<incom> Inveneo Quarterly Newsletter: August 2006

[Geert Lovink]

> Inveneo (TM) Quarterly Newsletter: August 2006
>
> Inveneo continues to make great progress this year in getting the 
> tools of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) out to those 
> who need them most: organizations operating in remote and rural places 
> in the developing world and the people they serve.
>
> In this issue, you'll see that Inveneo systems are being installed in 
> many new locations to provide access to computing, the Internet and 
> telephony for schools and village projects where, often, there isn't 
> even a steady supply of electricity. We're also developing new 
> programs to help deliver more cost effective local installation and 
> support by highly skilled, Inveneo-certified, local ICT entrepreneurs.
>
> We've received some great media coverage - you can watch a CNN video 
> or read a TIME Magazine article about our work. So please take a look 
> at our progress - we hope it will inspire you to get an ICT project 
> started today.
>
> As always, we thank you for your continued support and interest!
>
> The Inveneo Team
>
> Contents:
>
> Announcing the Inveneo Certified IT Entrepreneur Program
>
> Where in the world is Inveneo?
>
> Inveneo in the news
>
> On the road: Michael Meisel brings the world to students in Uganda
>
> Partner news: Inveneo teams up with Green WiFi
>
> An ounce of prevention
>
> Inveneo's impact to date
>
> Announcing the Inveneo Certified ICT Entrepreneur Program
>
> If you are an NGO operating in a rural area - northern Uganda for 
> example - you might like Inveneo's approach to ICT hardware and 
> software, but you may still have lingering doubts...what happens after 
> Inveneo installs the system? What happens when they are gone, and we 
> have a question or something breaks? Inveneo now has a solution - our 
> locally Certified ICT Partners can help.
>
>  The Inveneo Certified ICT Partner Program is designed to create an 
> ecosystem of local ICT professionals who are certified to sell, 
> deploy, and support Inveneo's ICT solutions to meet the needs of rural 
> and remote ICT communities. We already have two certified partners in 
> Uganda, Linux Solutions and Keyskills.
>
>  As we enter new countries and regions in a country Inveneo seeks 
> local ICT partners who are already operating in-country and have 
> experience in three or more of the following technologies: Linux 
> operating systems, Open Source Software, IT networking, Wireless 
> (WiFi) Networking, VoIP, or alternative (off-grid) power management 
> systems. We're looking for individuals or entrepreneurial 
> organizations with a track record in servicing ICT clients. We offer 
> certification on our solutions, direct access and resale opportunities 
> to our latest range of equipment and revenue generation opportunities 
> for project installations and ongoing support.
>
>  We are currently seeking partners in Ghana, the Philippines (Mindinao 
> Region), Mali, Rwanda, Liberia and India. Organizations interested in 
> becoming an Inveneo Certified ICT Partner can send an email stating 
> their interest and qualifications to itpartners at inveneo.org . More 
> information on the program can be found at our ICT partner page.
>
>
> Where in the World is Inveneo?
>
> Inveneo will be showing how our technology can be used for emergency 
> communications on September 19th at the Humaninet Disaster 
> Preparedness Simulation Day in Silicon Valley. For details see the 
> article below.
>
> Inveneo is invited to present and participate in the "Poverty 
> Reduction Track" of the invitation only Clinton Global Initiative 
> September 20 - 22nd in New York City.
>
> Experience the future with Inveneo. Inveneo is one of 100 companies 
> chosen to exhibit at Wired NextFest. See us in the Future of 
> Communications pavilion September 28th - October 1st at Javits Center, 
> New York City.
>
> Inveneo in the News:
> See Inveneo's installation in Uganda on CNN International's news video.
>
> Read our profile in the May 22nd edition of Time Magazine Cool Tools 
> for the Third World (.pdf 616k):
>
> On the Road with Inveneo: Michael Meisel, Sr. Software Engineer, 
> brings the world to students in Uganda
>
> When he first walked into the computer lab at Kyambogo secondary 
> school in Kampala, Uganda, Michael was faced with a nearly empty room 
> and two rows of aging, unused computers. In a country constantly 
> plagued with power shortages, the bulky computers were collecting 
> dust. In Uganda, standard desktop computers can be expensive to 
> operate and are infrequently used due to unpredictable outages and the 
> cost of electricity, not to mention the destructive power of dust.
>
> In two whirlwind weeks, Michael and Inveneo's certified local ICT 
> partner, Linux Solutions, led the transformation of the quiet 
> classroom in Kampala, and two other classrooms in the more rural towns 
> of Kasaala and Bukuya, into active learning centers alive with the 
> buzz of power and technology. At every location the locals embraced 
> the computer labs, with local children avidly watching as the team set 
> up computers, networks and battery backup systems. "Even in the more 
> remote locations, Ugandans already have some exposure to technology. 
> They are eager to learn more about what computers and the Internet can 
> do for them and their community," said Michael.
>
>  The installation of these three, 30-computer learning centers was 
> completed through a partnership between Inveneo and the AMD NEPAD 
> Consortium to support the New African Partnership for Development 
> (NEPAD) e-Schools Initiative. The objective of the e-Schools 
> Initiative is to provide ICT tools and training to school teachers and 
> students, which will better enable them to function in the emerging 
> information society and knowledge economy. NEPAD, a pan-African 
> government alliance, is working with several leading technology 
> companies to design Internet labs in urban and rural schools across 20 
> countries. Their goal is to identify vibrant, sustainable ICT and 
> learning solutions to be implemented in over 600,000 primary and 
> secondary schools in Africa by 2010.
>
> Inveneo Partners with Green WiFi
>
> Inveneo and Green WiFi, a non-profit wireless network products 
> enterprise, jointly announced today their plan to collaborate on Solar 
> Powered WiFi Mesh Network projects. Green WiFi has developed low cost 
> solar WiFi node units called "SoFis" which incorporate an intelligent 
> charge control system. Inveneo plans to trial Green WiFi's SoFis and 
> include them in its portfolio of Information and Communications 
> Technology (ICT) solutions for NGOs (Non-Government Organizations), 
> local governments and private entities and the communities they serve.
>
> Green WiFi's innovative product, currently planned for limited trial 
> release in September 2006, consists of a small form factor solar 
> powered WiFi node, battery and an intelligent charge control system. 
> Green WiFi's unique solar-powered mess WiFi solution improves ease of 
> installation and lowers cost for rural wireless networking.
>
> An Ounce of Prevention - Humaninet's Upcoming Disaster Simulation Day
>
> There has been no letup for relief organizations over the past five 
> years: Afghanistan, Darfur, the Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane 
> Katrina, the earthquake in Asia, famine in Somalia - the crises 
> continue in all parts of the globe.
>
>  Today's humanitarian response must be rapid and coordinated, while 
> maintaining development and capacity building projects around the 
> world. In today's environment, relief and aid managers are on the 
> move, with little opportunity to research and test technologies that 
> can make their teams safer and more effective.
>
>  To bring humanitarian and nonprofit managers up to date on ICT 
> solutions that will help their organizations, HumaniNet, in 
> partnership with N-TEN, Inveneo, and other non-profit organizations 
> and corporate partners, is hosting a series of "Sim Days" to 
> demonstrate proven technologies in a simulated field environment. The 
> next SIM day is September 19th.
>
>  These events will feature:
> A crisis communications center that utilizes satellite communications, 
> low-power computers, and wireless networks to provide Internet access 
> and voice communications
>
> Speakers on such topics as emergency response capacity building, 
> map-based "situational awareness" tools for managing critical 
> information in relief conditions, and technologies designed for 
> austere environments and underserved communities.
>
> Demonstrations of successful applications that have potential for 
> nonprofit users, including project management tools, VoIP, blogging, 
> podcasts, distributing photography from the field, and new ways to 
> mobilize support and get the message out.
>
> Networking opportunities for tech and operations managers, program 
> officers, and other nonprofit leaders. Share your success stories and 
> challenges with others in your field of humanitarian and nonprofit 
> work.
>
> Sim Day attendees will also learn about TechReach International a new 
> initiative to recruit and mobilize technology volunteers for 
> supporting relief operations. This initiative is being organized by 
> Dr. Don Bruce, a member of Humaninet's board of directors.
>
>  The Silicon Valley Sim Day on September 19 will be held at the Intuit 
> campus in Mountain View, California. It is free and open to the 
> public, but registration is required. More information can be fund 
> here SIM Day.
>
> Inveneo's Impact
>
> Inveneo's mission is to get ICT out to organizations and people who 
> need it most in underserved areas in developing countries. We'd like 
> to share with you our progress to date:
>
>  Countries where projects are Installed - Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda and 
> Haiti
>  Certified ICT Entrepreneurs - 2 in Uganda
>  Communities Reached - 15
>  Types of projects:
> Schools - 10
>
> Internet Cafes - 1
>
> Village Economic Development Centers - 4
>
>  People Impacted: over 14,000 (average of 950 per community)
>
>  You can can help us expand our efforts by donating money, time or by 
> sponsoring an ICT Project (download project questionnaire .doc 36k) 
> today.
>
> If you would like to be added to our newsletter list, please send an 
> e-mail request to: newsletter-subscribe at inveneo.org