My Thoughts on Technology and Jamaica: Suggested low cost high impact Launch of Digicel WiMax 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network and DigiTV

Suggested low cost high impact Launch of Digicel WiMax 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network and DigiTV

The BEST way to Launch the new Digicel Broadband and DigiTV is as follows:

1. NOT to Launch like LIME and CLARO, who all selectively launched in Kingston, Montego Bay and other selected areas. Instead, best to Launch island wide all at once with a fully functional and fully tested WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network, so as to give everyone a chance to try out the Network and to emphasize that fact that Jamaica is one country, and no customer is more special than the other, which is a good marketing tool to use against CLARO, which is yet to connect on a local level with Jamaican customers.

2. Launch using Netbooks pre-loaded with Linux Ubuntu or Google Chrome OS as these are Open Source operating systems and are effectively license free. This gives Digicel product a more unique appearance, as Open Source is virtually secure and free from hacker and virus attacks as well as promoting Open Source as a cheaper alternative to Windows. Additionally the Google Chrome OS uses Google Applications which are based on cloud computing, which makes use of the Modems also sold as well, but greater emphasis on Netbooks. Additionally, fixed modems at home that utilize the underutilized WiMaX 4G Fixed (IEEE 802.16a). Also can preload applications like OpenOffice and Penguin for users to use.

3. Netbooks should include the driver software for the WiMaX modem should the user decided to reinstall the operating system as well as software should be provided to allow the ser the option to dual boot. By making the Netbook customizable, it will become popular with not just students but everyone include non-tech persons who like the internet and will be attracted to the Netbooks "kawaii" factor.

4. Digicel should offer a service by which a customer on a plan can customize the physical outer appearance of their modem i.e. change the shell exterior

5. Plans similar to those in the Cayman Islands with contacts. Suggested contracts should be a bundling of the service with the laptop/modem.

a. 1 year Contract, pay US$100 and get a Netbook preloaded with Ubuntu, Google Chrome or any customizable operating system of your choice as specified above with the option to dual boot

b. 2 year Contract, the Netbook is free and preloaded with Ubuntu, Google Chrome or any customizable operating system of your choice as specified above with the option to dual boot

To Launch the product, a Logo Competition is being suggested.

Digicel needs to start a Logo Competition among its customers to make them feel that they are able to customize the look a feel of the new Digicel WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network, Digicel Intunes, Digicel Brown Dawg Social Network and Digicel Hive and DigiTV all at the same time, which is cost effective.

This Competition to Design should follow the rules and regulations as it relates to Competitions of this nature. The winner gets a cash prize, a Netbook with a two (2) years Contract free from Digicel and a free pass to the Digicel Launch of Digicel WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network and DigiTV at the National Stadium, since Digicel WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network can be used to facilitate DigiTV.

The Launch event is best held at the National Stadium and all persons below the age of 18 are free to enter. Digicel will do the ads on Television Jamaica Limited in which customers are invited to purchase tickets to the event by topping up with JA$500 or simply by joining Digicel Intunes and then Brown Dawg Mobile Social Network as detailed in the following blog articles:

1. “Brown Dawg, a Mobile Social Network based on Mobile phones”

2. “Brown Dawg and A So di Ting Set - An API tool for User preferences and avoid backlash”, “Brown Dawg and I spy Rewards - Geo-Location rewards system for Mobile Social Networking”

3. “Brown Dawg and Se'et Deh - Behavioural Targeted Marketing Ads”

Then Digicel would send them a SMS with the word “Launch” via SMS with a Ticket receipt number. The date of the Launch is kept secret until Digicel sends out a SMS to all persons who originally had sent in an SMS to the 444- gateway number or via the new CoreTalk Communications Limited SMS Platform as per my blog article entitled “Telecom Providers and SMS - CoreTalk, Raiders of the Lost Ark”

This is advising them of when and where to go to collect their Glow-in-the-Dark ID bracelets, Glow-in-the-Dark Digicel Broadband shirt with winning Logo Design and free Raffle Ticket for a chance to win a Netbook pre-loaded with Open Source Software.

Currently Walt Disney has a contact with Tuff Gong to distribute Walt Disney paraphernalia in Jamaica as stated in the article “The Lion and the Mouse join Forces - Tuff Gong signs distributuion Deal with Disney”, published: Sunday September 13, 2009, The Jamaica Gleaner. Digicel can, via Tuff Gong or directly seeking Disney executives, get the following artists to sing ALL of their songs at the Digicel Broadband Launch:

1. Demi Lovato

2. Selena Gomez

3. Miley Cyrus

4. The Jonas Brothers.

5. All Disney Artiste

This is highly recommended, as these artists not only have a strong following among high school students but also among UWI and UTECH students as well, as their style of music i.e. Pop / Rock “n” Roll, is gaining in popularity with young people, the principal target market for any new Digicel and Disney Product, especially in a Recession as per the YouTube link “Send it on - Disney Channel Project Green”. Other artists are invited to perform, such as artiste from Digicel Rising Stars.

The flag ship song for the Digicel Broadband service should be Rihanna’s “Shut up and Drive” as it epitomizes adventure and a desire for speed which Digicel Broadband provides. Chris “Ludacris” Bridge from “2 Fast 2 Furious” would also be a good fit. It would be a good idea also to have them as well as local artists who sing clean music to perform at the Launch. Strongly suggested would be an artiste lineup who sing Pop music and Rock n Roll e.g. Pink, Green Day, Avril Lavange, Linkin Park, etc.

Use of Remote controlled airplanes fitted with mini cameras that can be connected to the WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network using a mini WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) package custom built by Intel, thus allowing the user/flyer to fly the airplanes around New Kingston using the street in New Kingston as a landing strip for both landing, takeoff to fly to the National Stadium, fly right around the island and land again in New Kingston.

The planes will be controlled via the WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network i.e. flight as well as transmission of video back to the flyer, who will be allowed to fly the airplane without actually seeing their airplanes, instead of by using AM frequencies, as these have range of one hundred (100) feet.

Planes would be branded with logos and advertising paraphernalia from various sponsors, much in the same way racing cars are branded by sponsors. This would help to offset the cost of staging this Promotional event to Launch the WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network, Digicel Intunes , Digicel Brown Dawg Social Network and Digicel Hive and DigiTV all at the same time, which is cost effective.

The use of remote controlled airplanes will not only demonstrate the reliability of the mobile versions of the WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network, but also the ability to remotely control the airplane via the same WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network. Theoretically with a large enough fuel package on the airplane (they use ethanol, another marketing push to indicate that Digicel is all about Green, which is now popular with persons of all ages) these planes could fly right around the island

The Promotion would be over a week with the remote controlled airplane pilots driving in their vehicles and flying the airplanes around the island and stopping at towns inland wide to promote the service with the Digicel Team Bus which will also be carrying the promotional team to set up in each town to promote the new WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network Service and sign up customers. Television Jamaica Limited should provide exclusive live and delayed coverage or the week long events

For the entire week, the National Stadium can be rented to promote the different services that WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network has to offers customers as well as to serve as an on the spot market for phones and Netbooks that use the WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network.

Post each day’s events on Youtube, Facebook and Twitter channels designated for the WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network to allow everyone worldwide to follow the events in Jamaica and have clips shown on every TV station in the Caribbean and Worldwide.

The Seventh Day would end with a the planes returning back to the National Stadium, a fireworks display all night long along with music from the artiste who came to Jamaica to perform and the unveiling of the new Digicel WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network Logo based on the Logo Competition launched by Digicel as a part of the re-branding for Digicel WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network Launch.

Digicel can also launch their promotional show to promote the WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network for the rest of the year called Digicel J’Anime, an Animation Competition as described in my blog article entitled “J'Anime Competition - An Avenue to Fame for Animators”.

Sales of the WiMaX 4G Fixed (IEEE 802.16a) modems, WiMaX 4G Mobile(IEEE 802.16d) modems and Netbooks enabled with built in WiMaX 4G Mobile(IEEE 802.16d) modems should begin in earnest at all Digicel Stores island wide at the same exact time to encourage purchasing on Contract Plans. Signing-up should also commence for Digicel Intunes ,Digicel Brown Dawg Social Network and Digicel Hive and DigiTV, all at the same time, which is cost effective so as to be competitive with LIME 3G and CLARO 3G.

After the Digicel WiMaX 4G Mobile (IEEE 802.16d) Broadband Network has achieved 90% coverage of the island, the RJR Communications Group and the CVM Communications Group, both Radio and Television, can achieve DSO (Digital Switch Over) as stated in the article “Slow road to Digital Switch-Over - Cable groups mum; FLOW ahead but Network coverage behind”, published: Saturday August 15, 2009 by Mark Titus, Business Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner.

A similar concept is described in my blog articles:

1. “Road to Damascus experience to make Broadcasters see DSO Benefits”

2. “Public Awareness Program for Broadcasters "Frequency squatting" on spectrum”

3. “Piracy Solution via MNP, DSO and legislation”

4. “MAJ Dual Dilemma - Antiquated Legislation and DSO”

5. “Google TV and DSO - An Example of How a set top box for TVJ and CVM can be built”

6. “3-D anti-piracy technology to thwart Digital Video Piracy”

7. “Radio Stations and their Playlists - Dungeons and Dragons”

Other VAS (Value Added Services) to be introduced over time include:

1. VoIP (Voice over IP)

2. Data Backup and File Transfer Services using Digicel’s Datacenter

3. Video Calling