[Fwd: Re: WebTV]

[Earl Young]

     It is not immediately clear that phone wires are too slow.  I am 
     participating in a test of ADSL service for Bell Atlantic, and it runs 
     at 1.02 MEGS (it will go up to 6) over regular phone lines - at the 
     same time the line is used for voice communications.  Unlike the much 
     slower ISDN, it does not hit the central office switch with a lot of 
     resource requirements.  Bell Atlantic is ahead of most of the Bells in 
     this technology, but Pac Bell is starting with it as well.
     
     There are several ADSL web pages that describe the technology.  
     Consider that - if the remote server is fast enough - I download at 
     home at up to 134 K per second, and you'll realize that phone circuits 
     can be pushed considerably faster than the 3 K from a typical modem or 
     the 12 K typical of an ISDN circuit.  ADSL is considerably cheaper 
     than ISDN - the "buzz" is that Bell Atlantic (if they offer it) will 
     charge under $600 per year.  The ISP involved in our test (CAIS and 
     Bell Atlantic each offer the service in the northern Virginia area) 
     charges about $27 per month.  A second phone line - which ADSL does 
     not need - costs about $15 per month, meaning that ISP charges 
     adjusted for the phone net to $12 per month.  That's for unlimited 
     access.
     
     Hope this is helpful
     
     Earl Young
     bna.com
     


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: [Fwd: Re: WebTV]
Author:  chen2 at UHCL4.CL.UH.EDU at INTERNET
Date:    1/14/97 2:48 PM


Message-ID: <32DBE65A.3461 at uhcl4.cl.uh.edu> 
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 1997 12:02:34 -0800
From: Michael Chen <chen2 at uhcl4.cl.uh.edu> 
Reply-To: chen2 at uhcl4.cl.uh.edu
Organization: University of Houston - Clear Lake 
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To: Web for Libraries <web4lib at library.kerkeley.edu> 
Subject: RE: WebTV
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There are three issues that need to be resolved before WebTV will become 
popular.  First, format conversion.  Most home pages on the Internet 
have been designed for computer monitors instead of TV.  Until people 
are willing to redesign home pages for TV viewers.  It's like watching 
letter box films on TV.  It does not feel right.  Second, habits, 
watching TV is a community event while web surfing is individual on a 
Personal Computer.  Are you going to allow one person to surf while 
others watch?   Third, communication infrastructure,  WebTVs are 
designed
to use telephone wires.  The speed is too slow.
     
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