Goozeberry: For the Mobile Future 2.0

Social Media Release v1.0

Angus — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:27:44 +0000

Long time no chat.

It has been a good day - we released SA’s first Social Media Press Release for Standard Bank’s Pro20 cricket tournament. Basically, it is a blogger and internet savvy journo-friendly press release that consolidates all the social media activity that is happening around the Pro20 in 2008.

Getting the SMPR together was mostly about timing - pitching the idea to the Bank’s sponsorship team just as they saw all the social media elements coming together.

The project could not have been completed without the fantastic effort from the Cerebra team. For those that don’t know, Cerebra and Brandsh are sisters.

Hiatus endus

Angus — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 07:53:21 +0000

Ok, I know I have been slack. No blog posts in 3 months is poor, but hey - I’ve been busy.

Social media in South Africa has certainly had a shot in the arm with initiatives like Thought Leader, My Digital Life (although I am not a huge fan), and product blogs like Auris and Corolla being launched. But the thing that has made corporate SA really take note has been the phenomenal success of Facebook in South Africa. At least it has increased awareness, initiated debate and started the next cycle of innovation.

In late May there were about 88,000 members of the South African network, now we are closer to 500,000. In the past 12 years of internet access in SA, I can’t remember a single service or website that has generated so much offline conversation. The upshot is that companies are either banning/blocking it, or embracing it. Two schools of thought, and two very interesting debates.

If anything, the Facebook hype has made marketing, corporate communications and even HR departments think about the potential of social media. We are still at the very start of this trend. As I’ve said before, my view is that it takes 6-7 years for something to be properly adopted. So if it all started in SA in 2005, we have a good few years of strong adoption, education and innovation ahead of us.

Finding time to blog is important. It is empowering and refreshing to do, and keeps me thinking - thinking a little harder, more critically and more often about the consequences, impact and meaning of everything.

My own experience (of not blogging for a few months) is a lesson for corporates. There is a lot that is and can be done by business in the social media arena, but it needs attention, focus and commitment. Having a branded social network with 300 members that don’t really use it is of no real value to anyone. The same can be said for a corporate blog that ends up like the ‘Latest News’ section of a website.

If it is going to be done, do it properly - or alternatively, manage the expectation from the beginning that updates will be infrequent (but hopefully meaningful).

Now - back to work, via a Facebook status change.

Bloggers invited to Toyota Auris media launch

Angus — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 07:47:26 +0000

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

Skyrove ToGo

Angus — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 07:10:17 +0000

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

The (Phantom) Times

Angus — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 08:53:27 +0000

Knowing that the Johnnic was launching The Times to Sunday Times subscribers, I opted to get a years subscription as a gift.

The saga starts on 2nd April. After many calls and after wrong credit card details, wrong prices, speaking to supervisors, calls not being returned (by supervisors), etc - the first Sunday Times was received on 3rd of June (it was the Sunday Times Extra - the wrong edition).

So with great anticipation Tuesday comes and goes - and no Times arrives. I think, maybe I’m too new on the delivery roster, but surely it will arrive on Wednesday. Nope. And Thursday. Nope. I call the Subscription Call Centre on Friday (today) - long wait, ‘please be patient, etc’, I speak to a consultant.

‘Oh, sorry - you are not activated for the delivery of The Times’. Huh? I thought it went to all Sunday Times subscribers.

What a mess. Now I can see the value in their long term intention that it will eventually be a digital/electronic paper only. If only e-paper could provide the tactile experience of paging through a tabloid.

Lets see if the Manager of Subscriptions returns my call - I have some constructive suggestions for him - like ‘get it into the street corner distribution network sooner rather that later’.

Technorati Tags: the times, sundaytimes, sunday times, newspapers

The best 100 Web 2.0 Apps

Angus — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 06:25:25 +0000

Webware.com has great survey going at the moment.

It asked for nominations for entries into the Webware 100 - the best 100 Web 2.0 apps/sites on the web. All the nominations have been whittled down to 250 ‘possibles’.

Now, web users are being asked to vote for their best in each category - and these include Browsing, Communications, Community, Data, etc. The top 10 in each category will make up the Webware 100.

The great thing about the site is that it that it is firstly a Who’s Who of Web 2.0 and secondly its got a basic profile of each finalist.

The usual suspects are there - Widsets, Meebo, Firefox, StumbleUpon, et al. But the most fun is derived from exploring the ones that I’ve never heard of….like Tangler, a social network for discussing Web 2.0. Imagine that.

Technorati Tags: webware 100, webware100, web 2.0, web20, web2.0, widsets, meebo, firefox, stumbleupon, tangler

Problems logging into Meebo using ADSL

Angus — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 11:05:15 +0000

I’ve been using Meebo for months (previous post). For those that don’t know, its a web-based IM consolidator that allows your Google Talk, MSN Messenger, ICQ, AIM, and Yahoo IM apps to be used in one place - without having to download software. Its also uses Ajax well.

Since we had Telkom ADSL installed - I cannot login to Meebo when at the office. iBurst and HSDPA are fine. I’ve tried both Firefox and Opera - and get the same error message - “Oops! Meebo detected a network interruption. Would you like to reconnect?”

How can there be a network interruption Meebo? I’m getting to your homepage fine aren’t I……

Any ideas?

Technorati Tags: meebo, adsl, telkom, IM, ajax, HSDPA, iBurst

Keoberg Unit 2 shuts down - plea to use power sparingly

Angus — Thu, 31 May 2007 12:20:45 +0000

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

When the sh#t hits the fan

Angus — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:01:32 +0000

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

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

Has De Lille been hit with the Bullard stick?

Angus — Mon, 21 May 2007 11:37:59 +0000

Ouch. What is happening?

Article on IOL details how the ID leader is asking for blogs to be regulated:

“De Lille has also indicated the ID will ask the National Intelligence Agency to try to track down the author of defamatory statements made about the ID’s Simon Grindrod on an internet blog.”

“The only way to put a stop to this is to use every legal option to hold not only the website, but also the perpetrator, responsible. This kind of thing must not go unchallenged.”

How she expects this to happen without SA becoming like China or North Korea is an interesting debate. So much for free speech.

Technorati Tags: bullard, david bullard, south africa, southafrica, sunday times, sundaytimes, delille, de lille, censorship