Paul Kapustka's Blog
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July 29, 2006
VoIP over Wi-Fi? Don't forget lobbyists and regulators
Nice to see that the IP communications industry is becoming more mainstream by the day, with the New York Times article about the promise of VoIP over Wi-Fi. I say promise because the article glosses over the potential snags and long leaps of faith that will be needed to reach seamless-switching nirvana. But that's what we have people like Om for, right? To call B.S. and remind us that blogs are still the more-informed edge of the news?
Tom Evslin noticed the story and checked in from a different angle, noting that in the long run the combination of Moore's Law and aggressive competition means that the days of cellular "minutes" plans are... heh... numbered.
My own addition to the analysis pig-pile: Don't be surprised if Wi-Fi access comes under a lot more scrutiny from the FCC and Congress, courtesy of the big telco and cable lobbying firms. Why? Bet you a buck or more that all of a sudden those fine-print terms of service for broadband access will get a lot stickier, especially for folks who generously want to give their bandwidth away.
My early prediction is that the telcolobby or some astroturf group will come up with a study showing that free Wi-Fi is an abomination of some sort and should be regulated. Or stopped. Point is, the Verizons and AT&Ts will not silently stand by and watch their cellular profits go down the drain. After watching what has happened lately in the regulatory world to VoIP, is there any question that VoIP over Wi-Fi is next in the crosshairs?
For more fun goings-on in this world there is Andy's insider take, always the salsa on the burrito for my VoIP reading meal.
Posted by paul at July 29, 2006 04:22 PM