff by 630 in its IT services business in the previous quarter. TCS said in January that it is adding about 11,000 staff in the current quarter, including 8,000 trainees. The company added 7,692 staff in the quarter to Dec. 31. Direct employment by the country's IT industry is expected to be 2.3 million by March 31, 2010, with over 90,000 jobs added during the current fiscal year, Nasscom said. A number of new large IT services deals are expected to be signed by the second quarter of this year, Sudin Apte, principal analyst at Forrester Research, said in January. Indian companies are however not likely to achieve soon the revenue growth levels they had before the recession, he added. A lot of the expenditure by customers still falls under the category of necessary expenditure, with discretionary expenditure on IT services likely to start by the middle of this year, according to Diptarup Chakraborti, principal research analyst at Gartner. Besides a pick up in exports revenue for the year ended March 31, 2010, Nasscom is also expecting a growth in the domestic services business. Domestic revenue is expected to grow by 12 percent to Indian rupees 662 billion ($14 billion). In the next fiscal year, revenue growth from the Indian market is expected to pick up by 15 to 17 percent. Kind regards, Edwin M Onchari CEO- Kenya BPO Society +254-(0)720 755 951 eonchari(a)kenyabposociety.or.ke www.kenyabposociety.or.ke Blogs: <http://kenyabposociety.blogspot.com/2010/01/key-to-unlocking-kenyas-outsour cing.html> http://kenyabposociety.blogspot.com/2010/01/key-to-unlocking-kenyas-outsourc ing.html <http://kenyabposociety.blogspot.com/2010/01/discounted-medical-cover-for-in dustry.html> http://kenyabposociety.blogspot.com/2010/01/discounted-medical-cover-for-ind ustry.html

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Fw: Article: Broadband brings hope to Africa's poor, elderly - ITU
by michael Ouma 08 Feb '10

08 Feb '10

Hi All: here's a link to a story from the AU ICT Summit in Addis Ababa published in TheEastAfrican: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/-/2560/856862/-/item/0/-/krl8swz/-… regards.

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Local Content: Cost of Local Hosting
by wesley kirinya 08 Feb '10

08 Feb '10

Bandwidth costs seem to be coming down and that's welcome news. However an important area seems to be largely ignored and that's the cost of hosting locally. A Dedicated server in the U.S/Europe (8 Core Processor, 6GB RAM, 3,000GB Bandwidth, 500GB disk space, ...) costs about $500/month. I believe in Kenya that would cost about 8-10 times more and that's without the 3,000GB bandwidth. With bandwidth becoming cheaper and better quality, it's far cheaper to host the local content internationally, and end-users might not feel a big difference in speed and quality. Factors leading to high hosting cost might be cost of physical space and electricity (highly priced and unstable). If these are the major reasons why hosting costs are high, then we cannot expect the cost to come down any sooner no matter how many fibres are coming to Kenya. Local companies (e.g. BPOs dealing with large volumes of data) and local branches of international companies looking for secure off-site back up might also do it from internationally located servers, where the companies running those servers not only offer lower cost but also more experience which leads to better service. As one of such companies puts it ,"98% of replies within 30 mintues, 99.9% Network Uptime Guarantee, ...". Therefore we are looking at a situation where local content might be hosted internationally. 8~!

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