Alright, I'm on a blogging roll - and really none of these have anything to do with SMS, yet I some how manage to work them into every blog I do - see I've already done it!
I've listened to Steve Hawking's book "The Universe In a Nutshell" heaps of times - I really like it, every time I listen to it I have more and more idea's about what he's saying. I guess that makes me a philosophiser, because I could never do any of the calculations of the hypothesis I was coming up with.
In the book he talks about time travel and whether it's possible to move forwards or backwards in time - to tell you the ending, he says that you could move forward in time, but the chances of moving back in time is too large for me to bother telling you the odds, but to say it's something like a trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion to the power of 10 to 1 - imagine putting down a $1.00 bet at the TAB on that one? I'm pretty sure that if it ever came off they'd struggle to pay the bet out!
You see time it relative - an experiment was carried out with two highly precise clocks, one each on it's own plane. One plane went west and the other went east until the came to the same spot. The clock on the plane that went east showed a slightly different time, by a fraction of a second, to the plane that went west and in his words if you wanted to live longer fly east.
So there for moving forward in time is possible, however because time is relative, it would take so much energy to move forward in time that no government could bare the cost of project.
This is where I stop understanding why moving backward in time isn't possible. Now we know, or more accurately believe that dark stars, or black holes exist - they are dead planets that are falling into themselves and dragging everything around it in, including light. They are many times bigger than our sun and made of dark matter. So here's my idea, if we ever located a black hole, why could we not slingshot ourselves around these dark bodies to shift our position in time? Because time is relative as we moved around the orbit of the black hole, to observers our speeds would change however perceptually to ourselves orbiting the body time would continue as we have always known it. Therefore we would be using the negative energy of the dark matter to move forwards, or backwards in time?
The other thing that I think of, and I don't know how possible it is, is the ability to use dark matter in a negative way to move ourselves back in time?
What I mean is if I wanted to create warms I take a log burn it and the energy used creates heat. If I want to create a blast to push something at speed, again I burn a fuel and send the object off to where I want it to get to - but what's the opposite of that? And what would the effect of doing the opposite to dark matter be? How would it change?
So imagine for a moment that I need to use a lot of energy to move forwards in time, so therefore if I did the opposite to dark matter could I move backwards in time?
Just a thought?
Friday 21 December 2007
Hot guys vs hot girls
Nino were talking today about hot girls - I think I can talk about this because it's just an observation and not directly about anyone, so we'll see how we get on - P.S. this has nothing really to do with SMS.
When I was down stairs collecting some faxes from our receptionist, a very attractive female walked through the door and of course I played it super cool and barely acknowledged her enter. And as I stood there I thought "I wonder why she is here?" knowing the types of businesses in the building there's nothing here that would get customers or anything like that - however she made a call and out came a psychologist and they walked off down the hall together.
Now I have no idea what they were doing, she could have been a friend, niece, daughter of a friend, anything - so I'm not supposing that she was coco banana's in any way.
I came up and as blokes do shared the information that there was a rather attractive female in the building and she walked off with the psychologist - this puts me in a really bad situation, but you have to understand that our work place is a rather uneventful place where not much happens we chad about mundane things, and I would have probably said the same thing had there been a very good looking bloke (probably not, but maybe).
Nino mentioned that a lot of hot girls/women tend to be insecure which to us is crazy because in actual fact I think the average guy puts these people on pedestals and would probably go to greater lengths to please them then their own partners! So what is it? Is it that because they are so attractive, their goal in life then is to become even more attractive - a bit like a fast 100m sprinter strives to become even faster?
In my opinion what I think it is, is the fact that these girls are attracted to really hot guys - now Nino and i are reasonably attractive guys, so we're not exactly inexperienced in the ways of hot girls, but stunning oddness's? Well, I'm probably not. So it's like this, us average to reasonable looking guys have to work really hard at being charming, interesting and make them laugh, whilst showing them that we have more than enough money in our wallets to afford them champagne all night. However, really hot guys don't have the problem, because girls are actually more interested in the way you move through a crowd, how tall you are and how good looking you are - it's when their primeval instincts come in. Then after a period, they begin to become emotionally attracted, but these guys don't.
All their life, the guys have been able to walk from one female to the next, so subconsciously never developed ability to feel and become emotionally attached - the side effect of this is they can behave in any way they want and get away with it, because by this stage the female has been so emotionally attached she now doesn't want to leave him because she's "in love" and he continues to treat her anyway he likes because he knows no different and over time has been programmed as such.
So the only thing I can think which would resolve these issues is to evolve into beings with no eyes - or from teenagers we SMS date each other - no WAP Push or MMS allowed - and after a period of time where feelings and attachments have been allowed to grow and develop then can we see each other allowing us to be able to fall in love with the person and not the picture.
Just my two cents worth in the way of love, and doing what I can to unwind the mystery of the universe!
Cheers,
C
When I was down stairs collecting some faxes from our receptionist, a very attractive female walked through the door and of course I played it super cool and barely acknowledged her enter. And as I stood there I thought "I wonder why she is here?" knowing the types of businesses in the building there's nothing here that would get customers or anything like that - however she made a call and out came a psychologist and they walked off down the hall together.
Now I have no idea what they were doing, she could have been a friend, niece, daughter of a friend, anything - so I'm not supposing that she was coco banana's in any way.
I came up and as blokes do shared the information that there was a rather attractive female in the building and she walked off with the psychologist - this puts me in a really bad situation, but you have to understand that our work place is a rather uneventful place where not much happens we chad about mundane things, and I would have probably said the same thing had there been a very good looking bloke (probably not, but maybe).
Nino mentioned that a lot of hot girls/women tend to be insecure which to us is crazy because in actual fact I think the average guy puts these people on pedestals and would probably go to greater lengths to please them then their own partners! So what is it? Is it that because they are so attractive, their goal in life then is to become even more attractive - a bit like a fast 100m sprinter strives to become even faster?
In my opinion what I think it is, is the fact that these girls are attracted to really hot guys - now Nino and i are reasonably attractive guys, so we're not exactly inexperienced in the ways of hot girls, but stunning oddness's? Well, I'm probably not. So it's like this, us average to reasonable looking guys have to work really hard at being charming, interesting and make them laugh, whilst showing them that we have more than enough money in our wallets to afford them champagne all night. However, really hot guys don't have the problem, because girls are actually more interested in the way you move through a crowd, how tall you are and how good looking you are - it's when their primeval instincts come in. Then after a period, they begin to become emotionally attracted, but these guys don't.
All their life, the guys have been able to walk from one female to the next, so subconsciously never developed ability to feel and become emotionally attached - the side effect of this is they can behave in any way they want and get away with it, because by this stage the female has been so emotionally attached she now doesn't want to leave him because she's "in love" and he continues to treat her anyway he likes because he knows no different and over time has been programmed as such.
So the only thing I can think which would resolve these issues is to evolve into beings with no eyes - or from teenagers we SMS date each other - no WAP Push or MMS allowed - and after a period of time where feelings and attachments have been allowed to grow and develop then can we see each other allowing us to be able to fall in love with the person and not the picture.
Just my two cents worth in the way of love, and doing what I can to unwind the mystery of the universe!
Cheers,
C
Thursday 20 December 2007
My latest Blogs
If you are reading my latest blog - please scroll down and read part 1 first, it might make a little more sense, maybe?
Also, feel free to leave any comments!
Also, feel free to leave any comments!
If SMS is the now, then what's in the future? Part 2
I know I said that I would do this tomorrow, but I couldn't help it - plus I thought I might forget about what I was thinking about so I'm doing it now - in fact I only managed to last a couple of hours in between part 1 and part 2 - not really worth having a part 2 to be fair, but anyway.
So getting back to it - SMS is now apparently considered to be the most popular for of messaging in the world today, and thinking about it there is some way to go, however certain services like Premium Rate SMS may not be as we know it now, may develop into something more useful and meaningful rather than tits and bums on your mobile - which you could do yourself with a USB cable the knowledge of the sites that you would like to have on your mobile!
No we have a long way to go - I think I may have mentioned this before, but I really think that we will know when SMS has hit it's peak and plateaued is when mobiles start coming out with SPAM filters for SMS, that's when people will look for a workable alternative.
So what is the alternative? Well, for those not in the know (obviously I am not one of those, otherwise I wouldn't be able to tell you about it) there is a new technology that is being developed known as brain actuated technology - what? Yes it's actuated by the brain - no hands in other words, think it and it shall be done. I have seen something where a guy had an accident and was rendered a quadriplegic and so he became a subject in a raft of experiments where they hooked his brain up to a PC and tried to get him to think about moving the cursor.
Now, before you go cutting holes in your head and sticking your HDMI cable into yourself, wait for a moment, it took him forever and playing chess would be absolutely painful - as I know it, the technology works on the basis that for every function/message/reply, etc... the brain does it works on a particular electrical frequency so functions to do with the eyes are a different function than functions to do with your right arm.
Knowing this, we can develop technology that picks up on these frequencies and set a command to them that can be carried out by a computer - in fact I would dare to say that as we are conscious of what we are doing, we would probably develop new frequencies for these functions?
So here's the really far out part - in the future I think that it's absolutely possible to in fact be wired up via the brain and communicate across networks without having to use our fingers or hands - or even voice for that matter. This may be our way of developing telepathic communication, we think a sentence which produces a series of electrical frequencies and thought to voice software can then translate what I say into an audible sentence - or even better, the other person picks up on those frequencies and understands them as they trigger their own mind as if it's there own thought coming from you - a bit like being schizophrenic but not really.
The only thing that would hold us back would be our ability to clearly interpret what was being said, as well as what we thought as I think we're all guilty at one point of thinking things that we don't say, otherwise it would be limitless the possibilities.
It could get to the part where as long as we can keep the brain alive, we could turn into robots and live forever!! I know, it's becoming a bit like Futurama, but it could be true one day!
So getting back to it - SMS is now apparently considered to be the most popular for of messaging in the world today, and thinking about it there is some way to go, however certain services like Premium Rate SMS may not be as we know it now, may develop into something more useful and meaningful rather than tits and bums on your mobile - which you could do yourself with a USB cable the knowledge of the sites that you would like to have on your mobile!
No we have a long way to go - I think I may have mentioned this before, but I really think that we will know when SMS has hit it's peak and plateaued is when mobiles start coming out with SPAM filters for SMS, that's when people will look for a workable alternative.
So what is the alternative? Well, for those not in the know (obviously I am not one of those, otherwise I wouldn't be able to tell you about it) there is a new technology that is being developed known as brain actuated technology - what? Yes it's actuated by the brain - no hands in other words, think it and it shall be done. I have seen something where a guy had an accident and was rendered a quadriplegic and so he became a subject in a raft of experiments where they hooked his brain up to a PC and tried to get him to think about moving the cursor.
Now, before you go cutting holes in your head and sticking your HDMI cable into yourself, wait for a moment, it took him forever and playing chess would be absolutely painful - as I know it, the technology works on the basis that for every function/message/reply, etc... the brain does it works on a particular electrical frequency so functions to do with the eyes are a different function than functions to do with your right arm.
Knowing this, we can develop technology that picks up on these frequencies and set a command to them that can be carried out by a computer - in fact I would dare to say that as we are conscious of what we are doing, we would probably develop new frequencies for these functions?
So here's the really far out part - in the future I think that it's absolutely possible to in fact be wired up via the brain and communicate across networks without having to use our fingers or hands - or even voice for that matter. This may be our way of developing telepathic communication, we think a sentence which produces a series of electrical frequencies and thought to voice software can then translate what I say into an audible sentence - or even better, the other person picks up on those frequencies and understands them as they trigger their own mind as if it's there own thought coming from you - a bit like being schizophrenic but not really.
The only thing that would hold us back would be our ability to clearly interpret what was being said, as well as what we thought as I think we're all guilty at one point of thinking things that we don't say, otherwise it would be limitless the possibilities.
It could get to the part where as long as we can keep the brain alive, we could turn into robots and live forever!! I know, it's becoming a bit like Futurama, but it could be true one day!
If SMS is the now, then what's in the future? Part 1
I got sent an email yesterday from a mobile data marketing information report something or other - basically it was a website that complied a whole heap of information regarding mobile services and chucked it into a report that you could buy.
One of the news articles they had was that the world is nearing on 50% total penetration, that mean every second person in the world now has, or will have very shortly a mobile phone - when you consider the sheer number of impoverished people across the globe that's actually a huge number!
I know from talks that the CEO of Vodafone gave at one particular conference mentioned that it was their goal to have more mobile phones in the global market than LAN lines, which is also happening with an impressive growth at the moment!
Coming back to the site I was having a look at, there was one line that said something like "SMS is the most popular form of messaging in the world" - which in itself probably astounds those that developed it in the first place (and the sounds of networks rubbing their hands) who never guessed that what they had developed would ever be commercially viable.
So here's my question, what's next? What will be the best thing since sliced toast, or in this case SMS?
Some would say with the popularity of Blackberry's - and the fact that they are developing their handsets to become more phone than PDA in an attempt to develop the broader consumer market that it may be email? But it's already littered with rubbish that no one ever reads, so I can't see that happening too much.
If I were one of those guys that get paid to visualise the future of technology, I would visualise Bluetooth being developed for long distance - maybe something similar to mobile phones where there are a number of towers interconnected through a network. You would be able to paid yourselves into a network of friends and family and anyone else that you wanted to include.
To give it a more clear picture, it could be the messaging version of Facebook for example, you can accept/decline a contact to be included into your network - it would also solve issues with SPAM and viruses because you would only allow people that you knew and trusted into the group - anyone on the outside would be unable to communicate with you.
I'm not so sure how this would work in real life, nor am I sure that you could also include VoIP services into the network either - then there are the power issues and battery life of the equipment you use, and so on, but if we can think of it then there must be some possibility in it.
I have another possible, although much further down the track, and more sci-fi based on some stuff happening right now!
Cheers,
C
One of the news articles they had was that the world is nearing on 50% total penetration, that mean every second person in the world now has, or will have very shortly a mobile phone - when you consider the sheer number of impoverished people across the globe that's actually a huge number!
I know from talks that the CEO of Vodafone gave at one particular conference mentioned that it was their goal to have more mobile phones in the global market than LAN lines, which is also happening with an impressive growth at the moment!
Coming back to the site I was having a look at, there was one line that said something like "SMS is the most popular form of messaging in the world" - which in itself probably astounds those that developed it in the first place (and the sounds of networks rubbing their hands) who never guessed that what they had developed would ever be commercially viable.
So here's my question, what's next? What will be the best thing since sliced toast, or in this case SMS?
Some would say with the popularity of Blackberry's - and the fact that they are developing their handsets to become more phone than PDA in an attempt to develop the broader consumer market that it may be email? But it's already littered with rubbish that no one ever reads, so I can't see that happening too much.
If I were one of those guys that get paid to visualise the future of technology, I would visualise Bluetooth being developed for long distance - maybe something similar to mobile phones where there are a number of towers interconnected through a network. You would be able to paid yourselves into a network of friends and family and anyone else that you wanted to include.
To give it a more clear picture, it could be the messaging version of Facebook for example, you can accept/decline a contact to be included into your network - it would also solve issues with SPAM and viruses because you would only allow people that you knew and trusted into the group - anyone on the outside would be unable to communicate with you.
I'm not so sure how this would work in real life, nor am I sure that you could also include VoIP services into the network either - then there are the power issues and battery life of the equipment you use, and so on, but if we can think of it then there must be some possibility in it.
I have another possible, although much further down the track, and more sci-fi based on some stuff happening right now!
Cheers,
C
Wednesday 19 December 2007
Premium Rate SMS - clearing up some of the basics
Today I was on an IT forum talking about Premium SMS, in particular the sign up process, and this has got me thinking - people don't really know how they sign up, how they unsubscribe and what should happen in between.
I guess one of my main motivations for this particular blog is that there are a lot of comments made in relation to content providers being crooks - and not defending them, but it's not really the case on the whole - sure there are some that are a bit if'y but I think most companies actually try and do the right thing.
Anyway, the sign up process - how do you manage to have a provider start sending you billed MT (mobile terminated - you know, when you receive a message) messages? Ultimately it's because at some stage you sent them a message to their shortcode to register for the service?
The next thing one normally hears is "no I didn't" - before you say it, think about it for a moment, it's easy to see for us and the network you're with if you have, and if you have you'll look like a dunce! Also bear in mind that if you had but didn't realise because someone else did it with your phone without your knowledge that won't cut it as you're responsible what the use of your mobile at all times. I'd suggest getting online and looking for some better friends.
However, if you really really didn't send them a message then they have a problem and you should be able to sort this out - but how? Well, that's a conundrum because typically we have TISSC and ACMA over looking these services - TISSC has a code of practice which service/content providers are supposed to adhere to, they also have a complaints line for these services too. ACMA is responsible for your advertising, and SPAM'ing if applicable. But then you have the TIO (Telecommunication Industry Ombudsmen) as well as your could always take your complaint to the ACCC or if you are a consumer (not business to business) then you could probably also go to Consumer Affairs/Fair Trading - which ever title they are using this week.
Phew, that sounded like something from a Monty Python sketch - "'m not arguing with you, yes you are, not I'm not..."
So that's that bit.
Back tracking a little bit to where you sent them a text message, and for argument sake we'll say you did (because we know you did! :p ), the first way is that you see the add and send a SMS to the shortcode and you have subscribed (forgetting about the advertising for the moment in itself). The other way is through an alternative channel such as a website, so you sign up and hand over your personal details and you're signed up? Not quite - the provider needs to send you a free MT SMS first requesting you to confirm the service - either by just confirming, or sending a PIN/code for you to reply back to. And then you're in.
The providers are not allowed to just start billing you without the opt-in directly from the handset - why? because there are some very disgruntled people out there that you may have upset one day who would love to sign you up to ever Premium Rate service on the net they can, also the providers couldn't actually prove that it was you who signed up to it and not this disgruntled person.
You should also be aware that if you have spent $30.00 on the service so far you need to receive a free message and if you are subscribed for 30 days then you you should also receive a free MT SMS - the message should advise the state of play and how you can unsubscribe from the service as well as contain a 1300 or 1800 contact number.
Lastly in order to unsubscribe you should simply be able to reply STOP to the message and you will be unsubscribed - and it shouldn't cost you anything either.
So there you go, a couple of handy tips for those who are having trouble with PSMS services - if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us as we're always happy to help (I know you shouldn't self promote in blogs, but this is different).
Cheers,
C
I guess one of my main motivations for this particular blog is that there are a lot of comments made in relation to content providers being crooks - and not defending them, but it's not really the case on the whole - sure there are some that are a bit if'y but I think most companies actually try and do the right thing.
Anyway, the sign up process - how do you manage to have a provider start sending you billed MT (mobile terminated - you know, when you receive a message) messages? Ultimately it's because at some stage you sent them a message to their shortcode to register for the service?
The next thing one normally hears is "no I didn't" - before you say it, think about it for a moment, it's easy to see for us and the network you're with if you have, and if you have you'll look like a dunce! Also bear in mind that if you had but didn't realise because someone else did it with your phone without your knowledge that won't cut it as you're responsible what the use of your mobile at all times. I'd suggest getting online and looking for some better friends.
However, if you really really didn't send them a message then they have a problem and you should be able to sort this out - but how? Well, that's a conundrum because typically we have TISSC and ACMA over looking these services - TISSC has a code of practice which service/content providers are supposed to adhere to, they also have a complaints line for these services too. ACMA is responsible for your advertising, and SPAM'ing if applicable. But then you have the TIO (Telecommunication Industry Ombudsmen) as well as your could always take your complaint to the ACCC or if you are a consumer (not business to business) then you could probably also go to Consumer Affairs/Fair Trading - which ever title they are using this week.
Phew, that sounded like something from a Monty Python sketch - "'m not arguing with you, yes you are, not I'm not..."
So that's that bit.
Back tracking a little bit to where you sent them a text message, and for argument sake we'll say you did (because we know you did! :p ), the first way is that you see the add and send a SMS to the shortcode and you have subscribed (forgetting about the advertising for the moment in itself). The other way is through an alternative channel such as a website, so you sign up and hand over your personal details and you're signed up? Not quite - the provider needs to send you a free MT SMS first requesting you to confirm the service - either by just confirming, or sending a PIN/code for you to reply back to. And then you're in.
The providers are not allowed to just start billing you without the opt-in directly from the handset - why? because there are some very disgruntled people out there that you may have upset one day who would love to sign you up to ever Premium Rate service on the net they can, also the providers couldn't actually prove that it was you who signed up to it and not this disgruntled person.
You should also be aware that if you have spent $30.00 on the service so far you need to receive a free message and if you are subscribed for 30 days then you you should also receive a free MT SMS - the message should advise the state of play and how you can unsubscribe from the service as well as contain a 1300 or 1800 contact number.
Lastly in order to unsubscribe you should simply be able to reply STOP to the message and you will be unsubscribed - and it shouldn't cost you anything either.
So there you go, a couple of handy tips for those who are having trouble with PSMS services - if you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us as we're always happy to help (I know you shouldn't self promote in blogs, but this is different).
Cheers,
C
Tuesday 18 December 2007
iPods for learning
You know it's amazing how easy it is to learn stuff and take things in when people tell you about it rather than just read it on a page. I mean I bought Steven Hawkin's book The Universe In A Nutshell as an audiobook for my iPod for those long car trips when listening to the same tunes bores me and instead I could listen to something that would stimulate my brain.
From there I bought another audio book so that I could learn French, and guess what some of it sticks. I have a French customer and according to him for the first 10 seconds of the conversation I could be mistaken for being French - success! Well not really depends on your point of view.
From there I decided to look at what other bits and pieces I could get, preferably for free because I'm a bit tight like that - and there's a whole world of US Universities putting lectures and talks online free for anyone to come along and download - I've been able to listen to the Dean of Stamford's Business Management Department talking about the different positions of ones self, through to lectures from other universities regarding neuroscience.
I know what you're thinking, I'm the best looking nerd in town - probably you are right, especially about the nerd part, but you see the thing is really I am just an undiagnosed ADD sufferer. I'm the kind of person who just can't watch TV, I have to play on my iPod, or PSP or laptop. When I'm riding my little Aprillia to work I listen to my French lessons or if I have a cigarette I play with my Blackberry - so instead of wasting my time on games, I figure why not learn something? Plus it takes some concentration which for me is a good thing!
There have been a lot of news articles lately regarding High Schools and Universities getting in on iPod's as an educational tool and as a non-reader (because as you can guess, if I'm reading I can't do other stuff and so get really bored) iPod make a great alternative - as long as people read isn't that more important than the actual reading in the first place?
But thinking about it rationally, I can talk faster than I can read and I can think faster than I talk, so surely listening to someone else talk I'm able to take in the information that much faster than if I sat at home with a book?
I know thinking back on this, if this kind of technology was available to me when I was at school, I'm fairly confident that I would have actually done a whole lot better than I did because I could take in the information faster than I actually did.
This is something that fascinates me and I would encourage anyone to give it a go - the worlds full of stuff that you always wanted to learn about and know, and this is the best path to take to get it and understand.
Good luck with it.
From there I bought another audio book so that I could learn French, and guess what some of it sticks. I have a French customer and according to him for the first 10 seconds of the conversation I could be mistaken for being French - success! Well not really depends on your point of view.
From there I decided to look at what other bits and pieces I could get, preferably for free because I'm a bit tight like that - and there's a whole world of US Universities putting lectures and talks online free for anyone to come along and download - I've been able to listen to the Dean of Stamford's Business Management Department talking about the different positions of ones self, through to lectures from other universities regarding neuroscience.
I know what you're thinking, I'm the best looking nerd in town - probably you are right, especially about the nerd part, but you see the thing is really I am just an undiagnosed ADD sufferer. I'm the kind of person who just can't watch TV, I have to play on my iPod, or PSP or laptop. When I'm riding my little Aprillia to work I listen to my French lessons or if I have a cigarette I play with my Blackberry - so instead of wasting my time on games, I figure why not learn something? Plus it takes some concentration which for me is a good thing!
There have been a lot of news articles lately regarding High Schools and Universities getting in on iPod's as an educational tool and as a non-reader (because as you can guess, if I'm reading I can't do other stuff and so get really bored) iPod make a great alternative - as long as people read isn't that more important than the actual reading in the first place?
But thinking about it rationally, I can talk faster than I can read and I can think faster than I talk, so surely listening to someone else talk I'm able to take in the information that much faster than if I sat at home with a book?
I know thinking back on this, if this kind of technology was available to me when I was at school, I'm fairly confident that I would have actually done a whole lot better than I did because I could take in the information faster than I actually did.
This is something that fascinates me and I would encourage anyone to give it a go - the worlds full of stuff that you always wanted to learn about and know, and this is the best path to take to get it and understand.
Good luck with it.
Monday 17 December 2007
Are you looking at me? Or am I looking at you?
About a week or so ago we received a phone call from a private investigator wanting to get some software that would enable him to "spy" on people on intercept their SMS messages - we politely told him to have a crack at using Google - you know that thing you type into and it comes back with several million results?
To be fair, after that call I pretty much dismissed it because if it was possible and available to the general population I'm sure certain lobby groups would try and pressure the givernment to disaalow such technology as an unbelieveable encrochment of peoples right to privacy? Actually I don't tkink privacy is actually in our constitution, so really we have no right to privacy - we've just taken it from the American culture.
But then looking at the Whirlpoop forum, I saw a new link asking about spying on SMS with reference to a news artical on Saturday - and I thought, bah, still not happening - don't get me wrong I know the networks could do it if they wanted to, but they'd really have to have a need for it and wouldn't just get on there at lunchtime and see what's happening over the air waves!
So I took my own advice and used Google to see what I could come up with - initially it was just a bunch of dodgy looking handsets that fell short of having SPY PHONE plastered all over it which was hooked up to an online account that you could sit at and "listen in" to their conversations. Honestly, i my boss or girlfriend or who ever said "Chris, I got you a new phone, here you go" I would look at it and laugh and leave it in the wrapper assuming it was a gag phone from Toys R Us!
Continuing on in my search wondering what other rubbish was about the net and low and behold there it was - software that allowed you to target a particular handset and intercept SMS messages without the user ever noticing! Completely stealth they tell you - no lights, error messages, etc... comepletely undetectable, stealth in fact! Wow, amazing, I have to have it because I'm not quick enough to steal my girlfriends phone whilst she's in the loo and flick through her phone, I'll be extra sneaky - wait, hold on, hold on there's a catch, pretty much she needs to have a Nokia.
Yes that's right, if you have a Motorolla your safe - send your dodgy messages with complete freedom the syp software really only works on some Nokia's, 3 Samsungs, a Panasonic, Lenovo and a Motoriza - phew, my Blackberry is safe!
But being a Curious George, I had to know what it would cost me to confirm that someone, somewhere was doing something that I didn't know about and was a bit of a secret so I did it, I clicked on the prices button and scrolled - for only $495.00 USD I could listen in on my mum's SMS to Dad about getting some messages, but the other way though for two reasons, one is he has a Motorolla Razor and it doesn't work, the second reason is the fact he doesn't actually know how his phone works and can't send SMS's back!
Then I started looking at other stuff they had like call interceptions, SMS Location Based Services (which actually, we do in the UK), Phone Dead - this is cool if it works, which I don't think it does unless the target has a Nokia 5500, or the full suite for only $1495.00!
I'm sure that some of this stuff has mertit and because I'm not a spy and have no need for it, I'm probably not the best person to judge this stuff - but to say it's funny how there are no disclaimers with the acurracy of the LBS stuff, supported networks or even any warning that the user is responsibly should any laws be broken, you the usual stuff.
That said, the kid in me thinks it's quite cool - how good would it be to target the CEO of one of our competitors and listen in to what they have to say and the SMS messages they send and receive? Of course being a law abidding person that's not going to happen, especially when I noticed the trial wasn't actually available despite having a trial button!
To sum up, actually I think the moral of the storey is don't get a Nokia because it's easy for people to spy on you, instead go with one of the others!
To be fair, after that call I pretty much dismissed it because if it was possible and available to the general population I'm sure certain lobby groups would try and pressure the givernment to disaalow such technology as an unbelieveable encrochment of peoples right to privacy? Actually I don't tkink privacy is actually in our constitution, so really we have no right to privacy - we've just taken it from the American culture.
But then looking at the Whirlpoop forum, I saw a new link asking about spying on SMS with reference to a news artical on Saturday - and I thought, bah, still not happening - don't get me wrong I know the networks could do it if they wanted to, but they'd really have to have a need for it and wouldn't just get on there at lunchtime and see what's happening over the air waves!
So I took my own advice and used Google to see what I could come up with - initially it was just a bunch of dodgy looking handsets that fell short of having SPY PHONE plastered all over it which was hooked up to an online account that you could sit at and "listen in" to their conversations. Honestly, i my boss or girlfriend or who ever said "Chris, I got you a new phone, here you go" I would look at it and laugh and leave it in the wrapper assuming it was a gag phone from Toys R Us!
Continuing on in my search wondering what other rubbish was about the net and low and behold there it was - software that allowed you to target a particular handset and intercept SMS messages without the user ever noticing! Completely stealth they tell you - no lights, error messages, etc... comepletely undetectable, stealth in fact! Wow, amazing, I have to have it because I'm not quick enough to steal my girlfriends phone whilst she's in the loo and flick through her phone, I'll be extra sneaky - wait, hold on, hold on there's a catch, pretty much she needs to have a Nokia.
Yes that's right, if you have a Motorolla your safe - send your dodgy messages with complete freedom the syp software really only works on some Nokia's, 3 Samsungs, a Panasonic, Lenovo and a Motoriza - phew, my Blackberry is safe!
But being a Curious George, I had to know what it would cost me to confirm that someone, somewhere was doing something that I didn't know about and was a bit of a secret so I did it, I clicked on the prices button and scrolled - for only $495.00 USD I could listen in on my mum's SMS to Dad about getting some messages, but the other way though for two reasons, one is he has a Motorolla Razor and it doesn't work, the second reason is the fact he doesn't actually know how his phone works and can't send SMS's back!
Then I started looking at other stuff they had like call interceptions, SMS Location Based Services (which actually, we do in the UK), Phone Dead - this is cool if it works, which I don't think it does unless the target has a Nokia 5500, or the full suite for only $1495.00!
I'm sure that some of this stuff has mertit and because I'm not a spy and have no need for it, I'm probably not the best person to judge this stuff - but to say it's funny how there are no disclaimers with the acurracy of the LBS stuff, supported networks or even any warning that the user is responsibly should any laws be broken, you the usual stuff.
That said, the kid in me thinks it's quite cool - how good would it be to target the CEO of one of our competitors and listen in to what they have to say and the SMS messages they send and receive? Of course being a law abidding person that's not going to happen, especially when I noticed the trial wasn't actually available despite having a trial button!
To sum up, actually I think the moral of the storey is don't get a Nokia because it's easy for people to spy on you, instead go with one of the others!
Wednesday 12 December 2007
Customer service, worth it or not?
My philosophy in business has always been that every business is a sales company - with out a sales function you have a hobby because you won't have any customers to trade with.
It's a simple idea and true in every case, whether it's a venture capital business (they sell idea's and business to investors) to accounting firms - even partial government agencies like NATA are sales companies who effectively sell compliance's.
It's so smart I must have come up with - that along with the fact that I don't recall anyone telling me it and until I have proof otherwise it's my little gem.
Knowing that fact it becomes easier to comprehend that we are all fighting for the same dollar one way or another - it's a bit like the economic theories regarding competitive product, and complimentary products when looking at supply and demand.
As a provider or SMS, we fight against the likes of business grade email services, LAN lines, Blackberries, etc... We also fight against staff costs, petrol prices and inflation - mainly because companies in Australia haven't yet realised that SMS is a legitimate mode of communication not only within the business dealing with internal customers, but externally to well external customers like you and me.
Company X only has a certain amount of financial resources and need to use those resources the most effective way as possible in order to continue their business hopefully with the intent on growing it - this is why customer service is so crucial to small business as it is easier, and cheaper to retain and hopefully up sell existing customers then it is to acquire new ones - this is probably the biggest flaw with Premium Rate SMS there is, buyers buying into a service without fully understanding the costs because there's no one there saying, right that will be $$$'s so end-users don't see the actual cost until next months phone bill.
So the question or not on whether customer service is worth it or not comes down to the business model - do we retain customers, or continually get new ones? It's the difference between owning a roadside cafe versus the corner shop - the roadside cafe is more interested in putting up signage by the road that will temp unsuspecting victims to eat their food and buy their products, where as the corner store allocates resources into being helpful, reasonable prices, etc... because they can't afford to find new customers if the old ones go elsewhere.
Sometimes I'm amazed at how large corporates who post massive operating profits get so big, and the profits are so massive it's ridiculas - after all, if you asked most people who they disliked dealing with you'd probably find they'd be in the top 10 or 20 companies in the country.
The only reasons I can think of are generally the weakness reasons for trading with companies - things like blind loyalty (being Australian, the biggest brand who will go unnamed is probably the big vermin in the sky - people talk about postal workers in the US, well the staff it this airline would be on the top of my list for most likely to go on a shooting rampage). And major telco's as a consumer can be awful to deal with - so why do it? Smaller aggregators can probably offer the same plans and products at about the same prices but offer much better service? Who knows - it probably comes down to the fact that because they think they're big for a reason and that good enough for them, either that or they are too lazy to try and find the small business who offers the same stuff and treats you like a person?
If the business god came out of the sky today and decreed that each business only had one sales tool with an unlimited budget, I think I would opt for a quality customer service as my tool to grow the business - I admit, if I walk into a men's store and have a look around at their wares and don't have an assistant come over and ask if I need help I walk out, the last thing anyone wants is to turn around to a business and say "Hi, I was just wondering if someone could give me some customer service?" If the customer doesn't want it they'll tell you sooner than if they do and you don't provide it.
I don't know - I guess this is becoming a bit of a rant again? At the end of the day, although I haven't done the figures, but I'm pretty sure that being nice and helpful doesn't actually cost the company any more in operations/sales costs so why not make hay while the sunshine's because it's the cheapest way of doing well in my honest opinion.
Cheers,
C
It's a simple idea and true in every case, whether it's a venture capital business (they sell idea's and business to investors) to accounting firms - even partial government agencies like NATA are sales companies who effectively sell compliance's.
It's so smart I must have come up with - that along with the fact that I don't recall anyone telling me it and until I have proof otherwise it's my little gem.
Knowing that fact it becomes easier to comprehend that we are all fighting for the same dollar one way or another - it's a bit like the economic theories regarding competitive product, and complimentary products when looking at supply and demand.
As a provider or SMS, we fight against the likes of business grade email services, LAN lines, Blackberries, etc... We also fight against staff costs, petrol prices and inflation - mainly because companies in Australia haven't yet realised that SMS is a legitimate mode of communication not only within the business dealing with internal customers, but externally to well external customers like you and me.
Company X only has a certain amount of financial resources and need to use those resources the most effective way as possible in order to continue their business hopefully with the intent on growing it - this is why customer service is so crucial to small business as it is easier, and cheaper to retain and hopefully up sell existing customers then it is to acquire new ones - this is probably the biggest flaw with Premium Rate SMS there is, buyers buying into a service without fully understanding the costs because there's no one there saying, right that will be $$$'s so end-users don't see the actual cost until next months phone bill.
So the question or not on whether customer service is worth it or not comes down to the business model - do we retain customers, or continually get new ones? It's the difference between owning a roadside cafe versus the corner shop - the roadside cafe is more interested in putting up signage by the road that will temp unsuspecting victims to eat their food and buy their products, where as the corner store allocates resources into being helpful, reasonable prices, etc... because they can't afford to find new customers if the old ones go elsewhere.
Sometimes I'm amazed at how large corporates who post massive operating profits get so big, and the profits are so massive it's ridiculas - after all, if you asked most people who they disliked dealing with you'd probably find they'd be in the top 10 or 20 companies in the country.
The only reasons I can think of are generally the weakness reasons for trading with companies - things like blind loyalty (being Australian, the biggest brand who will go unnamed is probably the big vermin in the sky - people talk about postal workers in the US, well the staff it this airline would be on the top of my list for most likely to go on a shooting rampage). And major telco's as a consumer can be awful to deal with - so why do it? Smaller aggregators can probably offer the same plans and products at about the same prices but offer much better service? Who knows - it probably comes down to the fact that because they think they're big for a reason and that good enough for them, either that or they are too lazy to try and find the small business who offers the same stuff and treats you like a person?
If the business god came out of the sky today and decreed that each business only had one sales tool with an unlimited budget, I think I would opt for a quality customer service as my tool to grow the business - I admit, if I walk into a men's store and have a look around at their wares and don't have an assistant come over and ask if I need help I walk out, the last thing anyone wants is to turn around to a business and say "Hi, I was just wondering if someone could give me some customer service?" If the customer doesn't want it they'll tell you sooner than if they do and you don't provide it.
I don't know - I guess this is becoming a bit of a rant again? At the end of the day, although I haven't done the figures, but I'm pretty sure that being nice and helpful doesn't actually cost the company any more in operations/sales costs so why not make hay while the sunshine's because it's the cheapest way of doing well in my honest opinion.
Cheers,
C
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