R20/month uncapped wireless broadband

[jes]

R20/month uncapped wireless broadband

Microsoft has revealed more details around its plans to launch a TV white spaces trial in Limpopo

 

[NeonNinja]

In Limpopo :wtf:

 

[Odracir]

In Limpopo :wtf:

Yeah, what happened to PE

 

[Roadrunner]

Talk about bait headlines.

 

[Necuno]

Talk about bait headlines.

It worked

 

[Beri]

^^
this^^
then is states south Africans
then it is just for some schools....
next thing is julius wants to nationalize it

 

[Jan]

Talk about bait headlines.

It worked

^^
this^^
then is states south Africans
then it is just for some schools....
next thing is julius wants to nationalize it

That's why we have the subtitle/excerpt-thingie. Can't fit it all into the headline

 

[sly]

"under embargo" #english please

 

[grok]

In Limpopo :wtf:

Yeah, they need the 'net 'cos the ANC cannot get schoolbooks to the kids if their life depends on it.

 

[Jan]

"under embargo" #english please

Sure, I'll try my best: It means Microsoft held the press briefing ahead of the official unveiling but didn't want articles to be published before the embargo date.

Embargoes are used for a variety of reasons, but in this case it was because the official launch was in Limpopo on a Saturday, which would be very inconvenient for journalists to attend (so, not many will).

 

[LPCPT]

Sounds nice but do not like the idea of M$ tablets. In the US the schools go for Chromebooks.
No games, no additional software, no maintenance, no updates, low cost, and everything is safely stored in the cloud

 

[WAPA]

The bigger picture is that another successful project will highlight how important it is for government to fast-track releasing this spectrum to operators (importantly, the operators who are WAPA members) to greatly facilitate last-mile access both to urban and rural customers.

 

[surfs-up]

I see Microsofts marketing ploy here - their tablet is not selling well, so if they sponsor a few schools in Limpopo, they are hoping that the Department of Education will buy millions of tablets from MS. I just hope it won't be a repeat of the arms deal - but the tablet version.....order 8 million tablets (with fat kickbacks for the politicians) and then stack the tablets up in some warehouse, because none of the teachers will know how to use them or the software packages

 

[shogun]

Sounds nice but do not like the idea of M$ tablets. In the US the schools go for Chromebooks.
No games, no additional software, no maintenance, no updates, low cost, and everything is safely stored in the cloud

How exactly will the data not be able to be stored in the cloud? You realize that Microsoft runs one of the worlds largest cloud hosting platforms?

That's a truly WTF comment.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

How exactly will the data not be able to be stored in the cloud? You realize that Microsoft runs one of the worlds largest cloud hosting platforms?

That's a truly WTF comment.

Or you could also not post an over the top reply based on a single point of his post.
The chromebook is exclusively cloud based and fits the other points mentioned. A MS tablet is not exclusively cloud based but has cloud functionality.

 

[shogun]

Or you could also not post an over the top reply based on a single point of his post.
The chromebook is exclusively cloud based and fits the other points mentioned. A MS tablet is not exclusively cloud based but has cloud functionality.

My apologies, let's look at the rest of the statements then:

No Games
False. There are plenty of web based jquery games.

No Additional Software.
This could be a huge drawback considering that you can add a host of educational software packages that can do things that a web page can't... but only if you'd use a tablet with apps (Windows or Android or iPad tablet).

No Maintenance.
What kind of maintenance are we talking here?

No Updates.
Assuming the ability to load apps, I'd think updates would be a good thing.

Low cost.
Who cares, if it's a trial funded by Microsoft, using their products. It would look rather strange if a Microsoft trial used Android tablets or iPads no? Would one expect a Google trial to use iPads? It costs Microsoft a fraction of the price to use their stock precisely because they have loads of it going to waste (and it's easily a marketing expense).

 

[markings]

Embargoes are used for a variety of reasons, but in this case it was because the official launch was in Limpopo on a Saturday, which would be very inconvenient for journalists to attend (so, not many will).

Journalists work a five day week even if something important/promising happens?
No shifts, no working in teams, flexible working hours which could accommodate such things?

Maybe it is a good thing. I really don't see why every newspaper and magazin has to have their own journalist at events. That looks to me like a colossal waste of resources, or maybe it is job creation.

 

[Jan]

Journalists work a five day week even if something important/promising happens?
No shifts, no working in teams, flexible working hours which could accommodate such things?

In my case it's the drive and the fact that I had other commitments today that would have potentially kept me from the event, rather than "working hours". While I can't speak for all news organisations, I would think that the concept of a 5-day work week doesn't really apply in any newsroom.

While attending the launch is nice, one doesn't actually have to be there to carry the story. Microsoft could have sent out a press release and let us ask questions by e-mail. This was more about availing the Microsoft SA boss for interviews, particularly for the radio and TV guys I would imagine.

Maybe it is a good thing. I really don't see why every newspaper and magazine has to have their own journalist at events. That looks to me like a colossal waste of resources, or maybe it is job creation.

Most news organisations don't have resources to waste anymore. It's about competition, and covering the angles relevant to your readers. Why does each mobile network operator have their own network team? Why do Samsung, LG, BenQ, and other electronics makers use different panels in their monitors rather than combining their research efforts?

You'll also hopefully see in my follow-up to the Microsoft story at 12:00 today that I tried to ask Microsoft the questions MyBroadband readers would have asked.

 

[krycor]

I seriously doubt the telecoms okes are gonna let this fly.. market will be killed, we can't have that!