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 : The *NEW* Frank Coluccio Technology Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ftth who wrote (170)	6/11/2000 1:21:00 AM
From: Frank A. Coluccio	Respond to of 46821

Thanks Dave, I've been aware of meteor burst (the technology, not the company ;-) for quite some time, but I was not aware of the intended upgrades you mentioned. After reading my statement again, it's easy to see where you may have thought that I intended otherwise. "I don't put that in the same category as Media (con)fusion or other such systems ..." I guess the term "fringe," then, needs to be defined. You can't more fringy than outer space. smiles "So when do you think one of the free-space optical guys will come out with a giant disco-ball dangling from a hot air balloon which is held in place by a thousand foot cable to earth?" They've tried that already, recall? It took the form of a light reflector which sent back LASER pulses, and was secured on the moon about seven five years ago. Problem was, they could not find to way to get the moon to remain stationary. That''ll be the next trick on the fringe. "... aren't they're going to need some sort of massive mirror arrangement to provide the claimed widespread coverage (from the claimed minimal deployment of centralized hubs) and ability to hit all sides of many different sized buildings, and these mirrors would all need to be mounted on property they don't own, would they not?" Yes, and I believe that those are in the works. They are intended to reach around buildings and other obstructions. In short, relay shots. Which are not free, and I suspect will only go in where a good business case can be made. In addition to their costs, they will undoubtedly be sited in places where no current users exist (unless by chance one happens to be subscribing, but the optimal trigonometry will probably dictate some out-of-the-way happenstance location that is not "on net," or one which is not associated with an existing user installation. In worst case situations, I suspect that the provider will ask prospective subscriber to front the entire (or a major part of the) installation costs, just as many fiber builds command from out-of-the-way subscribers. Or, they may charge some premium per month to maintain.