Comments on: Video: the next big telephony user interface http://www.saunderslog.com/2010/01/26/video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface An outcome-driven leader, proven technology product developer, and marketer with over 20 years of hands-on experience including start-up, small and large business environments, and the board room. This is my blog. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:15:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lean by Design - » Telecom and Telepresence http://www.saunderslog.com/2010/01/26/video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface/#comment-8144 Lean by Design - » Telecom and Telepresence Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:26:47 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2010/01/26/video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface/#comment-8144 [...] Saunders penned a piece today on the changing face of Telecom and the potential impact of Telepresence ‘like’ [...] [...] Saunders penned a piece today on the changing face of Telecom and the potential impact of Telepresence ‘like’ [...]

]]> By: Karl Fife http://www.saunderslog.com/2010/01/26/video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface/#comment-8143 Karl Fife Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:16:10 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2010/01/26/video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface/#comment-8143 Your example is excellent. Mobile networks not only exemplify the quality/flexibility trade-off, but underscore the willingness of the market to pay a premium (even for lower quality) if it affords flexibility (mobility). The success of SIP trunking serves as another example of that trade-off. SIP trunking affords true "PRI-like" functionality without the $500/month, 2-year commitment for 23 'channels' of call capacity! What if your small company only needs 4 'channels'? Imagine a coffee shop that only sold the coffee in 40-gallon drums! Ridiculous right? There's great irony in the inability of the LEC's to make a business of that niche market, but let's leave THAT for another day. The POINT is that something like "PRI-Lite" is available NOW, it's called SIP trunking, and it comes with some risk of quality issues. The quality/flexibility trade-off is a no-brainer in SO many situations! I will say this though: When AT&T, Comcast, Verizon et al. begin offering a flexible SIP trunking product over their managed last mile, many will pay a premium to move away from best-effort VoIP to... um... the PSTN--whatever that means anymore. :-) Your example is excellent. Mobile networks not only exemplify the quality/flexibility trade-off, but underscore the willingness of the market to pay a premium (even for lower quality) if it affords flexibility (mobility).

The success of SIP trunking serves as another example of that trade-off. SIP trunking affords true "PRI-like" functionality without the $500/month, 2-year commitment for 23 'channels' of call capacity! What if your small company only needs 4 'channels'? Imagine a coffee shop that only sold the coffee in 40-gallon drums! Ridiculous right?

There's great irony in the inability of the LEC's to make a business of that niche market, but let's leave THAT for another day. The POINT is that something like "PRI-Lite" is available NOW, it's called SIP trunking, and it comes with some risk of quality issues. The quality/flexibility trade-off is a no-brainer in SO many situations!

I will say this though: When AT&T, Comcast, Verizon et al. begin offering a flexible SIP trunking product over their managed last mile, many will pay a premium to move away from best-effort VoIP to… um… the PSTN–whatever that means anymore. :-)

]]> By: Mum http://www.saunderslog.com/2010/01/26/video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface/#comment-8142 Mum Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:46:52 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2010/01/26/video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface/#comment-8142 HIPPO BIRDIE TO YOU FROM MA & PA HIPPO BIRDIE TO YOU FROM MA & PA

]]> By: Alec http://www.saunderslog.com/2010/01/26/video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface/#comment-8141 Alec Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:20:41 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2010/01/26/video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface/#comment-8141 Karl, I agree with you. I would point to the worlds largest "best efforts" network -- the cellular network -- as evidence that we are willing to sacrifice quality. Karl, I agree with you. I would point to the worlds largest "best efforts" network — the cellular network — as evidence that we are willing to sacrifice quality.

]]> By: Karl Fife http://www.saunderslog.com/2010/01/26/video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface/#comment-8140 Karl Fife Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:15:55 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2010/01/26/video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface/#comment-8140 Maybe not such a silly question: You're right about the PSTN being 'an interface' but ultimately it comes down to whether the voice service is "best effort" or not. Yes the PSTN has VoIP components, but the quality is managed so nobody cares what's on the transport layer. The PSTN (whether true TDM or Voice over MANAGED IP) has different quality & availability connotations than 'VoIP'. So perhaps the real question for Andy's panel was "Will voice over best-effort, public IP finally triumph over Voice over more expensive, less flexible managed IP?" Not a bad question. Managing that last mile, interconnecting with quality managed backhaul providers, and 'owning' compatibility of the digital termination hardware has appropriately turned up a more expensive, less flexible, more tightly controlled product. So perhaps there is a fundamental question to explore about the market’s willingness to make trade-offs between quality vs. cost & flexibility. Maybe not such a silly question: You're right about the PSTN being 'an interface' but ultimately it comes down to whether the voice service is "best effort" or not. Yes the PSTN has VoIP components, but the quality is managed so nobody cares what's on the transport layer. The PSTN (whether true TDM or Voice over MANAGED IP) has different quality & availability connotations than 'VoIP'. So perhaps the real question for Andy's panel was "Will voice over best-effort, public IP finally triumph over Voice over more expensive, less flexible managed IP?"

Not a bad question. Managing that last mile, interconnecting with quality managed backhaul providers, and 'owning' compatibility of the digital termination hardware has appropriately turned up a more expensive, less flexible, more tightly controlled product. So perhaps there is a fundamental question to explore about the market’s willingness to make trade-offs between quality vs. cost & flexibility.

]]> By: Chris Schmitt http://www.saunderslog.com/2010/01/26/video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface/#comment-8139 Chris Schmitt Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:53:49 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2010/01/26/video-the-next-big-telephony-user-interface/#comment-8139 As always, predictions never quite turn out the way we expect. Back in the 90's we thought high-speed to the home would be DS1s and DS3s, and in the '00s everyone thought Internet over the TV would be the cat's meow, instead we're watching "TV" over a computer (e.g. Youtube) and playing computer games on TV. The problem is if you confine creativity to existing user interfaces you'll always get it wrong. The PSTN, and more accurately, e.164 telephone numbers are slowly being replaced by the web, SMS, Twitter, Skype, Communicator and a dozen other different - but not necessarily better - ways to communicate. But for now, I still have to reach my doctor, dentist, pizza joint and my Internet, telephony and Cable provider by dialing a 10 digit number. It's still the easiest and most commonly used way to contact another party. What will change that? Something completely unexpected: - we run out of telephone numbers (not for a long time)? - all the PSTN-based telephony companies go out of business (and get replaced by what?)? - everyone switches to videophones (almost nobody cares if they can see your face while your talking)? - everyone's brain get's hooked up to the net (ok, I read a lot of Sci-fi)? What ever it's going to be, it ain't here yet. The good old PSTN interface will be with us for a long, long time. As always, predictions never quite turn out the way we expect. Back in the 90's we thought high-speed to the home would be DS1s and DS3s, and in the '00s everyone thought Internet over the TV would be the cat's meow, instead we're watching "TV" over a computer (e.g. Youtube) and playing computer games on TV.

The problem is if you confine creativity to existing user interfaces you'll always get it wrong.

The PSTN, and more accurately, e.164 telephone numbers are slowly being replaced by the web, SMS, Twitter, Skype, Communicator and a dozen other different – but not necessarily better – ways to communicate. But for now, I still have to reach my doctor, dentist, pizza joint and my Internet, telephony and Cable provider by dialing a 10 digit number. It's still the easiest and most commonly used way to contact another party.

What will change that? Something completely unexpected:
- we run out of telephone numbers (not for a long time)?
- all the PSTN-based telephony companies go out of business (and get replaced by what?)?
- everyone switches to videophones (almost nobody cares if they can see your face while your talking)?
- everyone's brain get's hooked up to the net (ok, I read a lot of Sci-fi)?

What ever it's going to be, it ain't here yet. The good old PSTN interface will be with us for a long, long time.

]]>