On Wed, Nov 2, 2011 at 10:10 AM, Stephen Bain <stephen.b...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Thu, Nov 3, 2011 at 2:30 AM, Dominic McDevitt-Parks > <mcdev...@gmail.com> wrote: >> While I am impressed by everyone's ability to turn this into yet another >> discussion of the image filter, how about if we don't do that just this >> once? :-) > > Yes, this is a WMF-killing-the-other-projects conspiracy thread, not > an image filter conspiracy thread :) >
I want to address what appears to be the two main concerns here with the "Wikipedia Zero" Initiative: 1) Using this as a way to expand the reach of an "image filter" and 2) A conspiracy to push Wikipedia at the expense of the sister projects In regards to #1, although I'm somewhat aware of the discussions around the image filter, this is not affecting how we are approaching this Initiative. Not at all. In fact, if operators are willing to allow for a zero-rated (data usage free) version of Wikipedia that includes images and all, that's what we ideally want. And I will continue to push for that when partners are willing to do that. Operators, in general, are worried about taxing their networks by providing free data at all so we're trying to work with them so there is at least some way that people that can't afford data access in developing countries to be able to at least access some form of Wikipedia to start out with. We're also trying ways to do this via SMS & USSD, which also doesn't support images. The reality is that images use up more bandwidth than text so we have to work within the constraints of mobile operators. A user that wants to pay for data access can get access to full Wikipedia and the sister projects. However, as I said, we're pushing to get as much as we can with these zero-rated initiatives and if mobile carriers are willing to do a version that includes images and all, and every project, we should definitely do it. The more complete the experience, the better. In regards to #2, there is no conspiracy here. We've been quite open about this. Yes, there is more of an emphasis on Wikipedia but it goes back to WMF's prioritization of "A rising tide lifts all boats" strategy. The more interest in Wikipedia will then hopefully translate into more interest on Wikimedia in general and benefit the other projects. Therefore, pushing interest in Wikipedia doesn't take away from the sister projects, rather, it should hopefully lead to more interest in them in the future. Furthermore, the zero-rated Wikipedia initiative is focused on developing countries where people have limited or no access to the internet, so many of the projects aren't well known enough or developed enough in those native languages where operators are willing to promote them. If users from developing countries discover more ways to access Wikipedia then we're hoping that it would then be easier for them to discover the sister projects. --Kul (mobile grunt worker) _______________________________________________ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
