. . . . A few more thoughts. . .On the Terabeam thing. . . . . .
The company admits that dense fog or other obstacles will affect data transmission as the light will be interrupted. Their remedy is to move the source closer to the receiver. . .like maybe as close as across the street? I have an idea. . . if you can get that close. . . why not just run a fibre optic cable right into the window? Just kidding. . .
But seriously. . . in my opinion, the reason that Terabeam has started in Bellevue is due mostly to the success of Bellevue's ARTT. . .which takes the fibre signal and beams it into the offices via short range microwave signals. . .using equipment on the roof.
Now what are the differences between Terabeam and ARTT? Well, first, ARTT has about a 3 year lead time. ARTT has the 950KHz FCC license in over 200 U.S. cities. . .ARTT has cut exclusive deals with many of the largest office complexes in American cities coast-to-coast. ARTT has over a year's experience with providing service to the Seattle area, plus has working systems with revenues in Portland, Phoenix and a growing list of other cities. ARTT has been bankrolled by Lucent for about 2 years now.
What does Terabeam have?
Well they just hired a CEO, which quit A.T.& T. when he was passed over for the head job in the wireless division.
But in December, Hesse was passed over as the head of AT&T's Wireless Group, which includes the Wireless Services division he headed. After that, "many industry watchers knew (his departure) was just a matter of time," Kagan said.
Terabeam has an idea that may or may not work in solving the problem of the last mile. . . .xDSL also has a headstart in acquiring office complex contracts. . .leaving Terabeam this problem. . .they must prove their technology, hire a marketing sales staff and race around the country trying to find office complexes that haven't already signed a last mile deal with either the regional Bell for direct connection of fiber optics or with ATHM's At Work division for direct fibre connection or with ARTT for microwave or with any number of xDSL companies competing for customers. . . leaving Terabeam to be merely a "me, too" in this market. . .with a technology, which allows a curious pigeon to decide whether or not you get your data.
George, while your report is enthusiastic, I hope you considered the competition, which is aggressive in signing office complex contracts. I don't see this as an important technology in the least.
Rande Is |
