The buzzword you hear a lot in the software and internet industry is Real-time…. everything needs to be real-time, from real-time conferences to real-time servers to real-time search engines etc etc…

The real-time web is often described as the latest iteration, the new Web 2.0 or the next evolution of the internet largely due to the adoption of internet across PC’s, mobile and net books.

To get a better understanding of real time web we just need to step back and put things into perspective. New or Non users of Facebook/Twitter or other social media site commonly dismiss status updates like, “About to have a coffee” “Going to see a movie.” “Getting ready for my 3K swim”. However when someone says he’s going to see a movie in the office pantry this is not seen as trivial or a waste of time. They separate the real-time experience of conversation from the indexed, archived Internet.

And that’s exactly it. The value of the real-time web is valuable only in the moment it’s being experienced. The real-time web compliments your existing traditional internet experience. We are already using the internet in 2 different ways but the lines are “blurred”. (more…)

Singtel just announced their app store, sorry app zone http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2009/07/14/singtel-to-launch-its-own-app-store/

The twist Singtel is offering is is interesting and it’s always great to learn about another distribution for developers. However I miss some of the additional strategic elements for Singtel not to be disenfranchised and left out of the greater revenue pie.

In our experience linking an API story for application developers with a strong App store proposition will provide operators with a strong differentiator. Not only does this give developers access to network resources with a D2C offering but it is also something the device manufacturers can’t offer developers.

Furthermore when reading through the article I can’t help thinking about the commercial model which always come up in the developer communities when associated with the appstore. Developers, particularly in Asia, are very interested in the underlying commercial appeal. Again linking a developer community with to API’s and the appzone further enhances the “commercial appeal”.

Developers are heavily courted these days both across the web and on the mobile. Singtel clearly has a lot to offer developers across it’s Group of companies in addition to just the editorial input and elevating applications for local relevance and content. (more…)