The ways we talk about the world
Stuart Henshall has another generative post on Skype and Mobile operators. Stuart's been pushing a valuable conversation about mobile and telephony technologies and communications experiences. This one continues that discussion.
But I was most struck by the language in the last paragraph:
Valentine's Day seems to have put me in a soft mood. Definitely can't be good for business.
But I was most struck by the language in the last paragraph:
Who is threatened?I agree with Stuart's assessment. But I just saw the following words in a new light: "threatened," "desperate," and "killer." It's probably always been this way, but it seems that almost all the news in business is about threats (to profits, revenues, growth), desperate measures (to increase profits, revenues, growth), and killer applications, or deals, etc. And maybe markets are all about aggression, winning, and losing. Is that it?
- Mobile operators need help! Skype potentially turns off you and me from any "positive vibes" for our mobile services. The Wi-Fi handset becomes a "cheap" alternative. Only way to keep us.. put Skype on the mobile.
- Handset vendors that don't accomodate / embrace Skype are left behind. Outmoded UI's, lack of presence etc.
- The Landline operators become really desperate. They will look for a Skype killer. The problem is that the solution is even more challenging for them to embrace. (think Popular Telephony)
Valentine's Day seems to have put me in a soft mood. Definitely can't be good for business.
posted by Bill Anderson at
8:49 AM
1 Comments:
Skipping over the Darwinian stuff, I was looking for SHs views on service providers. As an employee of a warring nation (aka service provider), and an arms merchant (equipment provider), I am more interested in which way the table tilts when the rules of the game change. In full disclosure mode, I had a brief fling with "Diplomacy".
After gettting four-lettered in the second turn of my first game, I announced "I quit". The offending player replied "you can't do that". At which point I offered, "where is it written in your rules, I'm invoking the higher rules". So, as to your observation about the language surrounding corporate competition: pray. We're not likely to witness an earthly resolution anytime soon.
My $0.02: VoIP will have it's way, and invert the relationship. As broadband extends its reach, the voice service is but one commodity on the wider network.
For a decade, I've felt the government should subsidize a POTS line to those individuals who have no other connection. Companies with a POTS revenue in their business plan are now going out of business.
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