Top tech cos join hands to launch 'Internet.Org'

Seven of the world’s tech giants (Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm and Samsung) collaborated to launch Internet.org with an aim to make Internet access affordable for people across the globe.

• The initiative will be headed by Facebook Founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

What is “Internet.org” ?

• Internet.org is an initiative of Facebook and six other technology giants, namely Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm and Samsung.
• The partners will collaborate towards developing lower-cost, higher-quality smartphones and deploying Internet access in undeserved communities.
• The endeavour is to overcome current challenges, including developing technologies that make mobile connectivity more affordable and decrease the cost of delivering data to people worldwide.
• The partners will develop joint projects, share knowledge, and mobilise industry and governments to bring the world online.
• Focus will be on developing technologies that make mobile connectivity more affordable and decrease the cost of delivering data to people worldwide.
• Sharing tools, resources and best practices, Internet.org partners will explore solutions in three major opportunity areas: affordability, efficiency, and business models.

In order to achieve its goal of connecting the two-thirds of the world who are not yet online, internet.org will focus on three key challenges in developing countries:

1. Making access affordable (Affordability)
2. Using data more efficiently (Efficiency)
3. Helping businesses drive access (Business Models)

AFFORDABILITY
No one should have to choose between access to the internet and food or medicine. Internet.org partners will join forces to develop technology that decreases the cost of delivering data to people worldwide, and helps expand internet access in underserved communities.
EFFICIENCY
Transmitting data—even a text message or a simple web page—requires bandwidth, something that’s scarce in many parts of the world. Partners will invest in tools and software to improve data compression capabilities and make data networks and services run more efficiently.
BUSINESS MODELS
Connecting billions of people will be a massive global effort that requires ongoing innovation. Developers, mobile operators and device manufacturers will work together to introduce business models that give people more ways to go online.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2013

Category: Science & Technology Current Affairs