Twitter this!I

Twitter this!

I have a Facebook page ... that my daughter built. I've never written on anyone's wall ... scribbles sound rude to me. And I have a BlackBerry, but no BlackBerry service (though in my defence, it's a long story).

I'm barely competent in text messaging and often select the wrong button on my smartphone when answering a call - yes, I'm one of those - but up to mid-December still counted myself as techno-savvy until a trends article cited emailing as old school, in an increasingly mobile world where texts and instant messaging are 'it'.

But let's return to what's unsaid but tacitly acknowledged, even in my ignorance: Facebook, BlackBerry and their peers are important tools in a world where communication is instant and global. What about tweets? Never! But I do have a Twitter account.

It's easy to get excited about knowledge and its accessibility.

It's the latter why tele-communication firms are so integral to both a functioning democracy and, increasingly, a growing economy; Jamaica's no less so.

Their capital outlay tend to be big and consequential; their market innovations open up new worlds to the creative. So when Digicel announced the launch of 4G WiMAX, it generated a buzz and opened up a conversation about the potential for small business enhancement; and when LIME debuted mobile TV, it gave people a new tool to balance leisure and work.

When telecoms and technology companies think big and take chances, business and entrepreneurs are often rewarded with better productivity tools.

That's why the cut-throat rivalry between the Jamaican players is so engaging, and necessary, because the end-users end up the beneficiaries of better products, cheaper rates, faster video and data transmission, more cool phones, a better landscape to communicate, and technology that allows others to innovate.

That's why the big telecoms are household names; because of their impact on life and living standards; and truth be told, their engaging product promotions. Outside Jamaica, BlackBerry maker RIM is coming out with a 4G Playbook in the summer, its equivalent of the iPad tablet. Digicel is positioned to sell that product, if it chooses. It has already debuted Samsung's Galaxy. The laptop may soon be the next casualty of advancement.

Communications technology remains an exciting field. As companies innovate, we salivate.

Telco executives Mark, Alejandro, Michele and Garry and Chris, may not have the name recognition of their companies - Digicel, Claro, Flow and LIME, respectively - but we hail their competitive spirit.

The year begins with Claro losing an appeal to continue its guerilla tactics of diverting Digicel telemarketing calls to voice mailbox of Claro customers. But there are other fights.

The battles over network speed, customer base and market share continue, and the next frontier might be mobile banking.

Digicel founder, activist, scrapper, risk-taker, entrepreneur and all-round rebel Denis O'Brien has already signalled to this newspaper that he wants to enter the banking arena.

Full disclosure: if I knew how to use Facebook, I would definitely 'friend' O'Brien.

Let the mobile battles rage because in this war that takes no prisoners, Jamaica wins.

Lavern Clarke Business Editor lavern.clarke@gleanerjm.com