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Quick Jump Menu to this Issue’s ArticlesNovember 11th, 2004 OverviewA Gateway to Faster IPTV Deployments?:Content Protection Is a Must-Have:
THE VIODI VIEW
by Ken Pyle ([email protected]), Viodi, LLC
In this Issue: Gateway, TelcoTV, ISP to Emulate & More……..
November 11, 2004 Issue
- My Unexpected Trip to Next Week’s TelcoTV
- A Gateway to Faster IPTV Deployments?
- Content Protection Is a Must-Have
- Speakeasy – An ISP to Emulate; Listen for Yourself
- A Western Show Replacement?
- Thank You Veterans
- The Korner – An Eyeful
The last class I needed to graduate from college was one on comparative religions. The one thing I remember from that class was a Confucian story about a young man who realized his dream of owning a horse. Unfortunately for the young man, his riding skills could have been better and he soon found himself with a broken leg. In the end, the broken leg was a blessing in disguise, as when the army came to conscript the young man for service, he could not go because of his disability. To read what my butchered version of this story has to do with next week’s TelcoTV, please skip to the rest of the story located in the Korner.
My Unexpected Trip to Next Week’s TelcoTV
I am excited to be going to TelcoTV next week in Orlando, as I did not think I would have the chance to go this year. The TelcoTV conference was the catalyst for the launching of the Viodi View two years ago. The buzz at that conference harkened back to the boom times and was an indicator of the ever-increasing telco activity in the delivery of video and other sorts of content. Since then, TelcoTV has tripled in size and more than 1,100 people are expected to attend this year’s event. With 56 speakers, TelcoTV is addressing virtually every topic associated with telcos moving into video. Additionally, over 100 vendors, all focused on the telco video space, will be exhibiting at this three day event.
A Gateway to Faster IPTV Deployments?
I looking forward to perusing the exhibit floor and seeing some of the innovations offered up by the supplier community. Tandberg, Latens and Entone are three vendors that will be using the show to make announcements. I had a chance to sit down with Steve McKay of Entone a few weeks ago and discuss the debut of their long-awaited Hydra set-top box. To learn why this is significant for independent telcos, please click here.
Content Protection Is a Must-Have
Latens is using TelcoTV as their official U.S. coming out party. This software-based content protection company actually made a bit of a splash today through NTCA’s webinar. Yours truly spoke to the need for content protection, while Andy Matheison of Latens described how two-way broadband networks have a huge security advantage over traditional satellite networks. Click here to get breaking coverage of this event.
IP Telecom 04 Recordings:
I still have not written my notes from the IP Video @ Teleom 04 show. So, if you want to hear first-hand what you missed, drop Sean Sullivan an email to purchase these recordings, please email Sean Sullivan at [email protected]. Pricing is only $49 for USTA members who attended the conference and $79 for all others who attended the conference. Pricing for USTA members and non-USTA members who did not attend the conference is $69 and $99, respectively.
Speakeasy – An ISP to Emulate; Listen for Yourself
I noticed in a few publications yesterday that Speakeasy is going to be testing WiMAX in their downtown Seattle service area. For those not in the know, Speakeasy is a successful, mostly large market, ISP with roots as an Internet cafe. Coming from that background, they have some pretty interesting approaches to gaining and retaining new customers. A double play of voice and high-speed Internet is already part of their offering and Mike Apgar, the Chairman and co-founder, mentioned at NTCA’s 2003 wireless conference that they were also looking at some innovative ways to offer video.
The folks at Speakeasy have some good ideas that could work for independent telcos, especially as they deploy edge-out competitive approaches. If you want to hear some of these ideas, I highly recommend viewing the CD-ROM from NTCA’s 2003 IOC Wireless Symposium. Even though this CD-ROM is a year old, Mike Agpar has some timeless gems with regards to providing ISP services in a highly competitive market. Go to the NTCA web site by clicking here, if you are interested in purchasing this CD-ROM.
As faithful readers of the Viodi View know, the former Western Cable Show holds a special place in my heart. Always, held the week after Thanksgiving, it was a great way to usher in the holiday season. Alas the Western Show is gone, but CED magazine is making a stab at creating an online replacement for the Western Show.
They have lined up some good speakers and moderators to address tracks on voice, data, on-demand and the distribution of content within the home. There apparently will even be some sort of exhibitor floor. The price is right [free] and there is no travel involved. The only things missing will be the receptions, the raucous parties and the stimulating conversations with old and new friends. To learn more, click here.
I would be remiss if I published the Viodi View on Veteran’s Day and did not write a word of thanks for the men and women who sacrificed their time, bodies and, too often, lives, so that I could live a relative life of comfort. My Uncle Cliff, who was lost in the jungles of World War II South Pacific, often comes to mind when I think of the sacrifices the Veteran makes. And, unfortunately, Veterans have to make those same sacrifices today.
I find myself struggling for words to adequately convey my appreciation. Fortunately, my cousin Greg, a Veteran himself, gave me permission to use a song he just published, “Lay It On the Line”, which says it much better than I ever could. Please give it a listen.
So, I was excited to hear I would be on clean-up duty at my son’s grade school fun fair festival. Ok, so the real excitement was hearing that I did not have to do both food duty and clean-up. Clean-up time arrived and there were only two small sweep brooms, one big parking lot and gobs of refuse to be removed. I grabbed one of the brooms and began sweeping away.
At times, the sweeping motion put me in a zen-like state, as the broom became an extension of my own spindly arms. Most of the time, however, I kept thinking what a waste of time this was and how much more efficient it would be if I just had my power blower. I even considered the radical thought that I should have paid some teenage kids to do my volunteer work.
The next day, I woke up and went about penning the previous issue of the Viodi View. I noticed dryness in my eye, but did not give it much thought. By the next day, however, my eye was red, watering, and sore. I figured I must have caught pink eye from one of the thousands of kids at the Fun Fair.
At my wife’s urging, I made the track to the emergency room. The doctor quickly diagnosed it as a splinter. Just like one would do for a splinter, he took a needle and scrapped it out [he did use a topical anesthetic]. Unfortunately, the doctor didn’t get the entire splinter and he insisted that I see an ophthalmologist as soon as possible.
The ophthalmologist immediately identified that a piece of metal was embedded in the cornea and that rust was already starting to spread. We determined that the metal was thrust into my eye from my vigorous sweeping [did I mention I wasn’t wearing goggles when I was sweeping]. Apparently, this is a pretty common way to injure an eye. The doctor effortlessly removed the piece of metal in less than a minute. The surgery was fine, but I literally fainted after he told me I could not travel for a couple of weeks.
Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed, as I had pretty firm travel plans. Then, I realized that I could arrange my new travel schedule such that I could drop by TelcoTV. More importantly, the doctor did a great job and my eye is back to normal. The point is that what seemed to be a very bad story, turned into a happy-ending much like the young man whose broken leg prevented him from being conscripted.
And I learned a couple of valuable lessons along the way; 1) Always wear goggles when sweeping, 2) Make sure the proper tools are available for cleaning up next year’s Family Fun Fair.
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This is a bit of our continuing experiment to help match jobs with Viodi View readers. .
Marketing and Sales Manager with demonstrated success in selling products and services in the fields of semiconductors, communications, and consumer products. Entrepreneurial approach to launching new products and implementing business development programs. Previous employers were Alcatel, Motorola, and GTE. Marc Hornacek, 512-231-0039, [email protected]
Another opportunity is for an ad sales position. Actually, this will be more of a partnership as opposed to a job as it is a ground floor opportunity and the company is looking for someone who is willing to work on 100% commission, at least initially. Interested parties can send an email to [email protected].
From the CD “Friends. you know who you aren’t”. By Greg Talbert. Available January 2005 at CDBABY.COM
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