Tuesday, July 28, 2009
What would you do if a state's economy was continuing to fall, retailers across the state were moving out, closing doors, shutting down, and giving up? Well, you'd step right into the voids they leave behind, right?

That's precisely what 7-Eleven plans to do according to the LA Times. They have reportedly hired a commercial real estate broker to sniff out 600 new locations for them. Why here? Why now? The vacancies left behind as other retailers move out make this the most affordable time to launch such an expansion.

What's more, it might even work, too! Believe it or not, while other retail business is tanking, c-stores sales continue strong. "When you're thirsty, you don't check your 401(k), you just go in and buy a drink." Commented Jeff Lenard, spokesman for the National Association of Convenience Stores.

Labels: 7-Eleven, Convenience Stores, Economy

posted by Unknown at 8:59 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Throughout the nineties, this phenomenon of the Internet grew in unimaginable ways. From the first successful ping, to "billboards" to the first browser software your local ISP probably sold you. Today, we download browsers for free and comb unthinkable measures of web-content at broadband speeds 100x or more the first dial-up modems of yesteryear.

And then it happened. Someone realized: hey, if our phones were once used to connect our homes to Internet, can cell phone's do the same thing? Genius. Monumental. And pitifully implemented... at least at first.

As the Internet had evolved to multimedia and broadband-reliant content, the first crack at mobile broadband was based on regression. The devices couldn't handle it. The network couldn't connect it. So, let's go back. let's simplify. Let's reminisce of days gone by when functional limitations confined us to little more than plain text and a few GIF's, if you dared.

The faux pax of the telecom industry was in leaving such an indelible mark on the Internet and web development. Even as fixed wireless broadband has reached 3G and 4G speeds and mobile devices browse with virtually the same capability as desktop machines, the concept of Mobile Web hangs on. I find it most frustrating when I access sites like Amazon, Facebook, or Twitter that assume without question the device in my hand cannot handle their best content. The device, mind you, that cost almost the same as the laptop on my desk. The device, mind you, which can support cookies, as in, a cookie that says "no, take me to the good stuff in the future."

But alas, we still endure the legacy of the Mobile Web. It's a wonder they didn't start selling small picture frames to accompany the low DPI of the first camera phones.

Labels: "Internet infrastructure", Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Mobile Web

posted by Unknown at 7:44 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Friday, July 17, 2009
With less than 4 weeks remaining to take action on available grants and loans--all part of a federal stimulus package aimed at beefing up the nation's wired and wireless networks--many providers have yet to take action. Why? Well, these aren't exactly "no strings attached" deals.

Vice President Biden recently announced the availability of $4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act loans and grants, which are specifically aimed at bringing rural broadband access to un-served and underserved communities. Nonetheless, providers like CenturyTel, Inc. haven't lifted a finger to tough the funds, which could go a long way in funding their LTE network plans for the coming years. "We just don't know yet," a company spokesman told Unstrung Wednesday. "We're still evaluating the notice that came out at the end of June."

Yet another company, Open Range Communications, is balking at the latest offer after having received a reported $267 Million from the Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Utilities Program (RDUP) in March (a previous edition of a stimulus package aimed at rural broadband access).

With this latest stimulus offer announced by Biden, the deadline for applying for the funds is notably tighter. Companies are faced with deciding whether they can/will accept the terms of the funding while they only learned of said terms as late as July 1st. And, it seems, many may decide the easy money may not be worth the strings it has attached.

Labels: Broadband, Network Providers, Rural Broadband, Rural Broadband Access, Stimulus

posted by Unknown at 8:21 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Tuesday, July 7, 2009
"Broadband is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity; and it's no longer a privilege, it's a right," said Michael Lai, CEO of Packet One, speaking during a panel discussion at the CommunicAsia exhibition in Singapore. Packet One Networks is a provider of fixed wireless broadband throughout Malaysia. Their WiMAX services were introduced just last year, and though coverage is still limited, the company is aggressively growing their network.

In an interview with IDG News Service, Lai commented his belief is to invest when the economy is down. Though only 20 percent of Malaysia currently has broadband access, considerable less than nearby Asian countries like Singapore, the Malaysian government is hopeful they can reach 50% coverage by next year. That's an extremely aggressive growth plan. How will they do it?

Lai, of course, sees fixed wireless broadband as the solution... and so do we. First, the cost to roll out GSM network infrastructure across the rural landscape of Malaysia is far less than creating a terrestrial network from scratch. What's more, the speed of a roll-out is also critical for Packet One Networks' aggressive subscriber growth goals. They hope to turn their 10,000 subscribers today into over 200,000 broadband subscribers by 2010.

There are, of course, obstacles in the way. Not the least of which are the existing cellular providers with 3G broadband capability. Oh yeah, and let's not forget the economy. But it seems in this case, wireless is driving the economy, not the other way around. Malaysia's aggressive push toward rural broadband access coupled with Lai's aggressive growth goals all while capital is tighter than ever means one thing: under these economic conditions, wireless is the only way to drive such growth.

Labels: Broadband, Economy, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband, Rural Broadband Access

posted by Unknown at 4:38 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments

Thursday, July 2, 2009
Robert Evatt, a staff writer for the Tulsa World in the nations most stereotypical rural state: Oklahoma (ok, maybe a close second to Kansas) chronicled his recent visit to a rural community and the broadband access that was noticeably absent. Evatt writes: "As it stands, we're creating a sizable gulf between connected areas and disconnected areas."

I noticed something subtle in Robert's experience, and in his commentary thereof, that struck me today. He doesn't say that "there exists" or that "there remains" a gulf. In Robert's estimation, and I would tend to disagree, "we're creating."

Certainly we cannot argue that with less than 70% of homes in America having access to broadband internet, and likely a similar number of businesses, the gulf is undeniable. I call it a gulf because, unless you've live in disconnect, you can't quite appreciate the real isolation it creates. Not just from a social standpoint--the inability to call dad on a cell--but the business disadvantage, ecommerce breakdown, etc. Can you imagine a local grocer who relies on imprint machines?

However, this gulf is being filled in faster than midway of Chicago. I don't agree that we're (any longer) creating a gulf. In years past, perhaps the ISP's and tcom giants were blind to the impacts of leaving rural areas behind. But today, we're seeing companies like AT&T step up to the rural broadband challenge. Organizations like the Internet for Everyone are rallying to the cause.

I applaud the fact that we are today bridging the gap for rural broadband with fixed wireless broadband technology.

Labels: ATT, Broadband, Fixed Wireless Broadband, Rural Broadband, Rural Broadband Access

posted by Unknown at 3:35 AM Link to this Article  0 Comments