Brisbane City Council has come up with a plan it says will tackle the digital divide. It will team with Telstra to create a new portal offering free email, business and training opportunities to ratepayers.
The internet partnership, dubbed eBrisbane, is aimed at giving ratepayers the 'information' edge.
"eBrisbane is the first initiative of its scale and kind in Australia," Brisbane's Lord Mayor, Jim Soorley said at the launch.
"It will put our city at the forefront of technology and make us a major player in the new information economy. It will involve a single online entry point on the Internet for the city's information, products and services", Cr Soorley said.
The Internet portal will be a one-stop-shop for the city of Brisbane and its services.
Brisbane City Council claims the project will help tackle the growing -digital divide" by providing greater access to improved services for business and community groups, more affordable Internet access and training opportunities.
eBrisbane benefits
- Free email address for Brisbane's residents, businesses and community groups
- Secure online transactions including shopping and e-commerce
- Virtual store fronts for local businesses
- Tourist information about the region
- News updates and weather forecasts
- Online business networks to aid information sharing and innovation
- On-line community and interest groups
- Equitable access for Brisbane residents, secure e-commerce and privacy will be key elements for the project
eBrisbane will be a online services hub which can be described as an aggregator of content, applications and communications services.
"It will converge community, social services, information technology, media services and online applications into a compelling proposition for the people and businesses of Brisbane", Telstra Group Managing Director, Ted Pretty said.
The development of the portal is expected to will provide a boost to local jobs, IT and related business and the economy.
Brisbane City Council and Telstra will consult widely with residents, the community and business to deliver an online service that meets local needs.
Telstra was chosen from a field of more than 100 because of its strong transaction security and privacy capability, and experience in portal development.
Negotiations will now begin on defining the terms of the partnership following a special Council meeting on December 1.
Why pick a telephone company to do a Web portal? Why not a company that develops only Web software like mine? Also a worry where one portal can soak up all the business from local businesses like other ASPs like Peakhour do and leave small businesses like mine out in the cold.