Jan 4 2008 8:59PM GMT
Posted by: Tom Nolle
Cabling,
Optical Networking,
Broadband,
Triple play services,
IP services
Verizon’s FiOS plans in 2008 include obtaining some franchises in major metro centers and increasing its HD channel count to 150, both of which are likely to cause further angst for the cable companies. In the former area, Verizon faces the issue of efficient delivery to multiple dwelling units (MDUs), a technical step that it’s been working to resolve through the use of in-building fiber or MoCA cable. The latter step is simply a matter of getting the business relationships in place, since FiOS has ample capacity to deliver virtually any number of HD channels. The current Comcast-satellite war over who has the most HD will be moot when Verizon gets its full complement of channels. All of this will be fueled in part by the digital transition that is scheduled for mid-2009. The coupons for customer conversion for over-the-air sets limited to analog tuning will launch shortly, and the campaign to prepare the market is expected to create a major surge in HDTV sales in 2008 and 1H09, making the question of who has the most HD channels an important marketing point.
Jan 3 2008 8:53PM GMT
Posted by: Tom Nolle
Wireless broadband,
Wi-Fi,
Integrated devices
The CES show next week will likely introduce many to the new and almost-emerged 802.11n standard for wireless LANs. Capable of supporting data and video concurrently, this is the wireless standard that many hope will cause consumers to upgrade their wireless hubs. To date, wireless hubs are one of the least likely to be replaced home technologies, with many users having theirs in place unchanged for five years or more. Another such technology set are home switches and routers, which have installed lives as much as a quarter longer than the wireless devices. WirelessHD, which is faster but shorter in range, is also expected to be demonstrated at the show.
