The microcell problem you describe is a factor of the total cost of a basestation. In the last year, micro base stations have been introduced in the $100k range. This will change the rollout cost factor. But I do understand your point. this price point can only go down from here as better radio and digital components are developed.
As for COX, as the per unit costs and availability reach alot lower level than @home installtion costs PLUS users have more reasons to purchase such as portability, raoming within the household, transportability, I think they will be back.
Look out for the auto industry if they ever get into data. then the consumed bandwidth for map data and realtime event info will consume alot of bandwidth and everyone will be scrambling to capture this market.
As for DECT, isn't this what PHS is based on? How much of a mess is that? DECT was not and is not intended for major system wide rollout, but rahter a very local installation base. I think that as this wireless game evolves, it is the one which provides access in thw widest area with the least hassle with the most mobility and fastest speed which wins. If that become fibre with bluetooth, then ok, if it becomes some new technology which modulates better than the present HDR or CDMA2000, then great. I see this as the pvitoal next step, though. An acces system in which there is no "connection" and no real ISP involved. You have some refernce debit account (like you visa card or calling card works today) and any access into the net via your IP addres gets billed somehow. Everyone just provides access along the lines of the long distance carriers. Everyone is stuck today trying to claim the ultimate total network and "branding ownership" when in the long run no branding and total ubiqutous access is the right answer.
There are alot of system technical and standards issues involved here, such as Mobile IP, dynamic IP, and such that must be worked out along wiht a real open worldwide roaming system. Visa seems to be ok getting moeny from almost any nation on earth, why are the telephone companies so behind the times? |
