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In this on-line publication, we share our analysis, opinions and direction on the interactive television news and views that we believe will be of interest and use to our friends associated directly or indirectly with independent telephone companies. For more information as to the various ways Viodi works with independent telephone companies, please go to http://www.viodi.com/alliance/
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Viodi View Newsletter – June 20th, 2007

Click here to learn about Viodi’s Local Content Workshops
By Ken Pyle, ken.pyle at viodi.com, Managing Editor, Viodi View
- Local Is Everywhere
- What Does Myths of the Tee have to do with Independent Telcos?
- Triangulation or Should It Be Polygonulation?
- Put Me In Coach……A Baseball Lesson for Independent Telco Producers
- Sample Telco Contract
- Classic Content
- Notice This!
- A National-Local Connection
- WiMAX Update: Bull and Bear Debate Part II
- Patent Trolls – A Brief Update on Acacia Research
- More Than Meets the Surface
- Move Over Google – Microsoft Does Virtual Travel
- Oh, Oh, Listen to the Web Site…..
- FIOS’ One-Millionth Customer – The Video
- People Not on the Move
- The Korner– Vote for A Better Way to San Jose
It is probably not much of a secret, but the creation of local content is a kick in the pants. The challenge is how to produce local content without breaking the bank, while still creating something compelling to watch. The financial hurdle is probably the biggest challenge and opportunity the independent telco industry faces as it moves into content ownership. There will be more musings on how to address these challenges in the coming weeks at the Club Viodi site.
Integration of local content into the fabric of an independent telco’s business is one of the keys to local content success. Because of the small size of independent telcos, it is especially important to use the process and the final product in multiple ways. This creates a sort of economy of scale that is not possible just based on audience size alone. Viodi faces the economy of scale challenge all of the time. A recent example of how we met this challenge is with this short video, Myths of the Tee.
Local Content Workshops – www.viodi.com/local
Customized Local Content Workshops – 408 551 0320
I hope that Myths of the Tee will debut at next week’s Web Video Summit. I will be moderating a panel of video training experts in this debut conference in my hometown of San Jose. The Web Video Summit will feature a plethora of video from independent Web 2.0 video producers – should be lots of fun.
What Does Myths of the Tee have to do with Independent Telcos?
Club Viodi members; click here to find out what the Myths of the Tee video has to do with independent telcos. Club Viodi articles posted since the last issue of the Viodi View include:
- What Does Myths of the Tee have to do with Independent Telcos?
- Triangulation or Should It Be Polygonulation?
- Put Me In Coach……A Baseball Lesson for Independent Telco Producers
- Sample Telco Contract
- Classic Content
- Notice This!
One of the more interesting syndication sites that stumbled across Viodi in the past few weeks is from a company called Discover Our Town. Discover Our Town is essentially a network of local content web sites. Indexed by humans, this site helps local merchants achieve a World Wide Web presence that complements other forms of marketing. Viodi is exploring how their approach might apply to independent telcos and their local content efforts. As Discover Our Town’s V.P. of Marketing, Howell Jones wrote in an email, “ When small players work together..things happen!”
WiMAX Update: Bull and Bear Debate Part II.
Alan J. Weissberger writes of the mixed signals surrounding the prospects for WiMAX in this follow-up to his article in the previous Viodi View. Of particular interest to independent telco readers, will be his reporting on Digital Bridge Communications. What is interesting about this entity, which focuses on serving rural areas, is that it funded by venture capitalists. Click here to read the rest of his article.
Patent Trolls – A Brief Update on Acacia Research
Dan Rayburn of Streaming Media penned an excellent article on what some term, “patent trolls.” These companies buy intellectual property without the intent of producing something and instead extract license fees from companies who are producing something. Click here to read more.
Steve Hawley, an avid Mac fan, pointed out that Apple’s iPhone will have an interface that is similar in concept to Microsoft’s Surface Computer (as reported on in the last issue of the Viodi View). Further, he points out that Jeff Han, formerly of NYU and founder of Perceptive Pixel, demonstrated multi-touch computing years ago.
Thanks Steve…
Move Over Google – Microsoft Does Virtual Travel
In the last issue of the Viodi View, there was an article suggesting that Google could someday be in the virtual travel business. Based on this article from Wired, it looks like Microsoft could have similar long-term plans. The amazing part of their technology is something they call Photosynth, which can takes common elements out of photos to create 3D representations. The photos can come from professional or amateur photo sharing sites; more about this sort of technology in a future issue.
Oh, Oh, Listen to the Web Site…..
The best thing that has come out of the current Web 2.0 hype is the way people now use the term “beta” to describe anything that is generally available, but has flaws and will never be finished. If I only would have known that back in my school days, my grades might have been much better if I had just put “beta” on my test results. Click here to listen to ViodiTV, thanks to a new service from a company called Odiogo.
FIOS’ One-Millionth Customer – The Video
Verizon posted a video on Revver this morning that claims to be of FIOS’ one-millionth customer. This is interesting, as today’s issue of The Morning Bridge reports that Verizon only has 348,000 video subscribers. Click here to see what might account for this discrepancy, view the video and see what things this “millionth” customer like about FIOS.
Roger Bindl will post a video report from this week’s NXT Comm by the next issue of the Viodi View. He told me of a mutual, long-time friend and Viodi View reader he was supposed to meet on Monday around 5:30 P.M. at the NXTcomm show who had a few problems on his trek to Chicago. As it turns out, our friend was so engrossed in checking his email at the airport that he missed the boarding call for his airplane. Restrictions being what they are these days, the airline would not let him on the plane.
Finally, instead of a non-stop, he settled for a connection through Las Vegas that arrived around midnight. Then, in famous Ken Pyle tradition, he tried to save a few bucks by taking the train from the Chicago airport. 30 minutes later, he is on the train, only to find delays due to construction. He finally arrived at his hotel well after two A.M.; some 8 plus hours past his original estimated time of arrival. Ah, the joys of travel.
The Korner – Vote for A Better Way to San Jose
As the sometimes self-proclaimed ambassador of San Jose, I always try to patronize my local airport, Mineta San Jose International Airport. It is the most convenient for me, as it less than 10 minutes away from my home. Additionally, it is a smaller airport, so getting in and out is much easier than San Francisco or Oakland.
When I travel, I often think about the importance of airports to economic development. It is so much more expensive to fly to cities where there is little competition. I often wonder if low-cost airlines, like affordable broadband, are the difference between a successful and a so-so regional economy. Classic economics suggest that lower transport costs reduces a source of friction making for a more efficient and robust economy.
OK, the bottom line is that I want lower fares and more choice from my local airport. Anyone flying into Silicon Valley should want the same. Thanks to the power of the Internet, you all have the chance to help provide additional choice and relatively lower prices for flying into and out of my berg. San Jose Mineta International is conducting a poll of travelers and anyone can participate in this poll by going to:

Happy Father’s Day
http://survey.sjc.org/opinio/s?s=252
According to Ed Nelson of Mineta San Jose, New York, London, Maui, Boston and Tokyo are the most popular write-in cities. Two of my write-ins were Minneapolis and Des Moines. If you have any thought that you might someday visit San Jose/Silicon Valley, then you should participate in this poll.
By the way, if you haven’t made travel plans for next week’s Web Video Summit, I highly recommend flying into Mineta San Jose International Airport.
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The Video Business Case for Independent Telcos – The Report
Viodi’s report, Video Business Case provides results to a survey of independent telcos and their business case for video. Most of the telcos that responded to the survey have figured out a way to deploy video services. This survey provides insight from the independent telcos as well as several of their Engineering firms.




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