I’m flying to Boston this afternoon and looking forward to attending another VON show.
As always, the conference has some great keynote speakers. I’ll probably do some blogging from the show.
Stay tuned…
October 2007
Facebook and General and Google and Microsoft and Social Networking and YouTube and social mediaChris on 25 Oct 2007 08:32 am
Microsoft “pokes” Google and gets Facebook…
Google has had all the right moves.
YouTube, Grand Central, Feedburner, DoubleClick and most recently Jaiku (although I like Twitter better). The company is positioning itself to be the internet advertising company and extend its dominance into mobile (internet) as that market matures. However, if you can’t beat them – you might as well go get the next Google.
Congrats to Microsoft for winning the deal with Facebook!
What do YOU think about the deal?
Related Housecleaning - we’ve done some other posts on Facebook but I need to update some tags…
National Journal cover story on blogging…
About this recipe – this dish is especially cooked for DC Diners..
Great story in the National Journal (subscription – 10/06 edition) about all of the blogging activity occuring in the District of Communications. The article covered legislation by Senator Durbin (Illinois) which was tailored with the help of the online community and it included some thoughts from some heavy hitters on K street about blogging.
We’ve talked about the great opportunity that blogging and other social networking tools can do for your business at the diner. Sean Garrett over at the 463 has covered the DC policy blog beat as well. On a related note, CTIA just launched their new blog at their IT & Entertainment show and Steve Largent seems to be a natural at blogging!
In any case, there was some discussion by a few folks in the article about whether or not this form of new media is relevant and if it is worthwhile…. My $0.2 – this is not a fad.
Start blogging!
Lawmakers, Lobbyists, Non-profits, (you name it) the time is now to join the conversation. Lawmakers can actively engage with their constituents and it is a real time way to let folks know what they are actually doing on Capitol Hill (although some lawmakers may prefer not to let their constituents know what they are doing!).
With regard to lobbyists, this could be interesting. I would encourage those who are passionate about certain topics and issues to mind-share and put your thoughts out there. You’ll learn a great deal and meet some very talented people along the way. On that note, I have met so many awesome folks in new media and technology.
There’s more than just blogging!
Do a podcast or videoblog. Start twittering or join facebook. There is so much going on in social networking and it is all very valuable. For instance, I have joined several wireless and new media focused groups on facebook.
If you are afraid – join LinkedIn!
LinkedIn is a nice online resume and a chance to dip your feet in the water of social networking. It allows you to look at who your contacts know and touch base with them (on designated interest areas). LinkedIn now allows folks to add a picture and it also has a question/answer function. I don’t think there is a great deal of utility on LinkedIn. However, it is a good way to start for folks.
Promotion – If you like this blog, please consider subscribing (via email – bottom right of menu) — its free!
Dish Disclosure – CTIA – the Wireless Association is a client.
CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment 07 and Google and Microsoft and SpectrumAshley on 23 Oct 2007 01:05 pm
Guess who won’t be bidding in 700?
I’m here at the CTIA keynote session listening to Steve Largent interview Steve Ballmer. Steve just asked Ballmer if Microsoft plans to participate in the 700 MHz auction, and unlike the ambiguous answers I’ve heard from certain Silicon Valley companies lately- Ballmer answered an affirmative “No.” He said, “We have a core competence, and the telecom industry has a core competence; it takes a real expertise to set up networks and provide customer service.”
Refreshing to get a straight answer 
CTIA’s IT & Entertainment show starts tomorrow in San Francisco. However, the “Godfather” of tech industry reporting, Walter Mossberg, decided to rain on the parade before it even starts!
Mossberg’s WSJ column and thoughts are nothing new if you have been following Skype’s Carterfone petition at the FCC (a mobilediner leftover here).
In this instance, Mossberg has tailored his comments for the everyday wireless user and if you don’t follow wireless policy everyday – you might be inclined to believe everything in it.
For instance, Mossberg states that the “federal government has allowed itself to be bullied and fooled by a handful of big wireless phone operators for decades now. And the result has been a mobile phone system that is opposite of the PC model.” This is not accurate.
It has taken years to build these digital networks (in fact, the FCC is finally allowing wireless carriers to turn off their antiquated analog networks next year) and time to acquire the necessary spectrum (industry worked to free spectrum from DoD and is working to get broadcasters off of 700 MHz) to provide capacity (industry worked hard to get rid of the spectrum cap) to offer next generation services. The future is bright and we will start to see more devices like the iPhone, N95 (and maybe a g phone) come to market. However, a network and capacity must be in place to provide a “wired” broadband experience.
The wireless industry and a business model the carriers have relied on will eventually change. As consumer interest evolves beyond service provider to applications and devices (at the edge of the network) carriers must adapt. The next few months and years will be exciting. Industry is not perfect but I believe the carriers will respond and tackle these challenges. A storm of regulation is on the horizon if they do not…
ibelieve do YOU?
Update – Steve Largent has blogged about the Mossberg column on the CTIA blog.
Dish disclosure – CTIA – the Wireless Association is a client…
CTIA and CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment 07Ashley on 22 Oct 2007 11:47 am
I’m here at the pre-show conference at CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2007 (r) getting ready for a busy day. Yesterday, I had the chance to walk around San Francisco a bit on an absolutely beautiful sunny day, and wanted to share a few photos. Even though the conference doesn’t officially start until tomorrow, there is a ton going on today so be sure to check out the show blog periodically.
CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment 07Ashley on 20 Oct 2007 01:02 pm
I’m headed to San Francisco tomorrow to cover the CTIA WIRELESS IT & Entertainment show on their blog. I’ll be back here at the diner intermittently to share whats hot on the show floor, but come check out the show blog throughout the week!
CTIA and CTIA Wireless IT & Entertainment 07 and General and Google and Microsoft and Social Networking and mobile diner videoAshley on 18 Oct 2007 09:31 am
“Old World” vs. “New World” at upcoming CTIA show..
Click To Play
On Tuesday, Chris and I went over to CTIA again to chat with Steve Largent. I had the chance to talk to him about the WMATA bill, the G-phone, and CTIA’s upcoming Wireless IT and Entertainment show in San Francisco, which I will be covering on their show blog. Steve and I got into a little bit of a debate about the “old world” of Microsoft vs. the “new world” of facebook.
Check it out!
a smorgasboard of thoughts – from the Hill…
I was up on Capitol Hill this morning covering the Senate Commerce Committee hearing on wireless issues and Senator Klobuchar’s bill. I’ve cooked up some thoughts on that issue before. However, I wanted to throw some related and other thoughts for you all to chew on…
Best Opening Statement this morning - Senator Jim DeMint (South Carolina) asking colleagues on the Committee why they would want to regulate an industry that is thriving and delivering for consumers. DeMint went on to discuss how he receives plenty of complaints regarding how the Government handles passports, food stamps, social security benefits, veterans’ benefits etc. Accordingly, he asked “what problems for America’s wireless consumers require the resources of Congress and the bureaucrats at the FCC to solve?”
Odd Statement this morning – Senator McCaskill (Missouri) has strong opinions about the “line-standing” business and will offer a bill to end this practice. In the District of Communications, if there is a hearing with high demand, many businesses will hire a line-stander so that they can cover the hearing. Our firm somtimes will utilize these services. I have a solution – stream all of the hearings online. I prefer to watch them in the office.
Best interaction of the hearing (Senator Klobuchar and Mr. McAdam, CEO, Verizon Wireless) - Bear with me as I set the stage – Senator Klobuchar discussing service quality issues and wanting carriers to report dropped calls to the FCC. Mr. McAdam took the time to discuss that there are a number of factors that affect service quality and mentioned that the type of device also can be part of the equation. He mentioned the Motorola Razr as an example of a phone that consumers wanted but due to the slim design may experience more problems…. McAdam brought up a California bill that would mandate that the CPUC approve devices to check service quality. Ms. Klobuchar fired back that “her bill didn’t do that.” Mr. McAdam let her know that her bill allows state law to preempt federal rules (last section of her bill – section 12 Preemption).
Wireless Broadband Deployment Act – Senator Pryor (Arkansas) has offered a bill that will eliminate any ambiguity of the current wireless rules and proposes one wireless framework to prevent promulgation of a patchwork of different state laws. Senator Pryor’s bill will help smaller regional carriers compete with the large national carriers (a small regional carrier trying to deal with 8 different state laws does not help them compete). It will also ignite the industry (less complexity and certainty in the regs= investment) forward. Analogous to what occurred in 1993 when Congress applied a light regulatory touch to wireless. On a related note, this is the same bill which passed the Senate Commerce Committee with bipartisan support (15-7) in the 109th Congress.
Off Topic – Today’s Roll Call (subscription) reports that a former Senator (who is now a lobbyist) was on the Senate floor while the Senate was considering an appropriations bill. A clear violation of the rules that Congress recently passed. Senator DeMint’s quote from the article – “most of the ethics bill is eyewash and window dressing.”
What are YOUR thoughts?
Dish Disclosure – CTIA – the Wireless Association is a client…
Chairman Martin – stickin on 700…
Any doubt about FCC rule changes on the C-block spectrum?
Here’s Chairman Martin’s quote from the NY Times:
“I don’t have any plans to try to revise our open-platform rule the way Verizon wants us to.”
Flickr photo credit – juicyrai
On Tuesday Yesterday, I picked up the Wall Street Journal and read with enthusiasm about at&t’s potential wireless efforts in India. At the same time, I was trying to block out the noise coming from the House Commerce Subcommittee Hearing.
With regard to the hearing, it was primarily focused on special access, forbearance petitions at the FCC, muni-broadband deployment, and copper retirement. As always, Chairman Markey (D-MA) put together a great panel, but the regulatory tone emanating from the Committee was quite troublesome.
Wireless is not immune to calls for regulation. As we know, Senator Klobuchar (D-MN) is leading the charge to empower the states who have been craving to get their hands on wireless. In any case, it is good to see other countries who have seen the good and know what wireless can do promote it. Seeing is believing and I applaud the Indian regulators for tweaking their regulations to facilitate foreign operators’ investments in their country. Unfortunately, we’ll just have to deal with the wireless whining on Capitol Hill.
On that note, the Senate Commerce Committee will have a hearing on wireless issues on October 17th. I am hopeful that some lawmakers will offer ways to enable wireless broadband deployment instead of just complaining about our “glorified radios.”
dish disclosure - CTIA is a client of our firm.
GeneralChris on 03 Oct 2007 06:58 am
On a few occasions, I’ve been asked about folks on our blogroll. Accordingly, I wanted take a moment to talk about a few of them.
I hope you’ll check them out…
Alx Klive - I met Alx in Boston (at the VON conference) last year. Alx is an entrepreneur with a great background in technology. I really enjoy his thoughts about all aspects of the internet.
Ed Sim (BeyondVC) – I stumbled onto Ed’s blog last year. Ed is a venture capitalist and his insights on technology, wireless, management, and business are always informative. I’ve learned a great deal from Ed and it turns out we just missed each other in high school.
Chris Brogan - Chris’ thoughts on community, digital relationships and business often hit the mark. We met at the VON conference in San Jose. I appreciate his friendship and all the great advice he has given us this year.
Andrew Baron (Dembot) – I met Andrew last year at VON. He doesn’t know this but he was a big inspiration for starting the mobile diner. Andrew’s passion about video over the net and the future are addicting. Andrew is also co-creator of Rocketboom.
Randolph May - Randolph discusses tech and telecom policy on his blog. He always adds great historical background and context to today’s hot button policy issues. In any case, I enjoy his columns.
We are always looking for new places to dine. Any suggestions?
If you like the food, please consider subscribing for free…
General and best of the monthChris on 02 Oct 2007 01:22 pm
As always, here are some leftovers from September that we thought you’d find tasty… Enjoy!
- Podcamp Philly –New friends and New ideas…
- “let me call you back – i’m walking into Metro.”
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