Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : METRICOM - Wireless Data Communications -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: StaggerLee who wrote (1370)	7/11/1999 3:52:00 PM
From: Tai Jin	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3376

I would say that there are certainly niche markets that could use this technology today. The question is whether the mass market will want or need it. So far society has accepted and embraced pagers and cell phones. Many people want to be accessible to their friends and family no matter where they are. The question is whether everyone wants to have access to online information at all times. I can see that it can be useful at times, but so far I don't see the need for the average person to want this. Everyone's lives are so hectic now that people are finding it harder to get away from it all. Perhaps there will be a backlash against all this connectivity. No matter how good the technology it becomes an issue of social acceptance, and that could take many years to resolve. Personally, I only know of three people here in the Bay Area who use Ricochet. One lives in an area where he can't get wired high speed network access. Another is self employed and uses it when he travels to client sites. And the third just has to have the latest technology. I would not consider any of them to be a typical consumer. ...tai