Silicon Gulf

I agree with one of my favorite tech news sources (TechCrunch.com) that the next technology war will be fought in the realm of mobile platforms. In the dawn of OS-agnostic and Web-deployed applications, the old operating-systems war seems to be finally fizzling out. (A rather anticlimactic denouement, if you ask me.)

Microsoft and Apple have both had their mobile platforms out in the market for the longest time now: Windows Mobile (which had its earlier manifestation as Windows CE) and Apple’s "i" series (iPod, iPhone). But it’s only now that the market has grown to a considerable — and lucrative — scale. This time, there are other aggressive players out in the battlefield: BlackBerry and Google’s Android (which has yet to make a clear showing), among others. Let’s not forget Symbian, by the way.

What form could this new war take? What would the battles be?

One thing seems evident: the ones with huge resources are bringing out the big guns, which, in the world of technology and development, takes the form of venture capital. For example, Google announced in November 2007 that it was seeding a $10-million fund for developers who would take up their challenge: to develop applications on top of Android. Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, a financial organization that backs technology entrepreneurs, announced last March the launch of a $100-million fund for developers of iPhone-specific applications.

Other similar moves are expected to follow, like the rumored $150-million BlackBerry Fund. In the past, applications developers came up with a sound idea first, and the venture capitalists followed. Now it seems the tables have turned — perhaps this is due to the intense competition in the IT arena.

The Philippines is known as the SMS capital of the world, isn’t it? Beyond that, the use of mobile applications has steadily been growing locally. Development-wise, we are not lagging either. Take a look at this online repository of Windows Mobile applications developed by Filipinos: Airfagev.com.

Clearly, there is a market for mobile in the Philippines. So where are the angel investors who are willing to put up the capital for our talented Filipinos? Our developers do need the financial help in order to hit it big, not only in the local scene but in the global as well.

In line with this, I believe it is high time our government gives more than lip service towards supporting our IT industry. Politicians have lately been touting the role of IT in the country’s development… but what concrete steps have been taken? The highest government body that oversees our progress in the IT industry still remains a commission, the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT).

CICT was created two years ago to address the growing IT concerns nationwide, but it was supposed to be an interim arrangement, wherein it would be upgraded to a full Cabinet-level department. That has not happened yet.

The CICT, in its present mandate, is only an advisory body. It has no true powers of programs implementation. But in the event that it becomes the Department of ICT, it will have the jurisdiction and the necessary wherewithal to implement development and support programs for Filipino IT companies.

The moment is now. Let’s not allow ourselves to miss the train.