21st Jan 2008
Nicholas Aaron Khoo
The Singapore Government has just launched an initiative towards a wired future where companies and organizations can use any software big or small as an online service instead of the current traditional sales model.
Major global tech players like HP and Sun are already deeply involved through local partners like Singapore Computer Systems and Frontline Systems and they have been searching the market for applications that will be able to leverage on this national software infrastructure platform to deliver software applications.
I believe the idea is to setup a national software grid, almost like our national power grid where you get billed every month for the amount of software you use. Of course this is still very preliminary and I’m sure efforts will be met with a lot of problems and skepticism.
But hey, at least somebody’s trying to make a difference! Imagine a not too distant future where any business from hair salons to clinics to medium sized companies or non-profit organizations can go onto this platform to find complete suites of applications that can help them manage their businesses, for cheap! That’ll surely be a great catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship in Singapore!
I was just having this conversation with this expat CEO from Australia now living in Singapore; basically his point to me was that Singaporeans should learn to be more content because our government has done so much for us compared to governments he has seen elsewhere. Interesting.
So pray tell, what has your government done for you recently? Mine’s trying to setup a national software grid.
Hmmm… wondering if food hawkers will be able to benefit from this initiative too? :)
