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Flow Rolls Out New Inventory for Fifth Anniversary
low is a company of many ‘firsts’: It was the first (and still the only) company to offer bundled telephone, cable and internet services in Jamaica; the first to offer customized cable packages; the first to offer free on-network calls, and the first telecommunications company to offer 100 megabyte-per-second internet speed, making Jamaica one of only 20 countries in the world with this speed. And all of this has been accomplished in just five years of existence! Flow, under the umbrella of its parent company Columbus Business Solutions (CBS), is preparing to further up the ante in the local telecommunications industry with a slew of new, cutting-edge technologies and services for both its residential and business clients that should make the next five years even more revolutionary. Among the products that will be rolled out – some by year end – are internet protocol (IP) surveillance systems for increased home and business security. “IP surveillance isn’t new, but what we’re seeing coming out of some of the IP surveillance companies is the ability to really see good quality pictures,” said Sharon Roper, Vice President of Marketing. With the old technology, it was hard to see images clearly and the number of images one could view at the same time was limited. However, “one of the advantages of the Flow network is because of our fibre optic technology, we can carry huge amounts of data traffic and video traffic... This allows us to be able to support these new applications that require high-definition video content,” she explained. In addition to better image quality and real-time, multi-camera feed, the Flow system will also allow the user to plug in
Sharon Roper, Vice President of Marketing
Flow, under the umbrella of its parent company Columbus Business Solutions (CBS), is preparing to further up the ante in the local telecommunications industry with a slew of new, cutting-edge technologies and services for both its residential and business clients that should make the next five years even more revolutionary. pre-programmed analytics so that if the camera spots a specified activity, it flags it as an alert. “IP surveillance is something that obviously is going to be of real benefit to security for the government, the [Jamaica Constabulary Force], company security as well, hospitals and schools... We’re working with businesses and the government to see how we can deploy that,” Roper stated.
Easier Payment Options Flow is also making it easier on companies to afford the IP surveillance infrastructure with an option to lease the system and pay for access monthly. “You don’t have to find that big capital investment up front,” Roper said. The same technology and payment plan are also available to customers using the company’s videoconferencing solution. This service connects Jamaica to an international network, allowing large businesses to maintain their global reach while reducing travel time and expense. “Again, the videoconferencing solution that Flow is bringing is high-definition quality. It allows you to tune in [from] multiple locations and it’s real-time so you don’t have that buffering, that delay with the audio and the video, so it makes the quality of the interaction much more productive,” Roper said. yourmoney ezine
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Living in the Cloud Flow is also one of the pioneers of cloud technology usage locally and regionally through a partnership with Ignition Technology Group. “Flow has been offering data backup for several years now. That’s where you store your data in a remote server… Our data centre is actually built in Curacao because it is outside the hurricane belt. It is outside the US, so you don’t have to transit your content via the US, which is a great advantage because of the Patriot Act,” Roper explained. The CBS server meets Tier III requirements, which means it has the necessary capacity to remain fully operational in the event of major power outages.
“Our chairman’s mantra is that ‘our job is not to predict the next wave of technology; our job is to enable the next wave of technology.’” In addition to data, companies can also use applications stored in the cloud. This is particularly beneficial to small businesses and start-ups, many of which cannot afford to purchase all the necessary hardware and software they need to function at full capacity. Roper explained that companies can lease the cloud service and pay for each application as it is used. “It means you get the latest applications, so you don’t have to [purchase them] because in the cloud, we manage and maintain that and we make sure it is always the latest and it’s updated,” she added.
Flow’s thrust to always have the latest technology available to its customers about “enabling the future. Our chairman’s mantra is that ‘our job is not to predict the next wave of technology; our job is to enable the next wave of technology.’ We don’t know what that is going to be, but it is not possible without a strong infrastructure to carry that data and video traffic,” Roper said. There are several other major firsts in the Flow pipeline, such as 300 mbs internet speed. This will make Jamaica only the second country in the world with that capacity, the first being Scandinavia. Presently, business customers can purchase an eight-megabyte connection (suitable for small companies) or a direct fibre connection that comes into their buildings (suitable for large businesses like banks), with up to 40 gigs of data traffic capacity. Other new products include Flow Apps,
which allows users to access the internet via cable box; Flow Everywhere, which allows subscribers to access IP television content as well as the internet on mobile devices like iPads and smartphones and Flow Unplugged, which sees the company partnering with several companies across the country to make its WiFi service available to their customers. The product was tested at this year’s Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival to great reviews. “When we launch, it will be for everybody, but as it evolves, we will always keep it free for Flow customers,” Roper noted.
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“This is How We Flow” The Flow network currently covers approximately half of Jamaica, and as the company sets out to make its presence felt in the other 50 per cent, it has engaged some of its most dedicated customers to help fuel its expansion. The ‘This is How We Flow’ advertising campaign features unscripted testimonials from several customers telling how the company’s services have helped make their lives better. Flow has also helped to make life better for several communities across the island, providing free internet and cable to over 100 primary and high schools in Jamaica since inception under its Building Leaders through Technology initiative. “When we came into Jamaica, we saw that we needed to focus on education and young people. A lot of our sponsorship and community projects are working with young people. We saw how the technology could really improve the way we deliver education and the way people experience learning,” Roper stated. “It’s about giving the future access to the future.” Flow also partners with several NGOs to help inspire young people and create leaders. One of these partnerships is The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica’s (PSOJ) Youth Upliftment Through Employment (Y.U.T.E.) programme. The company is currently offering internships for several of the programme’s participants and several staff members will act as mentors. The company also sponsors several cultural and sports initiatives, such as the all-island basketball league. Overall, Flow has spent some J$300 million on community- and youth-based activities.
Sharon Roper (left) interacting with her staff.
“When we came into Jamaica, we saw that we needed to focus on education and young people. A lot of our sponsorship and community projects are working with young people. We saw how the technology could really improve the way we deliver education and the way people experience learning,”
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Is Acquiring Hulu the Best Decision for Apple?
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ince its early days as an ‘exclusive’ brand for creatives, Apple has moved into the mainstream and taken a bite out of the competition with its cutting-edge technology and innovative products and services. It has staked its claim in virtually every sector of the technology market, from computers to smartphones and got everyone hooked on tablets with the iPad and iPad2. However, one area in which it has yet to make any serious inroads is online video content. This might come as a bit of a surprise, considering that iTunes has a significant market share in the online content market. However, iTunes is primarily known for selling music, even though it does provide video content, which currently claims a measly four per cent of the online video streaming market. The news that video streaming site Hulu is up for sale could very well be the solution to Apple’s problem, but there are definitely come challenges to address. Hulu has revolutionized the way people view their favourite programmes in four short years by providing top network shows, movies and other video content from over 260 providers on demand, both free and with its subscription service, Hulu Plus. Apple certainly has all the necessary tools to make this work: the iPod Touch, iPhone and both iPads are all optimized for video streaming, the iTunes video store could do well with the new content, plus the Apple TV would move from being a cute “hobby” to a major revenue earner. According to Ryan Lawler
Despite the obvious potential benefits, the major drawback to a Hulu acquisition is the very thing that makes Apple desirable to customers - its exclusive nature. It might be hard to convince Hulu to abandon its agenda of distributing as widely as possible and integrate it into the Apple fold.
from online media, events and research provider GigaOm, “Apple has reportedly been working for years to build a subscription video service that could rival pay TV. Buying up Hulu would finally give it that service to offer to its customers, without Apple having to do the hard work of building a consortium of willing partners to do so.”
At the end of the day, would it benefit Apple more to own Hulu exclusively or do what it has always done, which is build out its own alternative? Apple is said to be in preliminary discussions with the Hulu principals, but whatever decision it takes, it needs to act fast as competitors like Google, Yahoo! And Amazon.com are also said to be making their bids and Apple can’t afford to lag further behind in this sector of the market.
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Another major benefit to Apple would be in ad sales. The majority of Hulu’s revenue comes from ads and the company has created inventive ways to attract advertisers, including branded player skins, survey ads and custom instream video ads. “In the first quarter, Hulu had nearly 300 video advertisers on its site and delivering ads to various mobile and connected devices. Meanwhile, Apple’s own iAds product has largely fallen flat,” Lawler pointed out. “A side benefit of a Hulu acquisition would be bringing its ad technology and ad sales teams into the fold to help Apple with its own products.”
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Protecting Your Intellectual Property PartII Trademarks Trademark is a distinctive sign (including a word or personal name), design, letter, number and colour which identifies certain goods or services as those produced or provided by a specific person or company; for example: Apple, Lasco, Singer, and Tastee.
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A trademark protects the holder’s right of ownership and interest by ensuring that he has the exclusive right to use the mark (symbolized by ™ or ®) to identify his goods and/or services, or to authorize another person or entity to use it in return for payment. A registered mark allows you to guarantee the quality of goods and the standard of service it is associated with. This is a part of your brand as well, denoting high quality which creates confidence in consumers that they are purchasing the very best. A trademark gives your business an extra edge over competitors and reflects your company’s reputation; therefore, any infringement can lead to loss of business for you, especially if your mark ends up being associated with anything negative, such as substandard or dangerous products. Some ‘knock-offs’ are so cleverly designed that only intense scrutiny can spot differences. Trademark protection restricts the efforts of unfair competitors from using similar signs to market or promote their goods or services, or different goods or services from using your mark.
A registered mark allows you to guarantee the quality of goods and the standard of service it is associated with. This is a part of your brand as well, denoting high quality which creates confidence in consumers that they are purchasing the very best. Trademarks are protected for 10 years upon registration, and this period can be renewed every 10 years indefinitely. You can view the registration process on the JIPO website (http://www.jipo. gov.jm/?q=node/40). Unlike copyright, trademark registration attracts several fees, including a non-refundable application cost of J$3,500.
Before you are allowed to register your trademark, you have to do an extensive search to ensure you are not copying – however inadvertently – another business’ identifier. Experts suggest that you avoid common words that cannot be protected and go for “fanciful” or “suggestive” names that creatively convey the unique nature of your business or product, like Coppertone suntan lotion, or make something up, like Haagen-Dazs. After you have registered, it is also advisable to do occasional checks to see if your trademark is being illegally copied or used in any way. Should you come across an infringement, seek the advice of a lawyer trained in intellectual property rights who can draft a cease-and-desist letter and pursue further legal action should you take the case to court. Intellectual property rights issue are generally not uppermost in the average young entrepreneur’s mind as he goes about starting his business; however, these concerns must be factored into your plans, regardless of the industry you are involved in. Many businesses around the world lose millions of dollars annually due to trademark infringement. If you are not sure of what steps to take to protect your intellectual property, contact a lawyer to help you get started.
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Philanthropy in action by Tracey-Ann Wisdom
Jason Henzell The Pride of Treasure Beach perience programme sponsored by the NCB Foundation and USAID. Fortyfive young people from Treasure Beach, aged 16-24, will graduate from the programme next month. Some have already secured employment while others, like Roshane and Oshane Dennis and Andrew Scott have started their own businesses. The Dennis twins have started a landscaping company while Scott has started a web-based community radio station, Hi-Def.
“Jakes is about love. Love for the place, and love for its people.”
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his is the conclusion of “Jakes’ Story” on the Jakes Resort website, summing up how the Henzell family has devoted itself to the development of the quiet fishing village of Treasure Beach in St. Elizabeth. The community has been the family’s home since the 1940s and is now a model of sustainable, eco-friendly tourism in Jamaica. Jason Henzell now sits at the helm of the family business and has made it is his mission to preserve the Jakes legacy while supporting and creating opportunities for residents of Treasure Beach. Some of his initiatives include the Breds Treasure Beach Foundation, which he founded in 1998. The mission of Breds is to promote education, sports, cultural heritage and emergency healthcare. It is led by a board of community volunteers and funded through grants, individual donations, and proceeds of charitable projects. Over the years, BREDS has completed a number of vital projects, including constructing homes for the less fortunate in conjunction with Food for the Poor and sponsoring community football and cricket teams. Some of the current Breds projects include the Treasure Beach Sports Park, which was started last year. The Park will be built in four phases, culminating in a 15-acre recreational area with a cricket pavilion, football fields and a
Jason Henzell now sits at the helm of the family business and has made it is his mission to preserve the Jakes legacy while supporting and creating opportunities for residents of Treasure Beach. children’s playground. Phase one, featuring a football field, bathroom and changing room was opened recently. Phase two, consisting of a cricket pitch and two additional football fields, will be opened on September 10. “This will create even bigger opportunities for sports leadership and sports tourism,” Henzell said. Another major programme under the Breds umbrella is A Ganar (Spanish for ‘to win’), a six-month employability, mentorship, adult literacy and work ex-
Henzell is also involved in other areas of community development, such as the new Farm-to-Table dinner initiative, focused on agricultural development and agro-tourism. Tables are set up on farms on the Pedro Plains and a chef is brought in to prepare meals for the farmers and visitors. Eight sold-out events have been held thus far. Additionally, he is also working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to create a fishing sanctuary in Galleon Beach, near Black River. This will be the first of its kind in the region. Henzell has received numerous awards for his commitment to service and community, including the 2008 PSOJ Corporate Social Responsibility Honour Roll Award for Community Involvement and the 2010 NCB Nation Builder Award. “Our niche is community tourism, so the community must see the benefits,” he said.
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