[VoIP] WE 2500 question

[David Josephson]

Steph Kerman wrote:
> Even more of a motivation for them then! 
>
> This is the ultimate devolution of the telephone network where not only 
> is the phone a disposable consumer electronic product but so it the 
> network interface!  From an engineering esthetics viewpoint though it's 
> a much cleaner situation than the mongrel world of the past where the 
> network interface was something of quality, of value to the service 
> provider and was appropriately protected.
Not the ultimate devolution -- that comes when there is no tangible 
physical interface at all, just the permission to use a slice of 
electromagnetic spectrum, an ideal intangible asset that doesn't decay 
or depreciate, for a slice of time. In our lifetimes we will probably 
still see physical facilities of the carriers and governments being 
maintained, but there is already a move to providing mesh networks where 
the carrier has no facilities of its own except perhaps at the edge. Of 
course the carriers will keep the prices low on things that cost them 
nothing, just be sure we pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.