[Marketing] Competitive Landscape: NComputing Partners with New United Nations Program to Provide Computing Access to Schools in Developing Nations

[Walter Bender]

Background reading

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118892795619917030.html

My contacts:

Stephen Dukker <sdukker at ncomputing.com>
founder, CEO

Lindsay Petrillose <lindsayp at ncomputing.org>
former OLPC employee

Will Poole <wpoole at ncomputing.org>
former Microsoft executive

-walter

On Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 6:49 PM, David Farning <dfarning at sugarlabs.org> wrote:
> If you have contact for Ncomputing I can followup with them...  or I
> can just start cold calling.
>
> IIRC last november-december when we were looking at Ncomputing the
> thin client vs. laptop brought the discussion to a halt.
>
> I understand that currently, while most of us feel that while laptop +
> child ownership is a crucial part of  long term success of the
> learning platform, it is important to remain hardware agnostic.
>
> david
>
> On Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 12:22 PM, Walter Bender <walter.bender at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I've been trying to dig up the transcript of the WSJ debate I had with
>> these guys. I think we could make it an excuse to reengage in a
>> friendly way.
>>
>> -walter
>>
>> On Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 1:18 PM, Sean DALY <sdaly.be at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> In fact I looked at getting a base system to test.
>>>
>>> Unfortunately they seem to be sold through the channel in minimum
>>> orders of 10 ;-)
>>>
>>> Sean
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 7:02 PM, John Tierney <jtis4stx at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>Their positioning is older than ours... we continue to have the best
>>>> offer for younger kids.
>>>>
>>>> This is exactly why Sugar would be an excellent value-add for all their
>>>> Linux
>>>> deployments, it increases their reach and usefulness to the customer and
>>>> enhances
>>>> learning opportunities for younger students.
>>>>
>>>> NComputing Linux software for X350/X550, X300, and L130/L230
>>>> http://www.ncomputing.com/Support/Knowledgebase/tabid/106/language/en-US/Default.aspx
>>>>
>>>> John Tierney
>>>>
>>>>> Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 18:44:24 +0200
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Marketing] Competitive Landscape: NComputing Partners with
>>>>> New United Nations Program to Provide Computing Access to Schools in
>>>>> Developing Nations
>>>>> From: sdaly.be at gmail.com
>>>>> To: jtis4stx at hotmail.com
>>>>> CC: walter.bender at gmail.com; marketing at lists.sugarlabs.org
>>>>>
>>>>> more info on thread started here:
>>>>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/archive/iaep/2008-December/003224.html
>>>>>
>>>>> also:
>>>>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/archive/iaep/2008-December/003227.html
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> and:
>>>>> http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Ncomputing-981346.html
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.edchannelpartner.com/articles/71046/
>>>>> "... the new computer labs use desktop virtualization technology to
>>>>> help mitigate hardware and maintenance costs and have been equipped
>>>>> with the Microsoft Office Suite of products. The labs will be used to
>>>>> teach basic computer skills, office productivity, reading, and math,
>>>>> among other subjects."
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Their positioning is older than ours... we continue to have the best
>>>>> offer for younger kids.
>>>>>
>>>>> Beyond OLPC, a partnership with an education-aware OEM such as Dell
>>>>> would change the landscape overnight...
>>>>>
>>>>> Sean
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 6:30 PM, John Tierney <jtis4stx at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> > From the article says they are going with linux-based. Don't see why
>>>>> > they wouldn't want to add Sugar as value add. In case of Rwanda
>>>>> > this would fit perfectly with XO rollout-Laptops and Desktops all
>>>>> > running Sugar. You would think this is something we could leverage
>>>>> > especially with Africa OLPC Corps just about to kick-off.
>>>>> >
>>>>> >>The first pilot project was completed in Burkina Faso, with additional
>>>>> >> projects spanning >Rwanda, Senegal, and Tanzania scheduled for 2009.
>>>>> >> These
>>>>> >> projects will utilize 1,000 >NComputing Linux-based virtual desktops.
>>>>> >> NComputing virtual desktops are ideal for the project because they
>>>>> >> provide
>>>>> >> very low-cost computing, are simple to ship and install, require almost
>>>>> >> no
>>>>> >> maintenance, and use only 1 watt of electricity. In addition to the
>>>>> >> product
>>>>> >> donations, NComputing will also provide its logistical and operational
>>>>> >> expertise with large-scale rollouts.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > John Tierney
>>>>> >
>>>>> >> Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 07:57:41 -0400
>>>>> >> From: walter.bender at gmail.com
>>>>> >> To: caroline at solutiongrove.com
>>>>> >> CC: marketing at lists.sugarlabs.org
>>>>> >> Subject: Re: [Marketing] Competitive Landscape: NComputing Partners
>>>>> >> with
>>>>> >> New United Nations Program to Provide Computing Access to Schools in
>>>>> >> Developing Nations
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> I know them--I debated their founder/president on the pages of the WSJ
>>>>> >> about 18 months ago. They are a Windows shop--having hired Will Plouff
>>>>> >> from Microsoft a year ago. I'd be shocked if they were to ever
>>>>> >> consider Sugar.
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> -walter
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> On Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 7:52 AM, Caroline Meeks
>>>>> >> <caroline at solutiongrove.com> wrote:
>>>>> >> > Does anyone know anyone at NComputing.  Do we know if Sugar is on
>>>>> >> > their
>>>>> >> > radar?
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> > On Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 6:06 AM, Sean DALY <sdaly.be at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> >> >>
>>>>> >> >> http://www.ncomputing.com/tabid/180/default.aspx?ContentID=289
>>>>> >> >>
>>>>> >> >> from the press release:
>>>>> >> >> ***************
>>>>> >> >> NComputing, the leading provider of ultra low-cost computing
>>>>> >> >> solutions, today announced that it will partner with the United
>>>>> >> >> Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) to bring
>>>>> >> >> computer access to primary and secondary schools in developing
>>>>> >> >> countries around the world. The initiative has strong support from
>>>>> >> >> UN
>>>>> >> >> Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and aims to provide 500,000
>>>>> >> >> workstations
>>>>> >> >> to schools in developing nations by 2012. The program is being
>>>>> >> >> developed by the UNDESA Global Alliance for ICT Development (GAID).
>>>>> >> >> ...
>>>>> >> >> Dr. Paul Jhin, who is leading the initiative, will present the
>>>>> >> >> details
>>>>> >> >> of the program to education ministers and other attendees at the
>>>>> >> >> eLearning Africa conference in Dakar, Senegal on May 29. Planning
>>>>> >> >> sessions with ministers from African countries will also be held to
>>>>> >> >> discuss additional pilot projects and large-scale deployments. “The
>>>>> >> >> NComputing virtual desktops give us an important opportunity to
>>>>> >> >> significantly expand computing access and simplify deployment,” said
>>>>> >> >> Dr. Jhin. “This maximizes the use of donated and refurbished
>>>>> >> >> computers
>>>>> >> >> and simplifies deployment and power requirements, which are key
>>>>> >> >> issues
>>>>> >> >> in many parts of the developing world.”
>>>>> >> >> ***************
>>>>> >> >>
>>>>> >> >> NComputing was the only Platinum Sponsor of the Dakar conference;
>>>>> >> >> Intel and Microsoft were Gold sponsors.
>>>>> >> >>
>>>>> >> >> Sean
>>>>> >> >> _______________________________________________
>>>>> >> >> Marketing mailing list
>>>>> >> >> Marketing at lists.sugarlabs.org
>>>>> >> >> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/marketing
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> > --
>>>>> >> > Caroline Meeks
>>>>> >> > Solution Grove
>>>>> >> > Caroline at SolutionGrove.com
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> > 617-500-3488 - Office
>>>>> >> > 505-213-3268 - Fax
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> > _______________________________________________
>>>>> >> > Marketing mailing list
>>>>> >> > Marketing at lists.sugarlabs.org
>>>>> >> > http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/marketing
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >> >
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >>
>>>>> >> --
>>>>> >> Walter Bender
>>>>> >> Sugar Labs
>>>>> >> http://www.sugarlabs.org
>>>>> >> _______________________________________________
>>>>> >> Marketing mailing list
>>>>> >> Marketing at lists.sugarlabs.org
>>>>> >> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/marketing
>>>>> >
>>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>>> > Marketing mailing list
>>>>> > Marketing at lists.sugarlabs.org
>>>>> > http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/marketing
>>>>> >
>>>>> >
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Marketing mailing list
>>> Marketing at lists.sugarlabs.org
>>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/marketing
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Walter Bender
>> Sugar Labs
>> http://www.sugarlabs.org
>> _______________________________________________
>> Marketing mailing list
>> Marketing at lists.sugarlabs.org
>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/marketing
>>
>



-- 
Walter Bender
Sugar Labs
http://www.sugarlabs.org