Phase II of Google and Facebook s OpenID arms race

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Yesterday, both Facebook and Google took their respective OpenID systems out of beta, continuing their neck-and-neck move away from walled garden status.

Back in May , Facebook, Google, and MySpace all debuted their open identification platforms which allow the sites to work with other services based upon a single login and user identity. However, there was immediate tension between Google and Facebook, which resulted in Facebook blocking Google s Friend Connect.

Yesterday morning, Google announced that beta testing of Friend Connect is complete, and that webmasters that wish to add social features can now link to Google, Yahoo, AOL, and OpenID services through Friend Connect.

Mussie Shore, Friend Connect Product Manager said, We have been working closely with a handful of Web site owners, social networks, and application developers to improve its speed and scalability, ease of use, and customization capabilities. We ve also expanded the features available to users with richer, more integrated profiles and new ways to discuss and share content, like including YouTube videos in your comments.

Then, a matter of hours later, Facebook s Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook Connect is ready for action , and that Connect with Facebook tags like those found on Citysearch, CNN s The Forum, and CBS The Insider. Clicking these tags will link posts from those sites back to the user s Facebook feed.

Obviously our launch partners don t cover all the Web sites you use on a daily basis, Zuckerberg said, So if you want to see this list grow, get in touch with your favorite Web sites, developers, and services, and tell them you want to connect. With your help, we can all share more information across the web.

The big idea behind these open identification standards is to create an easy-to-follow voluntary profiling system for users that allows the most effective advertising and marketing to be served their way. While Facebook s approach revolves around users sticking to the social network and its linked properties, Google s is more of a platform upon which to build new services that users ultimately collect.
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Good OS founder: Cloud on netbooks to be shown at CES

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Although not divulging many specifics, David Liu, the founder of Good OS, said this evening that netbooks will, in fact, be demo d at CES running the company s new Cloud OS.

While I can t disclose detailed information, I can say that Cloud OS will be shown running on netbooks at CES, said David Liu, the founder of Good OS, in an e-mail to BetaNews Friday evening. Liu was responding to a request for information about Cloud OS, a product that brings together a compressed edition of Linux with a browser built by Good for use in the netbook environment.

As BetaNews reported earlier today , from the Cloud browser, users can access lightweight Web applications such as Google Apps or Yahoo Mail. Cloud supports Internet media formats such as Flash for video sites like YouTube and MP3 for music downloads.

Yet Cloud OS, the new OS to be shown at CES, also offers the ability to load into either Linux or Windows XP without the need for manual reboot. Users can switch from the browser environment to either Linux or XP -- or just power off -- with a single click.

But I can also say that the demo at CES will reveals more of Cloud s features, shifting emphasis to its originally intended emphasis -- cloud computing - rather than just how fast it boots, Liu told BetaNews this evening. To me, how fast it boots is just a checklist item, and will increasingly become this way. More information to come at CES. Thanks and sorry I cannot provide more hints!

Good OS also makes the gOS used on the sub- 200 desktop PCs sold at Wal-Mart. The most recent version of a Good-enabled desktop PC, Evermax s Everex PC2512 gPC, is bundled with the Linux-based OpenOffice.org productivity suite,
the Skype voice over IP VoIP application, the RhythmBox music management app, the Xing audio player, and GIMP GNU Image Manipulation Program .
The PC also provides direct links to Google Docs Spreadsheets, Google Product Search, Blogger, YouTube, and Google Maps.

For under 200, the Linux-based desktop machine provides a 1.5 GHz Via C7-D processor, an 80 GB hard drive, 512 MB RAM, a DVD-ROM CD-RW drive, and stereo speakers. The memory is upgradeable to 2 GB. No monitor is included, however.

Also as previously reported, research released by IDC earlier this week indicates that low-cost mini-notebooks, or netbooks, will help to buttress overall PC sales volume over the next few years.

Good now plans to work with OEM partners to provide customized versions of its new Cloud OS for netbooks. PC makers will be able to pre-load Cloud into the PC hard drive, solid state drive, or on-board flash storage, or on CD for end users to install. Multiple recovery methods using either CD or hidden partitions will also be made feasible.

Cloud will also be customizable to boot into a specific application, such as Skype, instead of to a Web page.
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NUI s multi-touch technology showcased on behalf of MGEN ...

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byVOLTA, the partner of Natural User Interface NUI from France, showcased an interactive multi-touch table developed in Sweden by NUI, for an exhibition for MGEN Mutual G n rale de l ducation nationale in Paris, France. L ducation nationale is the ministry in charge of schools and education.

MGEN is the France s premier mutual health insurance group that deals with complementary health insurance for the employees of the French education system.

As NUI has a strong focus on the educational sector, this demonstration, which was taken care of by byVOLTA, fits perfectly in the current portfolio of NUI and adds to the long track record of successful projects related to the educational sector.

The stand was about cartooning for peace , so as by byVOLTA s request, consultation and close collaboration, NUI developed a customized multi-touch software solution, which included many drawings made and selected by famous drawers such like Plantu, Cabu and many others.

The children and other visitors could discover those drawings in a very appealing matter by interacting with it in natural and intuitive way. They could also draw and save their own drawings on the multi-touch table.

Harry van der Veen, NUI CEO stated: We are always excited to work together with byVOLTA on challenging projects for their high profile clients. The client was very satisfied with the result, so byVOLTA and NUI achieved their goal. We are looking forward to work on the next project with byVOLTA, as their projects and clients always have special requirements, which is very interesting for us to be involved in, as their clients raise the bar. It is great to see so much trust from our partner to keep continue using our products in their projects.

About NUI:
Natural User Interface Europe Ltd. NUI is a Swedish innovative emerging technology company specializing in commercially available advanced multi-touch software, hardware and service solutions to its worldwide clients.. NUI s solutions can convert an ordinary surface into an interactive, appealing and intelligent display that creates a stunning user experience.

About byVOLTA:
byVOLTA specializes in indentity definitions, offering companies to develop spaces by using sensory aid.byVOLTA develops creative and interactive animations that stimulate sense smell sense, hearing, sight, touch with innovative technologies like intuitive interactive navigation, augmented reality AR , by creating interactive floors or walls. They create senspaces where consumers are fully immersed, allowing brands brands to enhance their visibility and consolidate their reputation.


Natural User Interface Europe AB
Laboratorgr nd 7
93162 Skellefte
Sweden

Phone: 46 702865975
Fax: 46 851989240
mail natural-ui.com
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UK ITSM professionals report high levels of job satisfaction...

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Service Desk Institute Salary Survey reveals that more women are working in ITSM than ever before, but there is still a pay disparity between the sexes

Orpington 4 December, 2008 Recent survey findings from Europe s leading authority on Service Desk and IT support issues, the Service Desk Institute SDI , indicate that job satisfaction in the IT Service Management ITSM industry is on the rise . More than half of ITSM professionals are satisfied with their salary 52 per cent and feel valued by senior management 55 per cent . SDI s UK IT Service Desk Salary Survey 2008 questioned 257 ITSM professionals across the UK and reveals that the ITSM industry is confident in the face of recession, with 65 per cent stating that the economic climate will not have an impact on staffing levels and 41 per cent certain that it will not hinder the growth of their service desks, despite the fact that over a third of recruitment budgets have been reduced.

Howard Kendall, Chairman of SDI comments: Historically, ITSM has battled poor retention and low job satisfaction but these survey results show that the industry has turned a significant corner in recent years. Organisations are increasingly realising the value that the IT service desk brings to their business, and this is reflected in competitive salaries and real opportunity for career development. The fact that the majority of professionals at all levels are content with their salary and incentive packages, as well as feeling valued in their role, shows they are finally getting the recognition they deserve from employers.

The survey also reveals a lingering pay imbalance between men and women. The greatest disparity in pay is 4.5 per cent at IT Service Desk Manager level and the lowest is 1.3 per cent at Service Desk Analyst level. Despite this pay disparity, more female ITSM professionals 49 per cent than male are satisfied with their salary 46 per cent . The fact that over a third of respondents were women 37 per cent indicates that ITSM is proving an attractive career choice for women in IT.

Great steps have been made in encouraging women to become ITSM professionals, and part of this is the industry s acknowledgement that IT service desks need to contain a balance of soft, communication and technical skills. However, the results also highlight that ensuring pay parity continues to be a priority. The difference in pay levels may be far less than they have been previously, but the issue is still on the table despite almost two decades of efforts to redress the balance, adds Kendall.

The SDI survey also investigated average salaries by location and sector. Unsurprisingly, the highest earners in ITSM are based in London, with the second highest earners based in the East Midlands. Individual analysis of respondents results reveal that the majority of employers in the East Midlands are multi national media providers, large law firms and global IT applications developers from within the private sector, which would explain its high ranking salary average. Conversely, Wales consistently offers the lowest pay bracket across all job levels. The survey also shows that IT professionals in all job levels earn more in the private sector than their public sector counterparts, with IT Service Desk Managers earning up to 7 per cent more in the private sector.

The survey additionally revealed:

Salary satisfaction by gender:
o 46 per cent of male ITSM professionals are very or mostly satisfied with their salary; 49 per cent of female ITSM professionals are very or mostly satisfied with their salary
o 29 per cent of male ITSM professionals are very or mostly dissatisfied with their salary; 19 per cent of female ITSM professionals are very or mostly dissatisfied with their salary

Incentives package satisfaction
o 67 per cent of ITSM professionals consider their incentives package to be excellent, very good or good
o 15 per cent of ITSM professionals consider their incentives package to be poor

Percentage salary increase
o 65 per cent of salary increases are not dependent on performance; 35 per cent of salary increases are dependent on performance;
o The East Midlands have the highest average percentage increase at 5-10 ; the South East, the South West and Wales have the lowest average percentage increase at 1-2
o The average annual percentage salary increase across the ITSM profession is 3-4
o 45 per cent of respondents were very or mostly satisfied with their salary increase; 30 per cent of respondents were very or mostly dissatisfied with their salary increase; 6 per cent of respondents did not receive a salary increase in the past 12 months

Bonus received
o 54 per cent of respondents did not receive a bonus in the last 12 months
o Of the 46 per cent that did receive a bonus, the average amount was between 1000 and 2000

Respondent breakdown
o By sector: 68 per cent of respondents work in the private sector; 31 per cent of respondents work in the public sector; and 1 per cent of respondents work in the charitable voluntary sector
o By gender: 37 per cent of respondents were female; 64 per cent of respondents were male
o By service desk size: 45 per cent of respondents work in departments of fewer than 25 people; 24 per cent work in departments between 25 to 50 people; there were no respondents working in departments of 500 people or more

Education levels in ITSM
o 33 per cent of ITSM professionals are educated to degree level
o 34 per cent of IT Service Desk Managers possess degrees

SDI s UK IT Service Desk Salary Survey 2008 . This report has been produced from survey data collected between 1st September 2008 and 15th October 2008. A total of 257 ITSM professionals across the UK responded to questions to identify the average salary of IT Service Desk Managers, IT Service Desk Team Leaders and Service Desk Analysts across the IT Service Management ITSM industry. The report compares salary findings across different locations, sectors, gender, level of education and experience and outlines the general level of satisfaction within the industry with regards salary, salary increases, bonuses and incentive schemes.

Ends

About The Service Desk Institute
SDI is the new driving force for the ITSM and service desk industry with a vision of being recognised globally as the professional body that drives exceptional IT service and support. As the leading authority on Service Desk and IT support related issues, SDI will enable organisations to enhance the value of business and IT integration through exceptional IT service and support. SDI is responsible for setting global industry standards, delivering thought-leadership and knowledge, and influencing service improvement for individuals and organisations. The globally recognised SDI Service Desk Certification standard is the only best practice standard that provides a clear and measurable set of standards for a Service Desk operation.

Acting as an independent advisor, SDI captures and disseminates creative and innovative ideas for tomorrow s service desk and support operation. SDI sets the standards for the IT support industry and is the conduit for delivering knowledge and career enhancing skills to the professional community.

It also offers the opportunity for international recognition of the support centre operation through a site certification audit programme. It members span numerous industries and include, AOL UK , Barclays Bank, Computer Associates, ITV, O2, T K Maxx, United Biscuits and E.On. Further information about the SDI can be found at www.sdi-europe.com



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