Opinion: Conroy's filter a boon to resellers

Maybe we've been a little harsh on Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and his internet filter over the past 12 months.

Sure, it might never work, cripple net speeds, censor legitimate sites, and put us on par with China, Myanmar and Iran.

But did we ever stop to ask if the Minister for censorship was in fact doing the channel a huge favour? He is creating all sorts of business opportunities for resellers to talk to every one of their clients about how to circumvent the government's filter.

Look at this enterprising chap in Newcastle. He picked up one unlikely group of potential customers - the euthanasia lobby - and taught them how to bend their browsers around the internet filter.

OK, given that it's an audience interested in euthanasia these customers might not be around forever, but it does give us a glimpse of business opportunities for other frustrated internet searchers.

Is this the next value added service for the channel? Managed proxy services?

Imagine an Australian travel agency which specialises in romantic holidays to Japanese theme hotels. How will it book the Osaka Adonis' Hello Kitty S&M room? Hello, reseller.

And then there's the other side - companies whose websites have been unfairly banned. Let's say your customer is a company that manufactures gas bottles and is run by an American CEO called Dick Sexton-Updike.

I'm guessing that after the filter swings into action, Mr Sexton-Updike would be on the phone to his reseller in a flash, asking why customers can't see his latest blog on the LPG market.

Now that I see the filter for what it really is - a secret plan to stimulate the IT channel - I can't wait until it's up and running.

With businesses still fairly reluctant to increase their IT budget, finding the right conversation that will get your foot inside the door has been tricky.

Until now. Thank you, Minister.