What I Wanted for Christmas…

While Christmas is over and the New Year looms in less than 24 hours, there is one thing I fervently wish for: the HTC HD2 smartphone! Catching glimpses of it at the media launch, the sleek and slim beauty caught the attention of many, including yours truly. Now being a fan of the original HTC HD, it is very obvious that the successor would be a mind-boggling device.

Upon looking at the specs, it is very hard to deny just how awesome the device really is. A 4.3-inch capacitive-based multi-touchscreen, powered by a Snapdragon CPU, and pumped to the ceiling with enough flash-based storage and memory, the HTC HD2 is literally a God-like device.

Some say it is the iPhone killer the marketplace has been waiting for…and I fully agree! Not only does it have higher specs, it is thinner than the iPhone 3GS, offers more or less the same functionality, and performs just as well as the iPhone. The only say iPhone purists will have against the HTC HD2 is the very fact that it comes preloaded with Windows Mobile 6.5 – an admittedly sleek mobile operating system (OS), but one that has a cluttered main menu area and bugs that need to be worked out.

However, word is on the street that Windows Mobile 7.0 (WinM7) is on the way out and is designed to rectify these glaring issues. Now that would be a real boost to the capabilities of the HTC HD2 as many have reported that this particular HTC smartphone is WinM7 ready.

How true, we wouldn’t know, but many are wating impatiently for the eventual upgrade to appear.

This is something I really wanted for Christmas…unfortunately, it never came through. Hmm…perhaps by my birthday then? Now if only the boys at HTC and its PR agency are reading this…*hint hint*

The Furore That is 7!

November is a really happening event for Microsoft especially with the worldwide launch of its most highly anticipated operating system (OS) – Windows 7 (Win7). In fact, Microsoft Malaysia took it to heart that there must be a nationwide party as it celebrated through the month of November and December with a slew of events.

From the main launch at Low Yat Plaza, to the events that took place around the nation, it was Win7 campaign mode all the way for Microsoft Malaysia.  This includes roadshows, side-events, PC-fair add-ons, and vendor product releases with Win7. Enhancing the festivities, the two months of celebrations for Win7 also had Microsoft Malaysia introduce its new hardware and business solutions support, which capped a very busy month for the local team.

Certainly it was a grand time for the local ICT scene as Microsoft Malaysia as the launch of Win7 had an unprecedented array of new PCs, peripherals, and software programmes rolling out at the same time to generate support for the new OS.

Says Yasmin Mahmood, the Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia: “The launch of Win7 is certainly a landmark event for the entire ICT industry. With the new OS, the everyday PC experience is now better in the ways the consumer wants it to be: simpler, faster, more responsive. It is the OS people will want to use as we worked closely with the beta-testers and our vendor partners to gather the crucial feedback we need for the development of Win7. It is with their help that we have managed to reach so far.”

She shared that and more during the Win7 launch at Low Yat Plaza, the heart of the ICT retail scene, alongside the Country Managers of various vendor partners such as HP, Dell, Asus, Intel, AMD, Lenovo and DiGi.

Mahmood (centre) with her senior management team flanking her (left and right), taking a photo-op with Microsoft's PC vendor partners.

Aside from the spillover of roadshows and events, Microsoft Malaysia also rolled out its new range of peripherals for the PC. Designed to take advantage of the features and functions of Win7, they – the Wirless Comfort Desktop 5000 keyboard and mouse combo, the Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000, the LifeCam Cinema webcam, and the Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 – were the Christmas gifts for those who thought a nice piece of PC hardware would augur well as a present.

Ergonomic, stylish, yet highly advanced, these peripherals were certainly made for Win7 as they feature shortcut keys/buttons that are only usable with Win7.

If that is not enough, Microsoft Malaysia also announced and showcased the capabilities of Win7 and the availability of its Windows Server 2008 R2 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2010. Working well with Win7, the new server systems are designed to help Malaysian businesses reduce costs, protect communications and improve efficiencies during these difficult economic times. In essence, the trio of technology tools form Microsoft’s next generation solutions. Together, they are designed to increase business productivity, enhance cost savings, and get the most out of IT investments today.

As it is, Microsoft is receiving an overwhelming response from thousands of IT professionals and developers around the world and region, citing that Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2010. This goes without saying as the world quickly warms up to Microsoft’s new products.

Can the public expect more from the software giant? Well of course! However, that will be a time when Microsoft will be without Mahmood as she leaves office for better opportunities next year. In writing this, Geek Eet! would like to say “Thank You” to the outgoing Managing Director for the good times the media had with her at the helm of Microsoft. Her foresight and deep knowledge of the ICT industry coupled with her never-ending fountain of energy and passion for growing the business is something most of the tech-media would not quickly forget. From Geek Eet, we wish Yasmin Mahmood every success in the newest chapter in her career.

Messenger Turns 10

While the world buzzes about Microsoft’s new cool and sleek Windows 7 and gushes over its upcoming 2010 offerings, another milestone that reiterates Microsoft’s long term capability and prowess just went by. Some may not know it, but since July 2009, one of the world’s most popular instant messaging (IM) applications, Microsoft’s Messenger, has turned 10.

Having 10 billion messages sent everyday on the Windows Live Messenger (known as Windows Messenger and then MSN Messenger in earlier incarnations), it is no surprise that it is one of the most widely used free instant messaging services in the world. This, of course, contributes to its long lasting survivability and  continual development.

“We are really happy that users around the world have embraced Messenger. It continues to be one of the favorite ways for people to stay in touch with the people who matter to them, simply because it’s just fun and easy to use,” says Craig Law-Smith, Marketing Director, Online Services Group, Southeast Asia, Microsoft.

For many, Messenger is the symbol for something they do on a minute basis: communicate. Whenever people want to contact each other beyond the usual meet-and-greet, the first thing they usually ask is: what’s your MSN? This is strangely ironic as even the original form of communication – the telephone – is superseded with the advent use of the Internet and, subsequently, Messenger.

When Messenger first came out in July 1999, under the name of MSN Messenger 1.0, it was received in a very positive manner, garnering 2.5 million monthly active users and snowballing that value to 4.5 million within six months. Only encountering more growth in the coming years and undergoing revisions that saw it be improved further, Messenger now has more than 330 million active users on the PC. Contributing to that are the users who connect to Messenger through their mobilephones.

Certainly, such development has improved Messenger as it introduces features and functions like video-conferencing, video-messaging, network gaming, and direct VoIP telecommunications. In fact, in its 10th iteration, it is the platform of choice for billions of instant messages and 1.3 billion voice and video messages sent every day.

“In Malaysia alone, there are currently 2.8 million Windows Live users sending over 52.4 million Windows Live instant messages per day. This is a clear testament to the product’s growth over the past 10 years. Given that increasing numbers of consumers can now also use Windows Live Messenger on their mobile phones, we expect to see the number of instant messages sent daily to increase even further,” Craig adds.

 

 

 

This is one of the main driving factors for the growth spurt Messenger experienced, making it one of the widest used IM application on the Web. In understanding the importance of the convergence of communications, and the wants, whims, and needs of its users, Microsoft took it upon itself to continuously improve Messenger. Some of these innovations are novel while others are truly indispensable. They include:

• The nudge, which was introduced with MSN Messenger 7.0. Since then it has been even simpler for users to get the attention of their favorite chat partner.
• The typing indicator (which says “XX is typing a message”) seems trivial today, but was actually a tricky problem in the early days – how could it reflect that someone was entering a message without showing every single character (and typos). When Microsoft introduced the typing indicator in Messenger for that purpose, it soon became a function that every chat client is now using today.
• Custom personalization. Of nearly everything:  Users can add a profile picture or video, display a personal scene in the chat window, update the status message with their news, add a favorite link, or add what song they’re listening to.
• Integrating the “What’s New” feed with the Messenger, which allow users to stay in touch with the latest updates from their circle of friends. This is done with a glance and without the need to log in across multiple destinations.
• Photo sharing. Photo sharing lets users share and comment on pictures while chatting.  They can easily show and view pictures right in the chat window and still have ample space to chat.
• Favorites. Users’ most important contacts, like speed dial for one’s Messenger contacts.
• Groups. Users can create groups on the fly and chat simultaneously with up to 20 members at the same time.  A group that is created in Windows Live Messenger will also be created as a Windows Live Group with all related features such as shared calendars, photos and posts.

“The Windows Live Messenger offering is significantly more robust than ever before.  Today, it is easier and more fun for consumers to stay connected and to discover and share, providing for an enhanced user experience all around,”  Craig adds.

While there are many IM clients out there now, many still prefer to go back to Messenger if only for the convenience of use and being on the same page as everyone else. In fact, most third-party IM clients can operate with a Messenger account and even embrace some of the core functions present in the Microsoft app. This clearly show how embedded Messenger is with the IM community and how relevant it still is for most. Certainly it will last another 20 years if Microsoft continues to push Messenger’s development further.

Quick Post #3 – HP Buys 3Com

Here’s a quickie before I put up the posts on local news: HP has bought 3Com for a cool US$2.7 billion. After the fallout of the previous buyout offer to Bain Capital and Huawei Technologies, due to national security reasons, 3Com finally closed this significant deal.

This is certainly a momentous move for the networking giant, and a cunning one for HP as it starts carving its way into networking devices. As it is, HP had made some headway into this with products like ProCurve and its EDS offerings. However, the whole ballgame has now been change with this new major acquisition for the PC and printer maker. A crucial move indeed since HP’s former networking partner – Cisco – has recently started moving into the server space.

To paraphrase one of Confucius’ famous line: we certainly live in very interesting times now.

Rest of the story is here: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/12/business/20091112095932&sec=business

Christmas Comes Early From Sony

For Sony, Christmas is never too early when it comes to pleasing their legion of fans and the general public-at-large. Aside from launching new LCD TVs and new mobilephones, Sony made sure its PlayStation (PS) consoles and Vaio notebooks did not miss the boat as well.

Barely a month after its sister company, Sony Ericsson, launched a new range of cool mobilephones, Sony Malaysia locally launched the highly anticipated Sony PS3 Slim and PS Portable (PSP) Go. Barely a week later, it then introduced three new Sony Vaio notebooks. Coincidental? Not likely, since the products hail from different divisions within the company. More likely, the developers knew they needed to launch the products before the Christmas shopping season or end up missing out the buying spree and holiday cheer of the winter season.

Following the footsteps of the successful PS3 (or the PS3 Phat now), the PS3 Slim is said to be a highly advanced and heavily revised design of the original. It is two-thirds the size of the PS3 Phat, consumes less power (approximately two-thirds), and comes with a 120GB HDD loaded within.

What a beauty! (The PS3 that is!)

Supporting the launch is a line of content and games that is sure to fire up consumers with hot titles like God of War 3, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and Street Fighter 4 coming out alongside the PS3 Slim.

PS3 Slim in all its glory

As for the PSP Go, it is a redesign of the ever popular PSP Slim. It replaces the UMD Drive with its 16GB internal flash memory and includes the slide-out function for its screen, giving the PSP G0 a more compact and unique form. By the looks of it, the PSP Go seems to be even smaller and lighter than the PSP Slim. It is fully compatible with the PS3 Slim and is able to communicate with the PC via the Media Go software. Games, which include demos, full-versions, and PS One games, that can be played on the PSP Go are available on the PS Network (PSN).

The PSP Go - All opened up

The new Sony VAIO notebooks, meanwhile, consist of the VAIO X, VAIO L, and VAIO CW. Besides the CW range, the other two are brand new in terms of design, features, technology and offerings. Concept wise, the VAIO X is a business notebook true and through – featuring an extremely light and thin design (655g and 13.9mm), and a long battery life (16 hours), together with wireless connection and reliability. This certainly makes it the right mobile notebook for business persons on the go.

New Sony VAIOs to the fore

Using a 11.1-inch screen, the VAIO X has a comfortable typing 17 mm key pitch isolation keyboard and new touch pad with convenient multi-finger gestures such as zoom and flick navigation. Powering all this is the latest Intel Atom Processor Z550 (2 GHz).

As for the VAIO L, it is an all-in-one PC that brings together intuitive touch panel operation and broad access to HD entertainment. Not only is it a touch panel, the VAIO L comes fully equipped with a multi-touch optical sensor display and additional multimedia functions, making it a highly versatile touch capable  HD multimedia device. It is not a Bravia but it will do for those who have small living spaces.

The CW range is Sony’s response to the slew of new powerful notebooks that the market is receiving. Colourful, fun, vibrant and powerful, the CW notebooks come in five glossy colours: blue, red, pink, white and black. To match consumer demands, the CW series comess loaded with one of the more powerful nVidia GeForce videocards, Intel Centrino 2 CPU, DDR3 RAM, 16:9 widescreen, and a Blu-ray Combo Drive. What more does one need for a powerful and snazzy notebook?

Christmas is coming yes…so why not drop by a Sony store and consider these goodies. Am sure the kids or the gadget happy family member/friend/loved one will love a surprise this Christmas.

New Android on the Block

It seems that the Android OS is now the new black. From Motorola, to Samsung, and even HTC, the Google mobile operating system (OS) is definitely making some major headway in and around the marketplace. With such a breakthrough, it looks like Windows Mobile and the Symbian OS have a true contender in the Android, what with the way it is making a truly big splash as it rolls out onto new frontline mobilephone handsets.

Of course, like all smartphones loaded with the two more common OS types, the Android loaded devices are also a little tad high on the pricing. That is one of the main challenges it faces in its bid to eat up more market share. With the local Malaysian launch of the HTC Tattoo, that may no longer be an issue. Why? Well, for a HTC Touch model that comes preloaded with all the bells and whistles of a Touch smartphone, it comes with an extremely affordable price of RM1,399.

The HTC Tattoo certainly opens the way for more to consider adopting the Android platform through the HTC Tattoo. In fact, having the price range to go below the RM1,500 mark, it is clear HTC is working to be more than just an exclusive device for the rich. With its distinctive design and ability to personalise all aspects of the phone – be it hardware or the applications and content within – users are now able to express themselves and create their own individual mobile experience.

“Everyone wants their own phone to feel like it was specifically made for them. The Tattoo, with HTC Sense represents an easy way to shape your own distinct mobile experience and really make it your own. The HTC Tattoo ensures that you can create the most engaging and appropriate mobile experience through simple yet powerful personalisation,” says SK Wong, Country Manager of HTC Malaysia.

Offering features like a 3.2-Megapixel camera, Google apps, expandable microSD memory, HTC-dedicated functions, and even a 3.5mm headphone stereo-jack, the HTC Tattoo is keen to introduce advance mobile technology to the masses. A smart move for sure as many are attracted to the touchscreen interface that many brands are now pushing for.

In addition to the user customisable features built into the HTC Tattoo, users can also customise the skin of the chassis for the HTC Tattoo. This is done through the interchangeable skin of the HTC Tattoo and providing the consumers the ability to create their own customised skin for the phone.

Besides making the Android smartphone more affordable and uniquely customisable, HTC also unveiled a global advertising campaign that is based on HTC’s new Quietly Brilliant brand positioning.  As HTC’s first global advertising campaign, the YOU campaign is being rolled out across 20 countries in the coming weeks and features the tagline, ‘You don’t need to get a phone. You need a phone that gets you.’  This represents HTC’s commitment to focus on people, their needs and how they work and live to ensure that HTC devices suit them.

In a way, the new “Quietly Brilliant” campaign is HTC’s own method of pushing itself as a brand that did not need the clout and tout of its competitors to push its products. Certainly it only needs to deliver on its promises of being a brilliant device to go far. The highly anticipated models for year-end and early January 2010 are expected to adopt the same campaign.

MyFlippix Goes Live with HP

For those who are looking for a printing service that integrates an online service along with a simple publishing software, do check out Metromedia Technologies’ new online imagebook website: www.myflippix.com. The system, features and software are designed with a user-friendly feel, giving customers an easy time to create the imagebook they want.

Even so, MyFlippix doesn’t run on just simple printers or large digital copiers. In knowing that the quality of prints must be maintained, Metromedia chose to work with HP to ensure that its MyFlippix service will not have its prints’ quality compromised. With the HP Indigo Press 5500, all of MyFlippix’s print-runs have an offset look and feel, as well as true photo quality printouts.

“We are confident that the HP Indigo Press 5500 will help to further expand the market opportunities for Metromedia Technologies as they continue to offer premium quality digital products to customers. In expecting more photo service companies installing presses at an unprecedented rate, we at HP know that there will be a rapid rise in demand. Hence, we will continue to see very strong acceptance for our technology in the photo-specialty market,” says Gabriel Dukes, Channel Development Manager, HP Indigo Digital Press, Imaging & Printing Group, Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific Japan.

Zainal Arifin Khalid, Managing Director, Metromedia Technologies adds: “The decision to useHP’s Indigo Press 5500 was a fairly easy choice for us when factors like quality and speed is a major concern. With the HP Indigo Press 5500, MyFlippix can certainly provide the speedy printing turnaround time we need as it reduces the operator involvement in ensuring the entire print-run is done properly.”

Currently, the HP Indigo Press 5500 is being showcased at the Metromedia Technologies premises, which is located at B-G-27, Block B, Jalan PJU 1A/3J, Taipan 1, Ara Damansara.

The HP Indigo Press 5500 is currently available in Malaysia through HP appointed channel partner Toyo Photo Products Sdn Bhd. More information about HP Indigo Press 5500 is available at www.hp.com/go/myhpindigoweb

Windows 7 Roadshows Galore!

With Windows 7 (Win7) now being the buzz word on the street, it goes to show how far Microsoft has gone to become a zero (with Vista) to a much sought star (with Win7) in the build-up to the release of its latest operating system. Having recently launched Win7 worldwide, just about everyone is clamouring for the OS. In fact, right here in KL, many IT shops are carrying many variations of Win7 (both original and OEM) in limited quantities – all of them waiting for Microsoft Malaysia’s officially launch of Win7.

In conjunction with the oncoming launch (Nov 7), Microsoft Malaysia is hosting a list of activities to excite the market further as it builds up towards the highly anticipated launch. In Microsoft Malaysia’s own words:

We are organising a barrage of launch events, roadshows and contests throughout Malaysia during the month of November. Joined by HP, Dell, Acer, DiGi Broadband, AMD, Asus and Lenovo, we will be hitting the road with a range of activities to herald the arrival of what is generally believed to be the best-ever OS to come out of Microsoft!

The launch will see Microsoft and its partners hosting roadshows at:

-        Plaza Low Yat from Nov. 2 to 8

-        Ikano Power Centre from Nov. 4 to 8

-        Gurney Plaza Penang from Nov. 6 to 8, and

-        City Square JB from Nov. 13 to 15.

Matching the “7” theme, a Grand Launch will be held on Nov. 7 in Plaza Low Yat, with special activities such as the Finals of the “Made for 7” coding contest, where finalists will demonstrate their touchscreen applications on stage and prize presentations for online contests such as the “7&Me” photography contest, a Web Hunt, and “What Would I Give for a Windows 7 Notebook” contest.

Vendor Partners participating in the roadshows will also be offering promotions and discounts to coincide with the launch celebrations.

To join the ongoing contests or to find out more information about the launch of Windows 7 in Malaysia, please visit www.win7.com.my.

True Entertainment is Sony Ericsson’s Game

Convergence has always been the call of the ICT industry over the last decade. In fact, it is a trend that the mobilephone industry is fully exemplifying with market players adding on features and functions that are once separate objects altogether. Case in point: enhanced features such as high-megapixel camera, basic computing functions, multiple inter-connectivity, music playback, digital PDAs, and total entertainment platforms are the current bells and whistles on all mobilephones.

From Left: Aino, Satio and Yari

Heeding the call and wanting to tackle market demands and trends, Sony Ericsson rolled out three new models with the latest in camera technology and sound/video playback quality. Taking innovations from both its Cyber-shot and Walkman mobilephone series, the three – Satio, Aino, and Yari – are the epitome of Sony Ericsson’s mobile technologies. Understanding what consumer wants, it offers a comprehensive suite of features and content available to those who demand for such functions to be always on-hand at all times.

“These three new mobilephones provide a powerful entertainment content line-up, from the latest movies, music and games, is made possible through our strategic partnership with our Sony sister companies, Sony Pictures and Sony Music, as well as other content partners.  The fusion of Sony Ericsson communication and entertainment technologies will deliver the ultimate user experience for consumers in Malaysia,” says Hirokazu Ishizuka, Corporate Vice President, Head of Asia Pacific Region at Sony Ericsson.

Every purchase of the Satio, Aino or Yari comes with an Entertainment Passport, which offers a bundle of fun features including a number of free downloads of music videos, movies and games.  The wide selection of downloadable movie titles include Angels & Demons, Made of Honor, You Don’t Mess With the Zohan and Quarantine. The music library, meanwhile, contains up to 300 music videos, including the latest from well-known artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Kasabian, Kings of Leon, Britney Spears, Wong Leehom, Rainie Young and Alan Kuo.

In addition to awesome downloads, there is also the chance to score an all-expenses paid trip to catch the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

The launch yesterday was open for the public to enter so they can have a firsthand feel of the three new mobilephones. In fact, the public gained more than what they bargained for since Sony Ericsson offered rebates of up to RM1,000 for any of the three newly launched models to the first 50 people that queued up at the event venue.

Under the Hood

In the following order, Sony Ericsson’s new trio are classed in terms of performance and specifications: The Satio, Aino, and Yari.

The Satio, a full touchscreen interface phone, is Sony Ericsson’s ultimate multimedia platform, featuring a 12.1 megapixel camera, a 3.5-inch (16:9 ration) widescreen format screen, and ninth High Definition (nHD) gaming performance. Using nHD, it will also offer mobile HD TV programmes.

The Aino, meanwhile, is like a media player with a built-in phone and camera – only it has a slider chassis that hides the numeric keypad, making it clear that it is a mobilephone first and foremost. Even so, one of its main functions is to be a device that places multimedia performance as its priority. To reinforce this fact, the Aino is designed to act as media platform that not only acts as a dedicated media player (when plugged into the charging dockstation) but also is able to use Remote Play with the Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3). This is made possible via local network connectivity between the PS3 and the Aino, which can be created via the  local intranet or even over the Internet. As for its media player function, the Aino uses the Sony Media Home, an application that pulls media content from the Media Go software, which is located on the PC. This is done automatically over Wi-Fi.

As for the Yari, Sony Ericsson’s other slider mobilephone, is the first model outside the Japanese market to offer gesture gaming functions, which promises endless hours of fun. Offering certain PS3 titles on the phone, the Yari combines superb fun gaming experiences with true multimedia action. Enhancing that is the 5-megapixel camera and media player that it comes packed together with.

KL Availability

The Satio will be available from 2 November 2009 in three colours – Black, Silver and Bordeaux – at the recommended retail price of RM2,499, with the Aino only coming in two colours – Obsidian Black and Luminous White – and the distinctive Achromatic Black and Cranberry White colours  for the Yari. The price for all three models are RM2,499, RM1,999 and RM1,099 respectively.

IBM: What CIOs Are Concerned About

According to IBM’s first CIO (Chief Information Officer) survey, called the IBM Global CIO Study 2009, ASEAN CIOs are now looking to drive new forms of innovation and growth within their organisations, while still adhering to the goals of expanding the business and keeping cost down. This also includes improving/changing the processes of key members of the senior management.

The new study, having a sample size of more than 2,500 CIOs, of which 86 are from ASEAN, reveals that top priorities for CIOs consist of leveraging analytics to improve competitive advantage and business decision making. More than four out of five (83%) of the survey respondents at the global level identified business intelligence and analytics , which provides the ability to see patterns in vast amounts of data and extract actionable insights, as the way forward for their organisations.

Other key findings include:

• Global CIOs are also on the path to dramatically lower energy costs, with 76% (ASEAN: 63%) undergoing or planning virtualisation projects.
• 76% of the surveyed global CIOs, with 74% of them being from ASEAN, anticipate a strongly centralised infrastructure to come up within the next five years. At least half of these CIOs are expecting to implement completely standardised, low-cost business processes.
• Even as these CIOs build these standardised low-cost infrastructures, global CIOs aiming to focus 55% of their time on activities that drive innovation and growth, while the remaining 45% is now used to address traditional IT tasks.

Besides these findings, the study also determined what the CIOs identified as top visionary projects that they are now working on or foresee themselves implementing it in the near future. This includes process improvements, taking advantage of new technology innovations, and deploying new solutions into the workplace, such as green IT, virtualisation, service oriented architecture, and cloud computing. In addition, CIOs are also focused on mobility solutions and unified communications, collaborative tools, Web 2.0, and social networking, all of which work towards enabling more effective communication services for their employees, clients and partners.

At the ASEAN front, CIOs are noted to be more concerned about Risk Management and Compliance on top of Business Intelligence and Analytics. They are very similar to their Western counterparts when it comes to ranking in management, planning their future strategic visions, and looking to co-create with other businesses, champion innovation, and actively integrate business and technology for better productivity.

On the flipside, where the West disregards some of the key advices of CIOs, CIOs in ASEAN are better accepted as members of the senior management teams, which makes them more active in the company’s business strategy. As such, they can define better business models, improve business turnaround time, and gain better insight in their clients’ needs and market trends.

Hutchinson

Says Scott Hutchinson, Partner, Leader Application Innovation Services, IBM Global Business Services, IBM ASEAN: “Clearly the role of CIOs are changing. On one hand, they are trying to find ways to improve the way their organisation operates while lowering costs and improving efficiency. At the same time, CIOs also have to consider new areas of thoughts as they consider how they can  further innovate their businesses. This includes implementing new business models and looking at new forms of business adapters and/or growth areas. It is not surprising that the amount of time these CIOs are now spending on driving new kinds of growths for their companies is growing considerably.”