.:justwerks software:.

While at the Yukon IT Conference there was an interesting panel on VoIP and how this is affecting the unique telecommunications structure in Yukon (btw, you just say "Yukon" not "the Yukon", it sounds strange but there you go). They discussed the fact that competition is not allowed up here and the general direction to be taken with VoIP (911 issues, cost savings, location independence, the usual VoIP discussion).

I couldn't help but feel that they were missing the point. VoIP is not a big deal! Most Telco's are already using VoIP to move data around once it hits their switch. It translates into massive cost and infrastructure savings so it makes good business sense. The part that I believe they are having difficulty accepting is that other companies, higher up the value chain, can simply write some software and then take advantage of their infrastructure with zero cost to digging the trenches for it. I am digressing here, but the general gist I am conveying is that we are moving to a point in society where the we don't care about the method used to link to the internet or their bundled services, we just want a fast, responsive pipe.

VoIP is just the first piece to be moved over. I want the ability to watch TV from anywhere in the world, any time. I don't want to own a PVR that is provided by Shaw, Rogers, whoever. I want to be able to stream the HD quality video of those crazy Japanese game shows at any time. I want to be able to subscribe to any channel anywhere on the planet and watch any content whenever I wish. Give me a subscription to the entire Simpson's library instead of selling me the DVD's! TV over IP can't get here soon enough! (The BBC is doing this right now in fact and Apple has begun to sell low resolution commercial free TV shows via iTunes).

Granted, this is just a simple evolutionary step that will probably be here completely in a few years if the content providers can see the value in letting ME choose my shows when I want them, not when they arbitrarily move a show from night to night. Independent content would flourish due to lower production costs.

Voice is the first move, Video is the second, at home (global) release of first run movies, that I can pause, would be amazing for people, like myself, who live in remote locations. Why not? If the bandwidth exists, why not use it? VoIP is just the first step, think big and move fast, because I am sure this is coming...