some com news

[David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

SLASHING NETWORKING COSTS
        Silicon Valley upstart First Virtual Corp. says that by early 1995
it will deliver ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) networks for less than
$500 a PC, considerably less than the $2,500 to $4,000 currently charged.
First Virtual's networks will operate at a slower speed than some of its
competitors, but will be compatible with existing networks and will use
standard wiring. (Wall Street Journal 5/27/94 B5)


FCC CONSIDERS NEW WIRELESS STRATEGY
        Acting on a suggestion by Motorola, the FCC is considering a new
blueprint for mapping out wireless pocket-phone and data services. Rather
than earmarking two 30-MHz, one 20-MHz, and four 10-MHz licenses at a
variety of frequencies, the new strategy calls for three 30-MHz and three
10-MHz licenses, all falling within adjacent, lower frequencies. Motorola
says pocket phones could cost about 25% less under this arrangement,
because they would not need the sophisticated gear necessary for switching
between non-adjacent frequencies. (Wall Street Journal 5/27/94 B6)


NOT YOUR FATHER'S OLDSMOBILE
        @Wired, the name for Wired magazine's new business venture, will be
"part on-line service and part cyber-salon," according to New York Times
writer John Markoff, but it won't look like Prodigy, America Online or
Compuserve. Wired has its own view of the future. "The big sumo-wrestler
corporations that are stumbling around trying to dictate the information
superhighway have entirely missed the point," says Wired's publisher. "It's
not about content, it's about connectivity." (New York Times 5/29/94 Sec.4
p.7)