Social Media in Asia Pacific is Different

While Asia's biggest economies have been slow to embrace the global social communities of Facebook, Yahoo and Twitter, many countries in the region have followed the adoption patterns of Europe and the United States, says Gartner.

The most avid social networkers are in the Philippines, where Facebook is the country's most visited Internet site.

Twitter also is one global platform that does cross cultural boundaries more readily than the major social platforms due to its adaptability to local cultures, languages and its ubiquitous availability on mobile devices. Indonesia, for example, has seen strong growth in microblogging and in mid-2010 became the country recording the highest penetration of Twitter users as a proportion of Internet users worldwide.

The Philippines and Singapore also joined Indonesia in the top 10 countries with the highest penetration of Twitter worldwide, ranked sixth and ninth respectively.

Gartner Says Social Media in Asia Pacific is Developing in Different Directions to the U.S. and Europe

U.S. businesses say email more important than social networking

With the caveat that the environment is changing, a Gartner survey finds businesses consider email the most important messaging channel, rated nearly a "7" on a seven-point scale.

Web-conferencing scored near a "six" and instant messaging scored a "five." Social networking was ranked as a "four."

When asked how important social networking might be over the next couple of years, that position garnered a "five" ranking.

U.S. businesses say email more important than social networking - Social Marketing

First Impressions of Google TV

Here's what Danny Sullivan, Search Engine Land editor in chief, has to say about getting, setting up and using Google TV. Some people recommend waiting for "version two," and this might be a case where that is wise.

It isn't so much that setup is so onerous, but one might question some elements of the user interface, such as the user log-in (what happens when different members of a family want to watch their favorite stuff, not dad's?), or the design of the remote control. Lack of Hulu content seems a bigger issue.

Short of replacing your TV display and buying a new Sony TV, you can buy a Sony Blu-ray player or Logitech Revue set-top box (pre-order only at this point).

At some point in the future, you should also be able to order Dish TV with a Google TV-powered DVR. But that’s not even pre-order option, right now.

Life With Google TV: My First Day Review & Impressions

Sprint Nextel Working on Multimode Base Stations

Sprint Nextel Corp. is working on a new "Swiss army knife" style base station platform, code named "Project Leapfrog."

The new base stations are designed to support multiple air interfaces, allowing Sprint Nextel to reduce the number of base stations (cell sites) it operates from 66,000 to about 46,000, in part by consolidating formerly-separate equipment to support multiple air interfaces, and possibly by boosting signal range as well.

Sprint is said to believe the changes might cost $2.5 billion, but would save money over time through reduced operating expense and lower roaming fees paid to other carriers.

Sprint is said to want a base station platform that can support CDMA, 3G EV-DO, WiMax and possibly Long Term Evolution (LTE) in the future. Note that there is no mention of iDEN. That suggests iDEN is not a part of Sprint Nextel's long-term future.

Light Reading Mobile - 4G/LTE - 4G World: Sprint Ready to Play 'Leapfrog'

Expand Your 3G Network: Verizon Wireless 3G Network Extender Now Available

Verizon Wireless now is selling its "Verizon Wireless 3G Network Extender" femtocell, boosting 3G signal reception locally for both voice and data, and supporting as many as six Verizon Wireless devices.

The typical application is to boost signal strength within a home.

Customers can use My Verizon (www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon) to set up a list of preferred users who will have access to their Network Extender. Customers do not need to update their plans or add minutes and will incur no additional monthly charges for using the Verizon Wireless 3G Network Extender.

The Verizon Wireless 3G Network Extender replaces the original "Verizon Wireless Network Extender," which was introduced in 2009. The Verizon Wireless 3G Network Extender can be purchased online at www.verizonwireless.com or by calling 1-800-256-4646. The price is $249.99 plus local taxes.

Expand Your 3G Network: Verizon Wireless 3G Network Extender Now Available

Starbucks Digital Network: First Look - PCWorld

Starbucks has launched its content-rich digital network, the Starbucks Digital Network in stores across America.

The network, which is full of exclusive content, is only available in Starbucks Coffee shops, and was developed with Yahoo. Apparently the idea is that if Starbucks can woo consumers with free Wi-Fi access and exclusive, free content (including full e-books, films, and newspapers), they'll spend more time at the shops.

Not a bad theory. We'll have to see how it works out.

Starbucks Digital Network: First Look - PCWorld

Netflix Streaming-Only Subscriptions Could Come This Year

Netflix offers a streaming-only service in Canada and is testing a similar service for the United States market.

Assuming the results of the test turn out as expected, Netflix could begin offering the service in the U.S. market later in 2010.

Netflix: Streaming-Only Subscriptions Could Come This Year | Peter Kafka | MediaMemo | AllThingsD