Yesterday, Andrea Seabrook has an interesting interview with Jonathan Zittrain about his views on the possible future of the Internet and some of the associated telecommunications aspects: Skype, Tivo, etc.

I do not agree with Zittrain's fears about Internet "censorship". However, I do see the possibility of the telecom organizations who want walled garden content and subsidized equipment limiting the access of the Internet. This would get around the Net Neutrality and "open Internet" aspects of FCC rules.

NOTE - I am not quite willing to "give up" on open devices. In particular, I think that Zittrain misses the fact that the recent FCC auction included an open device spectrum and that the Internet has shown that there is always a way to open free distributed content (ie VoIP, Video, etc) past the guards of the walled garden.

Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, Jonathan Zittrain, Andrea Seabrook, Walled Garden, Net Neutrality, FCC

I thought that iPhones were only dragging down my local cell tower. It appears that iPhones are also "attacking" the LANs of businesses. Ephraim Schwartz looks at some of the non-cellular un-intended consequences relating to iPhone usage.... or rather "over usage".

• Are the networks of the US ready for the 'always on' iPhone?
• Can "all you can eat" data access plans support this business model?
• Will Americans allow a usage based data plan to come into effect if "all you can eat" doesn't work?

Let me know what you think? Send me an email (John.Myers@BlueBuffaloGroup.com) or post your comments.

NOTE - It appears that the only option is for higher "all you can eat" plans and not for usage plans... Or so says JD Powers...

Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, iPhone, Bandwidth Limitations, JD Powers, Billing Plans, All you can eat Billing, Usage-based Billing

Mobile users continue to ask "what's in it for me?" when they are offered mobile advertising and coupons. Erika Janes has a look at how the Oakland A's are using mobile coupons to continue to leverage their online and mobile relationships with fans.

Not all organizations have the visibility and the draw of sport to encourage mobile coupons. However, this example shows how if you are offering $5 per interaction with a customer that you can get their attention with specialized offers. Types of interactions like this will push the development of habits that will make mobile marketing and mobile coupons more mainstream rather than simply an unwanted intrusion into a person's day.

Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, Erika Janes, Oakland A's, mobile coupons, mobile marketing

Most people know that I have taken to bashing Motorola for their business strategy and lack of stock performance... Well I guess not so much Motorola's lack of stock performance, but Wall Street's reaction to their lack of progress.

However, I am not without balance here.... Nokia posted a less than stellar quarter and their stock price suffered because of it.

NOTE - I agree with Scott Moritz's analysis about the lack of a current touch screen phone from Nokia. It does show an issue with product positioning. But, I'm not sure than anyone really wants to go "toe to toe" with iPhone for high end users. It might make sense to go after lower price point buyers, but at the high price point Apple will hold the high ground for quite some time.

Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, Nokia, Motorola, Scott Moritz

While this particular information has been out for a while, I found the comments of Verizon CFO Doreen Toben to be interesting.

"We see prepaid as an opportunity, we felt in the past we left some money on the table."

The North American market has been traditionally a post-paid market. It is "ingrained" into our habits much like "all you can eat" billing for usage. The question is will the declining economic conditions be the motivation for both consumers and telecoms to make a significant change? In order for that to happen, you would need a significant downturn in the economy.... Most economists don't see the economic conditions taking that path. Then again "on the other hand..."

NOTE - I tried to find that classic economist joke about "On the one hand... but then again on the other hand". I will greatly appreciate it if anyone can find a link for that joke and/or the text of that joke. Drop me an email at John.Myers@BlueBuffaloGroup.com or post your comments to the blog.

Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, Doreen Toben, Verizon, Pre-Paid, Post-Paid