OT - re: the X-BOX, Bingo! The MSOs and Telcos, alike, are very likely girding their loins for this, as we type. It goes back to the exchange that I posted upstream between the small cable op and the ISP, deciding how they are going to profitably provide the necessary upstream bandwidth that will be required, and what to throw overboard in order to cut down on demand. It's a peculiar issue when a provider must decide on how to lower, instead of increase, traffic, don't you think? Then again, the the underlying psychology and economics of Internet constitutes an unusual set of dynamics to begin with. Altering the model to one that is usage sensitive or tiered, as opposed to fixed price, is a likely outcome, IMO.
The Cable ops can arguably shut down the trafficking of "illegal" movies and musical content (sharing) a la Napster and Gnutella, but how can they justifiably put the squeeze on gaming? These issues aside, they're going to come up against a brick wall in the upstream, anyway, unless they do something to alter the degree of asymmetry that exists between up and down. Ditto for the l-s dsl plays |
