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 : Ascend Communications (ASND) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Glenn D. Rudolph who wrote (32710)	1/31/1998 2:56:00 PM
From: pat mudge	Respond to of 61433

[Benhamou at ComNet] Today, most applications cannot interface with network intelligence - they are limited to such simple requests as "send data" and "receive data." In the future, he said, applications will have to tap into the policies running the network, so that a user could request that a large file be compressed before being downloaded or that an incoming video feed be giving priority over e-mail. While Mr. Benhamou spoke, there was a large image on the screen listing the application services now available. He said most were inadequate but Real Networks and Precepts Data were on the leading edge. I don't know if either is public, but it may be worth checking out. Benhamou was every bit as harsh on the RBOCs as your article suggests. The obstacles were: 1) transition of regulation --- competition still a long ways off. Locals aren't unbundling b/c costs are too high; 2) RBOC mentality --- non-competitive histories. "They may wither from the inside. . . ISPs will proliferate. . ." He asked if data networks could reach the quality of voice and answered his own question by saying the perception that they couldn't would linger longer than warranted. He went on to say by the year 2000 25% of enterprise networks would be converged. "Universal DSL" is a positive step in accellerating highspeed modems. The bottleneck is access. All POPs have to be upgraded. Strong uptake rate. . . privisioning is easier than ISDN. "Not holding breath on RBOC readiness. . . however, [they] have very little choice . . . their pace to implement will be major challenge. . . . despite cloud this is our best hope." Before closing, he said he was meeting with FCC Chairman Kennard later that day and would be asking what's changed. Also on the agenda were universal service and local telephony. In all the keynotes I've heard over the past several years, any mention of RBOC mentality has brought knowing laughter. This time there was none. I got the distinct feeling Benhamou was saying the time for joking is over. Either change or get out of the way. Later -- Pat