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

[David Farning]

OK I'll see if I can start a discussion... and pass it back to you
when it looks promising:)

david

On Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 6:34 PM, Walter Bender <walter.bender at gmail.com> wrote:
> 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
>