alika - 12:01 pm on Dec 27, 2009 (gmt 0)

I come from the Philippines though presently living in the US (brain drain in action!), and I must say that they're still not there with regards to the Web. Access to the Web is still expensive, much less to broadband, especially for average families. They even sell pre-paid Internet access, similar to the prepaid phone cards here. You can't develop a solid web business from prepaid Internet cards!

Broadband access is still very small, with government estimates running below at 10% -- definitely below other Asian countries. The government was supposed to develop a program called National Broadband Network to create the infrastructure for broadband. However, as most things from the Philippines, development has been hampered by corruption, bribery and there was a huge brouhaha over the bidding. Philippines is wayyyyyy behind in terms of broadband development

Mobile development is huge. Texting has been in vogue in the Philippines earlier than in the US. My mom, who won't touch a computer even if her life depended on it, cannot live without her mobile phone. She types on her phone way faster than me. Everywhere you look from the street vendors to jeepney drivers, people are texting on their mobiles.

The call center business, though, is gaining the most momentum. Philippines has the advantage of language, as English is taught as early as nursery. I learned ABC alongside my ABaKaDa. Accent is easier to understand, and in fact, the more "prized" call center reps are those who can fake an American accent the best.