1. Hiatus : A word I've always been wanting to use
2. Interregnum (thats another word) : The period from October till now was a period of transition and settling down, which is now done
3. Time : A commodity that is making its way back into my grasp
4. Leisure : the by product of a time in grasp, is finding its expression on the site again
5. Realization : Since the readers are few (rather none), article depth will be traded off for article spread, resulting in scattered quanta
Thx
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Hilarious & True
1. This deserved a dedicated post - Do read it before continuing. So much for my planned balcony venture once I move to more mountainous climes. Though the deal is not to get greedy perhaps - apparently even ripping music CDs and MP3 tracks and sharing is legal under a law called something like "Personal Fair Play" or something. So maybe the trip of a few blokes coming home on the weekend in the future is not unreal, Google Earth or not! But then again, another interesting aside is the concept that Google Earth is accepted as evidence in a court of law - is this an interesting precedent too - is Big Brother really watching us after all!
2. So Google buys YouTube, and there's this hilarious set of ideas here. The joke will be when Google makes a gazabutimitrilion dollars of one of these!
2. So Google buys YouTube, and there's this hilarious set of ideas here. The joke will be when Google makes a gazabutimitrilion dollars of one of these!
Notes on Convergence
I - The Devices
WiFi Based Stuff1. Sony integrates its MYLO marketing efforts with telcos. This is another trend of device manufacturers working with Telcos.
Mylo : A WiFi device, Music/SMS/eMails/Browsing/VOIP Talk services!
2. Coms offers WiFi handsets that seek out WiFi hotspots for message delivery or save them for later delivery when found. SIP enabled stuff.
3. Nikons WiFi Digital Camera
4. Zyxels WiFi Phone
VOIP Based Stuff
1. Auvi announces a Dual Mode Cordless Phone : VOIP + TDM, Base Station Unit connecting to PC & communicating with Cordless on DECT
Converged Devices
1. Archos : The destiny of the iPod without the phone set
II - The Services
1. BT's Fusion service : A fixed wireless convergence service
2. Lucent's top shot speaks of the need for Telco's to invest in understanding the impact of IMS
3. A variant of the Fixed-Mobile Convergence is Shozu's service offering - WiFi-Mobile convergence - the device chooses prefered routing over WiFi networks and chooses Cellular networks when the former is unavailable. When further integrated with Flickr, the device automatically enables community building
Endnotes - Industry Ramblings
1. There are three levels of convergence as per this article : Network, Terminal & Service. Quite a nice article that speaks of the implications of convergence in a real practical current situation based on technologies currently available.
implementation on the kinds of services that can be configured/offered, the delivery mechanism of these services & the new revenue streams that arise from such hosted-delivery.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Notes on WiMax/WiFi
Snippets of global implementations
1. Milpitas & San Francisco : 2 Earthlink projects, the Milpitas project is pushed by the local council, whereas the San Francisco project by Google. Hpwever it seems the Google project of SFO is running into rough waters!
2. British Telecom plans to get in the fray
3. Singapore gets underway - Government intervention to speed up through discounting is interesting. Another detailed article on the exact nature of the implementation of the Singapore Free-WiFi project.
4. Not just telcos or tech firms like Google above, but even Airlines are offering their own WiFi solutions, though the jury is out on that one - as in the case of Continental and Delta Airlines.
5. Another local government initiative in Wilson, North Carolina
6. A brilliant write up on Korea's Broadband vision by their Minister of Information and Communication. Clearly Maran has some learning to do, inspite of his brilliance! Clearly outlines the role that the state can play when it takes on its mantle of providing infrastructure for growth through large scale investment
7. Equipment vendors like Motorola & Samsung too are watching the WiMax space with interest, as it represents opportunities for their hardware implementation
8. Boston city too offering free WiFi in select areas as a government initiative. Just as the Boston government has outsourced the WiFi network creation to a the Charys Technology Group, the same could probably be done here too, where the govt. approaches a complete third party and not a Telco. This little note talks about the various players in this particular WiFi initiative - 4 different players in this case!
9. As more players enter the "Free WiFi" model seeking revenues on advertising, one of the casualties is Verilan, which has found the advertising revenue model too speculative and shut shop, thus characterizing the WiFi market as being for those with deep pockets.
10. AT&T - another free WiFi model provider for CA city, trying to beat Google and Earthlink. The ad-revenue on web page model.
11. Bangalore, MG Road - India's own failed kickstart to a free WiFi model.
Corporate implementations
1. A tyre company, Continental, implements a solution from WiFi Hotspot vendor iPass & integrator firm ETT, to offer its employees WiFi access over 62000 Hotspots.
WiFi Facts and Figures
1. Users spend on average more than 2 hours signed in to a Wi-Fi session
2. 85 percent of respondents would be willing to use a Wi-Fi network installed and supported by a major network operator, whilst only 34 percent would be willing to use an independent Wi-Fi network
3. Accessing Wi-Fi services via a laptop was the most popular method with 86 percent of respondents connecting in this way. 19 percent also accessed Wi-Fi services via a PDA
4. Hotels are the most popular choice of location for accessing Wi-Fi services, with 42 percent of respondents connecting here. Coffee shops were the second most popular with 32 percent and airports third with 29 percent : All of these from the T-Mobile commissioned study
The corresponding devices/equipment/services market
1. In the US, T-mobile has already invested in WiFi zones and needs people using this infrastructure. However adequate mobile devices have not yet proliferated that are offered in conjunction with the right plans from the telco operator. Initiatives such as MYLO from Sony will help drive adoption of WiFi more extensively
2. With all the hoopla on WiFi devices, there is however alternate 3G competing with WiFi, to provide the same benefit of Wireless Broadband that is more in line with the FMC platforms.
3. On the services front within the WiMax landscape, there exists Elitecore Technologies which provides end to end OSS/BSS services through its Crestel Convergent Billing solution.
4. Skype ties up with The Cloud, a WiFi Hotspot provider across Europe, and with an SMC Networks WiFi handset, one can make Skype calls from any of Cloud's 8500 hotspots across Europe.
5. Apple enters the telecom market, integrating a cellphone into its iPod, with a WiFi enabled device.
Going Beyond
1. P2P WiFi - If there is P2P sharing of content, why not of wireless bandwidth? Here is a device probably ahead of its time! And yet again, there are interesting revenue models possible as the world gets more WiMax'd and constant connectivity is an imperative need.
2. P2P WiFi in a different manner - French company Free opens its subscribers WiFi to other subscribers upto 64Kbps speeds. Clearly this could wipe out FON as above & also is an interesting trend - maybe the Internet Highways are truly Toll Free with their engendered commerce the only true lasting benefit.
Wimax/WiFi versus 3G/HSDPA
1. Will WiMax get the first mover advantage over Mobile networks?
2. The ABI research report briefly summarized - very briefly! It would appear that given the investments already made in cellular network towers and their immediate usability for HSDPA versus the required investments to be made for WiMax, the former technology has a distinct implementation advantage over the latter - there, I got that!
Resources
1. Wireless Broadband : A primer on the past and the implementation mechanisms, quite a thorough article.
2. Mobile / Wireless Broadband : Another wonderfully readable article on the various technologies and deployment status of each in India.
1. Milpitas & San Francisco : 2 Earthlink projects, the Milpitas project is pushed by the local council, whereas the San Francisco project by Google. Hpwever it seems the Google project of SFO is running into rough waters!
2. British Telecom plans to get in the fray
3. Singapore gets underway - Government intervention to speed up through discounting is interesting. Another detailed article on the exact nature of the implementation of the Singapore Free-WiFi project.
4. Not just telcos or tech firms like Google above, but even Airlines are offering their own WiFi solutions, though the jury is out on that one - as in the case of Continental and Delta Airlines.
5. Another local government initiative in Wilson, North Carolina
6. A brilliant write up on Korea's Broadband vision by their Minister of Information and Communication. Clearly Maran has some learning to do, inspite of his brilliance! Clearly outlines the role that the state can play when it takes on its mantle of providing infrastructure for growth through large scale investment
7. Equipment vendors like Motorola & Samsung too are watching the WiMax space with interest, as it represents opportunities for their hardware implementation
8. Boston city too offering free WiFi in select areas as a government initiative. Just as the Boston government has outsourced the WiFi network creation to a the Charys Technology Group, the same could probably be done here too, where the govt. approaches a complete third party and not a Telco. This little note talks about the various players in this particular WiFi initiative - 4 different players in this case!
9. As more players enter the "Free WiFi" model seeking revenues on advertising, one of the casualties is Verilan, which has found the advertising revenue model too speculative and shut shop, thus characterizing the WiFi market as being for those with deep pockets.
10. AT&T - another free WiFi model provider for CA city, trying to beat Google and Earthlink. The ad-revenue on web page model.
11. Bangalore, MG Road - India's own failed kickstart to a free WiFi model.
Corporate implementations
1. A tyre company, Continental, implements a solution from WiFi Hotspot vendor iPass & integrator firm ETT, to offer its employees WiFi access over 62000 Hotspots.
WiFi Facts and Figures
1. Users spend on average more than 2 hours signed in to a Wi-Fi session
2. 85 percent of respondents would be willing to use a Wi-Fi network installed and supported by a major network operator, whilst only 34 percent would be willing to use an independent Wi-Fi network
3. Accessing Wi-Fi services via a laptop was the most popular method with 86 percent of respondents connecting in this way. 19 percent also accessed Wi-Fi services via a PDA
4. Hotels are the most popular choice of location for accessing Wi-Fi services, with 42 percent of respondents connecting here. Coffee shops were the second most popular with 32 percent and airports third with 29 percent : All of these from the T-Mobile commissioned study
The corresponding devices/equipment/services market
1. In the US, T-mobile has already invested in WiFi zones and needs people using this infrastructure. However adequate mobile devices have not yet proliferated that are offered in conjunction with the right plans from the telco operator. Initiatives such as MYLO from Sony will help drive adoption of WiFi more extensively
2. With all the hoopla on WiFi devices, there is however alternate 3G competing with WiFi, to provide the same benefit of Wireless Broadband that is more in line with the FMC platforms.
3. On the services front within the WiMax landscape, there exists Elitecore Technologies which provides end to end OSS/BSS services through its Crestel Convergent Billing solution.
4. Skype ties up with The Cloud, a WiFi Hotspot provider across Europe, and with an SMC Networks WiFi handset, one can make Skype calls from any of Cloud's 8500 hotspots across Europe.
5. Apple enters the telecom market, integrating a cellphone into its iPod, with a WiFi enabled device.
Going Beyond
1. P2P WiFi - If there is P2P sharing of content, why not of wireless bandwidth? Here is a device probably ahead of its time! And yet again, there are interesting revenue models possible as the world gets more WiMax'd and constant connectivity is an imperative need.
2. P2P WiFi in a different manner - French company Free opens its subscribers WiFi to other subscribers upto 64Kbps speeds. Clearly this could wipe out FON as above & also is an interesting trend - maybe the Internet Highways are truly Toll Free with their engendered commerce the only true lasting benefit.
Wimax/WiFi versus 3G/HSDPA
1. Will WiMax get the first mover advantage over Mobile networks?
2. The ABI research report briefly summarized - very briefly! It would appear that given the investments already made in cellular network towers and their immediate usability for HSDPA versus the required investments to be made for WiMax, the former technology has a distinct implementation advantage over the latter - there, I got that!
Resources
1. Wireless Broadband : A primer on the past and the implementation mechanisms, quite a thorough article.
2. Mobile / Wireless Broadband : Another wonderfully readable article on the various technologies and deployment status of each in India.
Notes on IPTV
Drivers for IPTV Adoption in India
When the stakes are such that a 10% increase in declared subscriber numbers can shoot up the overall earnings by 400-500Cr, then the pressure on moving to a more transparent IPTV or DTH based setup. The question of curbing piracy and the potential for even more revenues from the delivery of secure digitized content is another of the factors driving the broadcast houses to investigate and push for IPTV.
Barriers to adoption
Content
One the key barriers is the availability of licensed content in a form consumable for delivery. These will require extensive discussions between Telco's and Broadcasters or Multimedia houses to enable effective content and revenue sharing models falling in place; mostly through either proven models globally or through alliances. Given the multitude of content providers, alliances would seem a restrictive option though.
Regulation
The initial attempts of TRAI were to setup the Interconnect agreements between MSOs & Broadcasters to enable a discussion and agreement on the nature of revenue share agreements. However this has not moved much and now we have the ala-carte Rs5 per channel pricing model to help kick off the IPTV revolution.
Indian Players in Operation
1. Reliance has its story setup with the Microsoft Platform based delivery. Apparently, Msft finds IPTV in India so compelling that it plans to pick up a strategic equity in RCoVL.
2. MTNL : Launches in Delhi, expects 40K Subs, offering 30+ Channels @ 125, SD = 500 + 1000, Rs 5/- per channel. Converged services, single bill by Jan 2007
Global Players - Whats happening
1. Tiscali UK does a revenue share with an existing broadcaster (Homechoice), here the broadcaster already has a Triple Play offering & Tiscali is yet to have its own.
2. T-Com sets up a user experience monitoring and tracking system - Schenik's DiversifEye technology
3. BT readies itself to deploy Vision, its IPTV service - Set top boxes by Philips, Microsoft platform. Most content tie ups are claimed to be done
Emerging technologies of convergence
In-House-Networking related
One of the challenges of IPTV will be the disparate locations of the delivery devices within the home. There are convergent solutions on this front that are being spoken, with very specific companies in this domain. However, ff solutions dont converge - offer both seems to be an option! Or so Belgacom is doing, with a BPL technology & WiFi technology to beat the in-house cabling problem!
Industry Lanscape
Conventional Software/IT/Tech companies
Home networking companies
Electronic equipment providers
Content Security Firms
1. Pixelmetrix : A company offering Testing services on IPTV content - testing also to include the conventional equivalent of RA, as in the content has been delivered or not.
Resources
1. Quite a nice link, covers breadth with little depth though, extensive breadth
2. A short summary of the research conducted by the Diffusion Group on IPTV numbers
When the stakes are such that a 10% increase in declared subscriber numbers can shoot up the overall earnings by 400-500Cr, then the pressure on moving to a more transparent IPTV or DTH based setup. The question of curbing piracy and the potential for even more revenues from the delivery of secure digitized content is another of the factors driving the broadcast houses to investigate and push for IPTV.
Barriers to adoption
Content
One the key barriers is the availability of licensed content in a form consumable for delivery. These will require extensive discussions between Telco's and Broadcasters or Multimedia houses to enable effective content and revenue sharing models falling in place; mostly through either proven models globally or through alliances. Given the multitude of content providers, alliances would seem a restrictive option though.
Regulation
The initial attempts of TRAI were to setup the Interconnect agreements between MSOs & Broadcasters to enable a discussion and agreement on the nature of revenue share agreements. However this has not moved much and now we have the ala-carte Rs5 per channel pricing model to help kick off the IPTV revolution.
Indian Players in Operation
1. Reliance has its story setup with the Microsoft Platform based delivery. Apparently, Msft finds IPTV in India so compelling that it plans to pick up a strategic equity in RCoVL.
2. MTNL : Launches in Delhi, expects 40K Subs, offering 30+ Channels @ 125, SD = 500 + 1000, Rs 5/- per channel. Converged services, single bill by Jan 2007
Global Players - Whats happening
1. Tiscali UK does a revenue share with an existing broadcaster (Homechoice), here the broadcaster already has a Triple Play offering & Tiscali is yet to have its own.
2. T-Com sets up a user experience monitoring and tracking system - Schenik's DiversifEye technology
3. BT readies itself to deploy Vision, its IPTV service - Set top boxes by Philips, Microsoft platform. Most content tie ups are claimed to be done
Emerging technologies of convergence
In-House-Networking related
One of the challenges of IPTV will be the disparate locations of the delivery devices within the home. There are convergent solutions on this front that are being spoken, with very specific companies in this domain. However, ff solutions dont converge - offer both seems to be an option! Or so Belgacom is doing, with a BPL technology & WiFi technology to beat the in-house cabling problem!
Industry Lanscape
Conventional Software/IT/Tech companies
Home networking companies
Electronic equipment providers
Content Security Firms
1. Pixelmetrix : A company offering Testing services on IPTV content - testing also to include the conventional equivalent of RA, as in the content has been delivered or not.
Resources
1. Quite a nice link, covers breadth with little depth though, extensive breadth
2. A short summary of the research conducted by the Diffusion Group on IPTV numbers
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Snippets
1. Lower tariffs in India? - Will the proposed reduction in port charges at POI's proposed by TRAI and opposed by BSNL, lead to a further reduction in tariffs given the consequent lowering of access charges?
2. Dish versus Tata Sky : A quick update on the happenings on the STBs, Cable & Sat TVs.
3. IBM : The acquisitions of this big daddy do put some other wannabe-biggies to shame! Clearly IBM is carving out territory one acquisition at a time, and at a dizzying pace!
4. Telco PSUs - "Paradigms Lost" : Now that's what you'd call a project in reduction of Access Charges. MTNL finds BSNL carriage cost of 65p expensive and goes out and floats a tender, and selects Reliance. Privatisation, did someone say? Ha! And check out Railtel's venture for setting up Cybercafes in Railway Stations, the Pune station with its 1Gbps connectivity is a shining example of PSU effectiveness!
5. New destinations in Outsourcing : As costs in India rise, Vietnam's entry into the WTO and Nam's expected IT & Telecom growth make it a candidate for outsourcing to; just as the crumbling infrastructure in India & specialized skills push BFSI's to Uruguay.
6. A short and nice case study from the courier industry (Elbee): A neat pointer to the market potential of complete communications solutions aimed at a vertical. Maybe it will be as simple as a Telco tying up with a vendor like Nortel who has the cross-platform, cross-industry domain expertise on such stuff
7. Another interesting article illustrating new emerging segments to target as communication technology advances open up new revenue opportunities and models : The vertical of Business Centers can now offer a wider range of solutions to their clientele interested in cutting their infra costs, by providing them with telecommuting solutions launched in tandem with Telcos - Now that should make the blokes at McKinsey proud as it "leverages core competencies" :D
8. New bundled products for the SME market - interesting lessons to learn from Singtel.
9. Another probable radical bundled product for call centers - Emotion detection software to enable predictive churn!
10. Cisco's efforts on providing bundled offerings to the SMB segment with nice-sounding-options like Buybacks and Leasing, to enable easy transition to investments.
11. There's a whole range of probable new applications on broadband that the government would be looking at investing in - clearly a hot sector and segment to focus on.
12. A nice article on P2P that attempts to explain why YouTube succeeded where Napster failed. Probably a question of timing, positioning & street-smartness!
2. Dish versus Tata Sky : A quick update on the happenings on the STBs, Cable & Sat TVs.
3. IBM : The acquisitions of this big daddy do put some other wannabe-biggies to shame! Clearly IBM is carving out territory one acquisition at a time, and at a dizzying pace!
4. Telco PSUs - "Paradigms Lost" : Now that's what you'd call a project in reduction of Access Charges. MTNL finds BSNL carriage cost of 65p expensive and goes out and floats a tender, and selects Reliance. Privatisation, did someone say? Ha! And check out Railtel's venture for setting up Cybercafes in Railway Stations, the Pune station with its 1Gbps connectivity is a shining example of PSU effectiveness!
5. New destinations in Outsourcing : As costs in India rise, Vietnam's entry into the WTO and Nam's expected IT & Telecom growth make it a candidate for outsourcing to; just as the crumbling infrastructure in India & specialized skills push BFSI's to Uruguay.
6. A short and nice case study from the courier industry (Elbee): A neat pointer to the market potential of complete communications solutions aimed at a vertical. Maybe it will be as simple as a Telco tying up with a vendor like Nortel who has the cross-platform, cross-industry domain expertise on such stuff
7. Another interesting article illustrating new emerging segments to target as communication technology advances open up new revenue opportunities and models : The vertical of Business Centers can now offer a wider range of solutions to their clientele interested in cutting their infra costs, by providing them with telecommuting solutions launched in tandem with Telcos - Now that should make the blokes at McKinsey proud as it "leverages core competencies" :D
8. New bundled products for the SME market - interesting lessons to learn from Singtel.
9. Another probable radical bundled product for call centers - Emotion detection software to enable predictive churn!
10. Cisco's efforts on providing bundled offerings to the SMB segment with nice-sounding-options like Buybacks and Leasing, to enable easy transition to investments.
11. There's a whole range of probable new applications on broadband that the government would be looking at investing in - clearly a hot sector and segment to focus on.
12. A nice article on P2P that attempts to explain why YouTube succeeded where Napster failed. Probably a question of timing, positioning & street-smartness!
The VOIP Phenomenon
As it spreads it wings, VOIP holds out the promise to be another disruptive technological innovation, leveling the fields. As cable folks adopt VOIP to compete in new industries, so too do organizations such as contact centers as evinced in the sites speaking of the Yankee Group research, keen on reducing cost to gain competitive advantages. Companies like Verizon are going even further in reducing the entry level cost into a VOIP solution by providing some of the services like a Toll Free & IVR on its own network, thus making it almost as easy as buying a plug-n-play contact center!
There are also new devices based on VOIP led convergence entering the market, some from the creatively-silly to backend switch-level hardware. But the immediate developments do seem to be to integrate the mouse with a VOIP communication device, as seen in Sony's and Logitech's initiatives. The variety of VOIP phones available boggles the mind, Freetel's new phone aims to integrate the PSTN and VOIP phone into one. Wireless VOIP phones too are beginning to make their presence felt, with companies so far down the value chain to engage in aesthetics keeping the use of the equipment in mind, such as GN Netcom
But hope does not seem lost, for telco's like Verizon seem to believe that FTTH will be their key weapon to compete with VOIP. Is this too late - 1000 customers churning per day from Telcos to Cable companies in the US seems to be quite on the high side! Further, for large scale government deployments, the need for high speed internet connectivity that VOIP predicates does seem to be a barrier to its adoption over POTS/PSTN lines in totality - rather clients are looking for blended solutions, even in developed and advanced nations. Another barrier that seems to be coming up is the actual cost of deploying an entire VOIP architecture and solution, and what kind of time frames justify the infra and running costs overruns versus the savings on usage. There is also a school of thought that opines that Telcos will embrace VOIP and become primary providers of the service over the next 10-15 yrs (?!) in advanced nations, while in less developed nations embarking on the telecom revolution - VOIP will be the de-facto entry route.
Other VOIP Developments
Security : For those who believe that VOIP security will be a critical issue, here's Zimmermans attempt at encryption.
Devices : Philips launches cordless phones, one supporting Skype, one supporting Windows Live.
IM : IBM integrates VOIP into Sametime Connect. (What a pity that some organizations using IBM's Lotus Suite use less than 1/100th of its true Collaboration Tools)
Backend Products : Viola Network has a range of products that work in measuring the effectiveness of VOIP networks, one such being NetAlly Lifecycle Manager. Basically the range of these products serve functions like measuring session quality, evaluating network structures pre and post VOIP implementation etc.
There is also increasing adoption of VOIP technology for purposes that are beyond the basic low-cost benefit, as can be seen in the emergence of the medical-translation industry. Similarly the Hammond Care Group is implementing a VOIP solution across its centers, using VOIP to enable additional services to its consumers. The idea of revitalizing the good old payphone using the convergence of VOIP & WiMax is simply brilliant - The ideal spots would be the Railway stations and airports for this kind of setup. I wonder which is the overseas telecom companies refered to here, I would not be surprised if its MTNL/BSNL (Personal digression : my own experience has been that the tech folks from these firms are so incredibly forward thinking. I wish I'd listened to my dad and written the Civil Services exams - though in retrospect I wonder if I'd have got thru!)
There are also new devices based on VOIP led convergence entering the market, some from the creatively-silly to backend switch-level hardware. But the immediate developments do seem to be to integrate the mouse with a VOIP communication device, as seen in Sony's and Logitech's initiatives. The variety of VOIP phones available boggles the mind, Freetel's new phone aims to integrate the PSTN and VOIP phone into one. Wireless VOIP phones too are beginning to make their presence felt, with companies so far down the value chain to engage in aesthetics keeping the use of the equipment in mind, such as GN Netcom
But hope does not seem lost, for telco's like Verizon seem to believe that FTTH will be their key weapon to compete with VOIP. Is this too late - 1000 customers churning per day from Telcos to Cable companies in the US seems to be quite on the high side! Further, for large scale government deployments, the need for high speed internet connectivity that VOIP predicates does seem to be a barrier to its adoption over POTS/PSTN lines in totality - rather clients are looking for blended solutions, even in developed and advanced nations. Another barrier that seems to be coming up is the actual cost of deploying an entire VOIP architecture and solution, and what kind of time frames justify the infra and running costs overruns versus the savings on usage. There is also a school of thought that opines that Telcos will embrace VOIP and become primary providers of the service over the next 10-15 yrs (?!) in advanced nations, while in less developed nations embarking on the telecom revolution - VOIP will be the de-facto entry route.
Other VOIP Developments
Security : For those who believe that VOIP security will be a critical issue, here's Zimmermans attempt at encryption.
Devices : Philips launches cordless phones, one supporting Skype, one supporting Windows Live.
IM : IBM integrates VOIP into Sametime Connect. (What a pity that some organizations using IBM's Lotus Suite use less than 1/100th of its true Collaboration Tools)
Backend Products : Viola Network has a range of products that work in measuring the effectiveness of VOIP networks, one such being NetAlly Lifecycle Manager. Basically the range of these products serve functions like measuring session quality, evaluating network structures pre and post VOIP implementation etc.
There is also increasing adoption of VOIP technology for purposes that are beyond the basic low-cost benefit, as can be seen in the emergence of the medical-translation industry. Similarly the Hammond Care Group is implementing a VOIP solution across its centers, using VOIP to enable additional services to its consumers. The idea of revitalizing the good old payphone using the convergence of VOIP & WiMax is simply brilliant - The ideal spots would be the Railway stations and airports for this kind of setup. I wonder which is the overseas telecom companies refered to here, I would not be surprised if its MTNL/BSNL (Personal digression : my own experience has been that the tech folks from these firms are so incredibly forward thinking. I wish I'd listened to my dad and written the Civil Services exams - though in retrospect I wonder if I'd have got thru!)
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Grating carrots 101
What Sanjeev Kapur never told me
1. Grating carrots is NOT like cleaning your inbox, you cant do it watching TV. Dont multitask!
2. Start with the thin end being grated and the thick end in your hand
3. Its not your ego - if the final bit is difficult, its not that the carrot has come alive and challenging your manhood. Eat it or throw it, no need to ensure that you grated that last bit.
4. Typing with 6 fingers is not easy
5. Adopting a posture where you can "put your weight" on the carrot is NOT a "very clever idea", especially when you weigh above 80Kilos
Peace
1. Grating carrots is NOT like cleaning your inbox, you cant do it watching TV. Dont multitask!
2. Start with the thin end being grated and the thick end in your hand
3. Its not your ego - if the final bit is difficult, its not that the carrot has come alive and challenging your manhood. Eat it or throw it, no need to ensure that you grated that last bit.
4. Typing with 6 fingers is not easy
5. Adopting a posture where you can "put your weight" on the carrot is NOT a "very clever idea", especially when you weigh above 80Kilos
Peace
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Unstructured Memes
1. Satellite phones : When will the satellite phone be a consumer mass market reality?
2. Social Networking : The biggest emerging trend as per Gartners latest research study for the decade.
3. Wireless HDTV : Seriously interesting twists and turns in the hardware side.
4. WiFi Networks : Google takes on Msft with its Spreadsheets app, will it take on Telcos too?
5. VDSL : The role of government in regulating monopolies in the light of new emerging technologies is interesting. Specially to note is that the First Mover advantage seems to be still relevant in this industry. Also the new technologies seem to be ready to cater to the needs of new demand streams like IPTV & Telemedicine.
2. Social Networking : The biggest emerging trend as per Gartners latest research study for the decade.
3. Wireless HDTV : Seriously interesting twists and turns in the hardware side.
4. WiFi Networks : Google takes on Msft with its Spreadsheets app, will it take on Telcos too?
5. VDSL : The role of government in regulating monopolies in the light of new emerging technologies is interesting. Specially to note is that the First Mover advantage seems to be still relevant in this industry. Also the new technologies seem to be ready to cater to the needs of new demand streams like IPTV & Telemedicine.
Monday, August 14, 2006
The media metamorphosis
Google is a media company. And rightly so, for it stands a reminder to the inexorable change being wrought on us by the internet. Its probably a little unfair to say this, but I do believe that I have not come across telco's at least, treating the internet as a medium with the seriousness it deserves. Its probably because we are so used to selling it from a backend technology viewpoint, that the marketing folks are probably missing out on the sheer impact of the net on the media habits of tomorrow. For this, Google is a pointer & its own actions are marked by a company that understands consumer internet consumption habits and is always innovating to envisage viable revenue models from the same. Quite simply and unbeatably brilliant approach that would seem easy to replicate (the principle), and yet, we all shy from the sheer mathematical bloody-minded discipline of it.
One of the new media emerging on the internet front - and here, one must get into probably seeing the internet as a huge channel with the potential for multiple media within its own delivery mechanism - is Podcasting. With its growing influence and investment flowing into this area, this is worth understanding in greater detail for the opportunities it presents.
Not only do new media emerge, but the way advertising takes hold of these media too needs realignment. The new ads on TiVo by Sprint/Coke are testament to the inherent creativity that not only beats the constraints of new technologies ability to screen out ads, but also uses the same technology to convert advertising to entertainment, thus leading to the eventual blurring of it all! But this is indeed really clever, and probably a step in media/creative ad agencies starting to understand and use the power of technology to deliver content that would engage audiences. The whole concept and importance of Content in advertising is addressed brilliantly in this article, which puts cogently some of my own views on the need for a richer understanding of user interactions on the web, to enable effective content models for advertising - new payperpost models and yet undefined models could change the dynamics of advertising completely as IP networks and convergence-devices take hold of consumer timeshare.
Also most companies are actively in setting up transactional websites to effectively monitor and track customer visits & transform intent into revenue opportunities. The field of web analytics and its variants are currently addressing the needs posed by these requirements.
On the same note, while the Internet is a new medium, so are conventional communication lines. For example, the cellphone is also a marketing tool and advertisers are starting to wake up to the need to create content for the cellphone in the form of trailers/Snippets like Omega here with "Flyboys". The same is being replicated for its TV line up by CBS Network Television. I remember this being briefly tried here by Hutch with its Great Indian Comedy show routine, no idea where that brilliant idea vanished... consigned to the bins of non-profitability perhaps, not enough patience to allow the innovators to talk about it and get the early-adopters on board perhaps.
One of the new media emerging on the internet front - and here, one must get into probably seeing the internet as a huge channel with the potential for multiple media within its own delivery mechanism - is Podcasting. With its growing influence and investment flowing into this area, this is worth understanding in greater detail for the opportunities it presents.
Not only do new media emerge, but the way advertising takes hold of these media too needs realignment. The new ads on TiVo by Sprint/Coke are testament to the inherent creativity that not only beats the constraints of new technologies ability to screen out ads, but also uses the same technology to convert advertising to entertainment, thus leading to the eventual blurring of it all! But this is indeed really clever, and probably a step in media/creative ad agencies starting to understand and use the power of technology to deliver content that would engage audiences. The whole concept and importance of Content in advertising is addressed brilliantly in this article, which puts cogently some of my own views on the need for a richer understanding of user interactions on the web, to enable effective content models for advertising - new payperpost models and yet undefined models could change the dynamics of advertising completely as IP networks and convergence-devices take hold of consumer timeshare.
Also most companies are actively in setting up transactional websites to effectively monitor and track customer visits & transform intent into revenue opportunities. The field of web analytics and its variants are currently addressing the needs posed by these requirements.
On the same note, while the Internet is a new medium, so are conventional communication lines. For example, the cellphone is also a marketing tool and advertisers are starting to wake up to the need to create content for the cellphone in the form of trailers/Snippets like Omega here with "Flyboys". The same is being replicated for its TV line up by CBS Network Television. I remember this being briefly tried here by Hutch with its Great Indian Comedy show routine, no idea where that brilliant idea vanished... consigned to the bins of non-profitability perhaps, not enough patience to allow the innovators to talk about it and get the early-adopters on board perhaps.
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