WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 TECHNOLOGY Videos may make up 84% of internet traffic by 2018: Cisco WASHINGTON: Video consumption of the World going to look like the world cup month because the could allow telecommunications companies the fastest growing connected devices, making up over Cup alone will generate nearly as much Internet traf- consumption just keeps getting bigger and bigger,” right to prioritize some traffic. 46 percent of Internet traffic, from the current 25 fic as occurred in all of Australia in 2013, according said Robert Pepper, Cisco’s vice president of global Critics of the proposed revisions worry the rules percent. “A world in which we want networks to to a new Cisco Systems Inc report that shows technology policy. would create “fast lanes” for companies that pay up treat all traffic the same will inhibit these connec- growth in Internet traffic is fueled by video. Cisco, one of the leading makers of networking and slower traffic for others. Not all Internet traffic tions,” Jeff Campbell, Cisco’s vice president of gov- The report, which says video is expected to grow equipment, studies the use and speed of devices, will be the same, according to the report. Internet ernment and community relations told Reuters. to 84 percent of Internet traffic in the United States connections and data for an annual forecast of connected medical devices, for example, would “As the FCC looks at rewriting its net neutrality by 2018 from 78 percent currently, raises questions Internet traffic growth. have a different data profile than video streaming, rules, it is important that we allow for things like about whether Internet service providers should pri- The report, released yesterday, comes as the but a higher speed urgency. managed services and specialized services that can oritize traffic, which has become a controversial Federal Communications Commision debates legis- The report forecasts that, by 2018, online con- provide new applications for consumers,” Campbell issue. “In the future at some point every month is lation on Internet traffic, or “net neutrality,” that nected machines will take over televisions as the added. — Reuters Facebook, Twitter brace for World Cup fever NEW YORK: This year’s World Cup will play Facebook, which counts 81 percent of its out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and mes- users outside the US and Canada, is unveiling saging apps like WhatsApp just as it progress- its World Cup features at a time when the es in stadiums from Sao Paulo to Rio De company is working to become a place for Janeiro. more real-time, public conversations about Nearly 40 percent of Facebook’s 1.28 bil- big events- a la Twitter. Such events attract lion users are fans of soccer, better known as big advertising dollars, though the company football outside of the US and Australia. is not saying how much money it expects to Yesterday, the world’s biggest online social make from World Cup-related ads. network is adding new features to help fans Not to be outdone, Twitter touted in a follow the World Cup - the world’s most wide- blog post last week that the “the only real- ly viewed sporting event - which takes place time #WorldCup global viewing party will be in Brazil from June 12 to July 13. on Twitter, where you can track all 64 match- Facebook users will be able to keep track es, experience every goal and love every sec- of their favorite teams and players through- ond, both on and off the pitch.” Fans can fol- out the tournament in a special World Cup low individual teams or players and use the section, called “Trending World Cup.” hashtag #WorldCup to tweet about the Available on the Web as well as mobile matches, and follow official accounts such as devices, the hub will include the latest scores, @FIFAWorldCup, @ussoccer for the United game highlights as well as a feed with tourna- States team and @CBF_Futebol for Brazil’s ment-related posts from friends, players and soccer governing body, for example. teams. In addition, an interactive map will show where the fans of top players are locat- Widely viewed ed around the world. The company is also The World Cup is the planet’s most widely launching a page called FacebookRef, where viewed sporting event. According to FIFA, fans can see commentary about the matches which organizes the tournament, an estimat- from “The Ref,” Facebook’s official tournament ed 909.6 million viewers watched at least one commentator. minute of the final 2010 game when Spain Social media activity during big sporting beat the Netherlands. In comparison, nearly events such as the Olympics and the Super 900 million people watched at least part of LOS ANGELES: Ted Price, CEO, Insomniac Games, at the Xbox E3 2014 Media Briefing at the Galen Center on Monday in Los Angeles. — AP Bowl has soared in recent years and should the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer continue as user numbers grow. In 2010, Olympics. On Twitter, more than 24.9 million when the last World Cup took place in tweets were sent out during this year’s Super Microsoft and Sony battle Johannesburg, South Africa, Facebook had Bowl, up from 13.7 million just two years ear- just 500 million users. Now there are just that lier. Because it takes place over several weeks, many soccer fans (people who have “liked” a marketers are gearing up for “a marathon, not team or a player) on the site, the company a sprint,” said Debra Aho Williamson, an ana- for hearts video game fans says. Facebook has recently focused on mak- lyst for research firm eMarketer. ing its mobile app usable on simple phones “Developing countries will be a key target that use slower data speeds since many of its for global brands,” she said. “They will work newest users are in developing countries. As a hard to capture the attention of soccer fans in ‘Destiny will help us define next generation of gaming’ result, Rebecca Van Dyck, head of consumer Latin America, Asia, Africa. The challenges marketing at Facebook, said the World Cup (include the fact) that all the games are taking LOS ANGELES: Microsoft and Sony grappled Halo collection groundwork for the future.” The Master Chief hub will also be available on so-called “fea- place in one place and the customers and ture phones.” Here the section will be “little marketers are in multiple time zones. This will yesterday for the hearts of hard core gamers Microsoft announced the release for later collection will contain a live action series less graphical” than what’s shown on smart- require around the clock marketing.” whose devotion could determine whether this year of an addition to its popular science based on the franchise and produced in col- phones and on the Web, she said, but will For fans traveling to Brazil for the game Xbox One or PlayStation 4 rule console play fiction “Halo” series called “Halo: The Master laboration with filmmaker Ridley Scott. include the same information. and hoping to tweet and post about it on and Internet Age entertainment. Chief Collection,” s well as other exclusive The “Halo Nightfall” series is coming to the Facebook, the country’s mobile communica- The rival console makers aimed squarely titles “Sunset Overdrive,” “Forza Horizon 2,” and Xbox Live service for online game play and Popular topics tions services might pose their own chal- at hard-core video game players in grand “Dance Central Spotlight.” digital content, according to Microsoft. Users can get to the World Cup hub by lenge. Dropped voice calls are common even press briefings, unveiling blockbuster titles “We are committed to delivering amazing While many blockbuster titles from third- clicking on the hashtag #worldcup in a without the hundreds of thousands of soccer and touting content or opportunities only experiences that will help define this genera- party studios or publishers have versions tai- Facebook post, or by clicking on “World Cup” fans descending on the country. Accessing available on their respective systems. tion of games and delight the millions of pas- lored for both platforms, Microsoft and Sony in the list of trending topics on the site. the Internet can be incredibly slow, and Microsoft opened fire with “Halo” and a sionate Xbox fans around the world,” said Phil are keen to convince gamers that their con- In a nod to Twitter, Facebook, earlier this there’s even some worry about network barrage of other titles for play on its new- Spencer, head of the Xbox division. sole is the better place to have fun or find year, began displaying trending topics to blackouts. “World Cup visitors won’t be able generation Xbox One consoles. Sony shot “Our goal is to make Xbox One the best entertainment. show users the most popular topics at any to communicate the way they want to,” back in a return salvo lead by keenly antici- place to play games this generation.” Sony and Microsoft have also been court- given moment. The feature is currently avail- Christopher Gaffney, a visiting professor at pated “Destiny,” the first new franchise from Microsoft brought the focus back to games in ing independent game makers to add quirky able in the US, UK, India, Canada and Rio de Janeiro’s Federal Fluminense University Bungie Studios revered in the gaming com- a shift from stressing how Xbox is evolving or innovative new titles uniquely to their Australia. whose research focuses on Brazil’s prepara- munity for creating Halo. “Our vision is into a multipurpose entertainment center for respective consoles. “This is our first foray into this, especially tions for the World Cup and Olympics.