Spectrum of Greed

Wireless Achille's heel

Group urges FCC … Wow, deja vu, man!  If you do a google search of the first 3 words of this post, a truism is apparent: over 135,000 entries testify to the futility of asking the FCC to intervene on behalf of the citizens of this country.  The rest of the headline repeated today is …urges FCC to open AT&T 3G network to Skype on iPhone.

I am encouraged that many in the media have picked up on this particular effort when wireless battles traditionally go unsung by the press.  I think they have because a different tack is being taken by the Free Press advocates in addressing the FCC.  In the past, they have aimed at the large, overwhelming grievances enacted on consumers by carriers when they are limited in choice and restricted in use of both wired broadband and wireless services, of which only a sub-set is internet.

There is no specific remedy for large grievances that can be pursued under the current rules that the FCC has deployed, as so many of them are vague and being violated in one form or another.  This time however, the advocacy group is playing with more finesse, approaching their adversary with more respect and aiming their energy at the Achilles heel that has been exposed by the popular iPhone and the highly publicized Skype Voice over IP internet service.  Many are watching these events and quietly getting excited, because the chance for real change may actually be upon us. (continue reading…)

Ask blogger Mike Elgan or his son their opinion of AT&T & Apple’s iPhone, and you get the response, “Soup Nazi!”  Tasty, desirable, and served one way no matter what your circumstances.  He also has some clever correlations to the coffee shops and other eateries in the popular comic Seinfeld’s weekly world in a recent blog post he use to blast Apple in particular,  with the cell phone network sustaining only collateral damage. (continue reading…)

Craigs List for a cell phone - Coming to Kenya first!

According to FastCompany’s most recent article highlighting wireless innovation beginning on the Serengeti before it does in New York or Boston, trickle up is a new innovation phenomenon that will sweep the planet. Not so fast. The conclusions are incorrect for the wireless marketplace. There is a much more important reason why innovation MUST occur outside the US and then perhaps one day (if we are lucky) find it’s way here. It isn’t user choice as the article hints at with the quick references to two obscure wireless companies, insinuating they just couldn’t get customers interested.

In the US, we have a walled garden where the wireless gatekeepers don’t let innovators in because it would jeopardize a rich revenue stream for them. If they don’t get a significant cut of the pie, you can’t play ball, and they would rather just do it themselves. See a recent article from ARSTechnica on Canadian reaction to these restrictions. (continue reading…)

The future of mobile internet - sucks!

But does it have a Hemi? On the 2009 Dodge Ram, a new feature amongst the other high tech bells and whistles is now available.  A wireless internet access point called Autonet, by Mopar, will allow you to wander up to 100 feet from your trusty pickup and attain speeds of 400-800k!  This will allow one person to watch YouTube video that looks like a flip book silent movie, and two or more people trying to use their laptops will need to go into Dunkin’ Donuts to get breakfast while their internet pages load.  It does looks pretty cool though.  Has that matte black techie appearance. (continue reading…)