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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 6th, 2007
Click here to learn about Viodi's Local Content Workshops
By Ken Pyle, ken.pyle at viodi.com, Managing Editor, Viodi View
Travel can be a real pain, especially if there are no friends or family at your destination. Fortunately, I was lucky to have the folks from Melrose Telephone waiting for me at the other end of this trip. When Jeanne Wilber of Melrose Telephone told me that her boss had called me her “partner in crime”, I took it as a compliment and suggested that she reminded me of one of my sisters. Given how family members tease each other, it was not too surprising when, at the MTA Video Symposium, Jeanne suggested that, “You could hear Ken pass wind from back there.” |
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MTA’s Video Symposium – A Timely Overview of the Business Challenges of Telco Video
To put this context, Jeanne was speaking of the sensitivity of a particular type of microphone and illustrating how it could pick up noises in the back of the room, where I happened to be sitting.* Other speakers at the MTA Symposium included David Lepek of Digital TV Solutions who discussed content and programming. JSI’s Terry Granison covered the shifting (or is it shifty) regulatory environment surrounding video, while Lana Eccles of Hickory Tech discussed how to create a compelling video product offering. Jeanne Wilber provided an excellent overview of the challenges and opportunities surrounding local content. Click here to read more about MTA’s event.
Our Local Content Workshop in Melrose, MN proved to be a fun and, hopefully, productive time for all of those involved. Jeanne Wilber and her colleagues at diversiCOM/Melrose Telephone were gracious hosts. They have done a great job of working with their community to create fresh content that is relevant to their customers. This video attempts to capture the essence of what they and other independent telcos around the country are doing with local content. |
Thanks again to datavideo for the use of their video production equipment at NAB 2007 Check out their website for equipment that can help with your local content needs. |
Book Review – The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers
IP (Intellectual Property, not Internet Protocol) is the most important element to television or any other kind of media. Thomas Crowell’s book, The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers is a must-read for any telco offering video services. Although his book is fundamentally about what producer’s need to do to ensure they own all of the intellectual property surrounding their film production, it provides a good overview of the content business for those who in some way may have a tertiary involvement in a film’s distribution. Click here to read the full review.
Inspiration from the Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers
Reading The Pocket Lawyer for Filmmakers inspired a couple of thoughts as to what independent telcos should be doing concerning Local Content, which they probably are not doing today. Club Viodi members can read these thoughts in the rest of this post by clicking here.
The Surface Computer – Just Scratching the Surface?
Microsoft’s announcement of their Surface computer last week caused a bit of buzz. Reading about it just touches the surface of the things it can do. This is one case, where video is much more powerful than the written word. The Surface computer, when combined with Microsoft’s robotic vision could lead to a revolution bigger than the PC. Watch this video to get a glimpse of this vision. |
Just Below the Surface – The Motivation Behind This Video
Computers and robotics are generally beyond the scope of the Viodi View, unless there is some independent telco angle. Club Viodi members can click here to read why the motivation for producing this video should be of interest.
IMS Update: FMC, SIP Interoperability, ATCA, and AIN by Alan J. Weissberger
In our last article, we noted that fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) is one of the big drivers for IMS. Recall that IMS is designed to deliver ubiquitous IP multimedia telecommunication services to any user, connected through any device, across any access network (fixed wireless/wireline or mobile). However, a recent Yankee Group Survey indicates that large enterprises are still cautious about the viability of FMC. Click here to read the rest of the article (PDF Format).
Convergence Continues – 8x8 & Microsoft’s Outlook, Communigate & Adobe
As discussed a few issues ago, Google, Microsoft and Adobe are increasingly crowding into each other’s respective spaces either by design or by the pull of the market. For instance, 8x8, Inc. announced new features to their small business Voice Over IP offering which include, Overhead Paging, Toll Free Fax Numbers and integration with Microsoft Outlook. This last feature allows subscribers to place and receive calls through their Microsoft Outlook email client. Subscribers can see who is calling through the display of “screen pops” that contain the caller’s contact information.
Meanwhile, Adobe is increasingly going up head to head with Microsoft. Communigate announced a communications suite, based on Adobe’s Flash and Flex 2 technology, which promises to integrate communications and multimedia applications via multiple devices, such as computers, cell phones, personal digital assistants and IPTV set-tops. This approach promises the fabled Fixed-Mobile Convergence, as users will be able to access their data regardless of where they are and what device they are using. The target for their solution is service providers and it could gain some favor, as service providers such as SureWest are doing similar things as evidenced by their adoption of the Open Laszlo apporach.
Wireless Telecom Forecast – Bear or Bull?- by Alan J. Weissberger
While TIA's telecom forecast is extremely bullish, the WSJ is much less optimistic. In a June 4th article entitled " Musical Chairs for EU Telecoms (As Growth Slows, Carriers
May Shuffle Patchwork Assets to Buoy Profit)," the Journal noted that revenue in telecom services across Europe grew less than 3% last year, according to Idate Consulting & Research. As a result, European telcos are scrambling to come up with strategies to cope with the slower growth. Acquisitions and spin-offs of foreign assets are being considered, according to the article.
The Carterphone Argument for Open Wireless Network
This article by Tim Wu, originally published in Forbes, argues that cellular and wireless networks need the equivalent of the 1968 Carterphone decision that decoupled telephone devices from the network. It has been argued that this decision opened up innovation and competition and Wu argues the same thing could occur in the wireless domain and suggests that this be a requirement for spectrum winners of the upcoming 700 MHz auction.
The question, for another article, is has anyone at the FCC looked at the value of an auction versus the value in keeping this spectrum for the public’s use via an unlicensed mechanism as is done in the 2.4 and 5.8 GHz range
These articles and content are exclusive to independent telcos that are members of Club Viodi.
| Date(s) | Event |
| 6/11-14 | Digital Hollywood in Santa Monica. Always a good event for seeing new things and meeting interesting people. Digital Hollywood also has an interesting program set up at NXTComm, June 18 to 21st. |
| 6/27-28 | Webvideo Summit 2007 looks like it will be good, as Dave Burstein is involved in putting together the agenda for this conference here in San Jose . It has an impressive list of speakers and our very own Roger Bindl will be speaking on the topic of creating content for the web. I will be moderating a panel as well. Independent telcos, contact me if you are going to this event. |
| 6/28-29 |  |
| 7/5, 7/19 | Local Content Workshops in Texas, Alaska and Oregon, respectively. The Oregon date is to be determined. We are also looking at other locations for this summer as well, so any feedback as to where and when we should hold future workshops is appreciated. |
| 7/14-18 | OPASTCO's Summer Convention in Alaska - Forging a New Frontier. This is a must-attend event for anyone interested in meeting with executives from independent telcos. Roger and I will be producing ViodiTV at this event. |
| 7/17 | With keynotes from Google and Sling Media, S2 Data's Internet TV Technology Conference looks like it will provide the latest on cutting edge services, |
| 9/10 | The Fierce IPTV Evolution looks to be like an interesting event. I am looking forward to moderating a panel of independent telcos who will share their IPTV experiences at this conference, which is co-located with the Internet Telephony Conference & Expo.. |
If you are not on the list, check out Abelisms from John Abel of Lightbulb Communications. This newsletter provides his unique and sage perspective on technology. In the latest issue, he discusses Network DVRs and the future political hot potato, the February 2009 transition to broadcast Digital Television.
David Lepak, formerly of 4Com has started a new venture, Digital TV Solutions. He is continuing to help people with their programming and content needs and wants to create a clearinghouse of sorts between programmers and independent telcos.
Ron Jeffries of Occam Networks has started a new blog dedicated to of all things – Palm’s new Foleo. This Foleo is an interesting device that is sort of a hybrid between a lap-top and a PDA.
Google Versus the Hospitality Industry?
One of the more fun demonstrations at NAB 2007 was a demonstration of a 3D world from a company called Immersive Media. Using their technology, I was able to take a virtual tour through a Florida community that had been devastated by a hurricane. Immersive Media has been driving around the country side in a souped up Beetle filming cities near you (or soon to be near you), so that Google can now provide street views of your local bergs on their Google Maps (Ken’s former condo complex). Click here to read the rest of this post. |
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The Korner - Thinking Is Not Yet the Best Way to Travel
I am convinced that someday, virtual travel will be a way for anyone to inexpensively go anywhere at anytime. Virtual travel promises to eliminate the hassles associated with today’s travel experience. Still, it will be awhile before Google’s cameras will cover rural America and, until that happens, being there is the only way to experience the sites, smells and sounds of the country.
I was reminded of this when I was whizzing down a country road in Minnesota after visiting my Melrose friends, when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw an E/O Networks’ cabinet. Ten years ago, my dream was to be driving down a country road and happen upon an E/O Networks (where I worked) Optical Network Unit. Thus, the sight of an E/O cabinet in the wild motivated me to stop and take a picture. |
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Unfortunately, as I stepped towards the cabinet, a dog raced across the street barking and frothing at the mouth, which forced me back into the car. I never got close enough to the cabinet to verify that it was an E/O model or one of AFC’s ubiquitous units. I may never know the real identity of that cabinet, but I will not soon forget the fear I felt as Kujo came bounding towards me. Will the sanitized world of virtual travel ever be able to match the heart-pounding, exhilarating experiences we find in the real world?
[author’s note – the dog might not have been frothing, but the author felt enough fear to seek refuge in his rental car].
* some might suggest a microphone would not be necessary.
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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.