Goozeberry: For the Mobile Future 2.0

In what we think is a first in SA, we have succeeded in getting a couple of bloggers invited to the media launch of the Toyota Auris in Durban.

Mike and I have been working on the Auris blog project for a while – and are impressed with the open-mindedness that Toyota has shown in social media and the attitude of ‘lets go for it’. Think about it, the motoring journo’s are a tight bunch – and now there will be some strange outsiders from ‘publications’ that they have never heard of attending their prized event. Kudos to Toyota for creating a little disruption to the status quo.

Attending the launch in Durban today are Carl Nienaber of the GreenCars.za.net Blog, Durban blogger – Marc Forrest and our own Aston Martin driving Mike Stopforth. Charl Norman and/or his team from Carblog.co.za were also going to attend, but last minute schedule hiccups scuppered their involvement. Next time.

I look forward to getting the nuts and bolts detail from behind the scenes. Follow Mike’s trip on the Auris Blog from later today. I’m sure the Marc and Carl will also add to the mix during the week.

Technorati Tags: toyota auris, auris, toyota, car launch, south africa, durban, marc forrest, carl nienaber, greencars, mike stopforth

Powered by ScribeFire.

I’ve just set up my first Skyrove hotspot using our iBurst desktop modem as the connectivity option.

It was a fairly easy setup, with great support from the Skyrove team. After some initial dead ends, the Reset button set me free.

We are now able to use our underutilised iBurst subscription at home without using up my more mobile, faster Vodacom HSDPA data bundle for arb browsing and weekend downloading.

It has also got me thinking – I’ll be taking my iBurst modem and Skyrove router to the coast soon and set it up there. Hopefully this will catch on we’ll find more Skyrove hotspots popping up temporarily during holiday seasons in destinations like Ballito, Umhlanga, the Vaal Dam, et al (just remember to change the Skyrove Map). Another minor incentive for iBurst to improve coverage…

Why leave the modem/router combo at home, when you can provide connectivity to others – lets call it spreading the love bytes.

I think Henk and his team are on to something with Skyrove – and its one of those great SA startups that deserve great support.

Technorati Tags: skyrove, iburst, hsdpa, vodacom

Powered by ScribeFire.

Here’s the official email from the CEO of Eskom, Jacob Maroga:

Thursday, 31 May 2007

 

Dear Colleagues

 

UNIT 2 OF KOEBERG POWER STATION NOT GENERATING ELECTRICITY

This morning at 06:24, unit 2 of Koeberg Power Station stopped generating electricity following a fault on the generator side. The nuclear reactor  of the unit was not affected by this morning’s events and has been kept in safe mode in line with the operating procedures of the station.

 

The supply of electricity countrywide, and in the Cape in particular, has not been affected by the shutdown of the Koeberg unit. Power supply to  the Cape is currently being maintained using the high-voltage transmission lines. The two new open-cycle gas turbines in Atlantis and Mossel Bay will be utilised, along with the Acacia and Port Rex gas turbines, Palmiet pumped storage power station and Vanderkloof hydroelectric power  station, to supply the electricity requirements of the Cape.

 

We are appealing to all our employees and their families and friends countrywide and in particular in the Western Cape, to use electricity sparingly during this period. Your efficient use of electricity in the coming days will assist Eskom to effectively manage the tight supply and demand  situation.

 

Regards

Jacob Maroga

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Seems like good, honest communication without the spin. And also a reasonable request. So if you can, please use power sparingly in the next couple of days. And spread the word.

Technorati Tags: south africa, southafrica, eskom, power, capetown, western cape, cape town

Powered by ScribeFire.

Its so good to see the response from JD Group to the accusations from Carte Blanche that their lending practices are dubious.

• The original story
• The follow-up
• The response from JD

Pity there is nothing on the JD Group website that deals with the issue. The most recent news is an article from 2005. Surely this is some of the biggest news to affect the JD Groups customers and shareholders in a long time.

There are always going to be stuff-ups in business – whether it is dealing with customers, suppliers or partners. The difference comes in how the matter is dealt with and often this just comes down to communication. And this is where the real difference is – is that communication genuine and engaging, or is it just more corporate spin-doctoring.

Take eNatis for example – for weeks we heard that it was running at 95%. But speak to the people standing outside Langlaagte Testing Station that wanted to burn the place down. They would say it was the other way around. Government spokespeople – please don’t feed us drivel, as we can see straight through it.

An experience that I had recently when everything that could go wrong did. It was a Sunday night at OR Tambo International Airport. We were meant to fly on the 5:10pm Kulula flight to Cape Town. After a 3 hour delay (the plane was being fixed in the hangar as there was something wrong with the landing gear), we were given vouchers and took off. 2 -3minutes into the flight we hear what sounds like Superman ripping the wings off. You know that metal against metal sound. Not pleasant at 1500 meters, especially when the plane was bouncing like a bucking bronco.

Captain Kirk from Flight Command – ‘Sorry folk. We have a problem with the landing gear and have to return to ORT. We will be met by emergency vehicles, which is required by procedure.’ Fark. To cut (what seemed) a very long flight and terrifying story short – we landed (followed by flashing red lights from big yellow firetrucks), and were back in the terminal building at about 9:15pm.

Kulula kept us smiling, fed with biltong, sweets, etc, offered us drinks and kept us informed. They even offered people overnight accommodation if leaving at 11:30pm was too late for the weary travelers. The supervisor also took the smokers on a trek through the airport to find a suitable smoking area. On re-boarding, we were given additional discount vouchers – a nice touch.

So even after an annoying, frightening experience – I will still fly with Kulula. The staff were cheerful, they communicated and they attempted to make right. It is all about how you deal with stuff-ups that makes stronger bonds with customers.

Would SAA do the same? Not sure if their ground staff would be able to rustle up a hundred chocolates, drinks, biltong packs, and chips at 9:30pm on a Sunday night, and be able to dish out discount and accommodation vouchers. Don’t really like flying with them any more, so probably will never know.

Technorati Tags: saa, kulula, JD, jdgroup, carteblanche, carte blanche, mnet, travel, flying, airports, south africa, service

Powered by ScribeFire.