THIS ISSUE'S STREAM:
+++ CanWest Buys Hollinger Print Assets for $3.5 Billion
+++ Chapters Online Launches Villa.ca
+++ Quebecor Disappointed With Its New Media Results
+++ Is the Digital Divide Narrowing in Canada?
+++ The Canadian Information Highway Report
+++ High Speed Competition Heats Up
+++ Shaw Creates Big Pipe for Broadband Services
+++ TVOntario to Create Internet Job Training Fund
+++ SamtheRecordMan.com Gets in the MoodLogic
+++ Loblaws to Offer Free Surfing
+++ Sympatico.ca Top Canadian Web Site
+++ Shop 'till You Drop With Wireless
+++ IMAT Board and President Elections
+++ SMART Toronto President Appointed
+++ International EMMA Awards Call for Entries
+++ Toronto's Technology Associations Summit
+++ Brain Dump: What's All This ASP Stuff About?
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[-- NEWSPEAK: MULTIMEDIA INDUSTRY NEWS --]
+++ CanWest Buys Hollinger Print Assets for $3.5 Billion
The dust is still settling on what some are calling "the
largest transaction in Canadian media industry history" in
which CanWest Global Communications agreed to pay $3.5
billion for the major newspapers held by Conrad Black's
Hollinger. The deal will see CanWest Global Communications
owning daily newspapers in every province except Manitoba
and New Brunswick, as well as half-interest in Black's
flagship daily, The National Post. The deal will also
include various weekly newspapers, magazines and more. CP
is reporting that "co-operation between the National Post
and Global Television is to begin immediately, as will the
integration of globaltv.com and other CanWest Web sites
with Hollinger's Internet properties, which include
canada.com, careerclick.com, carsclick.com, individual
newspaper sites and the canada.com city portals."
(Source:CP)
http://www.canwestglobal.com/cw_hol.htm
+++ Chapters Online Launches Villa.ca
Chapters Online has announced the newest member of its
online family with the introduction of Villa.ca, a site
featuring an inventory of home and garden products. The
site features cookware, tableware, glassware, kitchen
supplies, gardening tools, bird feeders, barbecues and
many more items. Through agreements with more than 80
suppliers, Villa.ca offers more than 6,500 products for
sale online, as well as providing a home for two online
magazines, ''Kitchen Magazine'' and ''Gardening
Magazine.'' ''Our team has been busy building what we
believe will quickly become the premier online destination
for Canadians who love to cook, garden and entertain,''
said Tony Rodrigues, vice president, Home and Garden,
Chapters Online.
http://www.villa.ca
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+++ Quebecor Disappointed With Its New Media Results
Quebecor says it will roll up its sleeves to turn around
its new media operations after reporting a $11 million
loss during the second quarter, according to a report in
the Montreal Gazette. Quebecor is said to have singled out
its new media sector, including Canoe.com and Nurun, for
particular attention. President and chief executive Pierre
Karl Peladeau said in a written statement that "Quebecor's
bottom line for the quarter was a $10.7-million loss, of
which $8.1 million was caused by Canoe and $2.6 million by
Nurun. We therefore plan to take action to turn the
situation around as quickly as possible so as to reduce
our losses and get these businesses closer to
profitability." Peladeau did not specify what those
actions might be. (Source: Montreal Gazette)
http://www.quebecor.com
+++ Is the Digital Divide Narrowing in Canada?
A survey released by Angus Reid shows that the so-called
digital divide is narrowing as poorer and less educated
Canadians join the Internet revolution. Seven in 10
Canadians are said to be able to log on at work, home,
schools or other public facilities. The survey shows that
this indicates a rise of 55 percent from a year ago. In
its summary of the survey, the Globe and Mail reports that
"49 per cent of low-income Canadians -- defined as a
family earning less than $40,000 a year -- now have
access, compared with just 30 per cent a year ago" while
"51 per cent of Canadians with a high-school education now
have access, up 55 per cent from a year ago." Women have
also "closed the gender gap slightly, with 66 per cent
having access compared with 73 per cent of men. That
seven-percentage-point gap is down from nine points in
1999." (Source: Globe and Mail)
http://www.angusreid.com
In another study of Internet usage, Media Metrix found
that Canadian Web surfers are just as likely to come from
low-income as high income. In fact, of Canadians who surf
the Web from home, 29 per cent were from households with
combined incomes below $40,000. The percentage of surfers
with combined incomes above $75,000 was also 29 per cent.
The Toronto Star reports that "higher-income households
were more likely to check out sites devoted to big-ticket
items such as homes, cars and travel, while the lower-
income group spent more time looking at educational and
career opportunities." The results are based on the
Internet activities of 6,333 Canadians who surfed from
home in June 2000. (Source: The Toronto Star)
http://www.mediametrix.ca
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+++ The Canadian Information Highway Report
The Office of Learning Technologies (OLT), HRDC and
partners in Industry Canada will soon publish a survey and
research report entitled: "The Canadian Information
Highway and the Dual Digital Divide." The report, by Andy
Reddick of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in Ottawa,
is expected to challenge the assertion that the issue of
the Digital Divide is being addressed.
http://olt-bta.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca
+++ High Speed Competition Heats Up
Insiders are expecting the battle for high-speed Internet
customers to heat up. Bell Canada and Rogers are waging a
very visible battle to win the hearts and mice of high-
speed Internet users, with a variety of claims and
counter-claims making the rounds. And not without
justification do they battle so. A recent survey by
International Data reveals that residential high-speed
users in Canada jumped to 850,000 at the end of June, up
from 566,000 at the end of 1999. Joe Greene, vice-
president of Internet research at IDC Canada, told the
Toronto Star that with the introduction of video streaming
and conference calls, the demand for high-speed access
will also increase. (Source: The Toronto Star)
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+++ Shaw Creates Big Pipe for Broadband Services
Shaw Communications is creating a new company to provide a
national fibre backbone for broadband Internet services.
The company, called Big Pipe, will serve as the primary
Internet backbone for Shaw's broadband Internet customers.
"When completed, Big Pipe's fibre network will extend
connectivity to all the major Internet peering points in
Canada and the US and provide our customers with fast,
reliable access to the Internet and the World Wide Web,"
says President and CEO Jim Shaw.
http://www.shaw.ca
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+++ TVOntario to Create Internet Job Training Fund
TVOntario is set to launch a $5 million Lifelong Learning
Challenge Fund. The initiative will create new
opportunities for Ontarians to learn critical job skills
through the Internet, said Dianne Cunningham, Minister of
Training, Colleges and Universities. TVOntario will issue
a call for proposals in August from employers, industry
organizations, unions, and educators to develop Ontario-
based online skills training programs. "This announcement
is TVOntario's first step in meeting its new mandate to
develop a flexible source of learning and training that
can be delivered to people in their homes, workplaces and
communities and provide them with access to high-quality
learning when and where they need it," said Cunningham.
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/nr/00.07/tvo.html
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+++ SamtheRecordMan.com Gets in the MoodLogic
SamtheRecordMan.com has become the first Canadian music
retailer to add MoodLogic to its Web site, an innovation
that allows shoppers to conduct advanced searches for
music titles based on their mood and personal tastes. The
MoodLogic Browser is based on a database of "perception-
based multidimensional music profiles -- containing over
400,000 songs so far, including most of the Billboard Top
40 since 1960." Each song is carefully classified by
"descriptive and emotional criteria" by a panel of over
20,000 actual customers and professional music
specialists. "We believe that our online community will
love the fact that they can search for music titles based
on their preferences and mood," says Jason Sniderman,
president and CEO, SamtheRecordMan.com. "Imagine the fun
of searching for music for the perfect date, or for
blowing off steam or just relaxing."
http://www.samtherecordman.com
+++ Loblaws to Offer Free Surfing
Loblaws, with a chain of 1000 corporately owned and
franchised stores, has quietly begun handing out free
Internet service. The pilot project will offer customers
Internet access, e-mail, online calendar and use of a
message board, all at no cost. It is hoped the project
will help to encourage users to bank online using PC
Financial, the in-store CIBC venture. Loblaws spokesperson
Geoff Wilson told the Toronto Star that at the moment the
chain is "making sure it's all working from a technical
point of view, making sure the dial-up numbers are
available and that the technical support is up to scratch
for our brand and customers.''
(Source: The Toronto Star)
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+++ Sympatico.ca Top Canadian Web Site
A recent Media Metrix study has found that Sympatico.ca is
the most visited Canadian Web site. The total number of
unique visitors to the site rose to 3.4 million, up from
3.3 million since May, equaling 83 million page views per
month. The other top sites in the survey included ICQ
Applications, MSN.com, Yahoo.com and MSN Messenger. Media
Metrix also found that 12 million Canadians used the
Internet from home during June, including 2.7 million
French-speaking Canadians.
http://www.mediametrix.ca
+++ Shop 'till You Drop With Wireless
The Shopping Channel has joined the wireless revolution
after finding a home on Rogers AT&T Wireless Mobitex
network. Canada.Internet.com reports that The Shopping
Channel has "developed enhanced wireless content ... that
provides the Rogers AT&T Go.Web browser with a unique
information channel." The initial features will include a
program guide, TSC News and Last Minute Gifts and a
selection of five items that can be purchased "on the go."
Future functions to be added over the next few years will
include "wireless versions of all e-commerce,
personalization and customer service modules."
(Source: Canada.Internet.com)
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[-- PLUG: INDUSTRY ANNOUNCEMENTS --]
+++ IMAT Board and President Elections
If you have a burning desire, the leadership and a vision
for interactive new media, make it a reality by becoming
the new President of the Interactive Multimedia Arts &
Technology Association (IMAT). The IMAT annual general
meeting and elections will be held September 26th in
Toronto. Four Board of Director positions are also up for
nominations. For more information, e-mail:
imat@imat.ca or surf to http://www.imat.ca.
+++ SMART Toronto President Appointed
The Board of Directors of SMART Toronto have announced the
appointment of Mitzie Hunter as President of the
association effective August 8th, 2000. Ms. Hunter will
report to Dave Wharry, Chairman of the Board of SMART
Toronto. She will work closely with the Board to direct
all aspects of SMART Toronto's activities, guiding its
efforts to leverage Toronto's strengths in the high tech
sector and promote Toronto as a world center for the
creation and distribution of digital media. In addition
she will lead the strategic operations of the association.
SMART Toronto is the voice for the networked economy,
working with its members to improve and promote
networking, applications sharing and new media
developments in Toronto and area. In so doing, SMART
Toronto brings companies together so they can jointly
benefit from each other's resources and expertise.
http://www.sto.org
+++ International EMMA Awards Call for Entries
The International EMMA Awards recognize excellence in
digital media content creation through the acknowledgement
of best practices and ongoing educational programmes. The
2000 EMMAs will honour the best in Web and title projects
across 40 categories, including: Advertising, Business,
Commerce, Education, Entertainment, Digital City, Games,
General Interest, Interactive Approach, Lifestyle and
Technology. The deadline for submission of entries is
September 30, 2000. Further information and entry forms
can be obtained from the EMMA Web site.
http://www.emma-foundation.org/awards.asp
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[-- DIGERATI DATEBOOK: UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS --]
+++ Toronto's Technology Associations Summit
August 16, 2000 in Toronto, ON
This will be an evening where you can listen to and ask
the Presidents of some of Canada's largest professional
computer/Web associations what exactly is happening in
your industry. Hear how these organizations lobby for the
rights of computer and Web professionals everywhere -
especially within your own country. To register, please
e-mail Ruth Bayer at ituniversit-e@home.com.
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[-- BRAIN DUMP: TECH TUTORIAL --]
What's All This ASP Stuff About?
By Ray Ganong
mailto:rayg@vytalnet.com
At its most basic level, an Application Service Provider
(ASP) provides nothing more than an application hosted on
a public network. This allows companies to focus on their
core competencies by outsourcing the deployment,
management and maintenance of their software. The benefits
for customers are obvious (to anyone who has managed in-
house software!):
* no unreasonable implementation and training costs;
* a reasonable monthly usage fee ("pay as you play"); and
* the ability to have the latest software always at your
disposal.
A number of large companies are moving from traditional
software distribution to this ASP style of providing
software. PeopleSoft, for example, believes that 50
percent of its revenues will come from ASP services in
just two years. The number of companies that classify
themselves as ASPs is also rising dramatically. The
Application Service Provider consortium, the industry's
representative body, was founded in May 1999 with 25
members. It now claims over 400 members.
Studies have shown significant savings can be obtained,
somewhere in the order of 35-50% of the annual IT budget.
Additionally, ASP users can take advantage of additional
benefits because they are able to support a more mobile
workforce. Many ASP-delivered applications are based on a
"thin-client" model, meaning clients can log on from more
than one location and still do their jobs.
There are always risks with new approaches. Some of the
concerns about using an ASP include:
* Security & protection of data: electronic vaulting is a
good solution so that your valuable data is off-site and
protected, even if the ASP goes belly-up!
* Reliability of ASP infrastructure: they better be
"bullet-proof"
* Performance and speed of access to applications:
everyone wants speed!
* Financial strength and longevity of the ASP: need we say
more?
Because of the above concerns, it is very important to
strike a good service-level agreement with an ASP that
defines responsibilities and invokes penalties if certain
thresholds are not maintained.
Using an ASP to support your business may allow you to get
back to the core business of servicing your customers
instead of managing technology. You may also be able to
present a more professional image to your clients by
leveraging more sophisticated tools offered by an ASP.
Ray Ganong is the Chief Technology Officer of VytalNet
(http://www.vytalnet.com), a company that provides
an automated backup and restore technology, to companies across North
America and around the world.
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[-- ABOUT MULTIMEDIATOR'S BITSTREAM --]
MultiMediator's BitStream is a FREE e-mail newsletter
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