Economic Stimulus For Wireless: Investment In The Future

Green tech.  Petro Independence.  Infrastructure.  Education.  Healthcare.  I heard broadband in there somewhere. 

Well, I have to say that I'm a bit torn.  I like to see wireless technology expanded more.  In my limited knowledge about "the last mile" about getting broadband into every  home in America, I am making the assumption that wireless technology would be cheaper than tearing up concrete and running wires. 

Still, the cost of the stimulus package I'm reading about on the Internet is mind-boggling.  I know the Democrats are trying to keep the stimulus package under the $1T.  That's right, folks.  One Trillion.  $1,000,000,000,000.  A thousand billion.  A million million.  One followed by two zeros.  So, they're looking at $750 billion at the low-end and trying to keep it under $850 billion at the high-end.  So, if that's going to happen, where does wireless technology and wireless broadband rollout fit into all this?

President-elect Obama has mentioned putting aside money for broadband deployment.  It figures largely into his education, healthcare, and other efforts to streamline the government.  And I applaud that effort but every telecom and cable lobbyists will try to get into the equation and end up making a mess of things.  I suppose it's the nature of the beast and the cost of doing business with the government involved. 

I just hope when the final bill comes across President Obama's desk in January, it's broadband, be it wireless or not, done right for mobile warriors, not telecom overlords.

Link:  Speed Matters, Ars Technica

Former Soviet Republic First To Offer Mobile Voting

I've never been to Europe let alone eastern Europe.  So I don't know what conditions are like in Poland and the other former Iron Curtain satellites. 

And i doubt seriously that I'll ever be visiting any former Soviet republics but after learning about Estonia letting their citizens vote in national elections through their mobile devices, that just blew me away.

First in the world.  Certainly one for the history books (and Wikipedia).  Now, I've wondered often why we have not implemented such a system.  As a democratic society, this is the sort of thing that we want to advance, allowing for greater voter participation.

And not just for mobile voting but just good old fashion online voting through any computer, laptop, Blackberry, iPhone, or whatever mobile devices are on the market.

After all, we have people banking relatively safely online for years now and it simple makes sense that people should be able to vote at home, on the go, or wherever else they might be if they only have their mobile device with them.

Now, there is a sense of tradition on voting at a polling booth in the Sun of california, Wintery weathers of the Northeast, and the farmlands of the Midwest and I'm sure those polling places will continue to exist.  

But if you're looking for voter turnout, this is just the way to go.  Start the online voting two weeks before election to give the nation enough time to cast its votes.  Debate will continue as some folks will wait for the last minute as candidates and their running mates hope from swing state to swing state.  It'll only be better for democracy.

I am just curious if anyone has heard about mobile voting and, if so, how far along we are.

via Engadget 

VP Pick Via Text Messaging

Just want to pass this along.  Regardless if whether you're are a Senator Barack Obama supporter or a Senator John McCain supporter, this is kind of exciting and as far as we know, the first.  


Senator Obama, the presumptive Presidential nominee from the Democratic Party, has decided on his running mate but is trying to keep it a secret and wants only YOU to know first.  You and thousands if no millions of folks who signed up with his campaign on the Internet to receive updates through text messaging.


The name of his VP candidate will be text out in the next 24 hours.  If you're interested in this historic occasion, you can sign up to get the text message here.


It's just something to do if you've got nothing else going on this weekend...you're chilling by the pool and bleep!  You pick up your Sidekick, iPhone, and/or Blackberry.  Oh, Obama pick...

Update (12:50PM PST):  There are going to be quite a few updates between now and then.  All of them fake.  Look at the address to make sure you're getting the real thing.  CNN reports.

Note:  Onxo is not endorsing anyone.  But from a mobile stand point, this is just a glimpse of what the future will be like in politics.  Want to vote with your mobile device one day and forget about those hackable election boxes?  Could happen!

Politics in Mobility: The McCain Technology Platform

On Sunday, we shared our views making broadband access through the country.  We don't endorse a particular path regarding mobile broadband but we do believe it is essential.

On that note, CNet News has reported that Arizona Senator John McCain's Presidential campaign has issued its technology platform.  It's a worthy read but as to what these statements mean in practice, we won't ever know until it happens, will we?  I glanced at the post and the text of the platform and it is very pro-business, if that's your cup of tea.

Here are the main points:

• Promise to protect intellectual property.
• Keep out regulation.
• Commits to fair and open trade.
• Encourage Investment - clouded with some stuff about capital gains and corporate taxes.  I'm good with lower cap gains taxes but it doesn't make me want to invest more.  It makes me happy I can keep more.  But I'm small fry.
• R&D tax credit to be made permanent.
• First-year expense of new equipment and tech.
• Keep taxation from the Internet.  Unfortunately, it doesn't say anything about the states.  
• Foster a competitive workforce.

Here are a few of particular interests to mobile warriors:

• Wants consumer freedom to choose.  "free to use the applications and services they choose; free to attach devices they choose, if they do not harm the network; and free to chose among broadband service providers."
• Opposes higher taxes on wireless services.  Here is what's important.  The campaign opposses " new state and local discriminatory taxes and fees on wireless services".  
• Will fully fund America Competes Act.  Retrain displaced workers and changes to the community college system.  Targeted programs for minorities and low-income students.  Grants for wireless technology.

And hey!  Guess what?  We're on the same page when it comes to connectivity.  The McCain campaign believes a connected America (we think a wirelessly connected America) is important to "solving the problems of health care, immigration, climate change, and energy dependence all require connecting our citizens to a world-class network".  

Obviously, it sounds great on paper but if Senator McCain does win in November, he will likely have a powerful Democratic Congress to contend with.  Let's hope his past ability to work across the isle translates into a White House leadership in bipartisan efforts to offer 21st Century technology and education for America.  

Here is the link to Senator John McCain's technology platform.  Senator McCain of Arizona is the presumptive Republican nominee for the forty-fourth President of the United States.  

Later this week, we'll bring you the technology platform from the presumptive Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois.  

Note:  Onxo will never pick one side over another unless we notice positions or policies that are blatantly contrary to the benefits of mobile  and Web users.  And we're not going to see that during an election year from either side.  Suffice to say, we believe there is a balanced policy that can weigh the interests of wireless providers against those of consumers.  


I guess one want to figure out who's best for mobile warriors is to see who's using a Blackberry or iPhone.  Yeah, okay.  Not funny.  Sorry...