Barry Downes

Nice video of our latest venture with Bena Roberts - GoMobileSEO!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toayxh8zUpo

Great to be working with you Bena!

Love GoMoNews - http://www.gomonews.com/

GoMobileSEO is signing up key partners right now - contact Bena for more info - the public launch will be at CTIA in San Francisco on September 10 - can't wait.

This is an awesome company!

Posted by Barry Downes at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

MUZU has just gone live to the public in the UK and Ireland.

I've been using MUZU for a week now and it's incredible.

It really advances the state of the art in the delivery of music over the Web.

Well done to Colm and all the guys here in Carriganore for really pushing the boundaries on this
and to Mark, Ciaran, Sarah and all the guys in Dublin. MUZU is truly a triumph.

Try it out for yourself at http://www.muzu.tv

Posted by Barry Downes at 3:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm delighted to wite that one of our spin-offs, ZolkC, won the 'Use of Technology' category at the Museums and Heritage Awards for Excellence, which took place in London last night. The award was presented to ZolkC and the National Trust for Scotland (sponsors) for the Culloden service which went live recently.

Well done Paul and your team! Well deserved!

Micheal and Eamonn were able to join Paul for the awards show last night.

Nice one guys!

Posted by Barry Downes at 6:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From Silicon Republic

Irish firm at spearhead of Oracle's Web 2.0 plans

Waterford-based FeedHenry Ltd is at the forefront of Oracle's spearhead into the telecoms end of the burgeoning Web 2.0 marketplace.

Read the full story http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/news.nv?storyid=single%2010888.

So the background to this is that Silicon Republic picked up on a press release that was issued by Oracle last week in San Francisco. A number of similar releases were issued over the past two months to coincide with Oracle events that we attended in Brussels, Mexico and London. None of which were picked up in Ireland and we did not promote them locally. In fact, despite doing these events with Oracle we have been running in stealth mode for the past few months waiting for our launch with Munster at the end of this month and with a key Telecoms Operator shortly after. The Munster launch will demonstrate of how we can plug into a publisher or new media company and: enable them to rapidly widgetize their content; enable consumer personalisation; and enable massive cross channel distribution of micro content - in effect enabling the publisher and reader to stay in continuous contact, regardless of whether the reader is hanging out on FaceBook, iGoogle et al, is mobile, or is not even on the Web. Once Munster is live we will be able to offer this as a light-touch, plug-and-play solution that can be live in a matter of days. So we have been saving our publicity for the Irish company launch with the Munster later this month, then the UK launch shortly after, and then the San Francisco launch and office on June 10 (all going to plan :-) ).

Nice write up though by Silicon Republic and of course the Oracle relationship is key to us.

Posted by Barry Downes at 1:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

New WaterHaven development on RTE News http://www.rte.ie/business/2008/0422/waterford_av.html?2365130,null,230 (needs RealPlayer) Plans have been revealed for a Euro 380 million development in Waterford city. The plans include a 32-storey building - twice the size of Liberty Hall in Dublin. The site is the old iron foundry beside the river Suir at Bilberry. The 13-acre site was once home to Waterford Stanley. A development group, led by local businessman William Bolster, wants to build a hotel, apartments, restaurants, shops and a conference centre. But the centrepiece will be glass-fronted a 32-storey building, comprising more offices and apartments. The Water Haven development, if it goes ahead, will provide 400 construction jobs over the next six years. If it gets the planning green light, work could begin as early as next year.

Posted by Barry Downes at 5:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Nubiq (http://www.nubiq.com) have been nominated as a finalist in the ICT Excellence Awards under category - Mobile Technology project of the year award.

Check out Nubiq's new mobile services at http://www.zinadoo.com

For more information on the ICT Excellence Awards see http://www.ictexcellenceawards.ie/default.aspx

More information to follow.

Posted by Barry Downes at 8:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Another award nomination for Culloden centre

The success of the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, which was officially opened last week, continues with the news that it has been shortlisted for another prestigious award.

The STG 9 million centre has already been short listed in this year's Royal Institute of British Architects awards.

Now, it has been announced that the electronic, hand-held battlefield guides which have been introduced at the centre are nominated in the 'Use of Technology' category at the Museums and Heritage Awards for Excellence which take place in London on 8 May.

Using satellite technology, the device automatically provides information on what happened during the battle at strategic points, though a combination of video and audio clips and fact-file data.

Developed by Zolk C, specialist providers of technological learning solutions, the battlefield guide is the most innovative of its kind currently in existence, due to the combination of PDA function with satellite technology and multi media content aimed at the tourism sector.
The Trust's Culloden project co-ordinator and Countryside and Islands Group Manager for the North East and Highlands, Alexander Bennett said:
"Technology is central to the whole concept of our new visitor centre and revamped battlefield at Culloden. We knew that using the latest technology well could really help us achieve our aim to bring the battle to life for our visitors. It is great to receive recognition for these efforts."

Zolk C Director, Bronwen Robinson, said:

"By designing, building, and deploying the new technology, we have created something that has not been done anywhere else in the world. It is truly ground-breaking.

"At the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, our work has already enhanced the route to gaining insight into real Scottish history and the possibilities for application in other tourist, heritage sites and attractions are endless.

"This development definitely has the potential to revolutionise the sightseers' experience. Our award nomination recognises this fact and we are extremely proud of our achievement."

For information about Zolk C, please contact Paul Savage.

Posted by Barry Downes at 8:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The latest spin-out from the TSSG is called ZolkC Ltd., which recently launched an innovative new wireless tourism service for the Culloden Battlefield in Scotland (see Sunday telegraph quote above). Tomorrow the National Trust for Scotland has organised the Grand Opening of the new Culloden Battlefield centre and exhibition - and the new ZolkC service the Culloden Battlefield Guide. A number of us are attending this wonderful event - led by Paul Savage. The Culloden Battlefield Guide. The innovative Battlefield Guide developed by Zolk C Ltd is the world's first GPS triggered electronic guide in use in tourism and heritage sites. With specially created audio, video and supporting illustrations (including key content from the BBC), the multimedia content is triggered automatically as visitors explore Culloden Moor, at their own pace, allowing them to understand and appreciate better what actually happened on 16th April, 1746. Visitors to the exhibition at the new STG 9million Culloden centre can enhance their experience by walking the Moor with the Battlefield Guide. They will receive unobtrusive, location specific multimedia content while they soak up the atmosphere of the battle in situ. Initially in English and Gaelic the guide in time will be available in a range of languages from Spanish to Japanese and will be offered to all those visiting the moor. Why use satellite technology? A key objective of the Culloden project was that the battlefield site should be restored, as close as possible, to that seen by the forces on that fateful day in April 1746. More traditional techniques such as interpretative panels or markers were not felt to be in keeping with the sanctity of the Moor as a war grave. As well as the multimedia content that is automatically triggered addition information is available on a menu that changes depending on the visitor’s position on the battlefield, allowing them to gain a more complete understanding of the events of 16 April, 1746. Who is Zolk C? Zolk C is a new venture based in Waterford, Ireland and Inverness, Scotland. Its remit is to create and operate technology solutions that enable interpreters to deliver a better, more effective user experience at tourism and heritage centres internationally. Zolk C provides full project lifecycle including design, development and management of interpretive solutions. The company is a joint venture between the Telecommunications, Systems and Software Group of the Waterford Institute of Technology – specialists in the research and design of pervasive, mobile technologies – and of Zolk Ltd, an Inverness based company specialising in the design, deployment and management of online services. The Zolk portfolio includes Learning Works, Careers Scotland and UHI Millennium Institute. Zolk C has used their combined expertise to design, develop, deploy and manage the Battlefield Guide for the NTS. For further information contact: Paul Savage, Zolk C Ltd. on +353 51 302923 More more information on the Culloden Battlefield project see www.nts.org.uk/Culloden/Home/

Posted by Barry Downes at 8:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Following on from 3GSM, the TSSG will have three of its cluster companies at the largest US mobile and wireless conference, CTIA Wireless 2008, next week in Las Vegas. They are:
- Nubiq http://www.nubiq.com
- IMS-Stream http://www.ims-stream.com
- FeedHenry http://www.FeedHenry.com

IMS-Stream and FeedHenry will be demonstrating converged IMS and Web 2.0 applications on two stands at the event and Nubiq will be there to meet key partners and customers.

We are all looking forward to wall-to-wall meetings with customers, partners and the other companies at the event. We are also attending the Enterprise Ireland networking reception at the Nine Fine Irishmen on Wed and the Wireless Advisory Board Dinner at the Mandalay Bay on Thursday.

Overall this is an "easier" event than 3GSM - simply because Las Vegas is better set-up to deal with the thousands attending the event, than Barcelona. But also there is a real buzz in the US re IMS / Web 2.0 / mobile 2.0; so we are really looking forward to getting maximum results from this event.

Posted by Barry Downes at 6:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Congratulations to Chris Chedgey and his team at Headway Software http://www.headwaysoftware.com for winning the JOLT (http://www.joltawards.com/jolts) Productivity Award for their Structure101 product. Some of the research that resulted in Structure101 was done in partnership with the TSSG http://www.tssg.org and we’re extremely proud of our contribution to this award.

Many more successes to you and your team Chris.

Posted by Barry Downes at 5:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)