[To All: Some Questions, Thoughts, and Ramblings]
I am an ex-Amatian and new to following QWST. Due to the fact that I have T1 speed at work and 33K at home, I am interested in the idea of increasing bandwidth. I understand Microsoft is building applications assuming there will be unlimited bandwidth someday. It seems the telcos are holding up progress when it comes to increasing speed and lowering communications costs in order to increase their profits.
Does QWST plan to go beyond the backbone and lay fiber the last mile?
Will local governments allow a company like QWST to come in and string up fiber (or bury it) or keep the monopolies intact?
In thinking of future scenarios, here's one I like to think of:
Go to www.blockbuster.com (or someone else)
Enter your account number and password.
Select a film, then be able to view it for x number of days on your TV or PC screen.
Your credit card is automatically charged.
Your film would always be available.
No late fee for not returning your tape on time.
No travel to a building to check out the films.
Blockbuster (or whoever) doesn't need to have a store, thus saving costs and improving profitability. I've never understood why companies like Universal Studios, MGM, etc. didn't have their own stores, anyway.
Here's another thought:
I write three checks each month.
1) Local telephone company (~$30)
2) Local ISP ($15)
3) Local cable company ($30)
In the future, one check.
Fiber (or ADSL/VDSL) to the home.
The line comes to the home and into a 'black box'. From the box, one line goes to my TV, one to my phone, one to my PC. Each line is fiber. Why don't the telcos get in to the service of providing TV to the home? Why don't the cable companies provide telephone service to the home?
Is anyone out there working on this 'black box'? Also, it looks like a tremendous market for installing fiber optics to the home. I'm about 2000' from the closest fiber. Are there any companies other than the local telco working on providing fiber the last mile? I would see this as a tremendous market, too.
Thanks in advance for any answers and comments. |
