Why New Telecom Provider coming to Jamaica may be using White Space Spectrum

Looks like Digicel and FLOW are finally getting some competition.

This as a Third Telecom Provider is coming to Jamaica as reported in the article “Jamaica is soon to get another Telecom Provider”, published May 3 2016, The Jamaica Gleaner.

 

So says Finance Minister Audley Shaw during a Standing Finance Committee of Parliament on Tuesday May 3^rd 2016. He was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Dr. Andrew Wheatley.

Interestingly according to Minister of Finance Audley Shaw, this Telecom Provider has been in the island with a provisional license for the past two (2) years operating unknown to the Jamaican Public.

This is a follow-on of an announcement made by the previous Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Phillip Paulwell in January 2016 as it relates to considering an incumbent Telecom Provider for a Cellular license as reported in the article “CabinetConsidering Application for New Cellular Licence”, published January 28, 2016 By Chris Patterson, The Jamaica Information Service.

Finally, we’ll be catching up with Guyana as GTT and Digicel Guyana plan to launch 4G LTE in that country by Thursday May 26^th 2016, Guyana National Independence Day as predicted in my Geezam blog article entitled “Digicel and GTT 80 Mbps 4G LTE in Guyana hints at August 2016 Launch in Jamaica”. 

So who is this mysterious Telecom Provider?

Telecom Provider may be using White Space Spectrum – Conditions right for competition

Not sure who it is, but a clue fell into my lap on Sunday May 1^st 2016 when this ad appeared in the Sunday Gleaner.

 

Telecoms Implementation Services Limited is a contractor that does provisioning on behalf of a Telecom Provider. The fact that they put out this ad and coincidentally two (2) days later Finance

Minister Audley Shaw makes the announcement is no coincidence. Also, I suspect, based on my sources that the Telecom Provider may be using White Space Frequencies, those bands in-between NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) signal to provide their services.

My sources, who drop me information ever so often, pointed out to me that Digicel is using the 700 MHz band and FLOW is using the 1700 MHz and 2100 MHz AWS bands to provide their 4G LTE service respectively as I've pointed out in my blog article entitled “Why FLOW Jamaica's 4G LTE Upgrade to counter Digicel Play needs islandwide LTE, VDSL and DOCSIS 3.1”. 

White Space frequencies area the only spectrum left clear that can potential provide 4G speeds of 80 Mbps and faster that are available. The presence of unlocked smartphones in the form of Huawei, Number portability as noted in my blog article entitled “Huawei and Lasco to sell Unlocked dual-SIM smartphones - Why Number Portability means Open Market for unlocked smartphone” makes Jamaica very attractive to potential investors.

Ditto too the presence of Local IXP (Internet Exchange Point) as explained in my blog article entitled “Jamaica's Local Internet Exchange Point - Why IXP makes browsers load faster and Jamaican Domain Name Registration easier”.

 

So it may come as surprise that Microsoft is testing out our White Space Spectrum.

Microsoft testing White Space Spectrum in Jamaica – Laying a coming Telecom Provider groundwork

This as Microsoft has been in the island testing out Broadband Data Transmission with these White Space Spectrum using Park Hall Primary and Infant School in Trout Hall, Clarendon as their guinea pig as described in my blog article entitled “How White Space Testing by Microsoft at Park Hall Primary and Infant School heralds 80 MBps Competition in Jamaica”.

They may have been doing so for the past two (2) years, as Microsoft has been in Jamaica for quite awhile. They've been in India testing out White Space spectrum for broadband since 2014 as noted in the article “Microsoft to Bring Free Internet to India Using TV 'White Space'”, published November 11, 2014  by Anthony Cuthbertson, International Business Times of India.

Microsoft has since run into regulatory problems with the Indian Government doesn't like the idea of Microsoft potentially becoming a Telecom Provider using free spectrum as noted in the article “Microsoft's plan to connect billions using 'White Space' runs into trouble”, published February 24, 2016, By Rajiv Rao, ZDNet. 

Despite accusations by the Indian Government, Microsoft isn't planning on entering the Telecom Provider business. The same may be true in Jamaica as I suspect they're just testing and mapping the available White Space Spectrum and reporting their findings to the SMA (Spectrum Management Authority). 

So the new Telecom Provider is still unknown but it's a strong possibility they'll be using White Spaces spectrum. It'll be interesting to see who they may be and if White Space spectrum will feature in their Telecoms Service.

How Tastemates Dating App is Facebook Likes with Tinder Bot-Collected Metadata

“We’re trying to codify serendipity” — those surprising moments of, “Oh my God, I can’t believe anyone else likes that as much as I do!”

Tastemates CEO Jon Vlassopulos describing how his revolutionary dating App works

One man's meat is another man’s poison. So what happens when you and someone else share the same poison?

Then you start a mobile Social Network called Tastemates for people with similar tastes in food, movies and TV shows as reported in the article “Tastemates helps you find people who like what you like”, published 05 May 2016 by Anthony Ha, Techcrunch.

The Tastemates App, available on both the Apple iTunes Store and the Google Play Store, is what would happen if's Tinder API had sex with Facebooks Likes Database  

Instead of swiping to like/dislike based on facial profiles, your quizzed by a built in bot about what you like and dislike a lot like fashion chatbot purchase by Kik Messenger called  Blynk as reported in my blog article entitled “Kik buys Blynk - Why chatbots are the future of music and shopping”.

So how does Tastemates work?

Tastemates dating is based on likes - Facebook Likes bot in an App as birds of a feather flock together

This App sounds like an idea I posted on Facebook as a response to a NowThis video which I found ironically on Facebook on Monday April 2^nd 2016 at 7:42 a.m.

That video was made by German food brand Knorr, who paired people based on their tastes in food. The idea was that people had a deeper connection if they had the taste in food, as that implies similar thinking but on a more sub-conscious level. It seemed to have worked, as many of the participants have even gone on a second date.

And as you can see, I suggested that some developers need to come together and make this into an App.

Tastemates does something similar, but with more data from everything you like, not just food.

The App learns from your swiping, it'll recommended other things that it thinks you may like while serving you up with a side-dish of other people who have similar tastes. In other worse, you don’t choose the person you date or you are not matches based on what you're looking for in a partner.

Rather, the App matches you to other based purely on liking similar things, in keeping with the adage “birds of a feather flock together”. Even better, you can filter through the people that the App recommends have similar tastes in terms of food, movie, TV show, music.

This filtering is based on age and gender and is very granular. Even the updates for new persons can be gauged manually using slider that determines the percentage similarity you have with someone.

In short, all very hands-on!

Future of Apps is built in Bots – App Match made in Heaven based on Bot-collected metadata

But trust me, if you and someone connect on the level of liking the same things, their age should matter much.

The secret of a good dating App is about making that connection as more people of all ages are searching for love as pointed out in my MICO Wars blog article entitled “How Jamaican can use Dating Apps to find a Lover”. 

This may be the future of Apps; bots built in that match you to a product by parsing metadata collected from conversing with you or with you doing an interactive survey.

Something tell me Facebook may already be planning a retaliatory strike against this start-up using their Facebook Likes Database but using bots instead as noted in Geezam blog article entitled “How FB Messenger Ads means Chess playing Chatbots with Fast Food Coupons”.

Oh, and I'm STILL looking for a developer for my unique App idea, specific to Jamaica......

Here’s the link:

Tastemates on Apple iTunes Store

Tastemates on Google Play Store

How to find work in Jamaica at Call Centers - LMIS Website, Education, Entrepreneurial grants, Jobs in Call Centers and Tourism

“For persons, who are struggling to finance themselves, this programme is geared towards assisting you,”

Senior Labour Market Analyst in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Shaine Palmer at the ‘Life After Fifth Form’ career development exercise at the Holy Trinity High School in Kingston on Thursday, April 28 2016

Millennials and young people trolling my blog looking for work in Jamaica; are you a volunteer?

If you are then according to Ministry of Labour and Social Security there are education and entrepreneurial grants waiting for you as reported in the article “Labour ministry urges youth to take up education, entrepreneurial grants”, published Saturday, April 30, 2016, The Jamaica Observer.

This was revealed at the ‘Life After Fifth Form’ career development exercise at the Holy Trinity High School in Kingston on Thursday, April 28^th 2016 by Senior Labour Market Analyst in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Shaine Palmer.

These education and entrepreneurial grants will allow high school students in Grade 11 and Grade 12, basically Form 5 and Form 6 as well as at the Tertiary (UWI and UTECH peeps!) to access funding to pursue higher education or establish small businesses

However, to get the educational grants, you have to have a volunteering spirit in order to qualify:

1.      30 hours of volunteer service at a golden age home

2.      30 hours of volunteer service at a children’s home

3.      30 hours of volunteer service at an infirmary

The Entrepreneurial grants from the JBDC (Jamaica Business Development Corporation) are also just as rigorous, with participants being required to do rigorous training and then create a business plan.

Lack of a credible business plan is the main reason why some 20% of applicants fail to get loans as pointed out in my blog article entitled “20% of Jamaican MSME's Fail to get Bank Loans - Why MSME's need Business Plans, Marketing Plans and Market Research”. 

So are their options to these education and entrepreneurial grants?

Shaine Palmer says Tourism and Call Centers Hiring - Call Centers not stable employment but neither is starvation

Shaine Palmer also pointed out the obvious elephant in the room; the BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry is booming as pointed out in the article “BPO Operations to be Expanded”, published April 26, 2016 By Alecia Smith-Edwards, The Jamaica Information Service.

To quote Shaine Palmer: “BPO is one of the fastest growing sectors in Jamaica that is absorbing a lot of persons right now. A lot of investments have gone into the sector”.

Here's a quick list of employment opportunities available in the BPO:

1.      Customer service representatives

2.      Call centre agents

3.      Information technology technicians

4.      Telemarketers

Opportunities also exist in the Tourism Sectors as follows:

1.      Entertainment coordinators

2.      Tour guides

3.      Air conditioning technicians

4.      Housekeepers

Having a second Language is also helpful, especially in the Call Centers as noted in my blog article “How to find work in Jamaica at Call Centers - Spanish or French Translator as Global Outsourcing CEO David Crump isn't truthful”.

So are there any stats to back up his claims?

JAMPRO's 2014-2015 annual report - Call Centers by the numbers

 According to JAMPRO's 2014-2015 annual report as published in the article “New BPO Companies Coming”, published Friday February 12, 2016, by Tameka Gordon, The Jamaica Gleaner there are an awful lot of BPO companies in Jamaica:

There have been six (6) new entrants in 2014-2015 alone:

1.      Quality Works Consulting Group

2.      PCR Nearshore

3.      Advanced Call Centre Technologies

4.      MJ Contact Solutions

5.      DG Call Sales Solutions Limited

6.      Tritel Services Jamaica

In the last ten (10) years, the BPO sector has ballooned to some thirty four (34) Call Centers spread across the island with Xerox announcing in May 2015 plans to expand in New Kingston as noted in my blog article entitled “How to find work in Jamaica at Call Centers - Xerox's Three New Call Centers in Kingston for 860 employees for Future Expansion”.

Here's a list of the more popular ones:

1.      Xerox

2.      Teleperformance

3.      Sutherland Global Services

4.      Hinduja Global

Also, more clients are tapping local Call Center Operations to handle their accounts:

1.      Microsoft

2.      Amazon

3.      Humana

In all, these Call centers represent a huge number of employment opportunities for High School and Tertiary students when you consider the following stats JAMPRO's 2014-2015 annual report:

1.      34 Call centers established in the last ten (10) years

2.      6 New Call Centers in Jamaica in the 2014-2015 period

3.      2,047 permanent among the six (6) New Call Centers in Jamaica

4.      1,190 temporary posts among the six (6) New Call Centers in Jamaica

5.      6,400 jobs created in the sector since 2015.

6.      3,237 jobs permanent and temporary posts among the six (6) New Call Centers in Jamaica

7.      17,000 jobs among the total forty (40) Call centers in Jamaica

Albeit the jobs in this sector aren't stable as the rate of turnover is fairly high as pointed out in the article “Inside Call Centres: 'No More Jobs For Life' - JAMPRO President Comfortable With Attrition Rates Among Call Centre Employees”, published Monday April 18, 2016 by Andre Poyser and Jovan Johnson, The Jamaica Gleaner it's still more stable than starving to death.

In fact, if you're really smart, you can use the opportunity of being employed in a Call Center to apply for those education and entrepreneurial grants at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Even smarter, you experience gained from working in the Call Centers can be used to find another jobs as explained in my blog article entitled “How to find work in Jamaica at Call Centers - How to use a Call Center to Hunt for your Dream Job”. 

So what if you still want to migrate?

Migrating High School Leavers - Jobs available at the LMIS

so even with those stats, many still seek a better life abroad according to a recent Respect Jamaica and UNICEF Survey as detailed in my blog article entitled “How Respect Jamaica and UNICEF Survey suggest Mass Exodus of High School Leavers in 2016”. 

For those who are more foreign-minded, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has the LMIS (Labour Market Information System) that can match student with certified skills to local and overseas employers. Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Colette Roberts Risden encourages High School leaver to get skilled, quote “The fact is that employers need workers, who have the ability to perform well on the job so that their goods and services can be competitive, and that they can make greater and bigger profits to pay you better”.

There are many strategies that you can use to find a job in Jamaica as detailed in my blog article entitled “How to find work in Jamaica at Call Centers - Job Agencies, Applications with Proposals and Reading the Sunday Gleaner”.

Finding work by immigrating to Canada is also possible as noted in my blog article entitled  “How to find work in Jamaica at Call Centers - Immigrating Permanently to work in Canada as a Skilled Worker”.  

Folks reading my blog, it's really up to you how you plan to find work and what you can tolerate as you seek your dream career.

Here’s the link:

LMIS (Labour Market Information System)

How Temptations Catterbox allows Cats to speak Human as trend towards Humans-Animal Conversations begins

“We’re fascinated by cats, so we set out on a mission to get to know them better. Through research, we learned that an adult cat’s meow is their way to communicate with humans and, by investing in this prototype device, we can start to improve understanding between them both — giving cats a voice for the very first time.”

Temptations’ global brand director Pete Simmons in an interview with AdWeek about their Temptations Catterbox product

Like playing with your cat using an AI Robotic Mouse as explained in my MICO Wars blog article entitled “How to sharpen your Cat’s Hunting Skills with the AI Robotic Mousr”?

Well, talking to animals in 2016 may soon be totally possible. This is thanks to the Temptation Catterbox, a 3D-printed collar designed by London ad agency adam&eveDDB that claims to make your cat talk human as reported in the article “Converse with your cat like never before with this new 3D-printed talking collar”, published April 30, 2016 By Lulu Chang, DigitalTrends.

Temptations Cat Treats is a company best known for making cat treats so this latest product takes cat love to a whole new level. For an even better explanation, check out this video on the, Temptation Catterbox, a clear winner for Most Innovative Product of 2016.

It is true that they only meow when talking to humans. In fact, the Egyptians called cats “Mau” by virtue of the sound that they make. Here’s a picture of this revolutionary product.

 

Clearly this is part of an ad campaign for London ad agency adam&eveDDB. Or maybe they're just goofing off with some extra money in their Ad campaign budget, with the company behind the product to be revealed later in a series of ads.

Still, the question on all Cat lovers’ minds is obvious: does this product actually work and where can I buy it?

Temptations Catterbox - Most Innovative Product of 2016 that's probably not real

Granted, this product probably doesn’t work.

It has no neural interface to connect to the cat's brain to allow them to control the device as in the case of the NSID's No More Woof Project as described in my blog article entitled “IndieGogo funded NSID's No More Woof Project aims to get Dog's talking”

Also I’ve found no pricing or availability for this product, making me wonder if it is at all real. But if it is, it may come in at a similar price point as the No More Woof Project at around US$1200. Still, the concept is so damn tempting to imagine as real that it earns a spot on my blog.

Albeit an insane idea as pointed out in the article “At last! A cat collar that translates meows into human speech”, published April 30, 2016 by Chris Matyszczyk, CNET News this is highly desired among cat owners.

Cat owners that like to play with their cat by trapping them in circles as pointed out in my MICO Wars blog article entitled “How to trap your Cat in one Place as Cats love Circles”, will love this product, as they could ask why that is the case.

Temptation Catterbox would be especially be useful for the Zoological Society of London to keep track of the feral cat population that's eating off all the birds in England as noted in my blog article entitled “How UWI's Biotechnology Department, JSPCA, Telecom Providers and Zoological Society of London can track Feral Cats and Dogs”.

However, if this device really works, I'd like to use it to marshal a Cat army based on the 6 million Cats that live in Jamaica as described in my blog article entitled “Your Wild Life Cat Tracker Project and How the Jamaica Cat and Dog Migration Project would save Jamaican Birds” as scientists could finally ask cats answers for the many questions that have puzzled humanity from the dawn of time.

I give Temptation Catterbox two paws up.

Here's the link:

Temptations Cat Treats

adam&eveDDB

No More Woof Project