[steppenwolf]

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/90339

[steppenwolf]

surprised no one commented

is it possible people will be on local networks just for their friends?

[Gabriel]

Huh

[Gabriel]

Well, Stepponwolf....there is another way to look at it.

Perhaps everyone (especially after reading that) is now busy getting all the stuff they've been procrastinating done online before the bandwidth is gone

[Stoner]

[Bastiat]

I sense a profit motive on the part of AT&T, which is fine and appropriate, just don't try and justify it because of corporate internal policies.

[Gabriel]

Aaaarrrrr

[Gabriel]

I want one...they are sooooooooooooooo CUTE

[steppenwolf]

Originally Posted by Gabriel

Huh

like a conference call i guess

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by steppenwolf

like a conference call i guess

Well, yeah....I suppose so if I understand what you are talking about.

I don't think it will be exactly the way it is now, but hope it won't get more expensive to use

[RSM123]

If the provision of internet service in the US is like ours here in the UK, it may well be that we pay for bandwidth usage - ie the end of unmetred access.

One very popular site is the BBC iPlayer which allows people to watch programmes online that they originally missed. ISPs here are saying that the BBC ( which is state owned ) should at least pay part of the cost the increase in bandwidth this has engendered. It will get worse when HD broadcasts become mainstream.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...0/bbc.internet

One major stumbling block is the extent of our main phone company's ownership of the copper infrastructure and their refusal to invest in optic fibre upgrades.

Hong Kong have had 1 GB Connections for several years, yet western countries are languishing on far slower speeds.

[johnnyburst79]

Chicken Little is exactly right. We are one of the worst developed nations with regards to internet download speeds.

The ideology of "we will use it until it breaks and then find a new way" is completely illogical and incredibly lazy, but is that not America?

[lotuseclat79]

Nielsen's Law of Internet Bandwidth (originally stated in April 1998 - holds true in 2008 update)
Article here.


Note: See 2008 update at bottom of the article.

Optical Fiber, e.g. FiOS (Verizon) seems to be making its way into the marketplace.

-- Tom

[RSM123]

It seems to me that the original principles of free enterprise that drove industrial expansion of the means of mass communication have become subjugated by the shift in ownership of these companies to the multinational investment banks.

Whereas a century ago, the innovators drove their business on in pursuit of greater profits, the financial institutions that run things now, are solely concerned with the short term gains ie share dividends. Consequently they have no vested interest in ploughing any resulting profits back in, to expand / take things to the next level. All they need do is sit tight with what they have and continue to rake in the cash.

I am certainly not advocating nationalisation as a solution - a government run telecomms industry controlling the internet doesn't bear thinking about.

However unless they are compelled to improve, why should they when they have no competition to lose out to ?

[ChrisJones]

Originally Posted by RSM123

If the provision of internet service in the US is like ours here in the UK, it may well be that we pay for bandwidth usage - ie the end of unmetred access.

One very popular site is the BBC iPlayer which allows people to watch programmes online that they originally missed. ISPs here are saying that the BBC ( which is state owned ) should at least pay part of the cost the increase in bandwidth this has engendered. It will get worse when HD broadcasts become mainstream.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...0/bbc.internet

One major stumbling block is the extent of our main phone company's ownership of the copper infrastructure and their refusal to invest in optic fibre upgrades.

Hong Kong have had 1 GB Connections for several years, yet western countries are languishing on far slower speeds.

Hey RSM,

There was a very interesting op ed on theregister.co.uk/ you might be interested:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04..._isps_mailbag/