Global-Local Database, Inc.

About Global-Local

Global-Local Database, Inc., located in Davao City, Philippines, is comprised of a team of highly competent Information Technology professionals and Computer Scientists offering software development and consulting with a wide range of software and hardware solutions. Starting as a small company doing offshore development work exclusively for Filipino clients in 1990, ConcentricLane Database launched its services to world wide clients in 1996.
Our offshore and local clients have grown significantly since then. Today, the company is actively promoting IT development in the city and is closely working with government agencies in building solutions for small-medium enterprises (SMEs) and encouraging them to automate their business processes.

Global-Local exists to provide an ever-increasing level of quality software, consultation, service and responsiveness to our customers for very reasonable costs, while creating a corporate culture that fosters respect, personal growth, responsibility and opportunities for our employees. We are uniquely committed to customer service, transparency in conducting business and the long-term nature of our business vision.

Believing in continuously investing in our skills, professionalism, capabilities and internal standards, the company strives to be the leading solution provider in the city and enable businesses to improve their processes. The goal is not only to provide solutions but to generate awareness on the advantages of computerization and new technologies available. We are equipped with the infrastructure for developing high quality applications, and experience in designing, developing, implementing and supporting enterprise-type applications as well as the expertise in Voice over IP and PC Telephony solutions.

Our services range from building custom software to complete automated business solutions so uniquely tailored that we maintain to be very competitive and effective in the corporate and high-tech startup markets. We also provide support for our custom software applications as well as the commercial applications that we are licensed to sell, as we are online 24 hours everyday on the Internet.

Global-Local Database is unique in several aspects; among them is the unparalleled ability to examine a business challenge, apply appropriate technology solutions, and effectively articulate the solution to our own teams and the customer from start to finish. We guarantee customer satisfaction as we go the “extra mile” to see that our customers know we mean business when we say we are committed to them.

Global-Local Database is an ISV Partner for Microsoft, SoutheastAsia distributor for Vertical, software partner of ID-Integration, and partner of Technology Solutions LLC.

Friendster

Friendster is an Internet social network service. The Friendster site was founded in Mountain View, California, United States by Jonathan Abrams in March 2002 and is privately owned. Friendster is based on the Circle of Friends and Web of Friends techniques for networking individuals in virtual communities and demonstrates the small world phenomenon. It currently has more than 70 million members worldwide and is mostly used in Asia. Based on Alexa, Friendster ranked 2nd most visited website in the Philippines and third party friendster-layouts.com, 16th. It is estimated that nearly 90 percent of internet users in the Philippines have Friendster accounts. David Jones, vice president for global marketing of Friendster, said that "the biggest percentage of users is from the Philippines, clocking in with 39 percent of the site's traffic."

Based on a June 16, 2003 application, Friendster was awarded a patent in 2006 for a method and apparatus for calculating, displaying and acting upon relationships in a social network. Dubbed the Web of Friends because the method combines the Circle of Friends with the Web of Contacts, the system collects descriptive data about various individuals and allows those individuals to indicate other individuals with whom they have a personal relationship. The descriptive data and the relationship data are integrated and processed to reveal the series of social relationships connecting any two individuals within a social network. The pathways connecting any two individuals can be displayed. Further, the social network itself can be displayed to any number of degrees of separation. A user of the system can determine the optimal relationship path (i.e., contact pathway) to reach desired individuals. A communications tool allows individuals in the system to be introduced (or introduce themselves) and initiate direct communication.
Based on a June 27, 2008 application, Friendster, the 7th largest website in the world and top social network in Asia, announced that its users in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines will soon be able to subscribe to Friendster Text Alerts. When launched, Users are required to register the use of Friendster Text Alerts by entering their mobile number details and selecting which mobile text alerts they wish to receive on their Friendster settings page. Users will then be able to receive text message alerts for friend requests, new messages, comments, bulletins and more or when such activity takes place within their network of friends on Friendster, they will receive an SMS text message on their mobile phone. Users will also be able to respond, share and communicate on Friendster by sending a text message to Friendster to update content on their profile, send messages, and reply to friend requests. This service is not chargeable, but users are still subject to text messaging usage fees of their telephone and wireless service provider. Although no specific dates have been given yet to launch Friendster Text Alerts but it's understood it could happen in the coming weeks.

Computer Literacy

An Important Skill
By Dawn Rosenberg McKay, About.com

As I sit here typing away on my keyboard, I realize that I am as comfortable holding a computer mouse as I am holding a pen. That wasn't always the case, though. As a high school senior taking my first class in BASIC, I marveled at the freshmen who were effortlessly creating error-free and complex programs. I did not reach that level of comfort around computers until many years later, after being exposed to them a little in college and more in graduate school. Computers have come a long way since I took that first class in BASIC and, I guess, so have I.
I was shocked and disappointed, when a college professor friend of mine told me about his students, juniors and seniors at a highly competitive university, who knew little about computers, and did not know how to retrieve an emailed file and operate a simple Windows based program. "How is that possible?" I asked. Hadn't computers been a standard part of their education — hadn't they learned reading, writing, and computing?

Why Is Computer Literacy Necessary?

There is a good chance that, if you are reading this, you have some hands-on computer experience. However, I do know many people for whom surfing the Web was their first contact with a computer. Many have not gone further than that. This is written for those people.

In most places of business, a computer is standard. In the bank they use computers to look up your account information. They use computers in the auto repair shop to assess your car. You can't find books in the library by looking in a card catalog — you must use a computerized database. Doctors' offices utilize computers to store patient information. The point is this — no matter where you find employment, there is a good chance a computer will be a basic tool you will have to use. It is in your best interests to start off computer literate. It will help you get a job and it will help you

advance in your career. Computer literacy does not mean you need to know how use every single piece of software you may encounter. It does not mean you need to know how to write programs or network computers. You just need to know some basics — how to save and open a file, how to use a word processing program, and how to send and receive email — for starters. It means having some sort of level of comfort around computers rather than a look of fear and a feeling of foreboding.

How Do I Become Computer Literate?

Basic computer courses are offered by most continuing education programs. They are usually reasonably priced and conveniently scheduled. These courses can usually be found in your local school district or community college, on evenings and weekends.
Career retraining programs often offer computer courses for free or at a low fee for those who qualify. Check with your local Labor Department Office for more information on these programs.
There are also online courses and tutorials available. You don't have a computer? Don't worry. Many public libraries allow patrons to use computers with Internet access. Here are two Web sites that offer free online courses.