THE VIODI VIEW
In this Issue: Anniversary, Multimedia Home, DSL Challenges, Clever Promo
November 18th, 2003 Issue
Couldn't Make the Conference?
A Year of News and Views Regarding Video and Independent Telcos:
This month marks the first year anniversary of the Viodi View. During the nine month incubation period before the first publication, I often wondered if there would be enough material to fill a monthly online newsletter that dealt with content and the independent telephone company. Sixty nine articles, sixteen online issues and two print issues later, lack of content has not been a problem. In fact, in this issue, there are more news and views than space and time permit.
Fortunately, there will be another issue in two weeks, when I will get to mention some of the cool things I heard about TelcoTV and provide more detail about Viodi’s iTVcc that was held in conjunction with USTA’s Telecom03. In the coming months, look for some changes to the Viodi View as it evolves into something more useful for independent telcos and provides more timely and concentrated news and views.
The focus will continue to be on independent telcos, but we have found that what is of interest to independent telcos is also of interest to other carriers, large, small, U.S. or international. I have been very thrilled with the number of registrations from around the world. Thank you for your support, encouragement and feedback. And please feel free to forward the Viodi View to anyone you know who might be interested in receiving the Viodi View!
The Multimedia Home –Coming Soon to a Home Near You :
I had my first opportunity to attend a Parks Associates conference a few weeks ago and came away impressed with Parks Associates ability to pull together a first class presentation that mixed their primary research with speakers who are on the cutting edge of advances in home multimedia technology. This should not be a surprise, as Parks Associates studies consumers and what motivates them to adopt new technology.
The presentations I saw gave a glimpse of the future with regards to how multimedia integrates into the modern home and, in my case, the not-so-modern home. This was a useful conference for any telecom provider. If you could not be there, please click here to read some of my observations
One Way to Sell a Complex Technology:
Digital Media Adaptor (DMA) is techno-jargon that, I suspect, is new to most telecom people and is very foreign to the average consumer. In a nutshell, the Digital Media Adaptor allows video, picture and/or audio files to be played from the PC, but viewed or listened to on a standard piece of consumer electronics (e.g. a television, stereo, etc.). It is difficult to explain the benefits of something like this and why a consumer would need or want this capability. Click here to read how one company is cutting through the jargon and selling the benefits of this new technology.
One Utility's Crash, Another Utility's Gain:
The fallout from the California electricity crisis from a few years ago seems to afflict my idyllic suburban San Jose neighborhood every few months. For unknown reasons, my block will lose power for five hours at a time. So, last week I left the home office for a few hours to have lunch with a friend from SBC and returned to a black out on my street.
When the power was finally up, DSL was down. The process of restoring DSL gave SBC a chance to demonstrate excellent customer service and it made me reflect a little on the challenges telcos have introducing complicated new technologies to their customers. Click here to read how this experience and SBC's handling of it taught me some lessons that are applicable to all telcos deploying complex technology.
Is It a Product Or Just Good Marketing?
I produced a video last week that discusses the opportunity for Independent Telcos to work with local organizations, particularly churches, in the creation of community-specific content. This video will debut soon in an upcoming newsletter. I was discussing this video with a friend from a mid-western telco and he told me of an innovative thing they are doing with their local churches and their existing telco network. Club Viodi members can read the common sense service this independent telco is providing by clicking here.
Clever Promotional Trick:
The Telecom03 show was a great success, as evidenced by the more than 2,500 attendees and the packed exhibition hall. The marketing wizards at Paradyne came up with a clever trick that pulled people into their booth, while, at the same time, spreading their message throughout the tradeshow floor. The lure they used to get people to their booth was a give-away in the form of a Zenith HDTV.
The trick was that in order to win this grand prize, one had to stop by Paradyne’s booth on the first day of the show and pick up a bright red, Paradyne polo shirt. In order to win the prize, one had to wear the Paradyne polo shirt on the day of the drawing. Needless to say, there were quite a few people donning Paradyne’s duds at Telecom03. Apparently, they used this trick again with great success at last week’s TelcoTV show. I guess one could say that instead of losing your shirt in Vegas, Paradyne helps you win a shirt (sorry about that one, I am in obvious need of an editor).
The Korner:
An interesting poll by Money Magazine earlier this month listed the top 50 “most fun” cities. The heartland’s very own Minneapolis ranked number one. As the self-proclaimed and unofficial ambassador for my home town, San Jose, I am pretty proud as we took third place behind Minneapolis and Orange County, CA. This same poll listed New Orleans as last at number 50. Of course, everyone who has been to New Orleans for a telecom convention knows what a laid-back, wallflower town New Orleans can be….
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Mission of the Viodi View:
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 on Viodi's efforts to unite the independent telephone company's interactive television efforts, please send an email to [email protected].
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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.
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