Why the focus on "network operators"?
What if you overlay your current concerns to the Internet in its similarly early stages? Where were the carriers when it exploded onto the scene? Most of the issues you are raising you would have found at that time too.
Or take Linux. Where's the freakin' business model behind a bunch of folks working for free and giving away their IP?
To hear most of the thread, there's no point introducing any technology unless a Carrier is going to deploy it.
Bunk. If you ask me.
There is quite a compelling business model supporting WiFi technology already. It has to do with savings in the enterprise for moves, adds and changes in the wiring closet, and campus-wide mobility of workstations. For the first time, a laptop is a very useful tool on campus - not just for the travelling sales person or the busy executive, but also for the rank and file. And not just high tech workers either.
And through this utility, wage earners are actually able to see and use "broadband wireless" applications and get a taste of what it's like to be connected, without wires. And they are finding out that 3G sucks wind in comparison with the real thing at the same time.
So the first thing they do to get themselves a taste of untethered broadband is get one of these wireless network things for their home too. And the don't go rush out to Verizon and sign up for the lame alternative that works everywhere except not as well as they want it to work when they are where they spend most of their time. Nope, they go right to the goodies and pick up a Linksys (oops, Cisco) home networking kit.
So now they can use the laptop out on the deck. Or in front of the TV. Anywhere they want to park their lap. And experiencing the promise of "portable computing".
While simultaneously down-marketing the 3G solution into a "wait for" scenario. Because WiFi is merely a wireless end onto the already ubiquitous Internet. It's already supported by the carriers. Only they are't the folks provisioning the base stations. Folks are the folks provisioning the base stations.
'Cause they find it useful.
No business model? Quick, someone better tell Cisco. LOL... the technology is moving off the shelves at a kick-a$$ pace because the people deploying the network are themselves deriving benefit from its deployment.
By some estimates, there is more economic benefit being generated by WiFi today than by all 3G technologies combined. Even without it all flowing to the benefit of one organization or another.
And tremendous infrastructure is being put in place, *without* the emergence of whatever viable business model you are looking for. Imagine what will happen when it arrives? If it waits long enough, a complete infrastructure is likely to be in place by then! And the search for this holy grail is on by at least a dozen startup companies right now. And some that haven't been started yet. Which search won't stop until one is found. And meanwhile any number of technological hurdles to near-ubiquitous use of WiFi are being rolled over by any number of other hopeful startup companies.
The evidence is there for anybody to see. The rate at which a technology with *no business model* is being embraced is the first clue. People (end subscribers) don't adopt curious behavior by accident. They see the value.
Even if you don't.
Maybe they're wrong. Maybe they're not.
John. |
