Do You Hate Your Saudi Internet?

Do you have issues with the Internet service in Saudi Arabia? The Arab Advisors Group is interested in “getting a better understating of the Saudi Internet market.” Jawad J. Abbassi, GM, Arab Advisors Group, invites everyone in the Kingdom to participate in a survey of Internet users in Saudi Arabia. Information provided in the survey will be kept confidential and will only be used for the purposes of this study.

The survey takes 20 minutes to fill out online. Arabic language questions are available at www.svyro.com/arabadvisors/saudi_survey_AR.asp. English language questions are posted at www.svyro.com/arabadvisors/saudi_survey_EN.asp.

Who Pays What?

According to Mitch Betts’ blog at Computerworld, the 10 top-paying countries in annual compensation for the “IT Manager” title are: Switzerland ($140,960), Denmark ($123,080), Belgium ($121,170), UK ($118,190), Ireland ($108,230), US ($107,500), Germany ($106,730), Canada ($93,340), Hong Kong (China) ($90,340) and Australia ($88,850).

Lowest-paying countries are: Vietnam ($15,470), Bulgaria ($22,240), Philippines ($22,280), India ($25,000) and Indonesia ($31,720). Average total cash compensation includes base pay and annual bonus. Betts’ source was Mercer’s 2007 IT Pay around the World.

14.7 Million Jobs Created by MS and Its Ecosystem

Global spending on information technology will create 7.1 million new jobs and 100,000 new businesses over the next four years, according to a new study by IDC sponsored by Microsoft. The research predicts that in 2007, Microsoft-related activities are responsible for 14.7 million jobs from an IT industry total of 35.2 million people — 42 percent of total IT employment globally in 2007.

“Today technology is a key factor for economic, social and technological progress, and for the sustainability of economies all over the world,” said John Gantz, chief research officer at IDC. “The IDC research underscores what we’ve always known to be true: that software provides a disproportionate contribution to a vibrant IT economy. It also shows the significant contribution made by the Microsoft ecosystem, especially in the creation of local businesses and local jobs.”

The IDC study found that Microsoft serves as an economic catalyst in every country in which it operates. For every $1 that Microsoft earns in 2007, companies working with Microsoft will earn $7.79. In addition, according to the research findings, in 2007 more than 640,000 vendors in the Microsoft ecosystem will make more than $425 billion in revenues, and invest $100 billion in research development, marketing, sales and support in local economies.

“Information technology is the most powerful thing that has happened to mankind right now. It’s a new opportunity to change the world in a very different way,” said 2006 Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus, speaking this week at Microsoft headquarters.

In the 82 countries and regions surveyed, the IT industry overall is expected to see continued strong growth over the next four years, generating a total of 42.5 million jobs by 2011. The No. 1 source of new IT jobs will be China, followed by the United States. In addition, the growth in the global labor force will result in new incremental tax revenues of $592 billion to governments over the next four years.

The study shows that spending on IT will reach $1.2 trillion worldwide in 2007, and is expected to grow 6.1 percent a year for the next four years, a rate twice that of the expected growth of gross domestic product worldwide. The study also found that IT spending on software creates a disproportionate share of the skilled job growth. Software drives activity in the services and distribution sectors, as well as in organizations using IT, so while worldwide spending on packaged software will be only 21 percent of total IT spending in 2007, 50 percent of employment in IT will be software-related.

For information about how to obtain a full copy of this report, visit www.microsoft.com/About/CorporateCitizenship/Citizenship/EconomicImpact.

US Presidential Dialogue Series Continues

The Internet is playing a more powerful role than ever before in the US Presidential Race. MySpace and MTV have announced that US Sen. Barack Obama (D-Illinois; www.myspace.com/barackobama) will be the next participant in their Presidential Dialogue series. The Dialogue with Sen. Obama will take place Oct. 29 at 1:30 p.m. ET on the campus of Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA, and will be streamed live on MySpace www.myspace.com/election2008 and MTV’s www.ChooseOrLose.com.

The MySpace and MTV Dialogue series is the first in history to allow an at home audience the opportunity to respond to a candidate’s answers instantaneously — with that feedback piped back into the discussion and used to shape its direction — as well as the ability to pose questions in real-time, via MySpaceIM and ChooseOrLose.com. Throughout the event, online viewers can immediately register their approval or disapproval of a candidate’s responses via an online polling tool, powered by Flektor (www.flektor.com), as they watch the Dialogue live. Instant results are displayed on the screen and viewers can compare their opinions to those of the entire community through a “popular vote” function. Poll results are available online live during each event and archived for future viewing.

iPhone an Environmental Hazard

Environmental protection group Greenpeace reports that independent tests performed on the Apple iPhone showed a variety of hazardous chemicals in both the internal and external components. Greenpeace scientists say they have confirmed the presence of toxic brominated compounds in the phone’s antenna. The tests also indicate a mixture of toxic phthalates was found on the plastic coating of the headphone cables. The phthalates found in the headphone cords are classified in Europe as “toxic to reproduction.”

The iPhone tests were the first of an Apple product following the company’s commitment in May by CEO Steve Jobs to make a “Greener Apple.”

“Apple missed a key opportunity when it rolled out the iPhone in June. There is no reason why the iPhone could not have been made without toxins like vinyl plastics and brominated flame retardants, as Nokia is already doing,” said Rick Hind of Greenpeace.