I want my MTV (mobile TV), but not from AT&T

I'm sure AT&T doesn't really care what I want. Actually, why not broaden that to wireless data carriers in general. Earlier this week it was T-Mobile essentially banning VoIP and IM on their HSDPA network, likely indicating they will be happy to provide you those services in the future at a premium. Today it's AT&T announcing a deal with MobiTV to provide wireless television at AT&T hotspots for $11.99 a month.

Let me take a different approach: instead of stating what I DO want, I'll mention what I DON'T want and see if that helps.

• I don't want my content limited or pre-defined on a network that I'm paying a flat fee for.
• I don't want to pay for television channels twice; once at home and once on the road.
• I don't want to be told what I can or can't do on a network (provided what I'm doing is legal and not intrusive to the network or other users of the network.

I realize that "net neutrality" doesn't really govern content per the strict definition, but it goes beyond the traditional wired web; if you think otherwise, you're overlooking a potentially much larger aspect. The future of connectivity and choice of content isn't aimed at your home: it's to you, regardless of where you are.

-kct

Comments

[David]

What is it with mobile phones and watching TV on it nowadays... Do we really want to watch shows on a 2" screen? I don't... I mean, it's great that things are speeding up nowadays, making things like TV on the go possible, but come on...

[Mel Buckpitt]

My take on this is that the content providers and telco's are trying to sell to their customers using old business models. Rather than adapt their business models to deliver what the customer wants they try to preserve their domain by using weird usage terms & conditions and getting compliant government legislators to introduce restrictive regulations. For me the DRM debate (perhaps debacle?) is an illustration of the old model trying to survive.