Wireless in the Air:

Somehow it seems appropriate that the 2005 should start with conferences regarding wireless. Obviously, wireless is not new, but coupled with digital transmission, digital signal processing and sophisticated software, it poses a disruptive threat as well as an opportunity for independent telcos of all sizes.

NTCA’s 2005 IOC Wireless Symposium was the perfect venue for independent telcos to explore how to leverage the technologies and services promised by wireless. The keynote speaker, FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, stressed the importance of wireless as a tool that can help realize universal broadband service. The more than 30 speakers provided great detail into the regulatory, technical and marketing aspects of fixed and mobile wireless as it pertains to independent telcos. I will have more about the IOC Wireless Symposium in the next issue.

I have listened to more of the conference than anyone. Viodi recorded the conference for NTCA and, as a result, I have been working feverishly to finish the post-production work on the CD-ROM, which will include the audio from the conference synchronized to the presentations.. It is very close and NTCA is taking orders for the finished product. I highly recommend this CD-ROM for any telco, regardless of whether or not they are already wireless providers. It is a great value and a great way to get a snapshot of the 2005 rural wireless industry.

I was extremely interested to compare and contrast WCAI's International Symposium and Global Business with what I had heard at the IOC Wireless Symposium. There was very little overlap in the programs of the two shows and going to both was well worth the time of anyone serious about wireless. The biggest difference between the shows was that WCA’s show definitely had more of an international flavor. The highlight for me was hearing the Chief Technical Officer of Asiacel, Iraq’s largest cell phone provider discuss how they have grown from 40,000 to 460,000 subscribers in a year’s time.

Dr. Alan Weissberger’s Take on WCAI

I will give more of my spin on this show in the next issue. In the meantime, please allow me to introduce Dr. Alan Weissberger of DCT who wrote an article for this issue of the Viodi View regarding the WCAI conference. Dr. Weissberger is a long-time industry stalwart having consulted with numerous standards bodies. Alan provides consulting services and could be a good representative for suppliers needing representation on standards bodies or assistance with product definition and direction.

SBC & Microsoft @ Digital Hollywood CES

The International Consumer Electronics Show is huge. One would need two weeks to cover this four day show and I barely had four hours. I first felt the time crunch during the panel I moderated, The Telco-Entertainment Partnership - From TV to Broadband Services. We had six panelists plus my opening comments and only an hour of time. Click here to read a few take-aways from that panel.

A Random Walk Down CES

From there, it was off to the show floor, where I had a chance to see wireless downloads of video content to personal media players located in cars and experience the 21st century version of the 1950s vibrating exercise belt. Click here to read about my random walk through CES and why the happenings at CES are becoming more and more relevant to independent telcos.

I Just Want to Fly

As usual, my modes of travel the past few weeks have been very interesting and may end up being fodder for some future Krazy Ken’s Korner. To get a preview of some of the material that will appear in the next issue, check out this press release from Pannaway. One of their customers, David Wright from Cross Telephone, will be talking at Mid-States Consultant’s BobComm event this week. I am looking forward to his insight regarding how they converted their legacy network to support bundled services, giving them a much stronger competitive edge.

Another Stealth Deal

Just across the wire, so to speak, Stealth Communications announced a deal with GigaBeam, whereby GigaBeam will be providing gigabit wireless, using licensed frequencies in the 71 to 76 or 81 to 86 GHz bands, between customer locations and Stealth network access points. The take-away from this is that Stealth Communications’ customers will be able to completely bypass the Public Switched Network and complete calls via Stealth’s Voice Peering Fabric. Stealth is now up to 4 million VoIP phone numbers in their ENUM Registry, which is up from one million last spring. These developments are indications of how much VoIP and Wireless technologies are beginning to have a significant impact on the telecom industry.

VoIP Over Non Line of Sight Radio

Reinforcing the idea of VoIP over wireless, WaveRider just announced the ability that their 900 MHz Non Line of Sight product now allows prioritized voice traffic as well as meeting other requirements such as low latency for high quality VoIP. This product seems to be targeted to independent telcos wishing to extend their service area without having to deploy a terrestrial network.

Commercial Free or Free Commercials?

Finally, click here to read an interesting press release from Cox regarding the success of their FreeZone; service that provides viewers with the chance to view long-form commercials via on-demand technology. This service is available to one million of Cox’s customers. In their pilot market in San Diego, they found that, “each unique viewer spent approximately 25.5 minutes per week viewing advertiser content.” I have many questions about their data, but the overall direction points to long-term importance of advertising to help make the business case for a multi-service capable network.

Krazy Ken's Korner: Connected Far – Disconnected Near

Winter is always a difficult time to travel with flight delays due to the uncertainty of the weather. Taking that into account, I figured 3.5 hours would be enough time to get from Phoenix to Las Vegas, given that it was a 40 minute flight and that it was almost always sunny in those locales. I certainly did not count on the two hour flight delay caused by snow in Las Vegas. It took awhile but I finally resigned myself to the idea that, at best case, I would probably get to the Digital Hollywood at CES just in time to watch the end of the panel I was supposed to be moderating. Making the best of the situation, I tried to catch up on some phone calls.

While I was in the middle of a call with a telco-friend, I heard a voice from a loud speaker asking for six standby passengers. In one move, I hung up the phone, removed my notebook computer from my lap and darted over to the newly formed line. Being the seventh person, I did not see much hope. My mind raced for options as to how I might be able to better my odds of getting onto the airplane. I thought about bribing a person to get a better place in line, but I only had ten bucks cash. So, I reverted to the tricks of my four and six year old and started to whine ever so gently about not being able to make the panel that I was so looking forward to moderating. I probably sounded pathetic, but not pathetic enough for someone to give up his seat.

I glumly headed to another counter where I was to be put on a waiting list. As luck would have it, the two people who had been in front of me were actually a group of three. The ticket agent did not want to split them up and, suddenly, there was a seat for yours truly. This seat was next to a couple of seasoned citizens who had been number three and four in the standby line.

Next something really strange happened; I did not fire up my lap-top, but, instead, actually had a conversation with this dynamic and youthful married couple of 50 years. Twenty years ago, having a conversation with someone on the airplane would be the normal thing to do. Today, however, technologies allow us effortless connection with people from across the world, while putting us in virtual physical silos that sometimes prevent us from connecting with the people that are sitting right next to us. Whether it is a personal media center, a lap-top or a cell phone, it is very easy these days to create a electronic wall that shuts out the immediate humanity while connecting us to the ever present pop culture.

This thought of how technology is pushing some of us together while pulling the rest of us apart has been bothering me a great deal lately. As both adopters and facilitators of new technology, we are all a bit accountable for the positive and negative impacts of our work. I am very interested in feedback from Viodi View readers on this subject and have started a web board, open to both members and guests, to discuss this issue:

http://www.viodi.com/cgi-bin/blah/Blah.pl?b=Societal

The other punch line to my story is the interesting conversation I had with this couple about their one room, parent participation grade school. That story is sure to stir up some different controversies and will have to wait for another time.

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