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To: d:oug who wrote (3690)	6/29/1999 1:12:00 AM
From: d:oug	Respond to of 4066

(off topic 1 of 2) The Broadband Bridge to the Next Millennium zdnet.com The Broadband Bridge Right now, less than half of 1% of American households connect at broadband speeds (200 K or greater). According to Forrester Research, however, 25% of all online households will have broadband access by 2002, with more and more to follow. Here are seven gaps that will soon be bridged by broadband. As these changes occur, new fortunes will be made. Old fortunes -- and old brands -- will be destroyed. Even government is not immune. Between user and content. Today, TV networks, movie theaters, record companies and print-media publishers decide when you can see their content. With broadband, you'll choose what you want, when you want. The evening news at 8:17, for example. And you'll choose who you want, selecting content from sources you know, like and trust. As content becomes a commodity, the differentiating factor will be the who and the how of the delivery. Between coworkers. Videoconferencing will replace audio-only conference calls. We'll still need to travel -- because strong relationships depend on in-person rapport -- but broadband videoconferences will revolutionize employee training, executive speeches and analyst briefings. Between friends. Broadband isn't just about work. Russell Horowitz, CEO of Paul Allen-blessed portal Go2Net, tells Business Week multiplayer games will be the first killer app of the broadband world. Likewise, teenagers will be early adopters of home videoconferencing. The Clearasil set already digs conference calls and is sure to embrace the visual element. Four more gaps that are closing... Between advertisers and consumers. Rich-media advertising over fast pipes. Advertisers will deliver "infotisements" you'll be thrilled to sit through. Really. If you're, say, a golf fanatic, you'll eagerly sit through a commercial for a club-design breakthrough. Or if you're car shopping, you'll appreciate 360-degree images of vehicles. With an exterior color of your choice. Or, better yet, test drives along interchangeable virtual roads. Between entertainers and consumers. Film, music and video distributors are at the end of their lifecycles if they don't jump on the broadband bandwagon. Otherwise they'll be Dell-ed. Media companies who market direct to customers -- and provide customized products -- will replace them. Between desire and purchase. You're watching MTV and see an artist whose CD you'd like to buy. Today, you'll schlep to the store. Broadband will close that gap. You'll see the video and purchase the CD with the click of a mouse. Between haves and have nots. Don't believe the doomsayers who claim technology will widen the gap between rich and poor. Technology won't solve the problem... but it will improve it. A century ago, third-world residents who wanted to better themselves had to emigrate, then find a way to finance an education. Usually it took two generations or more to make the climb. In the broadband future, ambitious people will no longer need to leave poor countries to get an education. They'll simply need access to an Internet terminal. It's not the whole answer... but it's an improvement. Like its brick and metal predecessors, the broadband bridge will span incredible gaps to bring people together. And also to reach the full potential of the Internet. Remember: Less than 1% of households have broadband access. The best is yet to come. MORE ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE... Speed: The Quest for Broadband Microsoft: High-Bandwidth Hero The Reason You're Not Getting Fast Access

To: d:oug who wrote (3690)	6/29/1999 1:13:00 AM
From: d:oug	Respond to of 4066

(off topic 2 of 2) Broadband Options zdnet.com Four ways to get broadband Internet access. CABLE MODEMS ============ Cable Modems transmit data to and from your PC via existing television cable. Click for more. Speed: Download transmission speeds ranging from 3-10 Mbps, and upload speeds ranging from 128 Kbps-10 Mbps. Pros: More widely available than DSL Cheaper to use (roughly $20 more per month than a typical ISP connection) Faster than DSL (as long as there aren't too many users on at the same time) Cons: Limited availability As the number of users in a given area increases, individual performance decreases Security issues associated with sharing cable lines Key Players: @Home/AT&T(TCI) Road Runner/Time Warner DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINE ======================= Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) delivers high speed data transmission via existing copper phone lines. A new consumer-friendly G.Lite DSL standard has just been approved. Click for more. Speed: Ranges from 8 Mbps downloading and up to 1 Mbps upload (G.Lites are limited to 1.5 Mbps down and 512 Kbps up). Pros: Dedicated, unshared, "always on" connection Uses existing phone lines, and the new G.Lite will work with all phone lines including those with a Digital Carrier Loop Still much faster than 56k modems Cons: Limited availability and higher cost in some areas Doesn't work if you are too far from a central phone company transmitter Current DSL set ups require installation by the phone company (G.Lites will be easier for consumers to install) Key Players: Pacific Bell USWest Ameritech SATELLITE ========= Satellites beam data to your PC via transmission from space. You receive it on a disk like the one used for satellite TV. Click for more. Speed: Download speeds of up to 400 Kbps, more in some cases. Pros: Will work out in rural areas where wire-based high speed lines are not available With a recent $1.5 billion investment by America Online in Hughes' DirecTV, satellite online access could be poised for prime-time Attractive download speeds, and with companies like Teledesic and SkyBridge entering the market service should improve Cons: Satellite online access is download only -- uploading must be done through regular phone line High pricing for service Difficult to install Key Players: Hughes EchoStar Teledesic (someday) WIRELESS ======== Wireless access works in several different ways. One method transmits data wirelessly to a central base station which is then connected to a high-speed "wired" network. Click for more. Speed: dependent on spectrum band and line-of-sight issues, but ranges from 21 Mbps to 45 Mbps in commercial applications, much less in the emerging small business/consumer versions. Pros: Wireless broadband networks do not require leasing capacity from phone or cable companies Allows recipient to be more mobile Numerous large corporations ramping up to get into this space Cons: Technology not readily available Currently limited by line-of-sight and other geography issues Latecomers to the broadband party, will have to work to gain market share Key Players: Lucent MCI Sprint Teligent