I keep coming back to the fact that wireless is one of the most CRITICAL components in ensuring the success of GMST'S long-term strategy.
1. Wireless is going to be the means of two-way communication in the future, allowing interactive dialog in the IPG.
2. Wireless functionality is going to be added to the e-book platforms in 2001, per this statement contained in an article with Henry:
"Yuen said he also plans to include wireless paging with e-books by 2001 to open the way for instant downloads of new book, magazine or newspaper content without a computer."
3. Wireless is functionally simple, non-technical for the end-user, and it provides adequate bandwidth to perform the intended functions.
Any thoughts on some of these point I'm considering:
1. Forget USB, serial links, or anything else for the e-book of the future; it will simply receive updates from a STB, computer, or enabled TV with wireless technology.
2. If the products use low-power wireless, such as a radio packet modem operating in the 900Mhz band, it can be built right into an e-book and STB, making communications available for free in the home (analagous to a wireless docking station) without any on-going service charge such as from an ISP.
I've experimented with radio packet modems operating at 433MHz manufactured by a company called Radiometrix, and was able to reliably send and receive a signal from one device to another nearly 100 yards in-building, and at a data transfer rate of 46K (equivalent to a fairly fast standard modem).
3. Wireless encryption is going to be a high priority, otherwise the data carrying signal could be stolen or used improperly. I know of a company working on this technology, I bet a technology similar to what they are developing is going to be a necessary enabling technology to ensure GMST maintains a proper level of protection on their technology.
4. If a road warrior needs to update his e-book while on the road, then he is going to have to have an account to establish a connection and receive updated data. Wireless service providers may become an important part of future computing if the technology truly takes holds (as I feel it will).
I suppose if the communication is simply one-way (to update an e-book while on the road), that can be done without needing an account by taking advantage of the existing bandwidth GMST negeotiated in their long-term agreement with PAGE.
I wonder exactly how much bandwidth they negeotiated for, and whether it is sufficient to facilitate the IPG as well as updating e-books?
--------
Anyone know who GMST is working with, in terms of wireless technology, to include in the e-books? That company is DESTINED TO FLY, based on the quantity of units that will eventually incorporate wireless technology (including STB, TV, and e-books, as well as PDA's and computers).
I wonder if it is RFMD, they appear to be a leader in the wireless arena. Maybe it is QCOM technology GMST will use. And I wonder if wirelessencryption.com will have anything to do with securing the wireless signal from improper use.
Just some thoughts, any input appreciated, I really think GMST is being led by a visionary who understands where we are headed. Great person to dump your money onto, and simply let him rack it up for you.
Hey Winston, thank you for re-acquainting me with GMST, that was cool and very timely. As an aside, I think NTAP will receive a large dose of indirect support from GMST, in the form of a huge demand for online storage to facilitate the personal storage of each persons individual e-books.
Regards, JB |
