From KWMC to myKP
April 11, 2008 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Wireless, Bristol, Community Media, collaboration, Guest Bloggers , add a commentThank you Makala for finding time to blog in what was a very busy and momentous week for the Knowle West Media Centre. Congratulations to you, Carolyn, Penny and all of the staff and local people involved in the two-day launch. I went along there this afternoon and was hugely impressed by what has been achieved… and this is only the start!
And now we welcome our new Guest Blogger, George Kaloudis.
Officially George Kaloudis’s position at myKP, Australia’s leading community Wi-Fi provider, is Director of Stuff. As his title suggests, George gets his hands dirty on pretty much every aspect of myKP’s operation.
George describes himself as, “absolutely passionate about what we do, a rebel with a cause.” George has spent close to 15 years in telecommunications in strategic positions for global carriers and service providers, building, developing relationships and implementing key infrastructure across Asia, USA… and Australia of course; anything from the deployment of billion dollar multi continent submarine cable systems to peering agreements with Google.
George declares, “I love what I do and I am keen to start a revolution” and he asks “… are you with me?” As he says, “there is nothing as powerful as an idea who’s time has come” (Victor Hugo).
Dublin Free Wi-Fi Plans Blocked by EU Ruling
January 10, 2008 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Wireless, Europe, Connecting Bristol , add a commentDublin City Council’s plans to deliver free city Wi-Fi have been dashed by an EU ruling that the project is in breach of state aid rules.
The Sinn Fein Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald is reported as saying that ‘the decision is another example of EU policy making negatively impacting on member states national interests’ Clearly the decision is something of a blow!
Connecting Bristol presented our own work in this area to a range of Dublin City councillors and officers some time ago. The Dublin Institute of Technology arranged the exchange and it is good to see that other Dublin programmes appear to be progressing well. For example, the ICING project, which is looking at the real time reporting of street repairs and problems using accessible technologies.
My Kp Community Wi-Fi in Australia
December 14, 2007 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Wireless, Bristol , 2 commentsWe have learned that once you start using this ‘Inter web’ thing openly - things happen. A good example is the response to this recent Connecting Bristol blog post
We invited suggestions about how to re-brand Wi-Fi in the city, to raise awareness of the potential benefits. Your suggestions for new names included, Bristol Wireless, Bristol Connect, Free Zone, Free Space, Connected, Bristol Unplugged, Bristol Wide Web, Wi-Fi Umbrella, the Information Exchange, Bristol Communications Hub, Unite Bristol and The Bristol Oracle.
Thank you for all of these ideas.
Two further suggestions stood out as being pretty quirky and interesting. The Bristol Blogger suggested we call the network ‘Collin’ which seems a thoughtful and considered way to humanize technology (like calling a TV channel Dave) and George Kaloudis sent us this message…
Hi There,
How about teaming up with us as free Wi-Fi sister cities? And brand it myKP to join our network…. My – KP, what’s the KP ? what ever you want it to be. Originally it stood for Kissing Point and place where people logged on to work and play in a friendly environment, but since our launch we’ve had a number of names adopted. Our gamers call it Killing Point and some of our other friends have coined it Kilpatrick …so its what ever you like.
Please see an invite to the launch of Australia’s first free community wi-fi project.
Cheers
George Kaloudis
www.mykp.com.au
We didn’t get to attend the My KP launch (apparently there is no bus from Bristol to Gilgandra in Australia) but George YouTubed it for us here and very interesting it is too to see council, community and business partners praise the benefits of Wi-Fi.
My Kp’s branding might cause us some difficulties (enough people already think we are nuts) but we have struck up a dialogue with George to explore ways in which Bristol and My KP might collaborate in future. We have discussed ideas such as common log-ins, partnerships with Google Apps and creating a wider community of linked wireless places who can share ideas and experiences.
Comments and ideas always welcome…
Can you help us brand Bristol's Wi-Fi Network?
November 8, 2007 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Wireless, Bristol, Connecting Bristol , 11 commentsBristol has a reputation as a wireless pioneer. The City Council and City Space Ltd. launched “Street Net” in 2003, at the time creating the UK’s largest street-level Wi-Fi network. Bristol Wireless is a leading provider of community wireless networks.
In recent years, many millions of people have bought wireless laptops, PDA’s, mobile phones or portable games consoles. The prevalence of wireless technologies is changing how people interact with information and services, be it for work, study or leisure. You will know that people no longer have to be sat at a desk to access the Internet and emails, or be in front of a TV to watch programmes. Accessing and creating content whenever you want and wherever you happen to be is where wireless technologies are leaded – and millions of people are following fast.
Connecting Bristol’s aim is to create a vibrant, interactive, wireless ‘Intranet for the city’ that provides mobile Wi-Fi access to information and services, including council and public services, for people who are on the move in and around the city. This includes, tourists: business travellers; council customers; students; shoppers; mobile workers and city centre residents.
So what would you call such a network? Street Net no longer fits, as with the newly launched hot spot at the Council House, we are increasingly interested in bringing connectivity inside. We note the newly launched BT Birmingham FIZ (Free Information Zone)… but feel certain that Bristol can come up with something more creative and apt. So, what do you think? All suggestions welcome here or by email to stephen@connectingbristol.org If we get a really good suggestion I am sure we can find some sort of prize.
