Google Inc on Wednesday unveiled a plan aimed at eventually letting computer users determine whether providers like Comcast Corp are inappropriately blocking or slowing their work online.

The scheme is the latest bid in the debate over network neutrality, which pits content companies like Google against some Internet service providers.

The ISPs say they need to take reasonable steps to manage ever-growing traffic on their networks for the good of all users. Content and applications companies fear the providers have the power to discriminate, favoring some traffic over others.

Google will provide academic researchers with 36 servers in 12 locations in the United States and Europe to analyze data, said its chief Internet guru, Vint Cerf, known as the "father of the Internet."

"When an Internet application doesn't work as expected or your connection seems flaky, how can you tell whether there is a problem caused by your broadband ISP (Internet service provider), the application, your PC (personal computer), or something else?" Cerf wrote in a blog post.

The effort aims to uncover the problem for users, Cerf said. Cerf is widely known for his work for the U.S. government in designing the Internet protocol in the 1970s and 1980s.

In a precedent-setting decision last year, the five-member Federal Communications Commission voted to uphold a complaint accusing Comcast of violating the FCC's open-Internet principles by blocking file-sharing services, such as those that distribute video and television shows.

The case became a flash point in the Net neutrality debate. Comcast is fighting the decision in the courts.

COX MAKES MOVE

In a move likely to fuel further debate, another large cable company, Cox Communications, said on Wednesday it would begin testing a plan to give priority to time-sensitive traffic like Web page views and streaming videos.

Less time-sensitive traffic, such as file uploads and peer-to-peer file sharing, could be delayed under the plan.

Cox said it will not discriminate based on owner or source of traffic.

Still, Net neutrality advocates are wary of such policies.

"The lesson we learned from the Comcast case is that we must be skeptical of any practice that comes between users and the Internet," said Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press, an advocacy group.
Researchers are already using tools to test connection speed and determine if an ISP is blocking or throttling particular applications. Google's effort will allow an expansion of that effort.

"The goal is to let consumers see what's under the hood of their Internet connection," said Sascha Meinrath, a wireless expert at the New America Foundation, a think tank in which Google CEO Eric Schmidt is board chairman. "Right now it's very difficult now to make an informed consumer choice."

Google has a business interest in keeping users' experiences fast and efficient, said Google policy analyst Derek Slater, who reserved further judgment until he could learn more about the new Cox policy.

"Our ability to innovate still depends on end users being able to use their broadband connections to access Google. To the extent that consumers are having problems doing that, that can directly hurt Google."

Source: Reuters

Read More......

On the second day after his inauguration, President of the United States (U.S.), Barack Obama visited the U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs. There are interesting events in the first visit to the institute at the cabinet because Obama spoke in Indonesian with an employee in the department.

"When talking with the employee, President Obama, who along with Vice President Joseph Biden, and National Security Advisor General James L Jones, his desires to visit the neighbors ever in Jakarta," the press release the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta received, Friday (23 / 1) night.

Visit to the U.S. department of foreign affairs stressed the government's attention on diplomacy and also mark the first day of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State to-67 in that department. In the visit, he announced a special U.S. envoy to the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and provide guidance on the diplomatic front.

President Obama with Hillary Clinton announced Menlu former Senator George Mitchell as a special envoy for the peace process in the Middle East and Ambassador Richard Holbrooke as the most special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is a step under the new government's commitment to update it through the leadership of U.S. diplomacy.

"We are confronted by global challenges that extraordinary, related, and complicated," Obama said to the employees of department of foreign affairs. "Progress will not come quickly or easily, we also promise not justify every mistake in the world. But we can promise will be using all elements of American power to protect our citizens and advance the interests and our ideals, starting with the United States who have principles diplomacy, the focus , and sustainable. "

After greeting authorized, President Obama chat and shake hands with the U.S. diplomat. In the middle of the event, Charles Silver, a former Public Affairs Counselors for the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, said in Indonesian, "Selamat siang, Bapak.."

Without hesitate President Obama held, "Terimakasih. Apa Kabar?"

"Baik-baik," answered Silver, and then notify the President that he had served several times in Indonesia.

Then President Obama said, when he visited Indonesia, he would like to visit the neighbors in the long Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Read More......

Imlek new year 2560 will fall on January 26 to come. In the H-8, the preparation towards the new year warning that China has begun to shine. This is based on the watchlist detikcom seen in one of the shops in the area of Glodok, West Jakarta, Sunday (18/1/2009). And visitors crowd enthusiasm evident, they are fun and offer select articles for Imlek.

Accessories are offered, among others, candles, incense, fireworks, clothing typical Chinese, cake baskets, and trinkets. In addition to the aroma incense sting, store crowded also in conversations with the Chinese that occurred between the seller and buyer.

"Niau cao se me (to find what)?" a store keeper to a visitor.

"Wayo mae pain sen te se tung (I want to buy equipment prayer)," answered the visitor.

Although the Imlek still more a week, a visitor is already crowded. Even some of the goods have been sold empty. Businesses that this result is quite promising omzet reach Rp 20 million / day.

"Towards the feast day this is indeed a lot of visitors came to buy trinkets Imlek. At this time the goods are almost empty. Week before the feast omzet we reached Rp 20 million / day," said shop owner Ceria Uniq, Elis Susanan.

About the price is vary, depending on the size and quality of goods. For a pair lampion, price range between Rp 25 thousand to Rp 600 thousand. For the dragon accessories ranging between Rp 60 thousand to Rp 600 thousand.

Trinkets that, according to the Elis, has significance for the Chinese community. For example, the symbol of the dragon that triumph, a replica of the orange symbolizes prosperity, and that symbolizes lampion bright or sunny.

While tidy goods, Elis tells about the meaning of the color red dominate the Imlek time. "Red symbolizes happiness. Imlek be celebrated with happiness," he said.

Meanwhile, traders "asongan" also get a blessing before the celebration Imlek. Merchants selling this seasonal goods around the area around Glodok.

"Fair, Rp 300 thousand a day. The more closely with the increased holiday sales," said one trader named Asep asongan.

The crisis affected Impact

The goods sold in shops owned by Elis all come from China. Therefore, when the global economic crisis dash, which has been conducting business for 6 years is also affected.

Importers of Chinese goods that normally send the supply. As a result, the lack of Elis stock goods for sale. In addition, customers who normally buy in the number of lots also dwindle.

Read More......

Video sharing site 'made-in' foreign countries such as Youtube is already very popular, including in Indonesia. But internet users in Indonesia are still many who may not know that in the country already have their own similar sites. Try it out Beoscope habituate (www.beoscope.com).

As quoted Koran Tempo, this is one of the video sharing site 'made-in' in the country at this time. Compared to Youtube, the video sites in the network (daring) "think local" is certainly not sound, even though almost a year - exactly 18 January 2008 - this site is officially launched.

Suryatin Setiawan and some friends founded the Beoscope. The establishment of this site begins Suryatin due to concerns about a video of a collected abroad.

"Properly archive collections of videos also have our own," said the practitioners of telecommunication and information technology is.

Because of that background, Beoscope likely would be made not just a video sharing site. The founders insert an idealism: "We want to have a strength of online archive in the form of video on Indonesia," said Suryatin.

After almost a year was launched, now has a collection Beoscope around 3500 video downloaded by the members. Until this weekend, Beoscope have around 4,000 members who already show a number of paper or simply comment on the video showing.

Although not yet known area, visitors Beoscope enough. "The number of visitors who watch an average of an 2,500-person per day," said Suryatin. The site is also increasingly easy to find. If searching through Google's search engine with the keyword "video streaming Indonesia," Beoscope in the second after Tancap.Com screen.

To be able to download video, Internet users must register first. Once you have registered to be members (called beoscoper) with a username and password private, we can download new video or comment on videos that other members downloaded.

Beoscope also the complete content and services, such as I-I-movies and music. This is a service to accommodate works of indie film and music. "The energizer indie film and music can make this service as a showroom for their work," said Maulana Yudiman, Marketing and Media Relations Beoscope.

While the V-Citizens News is a service of journalism. Beoscoper can send video news content to this. "This is one of Beoscope contribution in providing the service journalism, which is managed citizen or citizen journalism," said Yudiman. Interest Category The service is to hold a video-video unique, creative, and informative.

Beos Focus more. This service is the impression that a video or focus attention on a Beoscope events that attract appreciation. "Impressions routine here, for example, the event Perspektif Wimar Witoelar," he said.

In addition to services such as I-free movies, music-I, V-Citizens News, and Interest Category, Beoscope provide paid services, such as My Screen. This service can be called "personal TV" and the place can be a candidate campaigning legislators. See Meutya Hafid, a television announcer who is now a private candidate from the party legislators symbol tree Beringin, also send a video to this content.

One other paid services is Fun V-Ads, ads, or video. Companies can show them in a commercial video service. "If the advertising on television is very expensive," said Suryatin. "We do provide a video with the most affordable."

Who want to share a video film, music, news, or want to advertise with video budget limited habituate should first site this "the display of Indoneisa".

Read More......

Banks welcomed the positive reference interest rate reduction (BI Rate) of a 50 basis points from 8.75 the previous 9.25 percent. This is to provide a respite from the strict liquidity at this time.

The decline is a signal to the community that the bank will lower the level of interest rates tribe, both interest rates and credit funds, said Director of Retail Banking of PT Bank Mega Tbk Kostaman Thayib in Jakarta on Thursday (8 / 1).

However, he continued decline in bank interest rates will be hampered by a bank liquidity is not evenly distributed and the level of loan to deposit ratio (LDR) the high bank. "Banking will be the first issue of liquidity is not evenly distributed and the LDR is high," he said.

He said, the decline in BI Rate is not giving a signal to the banking community that welcomes positive and will soon adapt to the market.

In addition, show a decrease in bank interest rates have reached its peak and that there are no more likely to rise, he said.

According Kostaman, the decline in interest rates first must be made by banks that the government followed by large private banks. Government banks and private banks have a large liquidity is to immediately reduce the interest rate and loan funds to encourage the national economy to grow better, he said.

He said that, while banks are still offering high interest rates of funds in the market, due to the strict credit demand from customers.

Customer care in a loan to the bank because the interest rates cause problems for customers worried that the loan can not pay the credit. Meanwhile, banks that make loans to support the operational costs of the larger, he said.

The decline in the BI Rate to give a signal that the interest rate the bank has reached its peak, said the Corporate Banking of PT Bank CIMB-Niaga Chaterina Hadiman.

According to him, this is also the expectation that public funds interest rate and interest rate will move down.

But the problem, he continued, whether banks will immediately respond to a decrease in the reference interest rates, which have experienced a decline of 75 basis points (the first 25 basis points and the second 50 basis points) to 8.75 from 9.50 percent.

Thus, the bank is not likely to respond in a quick time due to various problems can be solved more related to the liquidity that is not evenly distributed.

In addition, global economic growth slowed mengimbas the national economy is also a factor that holding interest rates down, he said.

Read More......

Starting in January 2009, the Regulation Telekomunikasi Indonesia (BRTI) prohibits a free service for sending SMS inter-operator (off-net) in order to maintain the system of the recipient network operator SMS. Institutions are also under the limit for SMS rate off-net.

Chairman of the BRTI Basuki Yusuf Iskandar said his side is to send a letter to all operators on the prohibition bidding tariffs Ro0 for SMS services inter-operator (off-net) is.

"With the pattern set keep all, there is this possibility [such as spam from a single operator] will be able to disrupt the system that other network operators," he said.

Basuki said the tendency to see the competition in the SMS rate is quite tight at this time. "This is our Disallow for SMS that tends to zero especially the zero tariffs because this means the same as the 'party in the pages of others'," specifically.

Currently, SMS-based interconnection regime can be applied not to consider the high cost of infrastructure improvements of the existing system. "Please only for the on-net, but not for the off-net."

BRTI, Basuki information, will also examine the tariffs under the limit for SMS off-net. "Later we will publish this, at this time is still knowledge."

Free SMS from 3 applies to all of your service both GSM and CDMA for 24 hours a day.
Through this program, 3 users can send free SMS to at least 130 million mobile users of telecommunication both CDMA and across the country, with only 5 SMS to pay the first day of Rp 75/SMS.

Then the user can send SMS how many are on the same day for free.

Telecommunications Regulation Agency had said Indonesia would assess the implementation of SMS interconnection, especially after the cartel excited about SMS tariffs, but the determination of the charge last April that does not include these points.

SMS cartel rates are triggered by the alleged SMS free of Esia in the period in 2002 triggering the application of the same price of Rp250.

Read More......

PT Pertamina (Persero) with effect from 1 January 2009 lower selling price pertamax in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi to be between Rp 5,800-Rp 6,000 per liter.

As quoted Kompas.com, press releases Pertamina in Jakarta, Thursday (1 / 1) states, the price of fuel nonsubsidies is only valid in the refueling station general (retail outlets) is titled Something Pas. "This policy is to provide options to the community," said Pertamina spokesman Anang Noor Rizkani.

Meanwhile, the price pertamax in most areas of Jakarta, Banten, West Java and other per 1 January 2009 decreased to Rp 5,925 per liter price of 10 December 2008 was R 6,500 p per liter.

Moderate price, pertamax in Aceh, North Sumatra, and Riau, down from Rp 6,800 to Rp 6,300 per liter, Medan compete from Rp 6,700 to Rp 6,200, in South Sumatra, Jambi, Bengkulu, Lampung and from Rp 6,800 per liter to Rp 6,300, and Bangka, from Rp 7,900 to Rp 7,400.

In addition, the price pertamax in Central Java and East Java, from Rp 6,600 to Rp 6,200 per liter, Bali, from Rp 6,700 to Rp 6,250, Kalimantan, from Rp 6,300 to Rp 6,700, and Sulawesi from Rp 6,800 to Rp 6,300 from Rp except Palu 7,800 to Rp 7,300 per liter.

Meanwhile, the price plus pertamax in Batam down from Rp 6,300 to Rp 6,000 per liter, in Aceh, North Sumatra, and Riau, from Rp 6,950 to Rp 6,600, of competitive Medan Rp 6,850 to Rp 6,500 in Jakarta, Banten and West Java, from Rp 6,800 Rp 6,400, in Central Java and East Java, from Rp 6,950 to Rp 6,600, and Kalimantan, from Rp 7,000 to Rp 6,700 per liter.

For Pertamina dex, in all regions of Thailand declined from Rp 7,300 to Rp 6,300.

Previously, coincides with the anniversary Pertamina began on December 10 2008, the selling price plus pertamax and pertamax down as the average of Rp 300 per liter in all marketing units in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the price of fuel, namely nonsubsidies other types of Pertamina dex did not change compared to the previous price per 1 December 2008.

Read More......