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Click to Watch the Video<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Peace on Earth, Quick Jump Menu to this Issue’s ArticlesDecember 15, 2004 OverviewPre-Holiday ExpoThe Video Phone Is HereLast Minute Shopping Ideas <\/p>\n THE VIODI VIEW<\/b><\/p>\n by Ken Pyle (ken.pyle@viodi.com),<\/strong> Viodi, LLC<\/a><\/p>\n In this Issue: Video Phone Demo, Garfield, Gaming & More…<\/em><\/b><\/p>\n December 15, 2004 Issue<\/strong><\/p>\n Subscribe to Viodi View<\/a><\/p>\n Privacy Policy<\/a><\/p>\n Previous Issue<\/a><\/p>\n Current Issue<\/a><\/p>\n Next Article<\/a><\/p>\n The holidaze<\/strong> are normally a slow time for business activities and a manic time for shopping and holiday parties. This year, business seems to be busier than ever and, as much as I would like to, I find it impossible to share, in person, the spirit <\/strong>of the holidays with all of my far-flung friends<\/strong>. Ok, so it sounds like I am making excuses for failing, yet again, to send physical Christmas cards. So, please allow me to use this issue of the Viodi View to extend my sincerest wishes for a joyous holiday season<\/strong> to you and your loved ones.<\/p>\n Late Breaking News:<\/strong><\/p>\n Two articles in the 12\/15 issue of the San Jose Mercury. The first article<\/strong><\/a> debunks<\/strong> an email that is going around that suggests cell phone numbers<\/strong> are going to be given to telemarketers <\/strong>on January 1st, 2005. The other article <\/a><\/strong>highlights a California vineyard that is using a network of self-healing, wireless remote sensors to detect things such as moisture, fungus, and temperature. The upshot is the farmer is more efficient in the use of chemicals and water. <\/p>\n Pre-Holiday Video Expo<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n And make sure you get plenty of video recordings of the holiday celebrations. Having gone to last week\u2019s DV West Expo in Los Angeles, I found all sorts of interesting ways to record holiday memories. Admittedly, most of the products found at this show are not for the average consumer. This is the type of show<\/strong> that needs to be on the radar screen of any telco<\/strong> that is considering the addition of video services. Although this show deals with the production side of video, it also provides some leading indicators<\/strong> as to the direction of video, especially as it relates to high definition<\/strong>. Click here<\/a><\/strong> to learn more.<\/p>\n The Video Phone Is Here!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The DV West Expo, with its displays of sophisticated, yet cost-effective equipment, is an indicator of that video is quickly becoming a mass production media. Another tool that has the potential to allow the masses to produce video is the 8×8, Inc. (Packet 8), DV 326 video telephone<\/strong>. After 40 years, video telephony may finally have arrived. The DV 326 is the latest in a line of 8×8 video telephones dating back to the early 1990s. This time, the market may be ready, as there are competing products from WorldGate\/Motorola (Ojo)<\/strong> and the just-announced partnership between Vonage and Viseon<\/strong>. Click here<\/a><\/strong> and you will get to see and hear a recording of the Packet 8 service, which also happens to be my video interview <\/strong>with Bryan Martin, 8×8\u2019s Chairman<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Buried Legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n In the last issue<\/strong><\/a> of the Viodi View, there were a couple of brief mentions of FCC Orders<\/strong> that bear close watching. Well, one of the concerns is deferred for awhile thanks to some language buried in some recent legislation. Robert Primosch of Wilkinson, Barker and Knauer, LLP <\/strong>was kind enough to send this note that describes some of the recent events:<\/p>\n \u201cCongress recently passed legislation extending the statutory compulsory license that permits DBS to import distant network stations into “white areas” in local markets. While much of the publicity about the bill has focused on its impact on DTV, there is a provision buried deep in the legislation that extends the statutory ban on exclusive retransmission consent contracts<\/strong> from January 1, 2006 to January 1, 2010.<\/strong> The same extension applies to the broadcaster’s statutory obligation to negotiate retransmission consent in good faith. The legislation is dense and covers a variety of additional subjects that are relevant to any rural telco who is providing multichannel video service.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Thanks Robert for your insight on these important issues.<\/p>\n Funny Pages Follow Up<\/strong><\/p>\n A couple of months in the Viodi View, we had a brief article<\/strong><\/a> regarding how Hancock Telecom<\/strong> was using the character Garfield<\/strong> to help position themselves as more than just a telephone company. Well, I could not report it then, but it is now official that Garfield is available as a spokescat<\/strong> for NTCA member companies. NTCA<\/strong> had a webinar briefing yesterday on their joint marketing program with the company behind Garfield, Paws, Incorporated<\/strong>.<\/p>\n NTCA\u2019s webinar featured Jim Davis<\/strong>, the creator of Garfield, who explained the benefits of using this well recognized feline as a way of extending and enhancing an independent telcos\u2019 brand<\/strong>. With 55 employees, Paws, Inc. is a marketing machine, having licensed Garfield to over 800 companies. Garfield is read by over 260 million people daily. NTCA has negotiated a deal with Paws, whereby NTCA members essentially get access to standardized Garfield marketing materials for effectively a fixed price per year.<\/p>\n Telcos also have the chance to participate in the \u201cProfessor Garfield\u201d web site, which is an interactive learning site for kids. This site will feature a section on 911 safety, which is designed specifically for telcos and their customers. Stephanie List<\/strong> of Hancock Telecom, suggested that this program has been a critical way of repositioning their company as provider of television services. One of the strengths of an established brand, like Garfield, is that it helps the telco brand rise above the marketing message clutter. <\/strong><\/p>\n Herding Bison \u2013 Interactive Game Launch @ MTS<\/strong><\/p>\n While we are on the subject of cats and branding, Iacta<\/strong>\u2019s game \u201cHerding Cats<\/strong>\u201d has just been customized for MTS\u2019s<\/strong> use in Manitoba. MTS licensed games from Iacta for use on their Motorola\/Next Level platform<\/strong>. These thin-client games were originally developed for Microsoft\u2019s Web TV efforts and feature attributes such as video picture in game. In addition to porting their existing games, Iacta modified the characters in \u201cHerding Cats\u201d from cats to bison <\/strong>to reflect MTS\u2019 mascot. What is amazing is that these games work on a low-cost web server<\/strong> and do not require additional middleware. Look for more announcements from Iacta in the near-future.<\/p>\n Competition from All Directions<\/strong><\/p>\n Being able to differentiate and build a strong brand that is associated, in some way, with entertainment will be critical to independent telcos, as competition will increasingly come from all directions. The latest evidence of potential competition comes from Chungwa Telecom Global<\/strong>, the largest Taiwanese telecommunications provider. Chungwa just announced a deal whereby they will use Infogate middleware <\/strong>to deliver streaming and downloadable videos<\/strong> to Asian Indians <\/strong>living in the United States.<\/strong> The movies will be provided by MarsOne<\/strong>, a San Jose company, which claims to have licenses to 5,000 hours of content including Indian movies, sitcoms, and edutainment titles. Talk about confusing, but that\u2019s what competition is sometimes.<\/p>\n MSO? – Multimedia Search Opportunity<\/strong><\/p>\n Thanks to the last issue of the Viodi View, I had a chance to catch up with a friend and former colleague from my Raynet <\/strong>days, Fares Nassar<\/strong>. Fares always impressed<\/strong> me<\/strong> as someone with entrepreneurial talent. Over the years, he has proven to be quite successful in his native country of Brazil, where he has connected U.S. technology companies with local telco and CATV clients, generating multimillion dollars in business for the US firms.<\/p>\n He and his team have also been busy developing some interesting products that have been patented and proven in Brazil and are ready for deployment in the United States. His group has developed www.justoaqui.com.br<\/strong><\/a>, a multimedia portal,<\/strong> and guide<\/strong> which combines the attributes of a search engine<\/strong>, a blog <\/strong>and content creation<\/strong>, as well as some pretty effective viral<\/strong> marketing tools such as a proprietary cartoon maker. The justoaqui service is used by most large ISPs in Brazil, including Microsoft Network Brazil<\/strong> which uses it as a local multimedia guide. Justoaqui receives over 3 million <\/strong>page views per month.<\/p>\n They are bringing this service to the United States and have engaged Viodi to help them in their quest for partners. From what I have seen of their product, it could be an interesting play for any entity that wants to create a richer <\/strong>and stickier<\/strong> multimedia web presence, market to special interest groups such as the US Hispanic community<\/strong>, and\/or expand overseas<\/strong>. If this is of interest, please contact us at justoaqui@viodi.com<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Last Minute Shopping Ideas<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n As part of our service to our readership, we hope to make the holiday shopping season a bit less stressful this year by providing some unique gift ideas<\/strong> that you will find nowhere else. From music to a day with me, click here <\/a><\/strong>to find some things you probably will not find at your run of the mill, big-box retailer.<\/p>\n The Korner \u2013 Santa Claus is Coming to the Viodi View<\/strong><\/p>\n With the advent of the Internet, I don\u2019t find myself getting out to the mall too often \u2013 pretty ironic, considering one of the largest malls in Northern California is less than a mile away. In fact, I do not think my wife and I have ever taken our kids to the mall to sit on Santa\u2019s lap. So, when I saw what Packet 8 was doing for kids in children\u2019s hospitals<\/strong>, I thought this would be a good way to experience Santa without leaving home.<\/p>\n Seriously, what Packet 8 is doing is a good gesture of Christmas spirit.<\/strong> They have provided a service whereby kids in children\u2019s hospitals can phone Santa<\/strong> on a special phone number. What makes it special is that the Packet 8 video phones allow the children to see Santa and Santa to see the children.<\/p>\n Reading a sterile press release is one thing, but to actually experience<\/strong> a phone call with Santa, especially through the eyes of a five year old<\/strong>, is something exciting and a bit magical<\/strong>. I expected the conversation with Santa would consist of Santa asking my son what he wanted for Christmas and would last no more than a minute. I was wrong, as this Santa was actually pretty entertaining. In fact, I got so caught up in the moment that I forgot to hit the record button until about five minutes into the phone call.<\/p>\n What you will see is an eleven minute conversation edited down to three minutes. In the video, you will see Santa and Charlie playing \u201cSanta says<\/strong>\u201d and \u201cfind the cranberries<\/strong>\u201d, singing Jingle Bells<\/strong><\/em> and conversing with Santa\u2019s stuffed dog. Their antics really test the performance of the Packet 8 service. As you will see in the opening sequence, the upstream and downstream bit rates are set for only 128 kb\/s<\/strong>. It is also important to note that the video is encoded a second time with Windows Media at 256 kb\/s.<\/p>\n To see our video conversation with Santa<\/strong>, please click here<\/a><\/strong>. To learn more about the Packet 8 video telephony service, please see this month\u2019s video interview<\/strong><\/a> with Bryan Martin.<\/p>\n Finally, kudos and thanks<\/strong> to the folks at Packet 8<\/strong> for finding a way to bring some joy into the lives of some ill children.<\/p>\n Next Article<\/a><\/p>\n Back to Top<\/a><\/p>\n Previous Issue<\/a><\/p>\n Interested in Sponsoring the Viodi View? Send an email to:sponsor@viodi.com<\/strong><\/p>\n Please forward<\/strong> this free publication to anyone you know who is involved in some way with independent telephone companies.<\/p>\n Mission of the Viodi View:<\/p>\n 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\/<\/a><\/p>\n Disclaimer:<\/p>\n The Viodi View [Viodi, LLC] and its associates used their best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein. However, the Viodi View [Viodi, LLC] does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident, or other causes.<\/p>\n Click Here to Subscribe<\/a><\/p>\n To Unsubscribe, please send an email to: unsubscribeviodiview@viodi.com<\/strong><\/p>\n All displayed trademarks, logos and service marks are the property of their respective owners. \u00a9 2004 Viodi, LLC<\/a>. All Rights Reserved. 5255 Stevens Creek, #127 Santa Clara, CA 95051 <\/p>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Click Here<\/a><\/strong> to read & view the interview with Bryan Martin. <\/p>\n \n \n \n![\"Peace](\"http:\/\/www.viodi.com\/newsletter\/041200\/family-thumb.gif\")
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