Telstra unveils nowwearetalking's successor: Telstra Exchange

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 03:31

IT Industry - Strategy

It seems that its use by Telstra to promote its viewpoints will be quarantined into a separate section, Telstra Now, one of two main sub sections of the site along with Viewpoint.

Telstra Now is "where you can find news about Telstra and discussions that our people lead about all aspects of our business, its impact on communities and relationships, and the possibilities our networks and technology creates.

Viewpoint will feature "blogs about technology from every view. It covers industry issues, trends and themed topics like technology and social norms, user tips and examples of how we incorporate communications technology in everyday life.

The site presently lists a number of bloggers including Thodey and David Quilty, GMD public policy and communications - successor to Phil Burgess who was responsible for the creation of NWAT. However these bloggers post to both sections, according to subject matter.

Nowwearetalking was launched in December 2005,  ostensibly with objectives not dissimilar to those of Telstra Exchange - it promised to "better inform and engage Australian consumers in the debate about the importance of telecommunications to their lives and the national economy."

The reality turned out to be very different, and the site quickly gained a reputation for vitriol and xenophobia (against Optus as a Singapore owned company). It was summarily shut down in September 2009 after David Thodey become CEO.