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Viodi View Newsletter – August 17th, 2005
Indie Telco Local Content Workshop Advertisement
- Fiber to the Dorm
- Cable Modem vs. DSL – What Does the Customer Think is Better?
- Predicting the Future of Telcos
- Predict This!
- We love you PEG! Or what’s the real beef?
- Other Things of Interest
- The Korner – Back to School
In the previous issue of the Viodi View, we heard Ed Moura of SoHo Wireless discuss the idea that the Internet can be treated like a utility. He was suggesting that his apartment owner clients are offering free Internet (and soon telephone and cable) as a feature, similar to how they already provide free garbage, water and natural gas service. Although, their core product is clearly the brick and mortar apartment, these landlords are finding that they must add features in order to be competitive. Their competition is coming from not only from other apartments but from low-cost financing that makes homeownership possible.
Moura is not alone in his thinking that the Internet will sometimes just be a feature on a bigger product. San Jose State University performed an interesting market survey that pointed to the importance of bundling communications services with living space as a competitive edge. This bundled product manifested itself in San Jose State’s new state-of-the-art dormitories, known as the Campus Village.
To compete with off-site housing, basic levels of telephone, cable and Internet service are included in the cost of the dormitory. Click here for more details and to see a brief video about this fiber to the dorm project that has some interesting features, such as networked washing machines and dryers.
Fiber to the Washing Machine
Click Here to Watch the Video
Cable Modem vs. DSL – What Does the Customer Think is Better?
Are cable modems perceived to be superior to DSL? According to the San Jose State University web site promoting various Internet options for their Campus Village, the answer would be yes. The basic dormitory rent includes “DSL-type Internet access.” For an extra $30 per month, one can upgrade to a “Silver Service” and receive, amongst other features, “Cable-type Internet access.” Ethernet speeds must be perceived as having the greatest value, however, as Ethernet is available as part of a $60 upgrade package. The point is that maybe a provider wants to start associating their high speed offering with Ethernet, since that seems to have the a higher perception than DSL or cable modems.
Predicting the Future of Telcos
Packaging will be critical to the success of independent telcos moving forward as the competition spreads from the familiar to the unforeseen competitor. These unforeseen competitors will come from different industries, such as retail, media or software. This was the subject of a talk I gave a few weeks ago at the TSTCI Futures Retreat in Lake Tahoe, CA.
I was extremely honored to be one of four speakers at this annual event produced for the Texas Statewide Telephone Cooperative, Inc by CHR Solutions. I felt quite a bit of pressure, as my talk followed Bob Treadway, a renowned futurist, who advises Fortune 500 companies, government and telcos as to how to plan for and develop strategy to address the future. Click here to the reads some of the gems provided by Treadway and Frank Gallagher of Investment Banker, Legg Mason.
Ok, so my future of being a futurist, like Bob Treadway, is probably not so good. Last February, I suggested that SBC purchase DISH. A week later SBC announced the AT&T deal. In the previous issue of the Viodi View, I suggested that Howard Stern could validate the TV over Internet market by bringing his VOD act to an Internet delivered television service venture. The next day, the Howard Stern-iNDEMAND deal was announced, whereby Stern’s show will be offered as a Subscription Video on Demand product through traditional cable television means.
Either of these outcomes would probably have been expected had I been using Treadway’s “cone of uncertainty”. I still believe the basic premise that a big name celebrity could jump-start the nascent TV over Internet market and move it beyond the early adopter stage by bringing recognition as well real customers.
Who will that big star be? Some names that come to mind include; Al Gore (through his Current TV effort), Rush Limbaugh, and Eminem. Or, maybe it will be some middle of the road performer like a Jimmy Buffet who could possibly extend his Radio Margaritaville to the world of television. I am curious to get your thoughts on who might be, as was put in the previous issue of the Viodi View, the Milton Berle of TV over Internet.
We love you PEG! Or what’s the real beef?
In the last issue, the Viodi View highlighted the Ensign video bill and, with this issue, Roger Bindl probes further into various franchise bills with a brief, entertaining and educational video explaining the potential impact of these bills on PEG (Public, Education and Government). The video features highlights from four bills, including the Texas bill, and excerpts from an interview with Bob Schaffer, founder and CTO of Technology Planners, as well as a brief video clip of MaryJo Howe explaining Verizon’s position on franchising.
The inaugural meeting of ATIS’ IPTV Interoperability Forum (IIF) is scheduled for September 13 and 14th in Washington D.C. The IIF is attempting to create some level of standardization and interoperability addressing all of the components and the system archicteture associated with Internet Protocol Television. This effort is long overdue and I encourage widespread participation by independent telcos to ensure that their viewpoints are heard.
It looks like the last chance to derail WaveDivison Holdings, LLC pending acquisition of Seren Innovations is by commenting to the FCC on the proposed deal. Comments to the FCC are due by August 26th and reply comments will be accepted until September 2nd. Seren Innovations represented Northern States Power’s (now Xcel Energy) late 1990s trip into the last mile telecommunications world.
Another auction that could be of interest to anyone looking for an alternative way to get to the last mile is the 12.2 GHz to 12.7 GHz bands, which could be used for providing, in FCC terminology, Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Services (“MVDDS”). The FCC is opening up 22 new MVDDS markets with their upcoming Auction 63 slated for December 7th. Some of these markets, such as Rapid City, could represent interesting opportunities for independent telcos looking to expand their footprint.
It was sort of a strange feeling walking around the San Jose State University campus that first welcomed me 25 years ago. Having not been there for several years, I was impressed with the positive changes that have been made to the grounds of this 150+ year old university. What amazed me was one of the buildings that was new 25 years ago is now dated and in the process of being refurbished.
As I glanced at the relatively new Engineering building, I couldn’t help but remember the words of the Electrical Engineering Dean whose pep talk suggested that most of us would not graduate as Engineers. For better or worse, I lived down to his expectations and was kicked out after a semester. By the time I was able to claw my way back to SJSU, there were no slots available in the Electrical Engineering department and I had to change course to the dismal science, economics.
In the back of my mind, I have always had a tinge of emptiness at not being able to complete the Electrical Engineering program. Thus, I was very tickled and pleased to be published in a newsletter associated with the ultimate engineering organization, the IEEE. The summer, 2005 IEEE Consumer Electronics newsletter includes my article on the challenges of making technology transparent, while providing benefits of the technology.
Jim Farmer, who is editor of this newsletter (as well as being CTO of Wave7Optics) wrote this tongue-in-cheek forward to my article.
“Those of us in technology know that technology is intended to make life more challenging and complex, but the average person has the mistaken opinion that technology is intended to make his or her life simpler.”
A few sentences later, Farmer expresses his real concern that technology is becoming too complex for too many consumers. Jim rightly points out to his engineer readers that they need to keep it simple, stoopid.
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The Viodi View Job board has been Viodi’s attempt at a public service for those colleagues and friends looking for work. At some point we may put a little structure around these ad-hoc efforts. In the meantime, please feel free to forward on these opportunities to someone you know who may be qualified and interested in the following opportunities.
NETCENTREX, INC.
VoIP Sales Engineer
POSITION DESCRIPTION
As a VoIP Sales Engineer, you will be responsible for assisting Sales with product capability positioning, validate customer voice/video/data
network and application requirements, perform product demonstrations, and win the confidence of prospective clients. This position supports multiple
accounts throughout the U.S. (Travel required). The Sales Engineer will have
expert knowledge of VoIP transport, applications, endpoints, Class 4 & 5
features, PBX/IP PBX integration.
email resume to [email protected]
Some Other Opportunities
Security Engineer-IPTV
Middleware Set-Top Engineer – IPTV
Encoder Engineer – IPTV
Compensation: 100K-150K(US) Base Salary + Company Bonuses and Full Relocation
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