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Undertoad · 02-07-2006, 11:06 AM

Most consumers, but all it takes is a small minority of experts to point out what's going on. See the Sony rootkit controversy for an example of how this would work. When the stakes are high the controversy means more to all.

An overnight, sudden loss of 5%, or even 2% of its customer base would be devastating to a large broadband provider. Particularly one that is trying to leverage its size to have an ability to control the Internet.

Firstly the economics: VOIP is cheap to start, with huge potential profits, so if one provider is "broken", two more will pop up in its place. The harder the old companies try to monetize their own VOIP services, the more profit will remain in the industry. Look at how Vonage went from 0 to 60 overnight.

Every IP connection involves not one, but two sides, both of whom have an interest in unhindered packet travel. Every connection involves not one, not two, but several different providers. Just run a traceroute (to comcast.net for example; don't trace cellar.org, it's having a network problem today) and count how many companies are involved in getting stuff from point to point. Even the shortest routes involve 5 companies. All of those companies demand unhindered packet travel and all have the expertise to identify where network congestion comes from.

Comcast's ability to provide IP services to its customers also depends on its providers interest in providing IP services to Comcast. And everyone in the world's interest in connecting to Comcast customers. Comcast slows Skype? At that point Skype blocks Comcast, and guess who loses then?

All the models have changed. There is no more Ma Bell who makes both sides of the connection and can act as a sole arbiter. There is no more 7 baby bells to try the same crap. There are now hundreds of infant bells, many of whom have competitive advantages. And now, millions upon millions of switches no longer in the control of a single entity... or even a single regulatory body.

The companies with a lot of customers simply have further to fall. When someone's phone works off their laptop at Starbucks, but not at their home next door, it will be obvious what's happening.

02-07-2006, 11:06 AM	#10
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Most consumers, but all it takes is a small minority of experts to point out what's going on. See the Sony rootkit controversy for an example of how this would work. When the stakes are high the controversy means more to all. An overnight, sudden loss of 5%, or even 2% of its customer base would be devastating to a large broadband provider. Particularly one that is trying to leverage its size to have an ability to control the Internet. Firstly the economics: VOIP is cheap to start, with huge potential profits, so if one provider is "broken", two more will pop up in its place. The harder the old companies try to monetize their own VOIP services, the more profit will remain in the industry. Look at how Vonage went from 0 to 60 overnight. Every IP connection involves not one, but two sides, both of whom have an interest in unhindered packet travel. Every connection involves not one, not two, but several different providers. Just run a traceroute (to comcast.net for example; don't trace cellar.org, it's having a network problem today) and count how many companies are involved in getting stuff from point to point. Even the shortest routes involve 5 companies. All of those companies demand unhindered packet travel and all have the expertise to identify where network congestion comes from. Comcast's ability to provide IP services to its customers also depends on its providers interest in providing IP services to Comcast. And everyone in the world's interest in connecting to Comcast customers. Comcast slows Skype? At that point Skype blocks Comcast, and guess who loses then? All the models have changed. There is no more Ma Bell who makes both sides of the connection and can act as a sole arbiter. There is no more 7 baby bells to try the same crap. There are now hundreds of infant bells, many of whom have competitive advantages. And now, millions upon millions of switches no longer in the control of a single entity... or even a single regulatory body. The companies with a lot of customers simply have further to fall. When someone's phone works off their laptop at Starbucks, but not at their home next door, it will be obvious what's happening.