Google to launch built-in job search, free WiFi stations for Filipinos

MANILA – Google Philippines on Wednesday introduced a built-in job search feature which aims to make finding opportunities easier by collating lists from different platforms and websites across the internet.

“Jobs on Google Search” brings together listings from across the web, the Philippine unit of the global tech firm said during its Google for Philippines event held Wednesday.

It will feature listing from the Department of Labor and Employment, Civil Service Commission, Kalibrr, Jobayan and Jobs Cloud, the company said.

It also has “smart filters” such as job type, location, posting date and company type giving jobseekers customized results.

“This experience will be unique because we surface diverse job postings from hundreds of websites,” said Google Asia-Pacific Product Partnerships manager Stacie Chan.

“We’ve already helped connect over 100 million people in many countries to job listings, and we’re really excited about the impact it will bring to Filipinos,” she said.

Over half a million job listings await Filipinos once it becomes available in the next few weeks, Google Philippines said.

The new feature will be available for desktop and mobile and for both Android and iOS devices.

Google Philippines also partnered with Smart to launch Google Station, a platform that will provide free and high quality WiFi hotspots in areas with heavy traffic such as airports, markets, malls and bus stations.

Google Stations will be available in more than 50 locations including airports in Manila, Clark and Davao and in LRT 2 and MRT 3 stations by the end of the month, the company said.

“Access to information plays a great role in the everyday lives of people. It creates opportunities for individuals and businesses to learn and grow and that is why we want to bring high quality internet to more Filipinos across the country and create positive impact on their lives," said global director for Next Billion Users Partnership Mahesh Bhalerao.

Google Go was also introduced on Wednesday, developed for first time internet users, said Google Group Product manager for Search Simon Tokumine.

It has an easy to use first time user interface and is light on storage data at only 5 MB for download, Google said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Why smartphone-carrying Pinoys flock to wifi zones

MANILA -- "Expensive" prices of mobile Internet and weak telecommunications infrastructure restrict the growth in the usage of such feature in smartphones in the country, TNS said on Tuesday.

In its Mobile Life 2013 survey, TNS found that 51% of Philippine respondents perceive mobile data rates as "still too expensive", Joseph Webb, head of digital at TNS Greater China, said in a briefing in Makati.

"There's actually quite a big gap between those who can afford to access the Internet when they want to and those who are very careful about it," Webb said.

"It doesn't mean they don't do anything [on their smartphones]...It just means they do a little bit less than they would otherwise," he continued.

Thus, Filipinos owning smartphones are more keen in using public wi-fi due to high prices of mobile Internet and as the telco infrastructure are also found to be lacking, Webb said.

"Fifty-seven percent [of Filipino respondents] said free wi-fi has encouraged them to use data to communicate," Webb said.

The study showed 53% of Filipinos own a smartphone, mostly used for sending text messages, listening to music, taking photos and videos, and playing games.

"Some people, they do more entertainment activities... particularly because they don't have a separate camera or separate game console," Webb explained.

Looking at the Philippines, a key trend seen is the shift to using "Internet on the go", Webb said.

"Mobile is still the world's must-have device...This is a huge opportunity for branded services and gives you new ways to engage," he recounted.

TNS Mobile Life 2013 surveyed 38,000 respondents, 500 of which were from Metro Manila. Data gathering was done between November last year to January this year.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Want free city-wide Wi-Fi? Consider moving to Makati

MANILA, Philippines — Free Wi-Fi everywhere in the city? As the successful campaign propaganda of its former mayor — and now the country’s vice president — said, “Ganito kami sa Makati.”

The City Government of Makati announced on Thursday an ambitious initiative to blanket the entire city with Wi-Fi Internet connection — the first in the country — as part of a triumvirate of technology projects aiming to bring better public service to citizens of the country’s financial capital.

The rollout began at the seat of government in Makati, the city hall, which now offers free wireless Internet connection to residents and companies transacting with the local government powered by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.’s (PLDT) Wi-Fi Zone offering.

The project, unveiled in time for Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay’s 35th birthday on Thursday, will see 33 other barangays connected to the Web wirelessly thanks to the city’s partnership with PLDT and other telecom companies.

But before you go and pack your stuff to move to another city, Binay clarified that the IT initiative is still at its most nascent stages, with the local government eyeing pilot tests in two barangays to see how the rollout of Wi-Fi would pan out.

“Of course, there are cost considerations,” Binay told InterAksyon. “Medyo malaki ang gagastusin. At hindi pa rin naman namin nakikita kung ano ang magiging epekto nito, so gusto muna naming i-pilot sa ilang barangay (The cost is relatively large. And we also have to see what the effect will be, so first we want to pilot the project in some barangay) and we’ll pick it up from there.”

Currently existing, the young mayor said, is a fiber loop infrastructure within the city that would eventually be used as a backbone should the eventual city-wide rollout of the wireless Internet project takes place.

The fast Internet connection will also be used in monitoring certain government processes, such as business registration within the city. Right now, Binay said they are looking into implementing a tracking system for the application of business permits, so that they can pinpoint where in the entire process bottlenecks — and often, corruption — occur.

“One key reason for that is to ease the conduct of business within our city,” the Makati mayor said, admitting that they have not fared well in this area in recent years. “Though we have about 40,000 business establishments here, we hope to increase that by making it easy for them to file their business permits.”

Initially, the wireless Internet access will be used in ensuring that government transactions are done smoothly and conveniently, but Binay said he is eyeing distribution of prepaid cards to students of Makati so they can log on to the Internet to help in their studies.

In conjunction with the wireless connectivity project launch, the Makati City government likewise unveiled its own Twitter account, @MakatiTraffic, which will give commuters and motorists updates about the traffic situation in Makati.

Notorious for its traffic jams especially during rush hours, Makati’s first foray into social media aims to provide “real-time information and advisories” to road users, particularly in major road arteries that cut through the city.

Also presented during Thursday’s event was the revitalized Makati website (http://www.makati.gov.ph), which makes finding information about the city’s services and attractions easier with just a click of a button.

Binay, who claimed to be a firm believer in the use of technology in furthering public service, said such initiatives “will make governance more efficient” and would reduce the proverbial red-tape as well as incidents of corruption within the city government.

“We recognize that embracing modern technology is the fastest way to achieve inclusive progress and equitable growth in this age of globalization,” he added.

source: interaksyon.com

Free Wi-Fi Access For Passengers

MANILA, Philippines — Travelers using the four airport terminals in Manila can now enjoy free wireless-fidelity (WIFI) connectivity following the official launch of Globe Telecom’s free Internet service at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Tuesday.

The free WIFI enables both departing and arriving passengers in all airport terminals including the domestic airport, to work online, check emails or travel itineraries, and surf the net while at the airport.

The service was launched during simple ceremonies held at the arrival lobby with Globe Telecom officials headed by International and Business Markets Head Gil Genio and International Business Group Head Rizza Maniego-Eala and NAIA Assistant General Manager for Emergency and Security Services Maj. Gen. Vicente Guerzon in attendance.

According to Genio, the free WiFi service will be enjoyed by both arriving and departing passengers at the NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3, as well as the Manila Domestic Airport.

Relocation

The government may relocate some international flights from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 to Terminal 3, once the latter is fully operational to prevent decongestion.

Transportation Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said that they are planning to relocate 1.5 to 2 million users of NAIA Terminal 1 to Terminal 3 as soon as the remaining 48 percent of unutilized area of Terminal 3 is fixed and ready for use.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) is currently in discussion with Japanese contractor Takenaka Corporation for the construction of 23 systems that are lacking in NAIA Terminal 3 to make it fully operational. (Kris Bayos)

Terminal Fee

Short of saying that there will be no terminal fee increase in the near future, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Jose Angel Honrado said Tuesday that any increase in airport fees will be triggered only by specific needs or objectives and added that it will have to undergo the normal process of getting the board approval and public hearings.

source: mb.com.ph

Samsung Revolutionizes Travel Photography with Wi-Fi Enabled Long-Zoom Series

MANILA, Philippines — Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. recently announced the launch of a new range of Wi-Fi enabled travel zoom cameras.

The WB850F, WB150F, and ST200F cameras enhance the advanced optical zoom and image quality that the WB line of cameras are known for, with Wi-Fi capability to facilitate sharing and saving images – wherever users are in the world. Housed in compact, light and durable bodies, the new zoom series from Samsung make the perfect travel companions.

Samsung’s innovative new SMART Wi-Fi technology aims to change the way consumers take pictures, share and store them. With the new Samsung SMART long-zoom cameras, users no longer have to worry about unearthing a tangle of cables to transfer their images over to their hard drive by using the Auto Backup function.

They can also take advantage of integrated free storage space from Samsung’s AllShare Play and Microsoft Sky Drive to make their photo accessible anywhere.

One of the best parts of discovering new places and cultures is sharing experiences with friends and family back home. With the Wi-Fi capability of the new Samsung SMART long-zoom cameras, sharing is quicker and easier than ever. From any Wi-Fi hotspot, users can email photos or share them on social networks such as Facebook and Picasa or post videos to YouTube in a few simple steps.

The WB850F also uses GPS features and Live Landmark to enhance the user’s journeys, enabling them to download maps and find out information on nearby locations with the touch of a button. The camera’s Digital Compass can also give users their location and tell them how far they are from certain locations, while the MapView function allows users to download maps and use their camera to help explore new cities.

Similar to their WB predecessors, the WB850F, WB150F and ST200F make it easy to capture incredible detail through their zoom lenses, making it simple to get up-close shots that were once out of reach. The WB850F features a 21x optical zoom – Samsung’s best yet.

The WB150F features an impressive 18x optical super zoom and the ST200F includes a 10x optical zoom lens. In order to capture the detail at its best, all travel zoom models feature upwards of 12 Megapixel sensors (16.2 Megapixels on the WB850F and 14.2 Megapixels on the WB150F). The WB850F also features pioneering BSI CMOS sensor technology to reduce image noise and distortion, even in low light conditions. This crystal-clear detail can then be experienced in all its clarity on the 3.0” VGA AMOLED screen featured on both models.

“Taking photographs and sharing them with friends and family is one of the most enjoyable aspects of travelling,” said Myoungsup Han, Senior Vice President and Head of Digital Imaging Business at Samsung Electronics. “It’s about more than simply capturing memories – it’s an integral part of the experience itself."

source: mb.com.ph

PLDT extends free Cebu WiFi

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) has extended its free wifi access to Cebu-based landline and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscribers after successfully implementing the service during the Sinulog Festival.

The PLDT WiFi Zones roll out in Cebu was the first outdoor wifi service implemented in the country, with each access point allowing Internet users connection speeds of up to 1mbps.

PLDT WiFi Zones were initially set up to allow users free online access in several key areas during the Sinulog festival but this free service will be extended until the end of the month.

The PLDT WiFi Zones were made accessible on Gen. Maxilom Avenue, Gorordo to Fuente Osmeña Circle, Osmeña Boulevard, Portions of N. Bacalso Avenue and P. del Rosario, the Cebu City Sports Center, Cebu City Hall, Provincial Capitol, Magellan's Cross and Plaza Independencia.

"With the unveiling of the PLDT WiFi Zones during Sinulog, locals and guests alike were able to connect online and share their experiences on the streets as they happen,” says PLDT Head of Cebu Operations Bong Lintag.

“The access points for the wifi service were right where the festivities are centered," he explained. But now, "We've decided to extend the free period to allow people who were not able to experience the free wifi access during the Sinulog a chance to have a feel of the connection speeds in the covered areas."

Attendees of the festival were able to post photos and videos of the festivities as these were happening on the streets.

Located in Cebu's leading commercial districts and tourist sites, access points set up can accommodate more unique users at a time as more access points are deployed in other areas.

“This value-added service is an extension of our customers’ broadband service at home carrying with it the same strong connections that they experience with Mydsl and Fibr. Wherever it is available, users will get to enjoy fast, reliable wifi service in popular locations throughout the city,” noted PLDT Retail Business Group Head Dan Ibarra.

source: mb.com.ph