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Big, Fat Pipes and the power of Internet services
By Mark Evans | February 26, 2005
I've been playing around with the idea high-speed Internet networks dramatically change how Web-based applications and services are delivered to business and residential customers. The theory is that barriers to entry are pretty much eliminated because services can by delivered to anyone anywhere in the world. While Internet telephony has captured most of the attention as the emerging Web-based services, VOIP just scratches the service of what's coming down the pipe (excuse the pun!). As carriers and cablecos look for more revenue, they are going to be pumping down all kinds of services developed internally and through partners. Then, there will be third parties such as Vonage, Salesforce.com and Apple (iTunes) that will try get a piece of the action.
My initial thinking is network operators that have customer relationships (a.k.a carriers and cablecos) have an inherent advantage because they can easily layer services on the network and selling them to an existing customer base. For people interested, I wrote a lengthy feature on the emergence of Web-based service in the National Post earlier this week. I'd be curious if the theory I'm espousing resonates with anyone or whether there are other takes out there.
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February 28th, 2005 at 4:56 pm
Mark - your theory of the broadband link enabling services to be delivered from anywhere is spot on, and something that is growing in popularity as a “way to think”. VoIP is a huge example, and not just for the consumer but for hosted enterprise voice services as well. How much does this move value back into the pipe (ie, the guy with a wire or fiber into your premise is now very valuable)
March 1st, 2005 at 8:01 am
Mark - interesting article, but believe the value will reside with content and not the pipes. There will just be too many alternative ways to access the content and/or application - and little or no incentive for the content owners/providers to restrict access to just one access owner/method.
The only real potential advantage the pipe owners will have is brand, scale and existing customer relationship. Unfortunately, for many pipe owners that existing customer relationship is not all that happy…
http://www.telcotrenches.blogspot.com