On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 07:12:41 -0800, Bob Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Jeff_W wrote: > Currently, there is an open standard for VoIP and a bunch of small > players. There's no natural monopoly as long as the bulk of users > stay with the open protocols. If a critical number of people adopt a > closed protocol, a natural monopoly will develop because of Metcalfe's > Law. Then VoIP will be screwed.
Not necessarily, it may be possible to reenigne the wire protocol (SAMBA), or it may be that the market landscape doesn't lend itself to monopoly (unlikely). Unfortunately it seems that on some levels skype is already crossing the threshold many more people have heard of skype than of VOIP. However you are leaving the traditional telcos and longdistance companies out of the equation, they don't like skype, they've been using VOIP on the backend to transport calls for years, they have brand name recognition, and infrastructure and expertise, but they've so far been unwilling to compete with each other on packet switched pricing because they all like the fat profits of charging people for regular phone service and using cheap digital tech to deliver it, if they feel threatened it could change. -- http://Zoneverte.org -- information explained Do you know what your IT infrastructure does? _______________________________________________ EUGLUG mailing list [email protected] http://www.euglug.org/mailman/listinfo/euglug
