Cyberbaguioboy

Journalists covering the 2007 mid-term elections are now increasingly using wireless technology to send information back to their organizations.

I remember the first time I was using a Palm-based device that connects to a GPRS phone via Bluetooth, that felt like the future. Now, here we are using it to the fullest.

Today, I wrote a story about the Commission on Elections providing wireless fidelity access to reporters working at the Philiippine International Convention Center where the National Board of Canvassers are counting the senatorial and party list votes.

It was a relief for some reporters that wi-fi was available. No need to fax stories. No need to phone them in. No need to look for a telephone line to dial-up to our offices. It was nothing but wonderful.

Excerpt of the story I wrote for INQUIRER.net’s Infotech section:

Reporters go wireless during election coverage
By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net
Last updated 07:07pm (Mla time) 05/16/2007
MANILA, Philippines — For the first time, the Commission on Elections has provided the media with access to a wireless fidelity (wi-fi) network at the Philippine International Convention Center where the national canvassing of senatorial and party-list elections are being held.

Armed with their laptops, reporters here are relieved that they don’t have to rush to a nearby Internet cafe or suffer from slow dial-up connections.

Roy Pelovello, senate reporter for the Manila Standard Today, said the wireless Internet connection was “slow” but better than nothing.