But as the VNO model takes hold, notes Mr Heaney, VNOs will face increasing competition from "systems integrators", such as IBM and EDS. These companies can incorporate network design and procurement into larger information-technology projects. "Before long, people will ask: 'Can't an IT firm do this?'," he says. VNOs risk being squeezed between conventional carriers and systems integrators. However, Mr Caio says that the three sorts of firm require very different skills. VNOs, in short, know their place; not for them the same old dream of world domination.
4:23:57 PM    comment   

Of the $252 billion in venture capital under management, $90 billion sits unspent.  ... today a venture investor with $10 million in an inactive fund pays $250,000 a year for the privilege of keeping cash under a mattress.

Hmmm.  Clearly these guys need a clue where to put their money.  This is a perfect time to take out long bets on new markets.  Are there emerging markets that have a $b ++ potential in software?  Sure.  All they need to do is open their eyes. [John Robb's Radio Weblog]
4:06:30 PM    comment   

Items to watch:  1) The FCC will investigate lifting the power restrictions it impossed on WiMedia next April (this will set limits on the commercial applications of the technology).  2) Who ships products, and how much do they cost.  3) How this technology will reconcile with existing 802.11b/g devices that are shipping.  4) Adoption of this technology, without power restrictions, in other countries.

New companies to watch in this space include:  Time Domain, Appairent Technologies, and XtremeSpectrum. [John Robb's Radio Weblog]
4:04:22 PM    comment   

NY Times: entrenched interests fear Wi-Fi may cause retrenching: In a nicely clever piece of reasoning, John Markoff spells out Wi-Fi's potential to disrupt entrenched telecommunications interests especially as the FCC examines opening up more spectrum to unlicensed or related use. As I have often said, incumbent market interests always get angry when consumers produce a more efficient marketplace. Rather than fight in the market, they encourage regulation or legislation to tip the playing field that's already heavily tilted their direction.

3:53:02 PM    comment   

• They aren't dumbed down devices, which since the earliest days of the PC industry (remember the PCjr) have failed.    
• Most people that use computers are much more comfortable typing than writing by hand.  Voice rec isn't up to snuff yet.
• It is fighting a trend towards multi-user environments.  An ever greater number of people are starting to share a single PC using "profiles."  Combine a beefy PC, a beefy graphics card, profiles, a WiMedia network, and a couple of detachable screens and you get a PC everyone in the home could use simultaneously. 

3:36:55 PM    comment