The TV of the Future

Can you imagine having a television schedule that you completely control? Sure there's the digital video recorder (DVR), but I'm talking about total and complete control. I'm talking about Internet television. 

Currently newer TV sets have a new jack in the back that will allow you to connect your set directly to the Internet. Once you establish that connection you can use your remote control to get updated local weather forecasts, personalized stock quotes and on-demand access to a handful of TV shows just to name a few.

But what if technology was developed to allow you to get rid of the set top box, the gaming console and stereo component so that the broadband Internet and the TV did it all? Since most television stations put their shows online, you could possibly be able to upload any show, movie, song or video at any time without needing local TV stations or cable subscriptions. This could be the wave of the future.

Sure the Internet would have to be faster and TVs would have to be more powerful but look what technology has done for us now. Did you ever think you could have a phone that acted like an MP3 player and let you surf the Web? I'm thinking this Internet TV could really take off. What do you think?

Starbucks Introduces AT&T Wi-Fi Partnership

There’s a new reason to visit your local Starbucks and it’s not just for the black nectar of the gods that gives you that ultimate pick me up. This new product will satisfy your craving for speed without the jitters of gulping down too much caffeine.

Starbucks has decided to revamp their current Wi-Fi service to make it more affordable and convenient for you, so they’ve begun a new partnership with AT&T. You’ll be able to sip your tall, skinny, no whip, no foam latte slowly as you zip through your e-mails, videos and chat for two free hours per day.

In case you need more time, you’ll be able to purchase an additional two-hour chunk of time for $3.99. Now that seems pretty cheap to me, but let’s say you are a Starbucks groupie and a Wi-Fi junkie, no problem, they have you covered too. For $19.99 a month you can have wireless access in any Starbucks plus other AT&T hot-spot locations.

All in all, to me this new partnership sound like a win win. I can get my afternoon jolt and wiz through the Internet for a reasonable amount of cash. What’s your opinion?

Wouldn't it be great to purchase that new convertible sports car you always dreamed about? Pulling into the dealership and immediately being greeted by a highly trained sales manager that showers you with luxury features and performance capabilities of their fine line of automobiles. You sign on the dotted line, pull out on to the open road heading for that long stretch of deserted highway with the desire to experience the pleasure only a finely tuned performance machine could provide. You put the pedal to the metal only to find the manufacturer installed a device that limits your speed to 65 mph without telling you. A sense of outrage overcomes you at the blatant disregard for your consumer rights. Well that same feeling of indignation is felt by 12.9 million Internet users in the United States today.

News stories have surfaced regarding Internet service providers limiting the capabilities of file-sharing applications noting they are interfering with popular programs like BitTorrent, uTorrent and Azureus. A test performed by the Associated Press showed that one request for sharing took ten minutes of failed attempts until it was finally put through. The test also proved that the bandwidth limitations only affected the upload side of the consumers' connection and did not directly affect the downloading of files utilizing the applications.

Some Internet providers stand behind their customer limitations because they want to improve the overall Internet experience of all their subscribers and allowing such file-sharing applications to run unrestricted would negatively affect the network. However, the affected subscribers were promised the same speed and performance as everyone else and creating limitations by subscriber's type of usage is pretty drastic.

If all Internet service providers began to follow in these footsteps the world of file sharing could come to a halt. On November 1 a coalition of consumer groups and legal scholars formally asked that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) demand Internet companies to stop interfering with its subscribers' file-sharing, stating that it is in direct violation of their stance on net neutrality. Simply put, all Internet traffic should be treated the same and allowing ISP's to restrict traffic by type would give them control of the Internet.

We as consumers need to work together to make sure that what is in the best interest of an ISP may not be the best solution for all consumers or we could end up blocking innovation. There are many debates that circle the idea of file sharing but the technology is invaluable to the future growth of the Internet and its capabilities. I know that my car manufacturer recommends that I change the oil in my vehicle every 3,000 miles but that does not give them the right to limit the speed at which I travel if I go over the scheduled mileage.

Access the Internet on Every Street Corner

I remember earlier this year reading online that Buckeye Cable in Ohio was considering offering Wi-Fi services in the Toledo area. Recently, I read another article on the Web where the plan is still in the discussion phase but that got me thinking. It would be nice to be able to log on to the Internet around the city and not just in certain local bookstores or coffee shops. To think, we could check e-mails, locate post offices, restaurants, etc. or just conduct business out of the car. Wow, technology sure has come along way.

With many business transactions happening outside of the office, I think having Wi-Fi available throughout a city, would be very beneficial. The service could be offered free or at a discounted price as an added value to current subscribers. This would lessen the need to be in the office eight hours a day and allow people to be out visiting with customers, where business is really done.

I ran across an Earthlink press release where they are offering Wi-Fi throughout the city of Philadelphia. It definitely would be great if other Internet providers would get in gear and set up this type of service in cities nationwide.

AT&T Inc. has announced plans to invest approximately $100 million throughout the next several years in fiber network upgrades, further broadband deployment and Internet-based technologies to bring new services -- including cutting-edge television -- to Nevada consumers.

The investment commitment is the result of the enactment of Nevada Assembly Bill 526, which reforms video-franchising regulations. The bill brings the benefits of video competition to Nevada consumers by establishing statewide uniform standards that streamline the video-provider authorization process and encourage competition and new investment.

The Nevada Legislature overwhelmingly supported efforts to reform Nevada's cable-franchising system by passing Assembly Bill 526 by bipartisan majorities in both the Nevada Assembly and Nevada Senate.

"We are continuing to bring good news to Nevada, and our investment in the state communications infrastructure reaffirms our commitment to both the state economy and consumers," said Hal Lenox, president, AT&T Nevada. "We are excited to bring the most advanced technology in video, voice and Internet services to Nevada consumers."

"Today's announcement by AT&T indicates that when we create a pro-business culture in Nevada, companies will want to come here not only to do business but to plant the seeds or create investments that will allow them to grow in our communities," said Gov. Jim Gibbons. "Both consumers and businesses will benefit from the most advanced technology available, and our economy will continue to grow."

DIRECTV is expanding into the Internet space through a partnership with Current. DIRECTV plans to offer voice and high-speed Internet service over electric power lines in a partnership with the broadband-over-powerline (BPL) technology provider.

Under the terms of the agreement, DIRECTV will have access to CURRENT's BPL network, initially in the Dallas/Fort Worth BPL network that will cover approximately 1.8 million homes and businesses over the next several years. DIRECTV will market bundles that includes DIRECTV high-speed Internet and VoIP services to its residential customers. In addition, the agreement provides DIRECTV the ability to add other geographic markets as CURRENT builds out its network. CURRENT's BPL network enables both Broadband services and Smart Grid solutions designed to improve efficiency and reliability while reducing the environmental impact of electric service.

CURRENT's investors include Duke Energy Corporation, EarthLink, Inc., EnerTech Capital, Google Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., General Electric Company, Hearst Corporation, Liberty Associated Partners (an investment partnership between Liberty Media Corporation and the Berkman family) and TXU Corp, among others. Further information about CURRENT Group, LLC, a privately-held company based in Germantown, MD, is available at www.currentgroup.com.

You can read more about DIRECTV's partnership with Current in Telephony Online.

Does your Internet service choice show your age? It just might. In-Stat recently conducted an online survey among 1,013 North American broadband users. The survey found that the age group with the highest use of cable broadband is the 18-29 year old segment with more than 69 percent choosing cable over DSL. That same age group also had the lowest use of DSL broadband.

Compared to last year's results and that of December 2003, this most recent survey indicates a significant rise in cable broadband use for Generation Y. In February 2006, 56.2 percent of them had cable broadband. And in December 2003, 50.8 percent of broadband users age 18-29 used cable broadband.

In-Stat concludes that the 18-29 age group in North America seems to be finding cable broadband more attractive. Cable broadband has historically offered more bandwidth than DSL, and younger subscribers are considered power users who are looking for service that allows them to download the latest music, videos, and online games.

If you need help choosing between cable and DSL, check out the Comparing Cable and DSL High Speed section of the ConnectMyHighSpeed Internet Buyers Guide.

Charter Communications recently announced the launch of www.charter.net, a home page for Charter High-Speed® Internet customers.

The new charter.net offers entertainment features that visitors are enjoying including long-form programming from Nickelodeon like SpongeBob SquarePants, The Fairly OddParents and Drake and Josh among a host of Nick programming. SHOWTIME, HBO and VH1 are also offering some of their most popular programs in full-length and short form. Season premieres of television shows, such as SHOWTIME's Dexter and Weeds and replays of past seasons' episodes such as USA network's Battlestar Galactica are available. VH1's Celebrity Fit Club as well as clips from HBO's Entourage and Flight of the Conchords and programming from Nickelodeon, MTV, IFC Uncut, Comedy Central, FX and HAVOC are also offered on charter.net.

"With the newly redesigned charter.net Web site, customers will find something new and different with each visit, along with the convenience of being able to access their e-mail, the most popular entertainment content, and news from one location," said Himesh Bhise, Vice President & General Manager of High-Speed® Internet for Charter.

According to Mr. Bhise, the redesign of charter.net was undertaken to provide high-speed Internet customers with a convenient home page "that not only provides the basics, such as e-mail with 10GB of storage per household and Google search, but now entertains with premium video content as well. The combination of free and fun entertainment with useful news, Web search and email access maximizes our customers' experience with Charter."

For more information, check out the Charter press release or visit www.charter.net.

If you are planning to get high-speed Internet service for your home, you should also start thinking about how you are going to take advantage of the amazing broadband speeds you are going to experience. You probably already know about music downloading, video clips, and online gaming but did you know you can watch live TV online too? I currently listen to radio online and I knew that you could get subscriptions to various sporting events. However, it turns out there are a ton of other sites that offer live content.

Find Internet TV™ recently announced the launch of its program Listings for live Internet TV. According to their press release, Find Internet TV Listings is the first to provide Internet users a programming grid to find live online video content. The Listings contains schedules for a variety of programming from around the world, including entertainment television, sporting events, music, and news.

"Online video, whether live or on-demand, is expanding immensely, and it has become increasingly difficult for viewers to locate the content they want to watch online. While a number of companies and sites have made their focus to index video clips on the Web, they've left live streaming video on the sidelines," says Curtis Sund, Founder of Find Internet TV. "With our live Internet TV Listings, users now have the ability to visit one central destination for complete and updated lineup of live online content."

The company says that the Find Internet TV program grid provides a high-quality user experience through an easy-to-navigate, feature-rich format. Users have the ability to jump hour-by-hour through the grid or to specific dates and times. In addition, users can save their favorite Internet TV channels for easy access.

The Find Internet TV Listings includes sites broadcasting from all over the world, in different languages, and in different time zones. To provide the best end-user experience, the site automatically adjusts all program runtimes to match the viewer's time zone.

"The number of viewers who are looking for live television content on the Internet is tremendous and ever-growing. We have witnessed it through our directory and search engine when live events take place. This first-of-its-kind live Internet TV Listings is a win-win solution for both viewers and content providers," said Birgit Schelzel, Marketing Manager for Find Internet TV.

In addition to recycling your old computer, you can help the environment when you buy a new computer if you participate in Dell's Plant a Tree for Me Program.

Dell, in partnership with The Conservation Fund and Carbonfund.org, launched Plant a Tree for Me, a program that makes it easy and affordable for individuals, corporations or even entire communities to 'go zero' by measuring and then offsetting their carbon emissions associated with the electricity generated to power an extended portfolio of IT products—simply by planting trees. Additionally, participants can offset the estimated total one-year carbon impact of an average American citizen by donating $99 to the program.

Dell administers the collection of the donation and remits it to their partners, who use 100 percent of the donated funds to facilitate the planting of trees.

The company says it's committed to helping the environment in a variety of ways. Dell currently offers consumers no-charge recycling of any brand of used computer or printer with the purchase of a new Dell computer or printer. This service includes home pick-up of the used computer at no charge. They also provide consumers no-charge recycling of any Dell-branded product, regardless of whether a replacement product is purchased.

"We have a responsibility to our customers to recycle the products we make and sell," said Michael Dell, chairman of Dell. "Our direct relationships with consumers allow us to offer this easy and free service and we encourage others in our industry to do so as well."

For more information, check out the Dell Plant A Tree For Me site.

Fifty-three percent of Internet users would replace their cable and satellite TV with broadband TV, if they could get the same TV channels, according to a new Zogby poll, sponsored by Redback Networks, an Ericsson company.

The Zogby poll asked 1006 Americans how they use broadband services, Internet-connected mobile devices and what video and mobile services they would pay for in the future. 53 percent of Americans would replace cable and satellite with broadband TV. Other findings included 55 percent who said that parents and individuals are responsible for making broadband technology safe and 29 percent who felt parents have primary responsibility to make Internet devices safe for kids.

"These findings help illustrate how people use broadband and mobile devices today and what they anticipate doing in the future. This poll makes it quite easy to imagine a world where all TV and movie content is portable and two billion cell users become 2 billion TVs or 2 billion TV broadcasters," said Alan Lippman, chief video architect of Redback Networks. "Within five years, broadband will be as video-centric as your cable or satellite service, and telephone and high-speed mobile networks may emerge as alternative platforms for triple-play services, delivering greater choice to consumers. There also are emerging revenue opportunities for broadband carriers who meet increasing demand for parental control services."

To read more about the survey, check out the press release.

According to the latest research by Cable Digital News, U.S. phone companies signed up at least 100,000 more high-speed Internet subscribers than cable companies during the fourth quarter of 2006.

CDN says that for the ninth time in the last 11 quarters, the phone companies topped cable companies as together the industries added more than 2.5 million subscribers for high-speed Internet service. The nation's largest phone companies added more than 1.3 million broadband subscribers during the quarter, compared to fewer than 1.1 million customers for the biggest multi-system operators and more than 1.2 million subscribers for all cable operators.

As the total number of U.S. high-speed customers hit 53 million at the end of December, the two rival industries finished the year with cable companies reporting more than 29.4 million subscribers, more than 55 percent of the market, and phone companies accounting for about 24 million subscribers, around 45 percent of the market.

Comcast reported the largest growth with a pickup of 488,000 cable Internet customers. Although down from its gain in the third quarter, the total is still one of Comcast's highest increases ever. Time Warner Cable followed next with 246,000 new subscribers.

The top two phone companies were Verizon and AT&T, with 409,000 and 383,000 new broadband subscribers respectively.

For more, check out the full Cable Digital News article.

The Daily Times in Salisbury, Maryland recently ran an interesting article about the importance of broadband Internet service to economic development in the local community.

The article profiles Ian McLaughlin, who says he is able to work from home is because he now travels to and from work via the Internet. He is able to call himself a telecommuter because he has fast, reliable and affordable Internet access—not something everyone in his area can claim. He feels so strongly about the importance of broadband Internet access, he frequently attends local government meetings regarding the subject.

Two separate but connected broadband initiatives are now underway in the area that are seeking to address rural broadband access. One is a $16-million project aimed at building a new fiber optic cable down the spine of the Shore from the Maryland line, past Wallops and south across the bridge-tunnel to Norfolk.

However, some feel that the initiatives will help business more than average Internet users.

"The project being funded from Richmond is not really aimed at domestic uses at all," McLaughlin said. "It is really aimed at putting lower cost high-speed applications here to allow existing business and entrepreneurial-type applications, but also to stimulate new business growth."

The article goes on to give a brief history of broadband Internet access, including the impact of Verizon and NASA on the issue. Also mentioned is the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative, a group responsible for funding, acquiring and building a broadband network in southside and southwest Virginia, including 700 miles of fiber to 20 counties and more than 60 business, technology and industrial parks.

For more information, check out the full article BROADBAND 101: Broadband important for economic development

According to a recent Reuters article, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission took a step to address a growing debate on whether high-speed Internet providers like AT&T and Comcast should be barred from charging extra fees to guarantee access to the Internet.

The article reports that the five commissioners backed a proposal yesterday to start a "notice of inquiry" regarding broadband industry practices.

Net neutrality, the concept of broadband providers treating all Internet content in the same way, has been the subject of much debate among lawmakers. Their main concern is that if broadband providers charge extra fees for more reliable service, that they would also be able to block access to the Internet—a contention that broadband providers say is untrue.

For more information, check out the full Reuters article FCC to Examine Future of Internet Access.

RCN announced that it has launched RCN Journal on its portal as a free service to existing and prospective customers. The new service combines personal Web page publishing, essential blogging features and an online video subscription service in one interface.

"RCN is leading the way by providing their customers with a clearly differentiated broadband enabled solution," said Ted Briscoe, CEO of Vibe Solutions Group. "With RCN Journal, users can create their own personal Web presence in seconds, absolutely free. They can also aggregate and personalize thousands of online video titles into their own channel viewing experience."

Journal is part personal Web page and part video content aggregator. It allows consumers the ability to publish photos, video, audio or text with drag-and-drop technology. Journal combines this publishing experience with a video content aggregator, called My Channels, allowing consumers to watch, share, personalize and publish their own video channels, ranging from professional to user-submitted content.

For more information on this new service, check out the RCN press release.

As people continue to use broadband high-speed Internet to connect to their favorite entertainment choices, the opportunities for advertisers to find an audience, and a new place to spend their money, increase as well. According to a recently released report by Adams Media Research's (AMR) new strategic analysis, by 2011, advertiser spending on Internet video streams to PCs and TVs will approach $1.7 billion, but movie and TV downloads will generate consumer spending of $4.1 billion.

AMR's Video on the Internet: Ad-Supported Streaming and Download-to-Own examines advertising and download spending on film, TV, and other forms of Internet-based video content, including music videos, sports and informational videos, and user-generated content—providing insight into the trends affecting growth in the market and forecast data for the five years from 2006-2011.

"The Internet is going to revolutionize the business of video distribution," said AMR president Tom Adams, "But in all the excitement about product launches by Wal-Mart, Amazon and Apple, people are getting giddy about how fast it will happen. We felt it was time to develop a rational set of projections, analyzing the ad-supported and download-to-own markets for both movies and TV shows in light of what the industry has learned in the past three decades of video distribution shifts."

AMR's analysis points to a period of experimentation 2007-2009, during which the ad-supported model will predominate. But as significant numbers of homes connect their TVs to the Internet, consumer spending on downloaded movies and TV shows should expand rapidly and exceed ad spending substantially by 2011.

Read more in the AMR press release.