Comcast Stream TV Usage Does Not Count As "Usage" for Internet Access Customers, Nor Should It

“Stream TV” is a managed video service sold by Comcast. For that reason, Comcast high speed Internet access customers are not charged for usage when they watch Stream TV content, any more than they are charged data usage when watching linear TV.

Consumer managed services that happen to use IP are exempt from all network neutrality rules. That applies to carrier voice or messaging, as well, for example.

In some quarters, zero rating is viewed as a violation of network neutrality rules, not in the sense of violating the rule about “best effort” access, but because, some say, zero rating does not “treat all bits equally,” in a business model sense.

For such reasons, some object to T-Mobile US allowing access to all compliant streaming audio or streaming video services without any charges against a mobile Internet service plan bucket, despite the obvious consumer benefits.

Some might argue network neutrality does not--or should not--apply to business models, pricing, terms and conditions for Internet access services.

Will Cloud Services Be Bigger Revenue Driver than Ads, for Google?

Google, most would agree, is viewed as a laggard in the enterprise cloud infrastructure market. But Urs Hölzle, the head of Google’s cloud business, believes it is possible that, within the next five years, the Google Cloud Platform revenues could surpass Google's advertising revenue.

That would be a huge development. Google was the first technology business to have an advertising business model. But many have asked “what comes next.” 

Coud services might be part of the answer.

source: Business Insider

Will Internet Content Business Eventually Face Regulation?

Historically, content businesses in the United States have tended to develop in “vertically integrated” form, and then are subjected to regulation to prevent full integration. That is why there are ownership restrictions on movie studies owning theatrical exhibition assets, or limits on TV networks owning local broadcast TV stations.

Online content markets are too new to have developed major political pushback against integration.

But content ecosystem roles are evolving in ways that mimic older forms of vertical integration, and might eventually lead to new restrictions on such integration. For that moment, that remains a distant probability.

In the older model, while some degree of multi-role ownership is permitted, roles were fairly separated. TV networks were mostly relegated to program development, while others handled distribution.

The emerging online markets have yet to take full form. But one notable trend is that, in most cases, ecosystem contestants are attempting to operate in multiple roles. Google might mostly be a platform, but it also has become a distributor and an access provider. So far, Google has made fewer strides toward a content producer or packager role, compared to Amazon, but that seems to be on the horizon.

Netflix and Amazon mostly are distributors, but also partly content developers. Verizon and BT mostly have been distributors and access providers, but are moving into other roles in content packaging.

Such blurring of ecosystem roles also is characteristic of any unstable industry, especially those undergoing technology change and business model evolution. Typically, contestants first move into the adjacent roles. Content creators (studios and producers) look at packaging (Hulu).

Packagers move into content creation (Amazon or Netflix). In fact, in an online delivery context, the roles of packaging and distribution fuse, in many cases. Netflix both packages and distributes.

In the case of Amazon producing its Kindle devices, a further move into user interface also has occurred. In an online ecosystem, the role of “platform” likely also must be added, something Facebook and Google best exemplify.

Apple would occupy the primary role of user interface, but also became a packager and distributor with iTunes.

As always, vertical integration makes sense for a content business. Just as inevitably, at some point, regulators step in. That will be quite messy.  

source: Jeffrey Funk

You Can't Sell Internet Access to a Person Who Doesn't Know Why They Care About Internet Apps

People have to know why they want to use the Internet before it makes sense to consider buying Internet access, especially when disposable income is hard to come by, according to Chris Weasler of Facebook.


Is access the only barrier to India Internet adoption? from PTC-TV on Vimeo.

India Mobile Market is Unusually, Though Not Uniquely, Difficult

Some mobile markets are more challenging than others. Consider India, for example. Less spectrum than generally is available, low average revenue per user, higher spectrum and infrastructure costs are among those obstalces, according to Rajan Mathews of the Cellular Operators Association of India. 



India Mobile Market is Unusually Challenging from PTC-TV on Vimeo.

How Much Can Rural Indians Afford to Pay for Internet Access?

Professor Rekha Jain frames the issue. 



How Much Can Rural Villagers Afford to Pay for Internet Access? from PTC-TV on Vimeo.

Sprint Promotion Offers New Subscribers 50% Lower Than What They Now are Paying AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile US

In a promotion aimed at grabbing price leadership from T-Mobile US, Sprint has launched a promotion simply offering service at half of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile US rate plans.