RE:AOL via cable: Good point. If you can't beat 'em. . . and they cannot with copper wire and the 60's and 70's technology in switching stations the world over. Too expensive an upgrade and phone companies just don't want to do it.
Then, as if coaxial cable were not fast enough for internet [850kbs min.] the cable companies have quietly and steadily been installing their own digital transmission lines [fibre optics]. They installed one here in it's own metal conduit just like a phone wire strung between poles. When those get up and running. . . look out. Movies on demand, music on demand, TV shows on demand, Tom Brokaw on demand, videophone in every home attched to the same ol' TV set.
THAT will change everything. If AOL, Yahoo and others that have relied on copper wire for so long, fail to get on THAT bandwagon, they will surely be left behind.
At Home is cool. Fast and locally oriented. Soon we will pass up the originator. . . VIEWTRON [circa 1982-1986]. Using set-top boxes attached to TV with remote control keypad, it had it's own graphics language that was extremely quick and attractive and get this. . . "blazed" at just 1.2kbps. Same quotes, news, shopping, Hallmark cards, chat, airline tickets, auctions, encyclopedias, etc. that we now enjoy on the internet. But from the comfort of the family sofa . . . FIFTEEN years ago.
Rande Is |
