2006-03-03
Implications of QoS
The roll out of QoS (quality of service) protocols could lead to multi-tier Internet services (WSJ.com - Consumers Could See New Web Rates: Use More, Pay More). Though the flat fee Internet isn't going away any time soon. The only places where it will is where one company has a monopoly on broadband service.
If and when these companies do exercise their monopoly powers to impose 'pay-as-you-go broadband" or start blocking competitors services, there will be backlash both by customers and by regulators. [There's already backlash going against Comcast for blocking or slowing down Vonage.] Just look back at how we got to flat-fee Internet access in the first place.
Also as soon as one wireless carrier offers all you can eat service for under $50 a month per line, all the others will be forced to follow.
Customers don't like paying for extra minutes and they won't like paying for extra GBytes.
If and when these companies do exercise their monopoly powers to impose 'pay-as-you-go broadband" or start blocking competitors services, there will be backlash both by customers and by regulators. [There's already backlash going against Comcast for blocking or slowing down Vonage.] Just look back at how we got to flat-fee Internet access in the first place.
Also as soon as one wireless carrier offers all you can eat service for under $50 a month per line, all the others will be forced to follow.
Customers don't like paying for extra minutes and they won't like paying for extra GBytes.
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Copyright by Tom Sayles.
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