The Death of Cellular is Imminent

05/28/2005 - 08:48 PM >>

Wired reports that U.S. carriers are hesitant to adopt new dual-mode phones that work on both cellular and Wi-Fi networks. Gee I wonder why?

Developers of software for so-called dual-mode phones, which can switch automatically between traditional cellular and wireless broadband networks for voice calls, are aggressively pushing the technology to carriers. So far, no U.S. carrier has announced plans to deploy a dual-mode Wi-Fi phone.

However, industry analysts say research indicates that there would be sizeable demand from cell-phone customers should such devices hit the market. A recent report by one firm, ABI Research, predicted that by the end of this decade there will be more than 100 million handsets in the world that can connect to either a cellular network or a Wi-Fi network for voice calls.

“Cost is a real factor in all of this. If you’re in a Wi-Fi setting on a cell phone, it’s fast and it’s cheap,” said Neil Strother, senior analyst at In-Stat, who doesn’t expect the technology to gain a large following for another year or two. Among early adopters, however, Strother expects dual-mode phones will sell well. According to a survey of cell-phone users released in April, In-Stat found that more than 4 in 10 respondents were very or extremely interested in buying a wireless phone with built-in Wi-Fi for voice and data.

Comments (1) Trackbacks (0)

BitTorrent Search Coming in 2 Weeks

05/23/2005 - 05:33 PM >> Broadband, Copyfight, Tech Trends

One of the few weaknesses of BitTorrent is that it is sometimes hard to find seeds. Bram has decided that his new startup’s first project will be just that:

Whiz kid inventor Bram Cohen and a small cadre of developers and entrepreneurs are in the final stage of launching an advertising-supported search engine dedicated to cataloging and indexing the thousands of movies, music tracks, software programs and other files for download over Cohen’s popular BitTorrent protocol.

The new search engine, which essentially is an agreement with AskJeeves, will go live in 2 weeks. This is an interesting move for Bram. Firstly, by building a BitTorrent search engine he is clearly aiming to solve one of the few oversights in his product and establish his new startup company as a major contender in the P2P arena. However, Bram has always walked a fine line to avoid invoking the wrath of the MPAA/RIAA/Copyright Cabals.

From a legalistic standpoint, search engines are more protected than the “tracker” sites which were summarily shutdown by the MPAA earlier this year (which we reported here along with the hilarious screenshots). Still, we worry that such a search engine will provoke exactly the kind of response that Bram has so skillfully avoided for so long. Good luck dude. You’ll need it.

Comments (0) Trackbacks (0)

Netflix takes over Wal-Mart DVD rental business

05/20/2005 - 04:49 AM >>

Engadget once again has the best writeup you can find:

Well, it looks like Wal-Mart’s master plan to bankrupt Netflix didn’t quite turn out — the world’s largest retailer is now essentially surrenduring to the much smaller internet startup and turning over their DVD rental business.

I hope that Netflix and Blockbuster enjoy their struggle to dominate the mail rental market until the point that broadband renders them obsolete (but at this rate that may take a while).

Comments (0) Trackbacks (0)

VoIP companies ordered to provide 911 service

05/19/2005 - 03:50 PM >> Broadband, Convergence, Tech & Society

In a decision that was not entirely unexpected the FCC has now ordered all internet-phone companies to provide 911 service to their customers.

In a 4-0 vote, the FCC decided on Thursday to require Internet phone companies to improve 911 access within 120 days.

Analysts say the ruling could boost expenses for Internet-phone companies, most of which don’t have deep pockets. And some doubt that Internet phone companies can meet the FCC’s 120-day target, noting that the wireless industry still has some problems with 911 access despite a decade’s worth of effort.

The irony here is that while VoIP has exploded to over 1.5 million customers nationwide in just a couple of years, they are still completely dependant on local phone companies to provide 911 service. Naturally these dinosaurs aren’t so hip on helping to build their own grave. What a surprise.

The good news is that the ruling will now force local bells to provide 911 service to VoIP customers. Yay government.

Comments (0) Trackbacks (0)

BBC Testing TV Download Service

05/18/2005 - 04:32 AM >> Broadband, Death of TV, Tech Trends

image

The Guardian is reporting that the BBC is starting a trial service allowing customers with broadband to download TV shows on demand.

Randomly drawn from applicants around the country, with the only stipulation being that they have high-speed internet access, they will be the first to experience the BBC’s so-called interactive Media Player, or iMP.

The corporation will move a step closer to delivering what it calls “iTunes for the broadcast industry” later this year, launching a public trial of iMP, which allows viewers to download any show from the previous week that they may have missed.

Clearly this is linked to the fact that Brits have become accustomed to downloading American TV shows via BitTorrent rather than suffer the months-long wait for new programs to jump across the pond. Now we here at BBB can live just fine with almost every Asian country being more advanced technologically than us. However, our blood boils over when even the Limeys have us beat. Isn’t there a reason for that whole little revolution thingy? They have a monarchy! These people are about as cutting edge as tea with crumpets and they’re ahead of us.

We are so very ashamed of you all. Mr. Bean is mocking you.

Comments (0) Trackbacks (1)

Mobile VoIP Being Tested: The Death of Cellular is Imminent

05/17/2005 - 02:18 PM >> Broadband, The Digital Revolution, Wireless

According to a News.com article, Vonage is now testing new routers which will free VoIP subscribers from computers and landlines:

With the special router and handset, individual customers would be free to roam about their home or office, untethered from a modem or phone jack and without a connection to a laptop or desktop computer.

This is the equivalent to having a wireless handset that you probably already have in your house except that the phone is automatically routing the calls over the internet rather than a phone line (but you don’t need to be tethered to a computer with internet connection). This means you can buy one for grandma.

Already in Asia, you can buy cellphones with WiFi so that you can make cell calls over an internet connection rather than using precious minutes. Only a matter of time before cellular goes the way of the Dodo. Time to evolve people (that means you have to stop dragging your knuckles now).

Comments (0) Trackbacks (0)

iTunes Mobile Coming (supposedly) in July

05/12/2005 - 05:37 AM >> Convergence, Future Formats, Wireless

While Motorola and Apple have been playing a now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t game with iTunes mobile, Gizmodo has finally managed to snag some screenshots. Now I know what you’re thinking: you think that this is the coolest thing since sliced bread. Unfortunately the history of wireless corporate incompetence in the USA is legendary and we humbly predict that Motorola will turn iTunes Mobile into something akin to what “Gigli” was to Sony. Remember folks, you heard that here first.

Comments (0) Trackbacks (0)

iTunes Music Store Now Selling Videos

05/11/2005 - 05:39 AM >> Broadband, Future Formats, Tech Trends

With the recent upgrade of iTunes to 4.8 for both Windows and Mac you can now also purchase music videos along with tracks from the store. This is a fantastic addition to iTunes as my buddies and I have been using the store as our secret source for many high quality music video downloads (of course, you weren’t supposed to be able to download back then).

Some initial coverage on MacRumors.com:

The Antidote by Morcheeba ($9.90 for 10 songs, 1 video)
Warning Shots by Thievery Corporation ($1.98 for 1 song and 1 video which is 27MB, 480x360).
Stand Up by Dave Matthews Band ($11.99 for 14 songs, 1 video, 1 PDF)
Pink Bullets by The Shins ($1.98 for 1 song, 1 video)

At this point, videos appear to be “extras” to provide incentives for customers to purchase full albums. Apple does not appear to be selling videos individually at this time. Similarly, Apple offers PDF Booklets for some other album purchases (ex: In Between Dreams by Jack Johnson).

Comments (0) Trackbacks (0)

Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Sitting in a Tree…

05/11/2005 - 04:21 AM >> Convergence, Future Formats

The future DVD standard is one of our fave topics here at BBB because it will have a huge impact on the future of entertainment. As we’ve said before, the new format war between Sony and Toshiba is more than just a reprise of the VHS vs. Betamax war of the 80’s. If these guys were smart they’d just come up with a unified standard already. Because at this rate, by the time one of these formats makes it to market, we’ll be downloading movies instantaneously to our cellphones.

Although initial reports indicated that Toshiba and Sony were on the cusp of a wet, sloppy make-up kiss over their competing Blu-ray and HD DVD standards, Toshiba totally wrote this note that was like, “What? Psh!.” And the they were all, “absolutely no decision has been made for unification on any basis,” which—OMG—and I guess Sony was still talking to Matsushita, right? And Mat was getting all skranked out because Sony was talking about letting Toshiba’s friends start making the new discs, and it was all, “Oh no. No you don’t.” So, yeah, it’s all so crazy! I think this means that Sony and Toshiba are still broken up, the whores. Right? They’re total whores.

Comments (0) Trackbacks (0)

Your Shiny New Prius is Being Hacked!

05/10/2005 - 06:04 AM >> Hack the Planet, Tech Trends, Wireless

Speaking of wireless…

Did you know that most new cars are equipped with built-in Bluetooth. Since you were probably to busy to pay attention all the other times we’ve mentioned this, having wireless data tech built into your car makes your car just as hackable as your phone. The good geeks over at F-Secure went about trying to hack a Toyota Prius in an underground bunker.

However a mobile worm infecting a car is a thought that one cannot let go easily, and even as we knew that the car cannot be infected, this was something that just has to be tested in real life.
If for nothing else than for the reason of getting to test out one very cool car.

Even you’ve gotta admit that’s pretty fucking cool.

Comments (0) Trackbacks (0)

Next Page >>