THIS ISSUE'S STREAM:
[-- NEWSPEAK: MULTIMEDIA INDUSTRY NEWS --]
///// INDUSTRY //////////
+++ Rogers Cable to Charge "Bandwidth Hogs"
+++ Ontario Invests in E-Tourism
+++ Internet Skills Top CIOs Wish List
///// CONTENT //////////
+++ RadioMOI Introduces Subscription Service
+++ Canadian Law Locator Online
+++ Wayne MacPhail Online Writing Coach
+++ Googlewhacking Gains Popularity
///// INFRASTRUCTURE //////////
+++ Kelowna Acquires Public Internet Network
///// DEALS //////////
+++ Universal Invests in MapleCore
///// FACTS & FIGURES //////////
+++ The Family that Surfs Together
///// GREAT IDEAS //////////
+++ Vaughn using GPS and Internet to Track Snowplows
[-- DIGERATI DATEBOOK: UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS --]
+++ Competing in the Video Game Sector
+++ DIGIFEST 2002
+++ Community Connect
+++ Canadian New Media Awards
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[-- NEWSPEAK: MULTIMEDIA INDUSTRY NEWS --]
///// INDUSTRY //////////
+++ Rogers Cable to Charge "Bandwidth Hogs"
Rogers Cable has announced plans to introduce a new payment plan that
will see heavy bandwidth users charged more for their high-speed
Internet access. The hogs, said to be those who download more digital
music, video clips and software than usual users, will see a price
hike, while so-called occasional users may see their fees fall to
that of regular dial-up users. The CBC reports that there will be
three tiers of service, each with a different monthly fee and limits.
(Source: CBC Online)
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2002/02/04/Consumers/rogers020204
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+++ Ontario Invests in E-Tourism
The Government of Ontario is investing $16.2 million in a Tourism
Consumer Information System (TCIS). The system, created in
conjunction with EDS Canada, will see the combining of the province's
call centres and tourism e-business initiatives into a single,
integrated service. Users of TCIS will be able to talk to a travel
counselor, order literature and access information that allows them
to make travel decisions based on their own unique travel interests.
"Tourism is a proven performer when it comes to doing business on the
Web," said Ontario Tourism, Culture and Recreation Minister Tim
Hudak. "This investment will give Ontario's industry a leg up in the
online marketplace and help create jobs."
http://micro.newswire.ca/releases/January2002/30/c7157.html/94932-0
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+++ Internet Skills Top CIOs Wish List
Internet/Intranet development skills top the list of skills most in
demand by Canada's chief information officers (CIOs) according to a
new study. The RHI Consulting Hot Jobs Report found that 20 per cent
of IT execs thought Web development was the fastest-growing job
specialty within their departments. Networking skills came in second
with 15 per cent and help desk/end-user support placed third with 14
per cent. "Firms are expanding their online presence by introducing
advanced e-commerce applications to provide additional service
offerings," said Stephen Mill, regional manager of RHI Consulting.
http://www.rhic.com
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///// CONTENT //////////
+++ RadioMOI Introduces Subscription Service
The Canadian online music provider RadioMOI has started charging
users of their Internet Radio "unicasts" a subscription fee. The new
format, launched on January 15 will offer new users a variety of
options, including a bronze package at $9.95 a month, silver at
$12.95 or a gold rate of $14.95 per month. Each package includes a
variety of listening options, including Instant Radio, Other User's
Shows and BBC In Concert Series. The RadioMOI site indicates that the
changes were necessitated by the fact that "every month RadioMOI pays
out thousands of dollars in royalty and licensing payments," fees
that could not be recouped with traditional advertising models.
http://www.radiomoi.com:8080/rm/whysignup.epl
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+++ Canadian Law Locator Online
Jurist Canada has created a Canadian Law Locator. The site features
full-text retrieval and searching of everything from Canadian and
provincial case law to legislation, online databases and an excellent
collection of legal research tools. To use the site, searchers need
only use the dropdown menus to search for the case or specific law
they are looking for. Further searching capabilities will be
introduced in the near future.
http://jurist.law.utoronto.ca/locate.htm
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+++ Wayne MacPhail Online Writing Coach
After spending many years writing both online and off, Wayne MacPhail
is offering a "one-day intensive online writing coaching session for
companies large and small that have Web teams." Through his Web site,
MacPhail is also offering other services, such as information
architecture work and site evaluation.
http://www.onlinewritingcoach.ca
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+++ Googlewhacking Gains Popularity
It is the newest Internet sensation and it is called
"Googlewhacking." The rules are simple enough; simply go to the
Google search engine and type in any two search terms, both of which
must be found at Dictionary.com. Google will then search its 3
billion indexed Web pages and if it returns one single hit, you've
won. And it is not as easy as it sounds. Our dedicated BitStream
team, knowing full-well that some Canadian content was in order,
found two samples worthy of Googlewhacking. They are "trudeau
longanimity" and "chretien preconscious." (Source: NewsScan Daily)
http://www.unblinking.com/heh/googlewhack.htm
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///// INFRASTRUCTURE //////////
+++ Kelowna Acquires Public Internet Network
The Government of Canada recently announced the official launch of a
network of 34 public Internet access centres in Kelowna, British
Columbia. Industry Canada's Community Access Program (CAP) has
contributed $567,688 towards these centres, which will be operational
in April 2002. CAP program is establishing public Internet access
centres in remote, rural and urban communities nationwide. Since
1995, more than 1,200 CAP centres have been approved or established
in British Columbia alone.
http://sd23.bc.ca/districthighlts/cap/cap.html
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///// DEALS //////////
+++ Universal Invests in MapleCore
Universal Music Canada has announced an equity investment in
MapleCore, a Canadian company that utilizes the Internet to promote
up-and-coming Canadian music. The deal will enable Maple Music to
access Universal's national distribution and promotion systems, while
allowing its artists to work in an independent environment that might
one day allow them to 'graduate' to one of Universal's labels.
"Universal Music's new commitment to Maple Music is a demonstration
of our confidence in the potential of Canadian independent music
artists," said Randy Lennox, President and CEO, Universal Music Canada.
http://www.maplemusic.com
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///// FACTS & FIGURES //////////
+++ The Family that Surfs Together
The average Canadian family spends more than 32 hours a week online,
according to a new survey from Ipsos-Reid, with many respondents
saying that they view the Internet as a "way to bring their families
together." The survey found that thirty-nine percent of parents
surveyed said they sometimes go online with their children while 12
percent said they always go online with their kids. The survey also
asked a variation on the "desert island" question; 51 per cent said
they would bring the PC to the proverbial desert island, while 21 per
cent said they would take their telephone. Only 12 per cent said they
would pick their television as their number one choice. (Source:
CyberAtlas)
http://cyberatlas.internet.com/big_picture/geographics
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///// GREAT IDEAS //////////
+++ Vaughan using GPS and Internet to Track Snowplows
When winter finally arrives to the Toronto area, the residents of the
City of Vaughan will be ready. The city's 80 snowplows and sidewalk
salters have been equipped with radio receivers that can be tracked
by the global positioning system (GPS). Once the co-ordinates are
gathered, the information is fed into special software that produces
a digital map on the Internet showing the location for each vehicle.
The Toronto Star reports that "Vaughan is the first city in North
America to connect its fleet-management system to the Internet for
residents to see." (Source: Toronto Star)
http://www.snow.city.vaughan.on.ca
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[-- DIGERATI DATEBOOK: UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS --]
+++ Competing in the Video Game Sector
A CITO/IMAT Digital Media Speaker Series
February 21, 2002 in Toronto, ON
This session will explore the challenges faced by companies operating
in the gaming sector and the industry/academic partnerships forged to
meet those unique challenges.
http://www.cito.ca
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+++ DIGIFEST 2002
March 20 - 24, 2002 in Toronto, ON
An interactive digital media festival featuring the best in
animation, 3-D modeling, visual effects, virtual reality and
Internet and digital art.
http://www.dxnet.net/digifest
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+++ Community Connect
April 29-30, 2002 in Fredericton, NB
Community Connect, a conference profiling how to develop and manage a
community owned and operated broadband network has been rescheduled.
http://www.connectconference.com or call 1-800-701-7788 (toll free)
Return to Table of Contents
+++ Canadian New Media Awards
May 2002 in Toronto, ON
Have you submitted a nomination for the 2002 Canadian New Media
Awards? You can nominate your colleagues, friends and even yourself
for any of 12 categories including Lifetime Achievement, Designer of
the Year and Company of the Year. A nomination form and full
explanation of each of the award categories is now available at the
Canadian New Media Awards Web site. Nominations close March 18, 2002,
so submit a nomination today! Even if you don't submit a nomination,
be sure to spread the word. The more people who hear about the
Awards, the more the Awards can raise the profile of all the
finalists and winners, including possibly you!
http://www.cnma.ca
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