México, en contracorriente frente a los países de la OCDE

@pabloescobedo

El impuesto a 3% para telecomunicaciones representa ir en contracorriente frente a los países de la OCDE. De acuerdo a la última perspectiva de comunicación entregada por el organismo internacional, “algunos gobiernos, que reconocen la importancia económica de las redes de banda ancha en la economía, están invirtiendo en ampliar y mejorar el acceso de alta velocidad como parte de paquetes de estímulo fiscal”. Por el contrario, en el paquete fiscal que está a discusión se plantea lo opuesto.

De acuerdo a la OCDE el mercado de las telecomunicaciones tiene un valor de 1.2 billones de dólares y éste ha crecido a un ritmo de 6% anual desde 1990, incluso durante depresiones económicas. Este crecimiento no implica aumento de precios, pues el promedio de la canasta de servicios móviles en la OCDE (un número fijo de llamadas y de mensajes al año) cayó 21% para el uso bajo, 28% para el uso medio y 32% para el nivel de consumo más alto durante el 2006 y 2008.

El organismo internacional acota que la banda ancha es un activador de la productividad y del crecimiento económico, “pero su efecto en las economías dependerá de que la banda ancha sea usada por empresas y consumidores, lo que requiere acceso al servicio de banda ancha a precios bajos y buena calidad. A su vez, estos factores están estrechamente relacionados con la competencia en el mercado”.

Tendencia hacia arriba

La OCDE informó que el 41% de todos los ingresos por telecomunicaciones son por telefonía móvil, los cuales aumentaron 22% un decenio antes. “Diez países ya tienen sectores de telefonía móvil que son más grandes que su sector de la telefonía fija en términos de ingresos”, agregó.

Para limitar el aumento a precios, “los operadores han podido aumentar los ingresos por banda ancha captando nuevos clientes y ofreciendo paquetes de banda ancha con otros servicios, en especial, llamadas telefónicas”.

Aunque el crecimiento de la telefonía móvil es constante, la transición de los suscriptores a redes de telefonía móvil de tercera generación ha tomado más tiempo de lo que originalmente se proyectó. “A partir del 2007, sólo 18.2% de los suscriptores a telefonía móvil reportados en la OCDE estaba en redes de tercera generación”..

Alguien tiene que pagar por eso

En entrevista exclusiva, Jack Dorsey, creador de Twitter aseguró que el esquema de negocio, particularmente en Internet tiene que cambiar. “En nuestro caso, las empresas han hecho uso del Twitter de formas que nosotros no habíamos considerado”, aseguró el estadounidense.

Para Dorsey el acceso a las telecomunicaciones debería llegar a todos y los gobiernos deberían converger en esa idea para impulsar propuestas a favor del sector.

Un sitio, un concierto, una banda

@pabloescobedo

Quizá nunca en la historia tantas personas habían cantado al unísono One de U2 como este domingo. El mundo es otro al de aquel mes de marzo de 1992, cuando One fue el tercer sencillo del álbum Achtung Baby. Guerras han comenzado y terminado. Nuevos países aparecen en el mapa mundial. Pero ahí está One, una de las canciones más escuchadas a lo largo de la historia y la más coreada durante el concierto que brindó U2 ayer por la noche en el Rose Bowl y que hizo historia al ser el primero transmitido en vivo por youtube.com.

El Rose Bowl de Los Ángeles presentó un lleno a tope. Banderas de todos los países, incluida la mexicana, volaban de un lado a otro, mientras la conversación en Twitter cada vez se “calentaba” más. Fue entonces cuando youtube abrió las cámaras del backstage. Ahí estaba la banda. En vivo. Como nunca se había visto previo a un concierto de un grupo del tamaño de U2. Diez minutos pasaron, caminaron por un pasillo y la música inició.

No fue una presentación más. El inmueble quedó corto. La red no. En varios países la gente presenciaba el concierto y predecía canciones. Las cantaba y las compartía. Al final la satisfacción fue unánime.

No parece coincidencia que U2 hace 26 años haya dado a conocer Sunday Bloody Sunday. El domingo deja marcada a la banda y ayer no fue la excepción. Durante Los cuatro minutos que duró la canción era inevitable recordar los más de 130 muertos en Bagdad unas horas antes. No fue coincidencia tampoco que U2 pidiera paz.

Al término de su concierto, el canal de youtube en donde se transmitió el evento había tenido más de 100,000 mensajes y un millón 348,228 visitas. En Twitter, el concierto se colocó en tres de los diez temas más hablados. U2, sencillamente, hizo historia.

Hace casi 18 años U2 dio a conocer One. El domingo por la noche hicieron un One de todos.

#internetnecesario … pero ¿Por qué? y ¿Para qué?

@pabloescobedo

Mucho se ha hablado de defender al Internet del incremento al impuesto que se plantea hacer en México. Campañas por Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, desprestigio al Gobierno. Las muestras en contra de eso movimiento fiscal no han parado.

Yo soy de los que opina que estamos en el derecho de defender nuestros pensamientos pero con base en la razón. Desde mi punto de vista, pagar cualquier impuesto que no se refleje en el bienestar social es una molestia y es estéril, sin embargo, soy realista y sé que en un país como México, el marco ideal no existe. Siendo así, ojalá el impuesto no se aplique, pero después de la siguiente imagen, creo que si hay que recuperar dinero, tampoco es demasiado exagerado lo que se plantea.

Población en México: 103.3 millones*

Cibernautas en México: 27.6 millones **

*INEGI, datos aplicados consecuentemente.

**AMIPCI datos aplicados consecuentemente.

Del total de cibernautas, 22.7 millones viven en zonas urbanas. Del total de población en México, 22 millones viven en la Ciudad de México y el Estado de México. Ni siquiera un tercio completo de la población en México alcanza el uso de Internet.

La población de cibernautas que viven en zonas rurales es de 4.9 millones, mismo número de habitantes que en el estado de Guanajuato. Es un hecho. Falta mayor penetración en las zonas rurales, pero ¿quién lo va a hacer? ¿quién se ha manifestado por eso? Nadie.

Una de mis deducciones de estas cifras es que el Internet en México, pese a que su penetración en el nivel socioeconómico D+ y D/E tienen un repunte importante (29 y 15% respectivamente) se puede decir que es un medio elitista.

Definición de elitista: Minoría selecta o rectora. De acuerdo al diccionario de la lengua española.

Continuemos. En el último estudio realizado por Ampici acerca del uso del Internet en nuestro país, seis de cada 10 cibernautas tienen entre 12 y 19 años. Formalmente, unos cuantos están en edad de trabajar y por ende, de pagar impuestos. Los demás no.

Ahora, del universo de cibernautas en México, en el top ten de uso no veo que destaque algo representativo del avance como sociedad para nuestro país. Podría aparecer algún rubro llamado “Estudio en Línea”, “Investigación”, “Planes de desarrollo” o cualquier otro. Sin embargo, las siguientes son las actividades top ten del usuario de Internet en México:

Enviar /Recibir mail 70%

Enviar / Recibir mensajes instantáneos 58%

Entrar a un chat room 41%

Subir fotos o videos en un sitio 34%

Enviar postales electrónicas 26%

Crear o mantener un Blog 16%

Acceder a Blogs 16%

Crear o mantener un sitio propio 15%

Entrar a sitios de comunidad virtual 10%

Encuentros Online 10%

De estos, el único que creo es significativo es del Crear o mantener un sitio propio, pues eso implica un desarrollo, una aplicación de conocimientos. Los demás, creo que podrían definirse como esparcimiento. Ok, los mails no, pero vamos, lo que la gente pelea es más que recibir mails, ¿no?

Imaginemos al usuario más que promedio del Internet en México con base a los datos anteriores.

Un adolescente (16 años), clase alta en su casa recibiendo mails, al mismo tiempo que chatea, sube fotos y envía postales electrónicas.

¿En qué porcentaje está la investigación? ¿En qué porcentaje están los estudios en línea? Vaya la gente que se atreve a comparar Finlandia con México (en el hecho de que Finlandia es un país que tiene como derecho el Internet y en México suben impuestos) debería de saber que los finlandeses pagan desde su celular y por Internet la lavandería, boletos de autobús, metro, trenes y más. En México, ¿quiénes lo hacen?

El problema es importante, pero no radica en quiénes lo usamos, sino el ¿para qué? Considero que si vamos a casas humildes (las cuales si son mayoría en México) el aumentó al impuesto al Internet les va y les viene. Efectivamente es una forma muy austera de medir la propuesta. A este país le falta Internet, pero antes, le faltan empleos, educación, seguridad y n infinidad de cosas. Con el perfil que arroja AMIPCI de los cibernautas y quienes se quejan, ¿está hablando México? ó ¿sólo unos cuántos?

To be one in millions

@pabloescobedo

In an universe of at least three million of bloggers its hard to someone. Texts, photos or videos. The blogs offer a lot, even in a country like Mexico where the Internet does not even reach 40% of the total population. However, there are those who stand out and earn their place in time.

"Nobody cared about blogs. If you weren’t a magazine, you were nobody", recalls the photographer Toni Francois. "I had a lot of bad experiences. Sometimes they even didn’t answer my email but that’s not happening right now", told the photographer.

The number of blogs in Mexico could be near to seven million, according to a study by ALT1040. For its part, AMIPCI reveals that nearly 16% of the total Internet user population in our country that is 26.6 millions, has activity in blogs.

After five years working on his blog (www.tono.tv), Toni began to get press passes needed to make her photographic needs. "I feel that things have changed. The developers already understand that the Internet is important in promoting their events", said Francois, who has more than 15,000 friends on Myspace.

More bloggers, more competition

The case of the photographers is similar to the one of the musicians on Myspace or writers on blogs, according to Toni Francois. "I've seen nothing like 8,000 people with cameras and they all think they are photographers. It took me five years accreditation and they come now and give it, MySpace is the same. Everybody thinks he can be a musician. It's nothing but having a camera and take pictures arrive", she said.

Form the Blog to the exposition

Currently, her work is recognized not only with press passes or money. Now, la Cineteca Nacional proposed an exhibition of his images which will be open until November. "I've had many exhibitions. It is exciting to be invited to exhibit", said Francois. "My dream would be that a group that I like to hire me and take me on tour and I take photos everyday, but I do not know if I ever happen".

Talking with a genius, Jack Dorsey, the creator of Twitter

@pabloescobedo

Last Thursday was a day to remember. I met Jack Dorsey, creator and CEO of Twitter and I got the chance to make him an interview that was published in the newspaper where I work, El Economista. I left you the link of the article, but its in Spanish, so if you want to read it in English, continue these lines.

March 21, 2006. At 9PM, Jack Dorsey crystallized years of work. "Setting my Twittr" just like that he wrote. Without being called yet Twitter and with @jack as the first and only member at that time; this microblogging web began its history online.

"It all started when I was 15. I saw the cities and saw how it works", said Dorsey, creator and owner of Twitter. "Later I noticed the communication of taxis, trucks, and police. All moved and reported where they were making a picture of what they were doing", he remembered.

It was in his friends and family where Dorsey found an important key in his creation. "In 2000 I realized I was missing a piece, my friends. I wanted the same from them, knowing where they where and what they were reporting and have them in my pocket”, said. Six years passed and was up when he saw that technology was to support his idea, "it was ready to perform”.

"I figured Twitter was going to be massive, but the speed with which it has grown it was something outside my expectations", affirm Dorsey. The website currently have 55 million monthly visits, is the third largest social network on the web and has a monthly increase of 1.382% according to Nielsen.com.

Dorsey remembered the moment when he realized Twitter was going to be "massive". "I was watching Barack Obama speaking to the Congress. My phone rang and I received an update from a Missouri senator. Television did a pan and I saw the politician updating her Twitter on her mobile, while at the same time Obama gave his speech and everything was in my pocket", told Dorsey. "I felt it very tangible. I had never felt so close to my government, but until then", he added.

- What's next for Twitter?

"I would ask that to our users. Much of what we have comes from them. This is a technology that allows all to contribute and build a society. It is completely unexpected and exciting".

- Who is the person you like to follow the most?

"My mother. She is in Missouri and we do not see often, but thanks to Twitter and update what I know what goes on in her life and she also knows what happens in mine".

- Would you like to make a movie of your life?

"No, certainly not. But I can say I write my script every day at Twitter.

After five rounds, who is hot and who is not the NFL…

@pabloescobedo

Who is hot…

Denver Broncos
The Broncos are real. Nobody believe in them, but after five straight wins they capture the media attention. With only 33 years old, Josh McDaniels had known how to apply the things learned from Bill Belichick as a head coach. The last time Broncos were 5-0 they won the Super Bowl in the late 90s.

Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are back. The Miami team had beaten two divisional rivals and has two wins in a row. After a stammer beginning, Tony Sparano and his guys know to change the way, even after the lose of the main quarterback, Chad Pennington. Chad Henne has answer in the quarterback position and Ronnie Brown still making “magic” with the wildcat formation. Against the Jets, Brown make two touchdowns and give the win to the Dolphins.

Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have take advantage of the rough year Baltimore and Pittsburgh had, and even though its only the week five. The Bengals, at least at this moment, are the bosses in the North of the American Conference.

Game on fire…

NY Giants. Eli Manning, one of the most paid players in the NFL, and his team, have a free path at least for playoffs, and why not? We can also put them as favorite to be in the Super Bowl for the National Conference. The result after five weeks; 5-0.

New Orleans Saints had played very good football since last year. The offensive is very impressive in both ways, passing and rushing, and the defensive is making the job at being at the six place of the NFL. The Saints have won their four games in a row and this weekend play ante NY Giants.

Rainy day…

Tennessee Titans. I was one of the journalist that believed last year that the Titans were not real. And they wasn’t. The quarterback Kerry Collins has been a headache in his last teams and I dint explain to myself how this guy took the place of Vince Young, Well, now the team is 0-5.

The St. Louis Rams have everything to end in the last place of the NFL and why not, make companion to the last year Detroit Lions as the second team with a 0-16 standing. Its kind a sad to see this type of teams playing against some other like the Minnesota Vikings. The good thing for the Rams is that they are in the West division of the National Conference, if you know what I mean.

New version of Just cant get enough

@pabloescobedo

Depeche Mode... 7.5

@pabloescobedo

Saturday passed. I already saw Depeche Mode and have some appointments to do:

1. The visual are amazing. I like it almost as the ones of Kraftwerk or The Faint. Pretty exciting.
2. Enjoy the silence and Never let me down again were the two songs I liked the most in the concert.
3. They didn’t play Photographic, See you, Just can get enough, Everything counts, among others.

I gave a 7.5 of a range from 1 to ten. Its hard to go and see a band call “Legend” because you expect a lot and you are in a chance to not have what you want or thought. Anyway, I already saw Depeche Mode.

We just stay watching...

@pabloescobedo

For Mexicans and Americans, what happened last Friday in Copenhagen cant pass without special attention. We live in a time of change, where Mexico and US are stagnant. The fact that Brazil won the bid of the Olympic Games for 2016 means something beyond the party and the joy of the Amazon people.

Brazil is part of the BRIC, from my point of view, the economic/political strongest group in the world at this time. The diversity among Brazilians, Russians, Indians and Chinese is what make it advance, beyond a European Union, the G-20 or a fictitious North America.

Brazil's economy is regarded as the second of America and eighth in the world. Its exports are well targeted for the 26% go to Europe, 25% to Latin America, 16% to Asia and 14% in the United States. Its GDP grew by 5.1% in 2008, while Petrobras is one of the most important companies in the oil industry in the world.

For its part, China has the fastest growing economy in the world in the past 30 years and is in the top three worldwide; India has 12 of the world economy with growth of 6.7% in GDP and Russia is the sixth global economy, partly because the technology it develops. With six and half years of the Olympic Games in Rio, I cant imagine that we will get the dollar or the euro as a global currency. It should be remembered that this group has already proposed a single currency. Why not? They have the world in their hands at this time.

If Mexico doesn’t leave aside the greed of businessmen and politicians, social inequality, lack of love for the country, laziness and apathy of those who prefer to hijack or steal instead of work, we will live as a poor country and in the shadow of others. Americans and Mexicans live in the past, in a golden age that was experienced in the 70s and 80s, saw Hollywood movies and think about the American dream, a paradox of life that is going down as US and Mexico economy.

Last Friday was the first time in US history that one of its presidents was to support a candidate city as the Olympics. To be colloquial, Barack Obama and the Mexicans stayed as the saying goes a Chinese Mexican “na más milando” or “just looking”.

The one “big” I was expecting

@pabloescobedo

I am a music lover. I grow up with different songs, albums, videos and more in my background. When I was a child I didn’t expected to see all that bands that form part of my life. But yes, I am doing that.

Pixies. I thought I never would have the chance to see Pixies in a stage, but 2004 was the year I had it. It was Coachella, near to Los Angeles, California. My friend Leo and I assisted to a musical festival that nowadays is one of the most popular in the world. At that time, we felt bless to be there, now, is other thing… Anyway, I had to listen to a band call Sparta… so boring, but with the sun falling down and the heat turning off, Pixies was on the stage.

Best moment: I almost cry with two songs; Velouria and Where is my mind? I just didn’t believe I was there.

Kraftwerk. These Germans where the first electronic music I listen, I can say, in my life. I always loved The Model, between many more songs. I had the chance to see them in 2004 at Coachella and in that same year I also saw them here, in Mexico City.

Best moment: When I saw them in Coachella with Leo, the played all the songs like kick ass. Sound amazing. Maybe it’s the same everywhere but the fact that was my first tine looking at them. Best songs, I would say, The Model and Aerodynamic.

New Order. Leo and I returned to Coachella in 2005. The target was New Order. Can you believe it? NEW ORDER on the stage! So, we wait and then we saw almost one hour of this legendary band.

Best moment: There was several. One, I would say was when they played Love will tear as apart and they dedicated to Ian Curtis. I felt shivers. And finally, the played Blue Monday, which is one of my most emblematic songs in my life, and for many people I guess, too.

The Cure. It was also 2004 and I knew The Cure was playing in LA. It was the main reason I went to Coachella. It was the night of Sunday, if I am not wrong, and the smoke went out. Robert Smith appeared and I felt I was going to faint. That was my first time in front of The Cure, and one more year I saw them again in Salt Lake City, now, with my brother and mother.

Best moment: Definitely listen to Lovesong or Boys don’t cry the first time, and the second time, I can say every moment with The Cure, my brother and mother.

Depeche Mode. COMING SOON!!