|
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Rumblings of Google becoming essentially an Internet access provider continue. (Hat-tip Zawodny, GigaOm.)
Of course I'd sign up for something like this in a snap. What's more, I can't wait for Google to up the ante to full-on phone service. This would ideally allow businesses to dump their current high-priced phone setups.
Right now that's happening only with a few early adopters. Vonage et al. just don't do it for me.
Skype, not quite. IM in all its forms: cool but limited.
Basically, what people have to realize is that global communications is about more than teens chatting. It's also about businesses working, and soon, realizing huge savings and significant productivity increases, by entering an IP-enabled environment for voice and video.
Google faces significant challenges as they try to enter this world. Microsoft was rebuffed again and again when they tried to break into the ISP biz, though they now have a diversified portfolio of ownership in this area. Google's known for creating cool products. I hope they understand that the world of global communications is also governed by regulators and the clever chess moves of the largest players. To cross this chasm will require a bold move or two, not merely hacking out the "next version."
Signed,
Google-lovin' curmudgeon
Posted by
Andrew Goodman
View Posts by Category |
|
D'oh!
|
