Here's a thought experiment. Imagine there was a mobile computing device that was so popular, and used so much by the many people that owned one, that all network operators really needed those users as customers (networks don't make money laying idle.) Then imagine that this device contained multiple radios so that it could communicate over every common channel. And lastly, imagine the maker of this device created an online marketplace for the buying and selling of data transit on all the various networks in real time.
The user opens the device which quickly scans the local area, consults with the transit marketplace for current rates, and then offers a menu of current connection options along with their prices. Or, with a default selection, the device always chooses the lowest cost connection. Or, with more advanced preferences, always chooses the lowest cost connection that isn't AT&T (or whatever network you hate.) Or, always chooses network X when in physical location Y (home, office, etc...) and only offers a choice when in a new location.
The customer only deals financially with the device maker (and marketplace operator) who has a track record of making financial transactions simple and painless. Network operators, almost universally despised by consumers, disappear into the background as mere utility providers. But after initially being upset at the new order of things the operators soon realize that network usage is up so much, and network utilization is so high, that even though they make less per bit in most circumstances, they are making much more money in total.
Win win win.
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The user opens the device which quickly scans the local area, consults with the transit marketplace for current rates, and then offers a menu of current connection options along with their prices. Or, with a default selection, the device always chooses the lowest cost connection. Or, with more advanced preferences, always chooses the lowest cost connection that isn't AT&T (or whatever network you hate.) Or, always chooses network X when in physical location Y (home, office, etc...) and only offers a choice when in a new location.
The customer only deals financially with the device maker (and marketplace operator) who has a track record of making financial transactions simple and painless. Network operators, almost universally despised by consumers, disappear into the background as mere utility providers. But after initially being upset at the new order of things the operators soon realize that network usage is up so much, and network utilization is so high, that even though they make less per bit in most circumstances, they are making much more money in total.
Win win win.
- jim 8-29-2009 6:20 pm