I can't see how Bluetooth would be a competitor to Wi-fi?
As far as I know bluetooth is all about removing cables between computers,
printers and phones while Wi-fi is a technology/service which is mainly
used to hook up laptops and PDAs to the Internet. At this point I would
say a Wi-fi's main competitor is the Internet-cafes. If you can connect
your own computer to internet you would probably do that instead of using a
computer at an Internet-cafe.
About one and a half year ago I was looking into the Wi-fi area for an
investment company and as you say the main expense is the Internet backhaul
but as long as that is already arranged, setting up a Wi-fi accesspoint is
neither rocket-science nor expensive.
And yes, people will be paying the possibility to connect their own
computer to the Internet. But they will probably only pay a lot for it as
long as no other much cheaper option is available. If you can sign an
exclusive deal with an airport, then you might have a good business.
Compared to mobile operators I think companies that provides Wi-fi services
will remain very small.
Also, a problem for companies providing Wi-fi access would probably be the
number of free networks that is available at least here in London. As we
know from internet-content-providers, people won't pay if there is a free
option...
Then of course, there is a huge differens in charging for technology and
charging for services, perhaps Forrester were more looking into the
technology area.
Gustaf
At 13:39 2003-06-20 +0200, you wrote:
>Some interesting ideas:
>
>"According to Forrester, there will be just 53 million
>Wi-Fi-enabled laptops and personal digital assistants
>(PDAs) in use in Europe by 2008. In addition, only
>7.7 million people who use them will be prepared
>to pay to use Wi-Fi wireless hot spots. Wi-Fi networks
>create a 300-foot zone where laptops can wirelessly
>connect to the Web or to a corporate computer network.
>
>"Simply, basic constraints on the number of devices in
>use, and users' willingness to pay a significant amount
>for Internet access on the go, will limit public WLAN users
>to numbers well short of planned networks' carrying
>capacity," Godell predicted. "Additionally, the sky-high
>costs of providing Internet backhaul from hot spots
>will kill many hot-spot business cases."
>
> Forrester predicts that Bluetooth, a rival short-range wireless
>technology, will be much more widespread than Wi-Fi, and
>expects that there will be 286 million Bluetooth-enabled
>devices in Europe by 2008."
>
>Full text on C-NET:
>
>http://news.com.com/2100-1039_3-1019111.html?tag=lh
>
>I personally agree on most on the points. There is
>too much hype...
>
>What do you think?
>
>Giovanni
>
>________________________________________________________
>giovanni bertani mobile vas consultant and analyst
>exsense verona italy
>
>
>
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Received on Fri Jun 20 20:57:37 2003