Interesting People mailing list archives
IP: Personal Web site for wireless/wired use
From: David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
Date: Wed, 08 Oct 1997 14:02:25 -0400
From: "Alan A. Reiter" <reiter () wirelessinternet com> To: <farber () cis upenn edu> Subject: Personal Web site for wireless/wired use Date: Wed, 8 Oct 1997 10:26:47 -0400 I've been quoted in some publications recently about the AT&T PocketNet launch. I think the cellular industry blew it by not building out CDPD nationwide a year ago. And the manufacturers blew it by offering devices with tiny screens. So, I think PocketNet as it exists today is a non-starter -- despite the supposedly multi-million dollar advertising campaign about to launch from AT&T. I don't think people will want to spend $299 on a phone with a tiny screen, variable nationwide coverage and penetration, another e-mail address, and information services that aren't terribly useful. However, AT&T has debuted a concept that's interesting -- a free "personal Web site" where you can download your address book for easy access into the phone. In fact, I wonder if it could be the start of a new business. Yes, I know that many of the people who carry a PocketNet would carry an electronic organizer and I also know that there can be security issues. Here's what I like about it, though. If the phone is supposed to be a standalone device -- where it's useful without needing another device -- then the idea of easy transferability of information to the phone seems logical. Wouldn't it be nice if you could have your own personal Web site ("external intranet," whatever you want to call it) where you could store a host of information and easily access it wirelessly or via landlines? Obviously, this isn't a service you would need! Perhaps there could be a program that automatically synchronized your wireless Web site with your desktop information (no limits -- PIM stuff, databases, whatever) with your electronic devices. When you pressed a button (on some device -- desktop PC, for example) you automatically update everything you have, based on various filtering criteria that you've previously established for different devices -- Pilot, REX, phone, pager. (Again, you're not stranger to this concept!) If AT&T (or someone else) could establish a service where -- without any knowledge of HTML -- you could upload your information to this external intranet so you could access it wirelessly or landline, I think the idea would have value. It would be especially useful for people who don't have MIS departments. Or, don't wait for your MIS department. Convert your own desktop databases into comma-delimited format and upload it to your external intranet. Of course, I also understand the argument that if you need information that badly you will find a way to carry it on your person -- yes, but sometimes you forget or you want to carry only one device -- a phone or two-way pager with limited storage. Would I pay for this service? Maybe. I pay $99 a year for Safeguard for backing up my files over the Internet. I think I might pay the same amount for a personal Web site for the convenience. On the other hand, perhaps people won't give a damn because they just don't have that much information they need to access this way! That's been a problem with wireless data in general -- the lack of truly compelling applications. Alan ************************************************** "Photons have neither morals nor visas" -- Dave Farber 1996 **************************************************
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- IP: Personal Web site for wireless/wired use David Farber (Oct 08)