Hello! And welcome to our Friday column, Worst of the Week. There’s a lot of nutty stuff that goes on in this industry, so this column is a chance for us at RCRWireless.com to rant and rave about whatever rubs us the wrong way. We hope you enjoy it!
And without further ado:
Well, due to an unfulfilled prophecy, this week’s Worst of the Week column had to be re-written into something with more of a wireless angle. You see, this column was all set to be based on how it really sucked that the world was ending; that all of these volcanic eruptions and earthquakes were really a bummer; that the zombies roaming the streets were really going to put a damper on this weekend’s Memorial Day celebrations; and I was going to touch on the fact that my cell coverage had really taken a hit.
Unfortunately, the end of the world (apparently) got postponed for at least a few more months, and instead I was forced to come up with a column that was a little lighter on the apocalypse news, and with a greater emphasis on wireless.
Thankfully, a new application has recently been launched that has allowed me to keep some of that doom and gloom from the apocalypse while still talking about wireless. What is that magical app you may be asking?
Yes, the ongoing scourge of the broadband world has now sank its claws into the mobile space with the launch of the Netflix application that allows those of us who just can’t get enough “Three’s Company” and “Nacho Libre” to now watch these television and cinematic masterpieces virtually wherever we are. And best of all, by doing so we are guaranteeing the virtual destruction of those wireless networks that we love so much, but don’t really want to pay too much to use.
It’s really a win-win.
Before Netflix, I thought for sure that wireless networks would see their eventual demise from a 3D version of “Angry Birds,” or perhaps some cloud-based music service. But nope. It will be good ‘ole Netflix that will be the end of it all. And I will be laughing the whole time thanks to Jack Tripper’s continuous hijinks. Is there not a couch that man cannot fall over?
Sure, the Netflix application is currently only available on a few select smartphones, but we all know that will change shortly in the app-mad society that we now somehow try to exist in.
Thankfully, carriers to this point have not taken this threat that seriously, which will give the general public plenty of time to become so attached to the service that once carriers do begin to act it will light up message boards, Facebook pages and Twitter accounts to a level that in and of itself could doom wireless networks.
Like I said, win-win.
At some point carriers will begin to aggressively implement data caps for smartphones in an attempt to prolong the life of their networks. But, this will only lead to greater public outrage, which will eventually make its way up to some politicians somewhere who will use the cause to berate the evil wireless industry and call for the freedom of the airwaves. FREEDOM!!!
Carriers will then find themselves in a sticky situation as they will continue to allow streaming video services with companies they have partnered with to have unlimited data sessions not subject to data caps, which will just throw more celluloid onto the fire.
Of course, in a few months that fire will be real as the end of the world will again will be nigh. And while this might be a bit of a bummer for those of us not likely to be on the “good” list, it will at least take some of the heat away from the Netflix-fueled outrage that carriers are set to experience.
See, like I said. Win-win.
OK, enough of that.
Thanks for checking out this week’s Worst of the Week column. And now for some extras:
–So, still not convinced that AT&T saying its proposed acquisition of T-Mobile USA is not good for everyone? How about The National Grange throwing its support behind the deal?
That’s right. The National Grange, also known as the nation’s oldest agricultural organization with more than 200,000 members, said it was in favor of AT&T rolling up the nation’s No. 4 operator. The organization notes that the deal will result in additional investment in wireless broadband for rural areas.
So take that all you deal bashers.
I welcome your comments. Please send me an e-mail at: dmeyer@rcrwireless.com.
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