IP: AT&T Sees a Future in DSL (and HomeRF 2.0)

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
>
> [Note:  This item comes from reader Steve Stroh.  DLH]
>
> At 16:13 -0800 1/8/02, Steve Stroh wrote:
> > From: "Steve Stroh" <steve () strohpub com>
> > To: "Dewayne Hendricks" <dewayne () warpspeed com>
> > Subject: AT&T Sees a Future in DSL (and HomeRF 2.0)
> > Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2002 16:13:11 -0800
> > MIME-Version: 1.0
> >
> >
> > Dewayne:
> >
> > Careful reading of this piece is in order.
> >
> > In my first glance at this story, I thought >WHAT< AT&T broadband
> > technologies?!?!?! Broadband Wireless was spun off to (and killed by) AT&T
> > Wireless which now has no relationship other than contracted use of the AT&T
> > brand and holding some stock (if memory serves). The sale of Broadband
> > (cable) to Comcast was just agreed-upon, governmental approval to follow.
> > NOW they think they're going to make a go of DSL, in "cooperation" with the
> > ILECs handling the last mile copper?!?!?!
> >
> > Basically, they seem to be planning to offer up to 8 voice lines + Internet
> > over DSL, in selected markets. One big problem with this is life safety
> > issues; they'll have to include hardware that includes integral battery
> > backup so that when the lights go out, the DSL/POTS interface (er, assuming
> > there is one, or maybe they'll ONLY offer cordless phones - that'd be a
> > hoot) allows customers to still dial 911.
> >
> > One of the (several) MAJOR challenges with AT&T Digital Broadband (Broadband
> > Wireless) was contention with the ILECs over provisioning phone numbers and
> > other switch issues. I've been told that it was routine procedure for AT&T
> > resort to formal complaints with regulators to accomplish what should be
> > routine cutovers of customer's existing phone numbers. Presumably, that was
> > also the case with AT&T Broadband's offering of phone service over cable.
> > With this plan, the challenge of dealing with the ILECs is compounded -
> > number portability AND last mile copper; unenviable, to say the least.
> >
> > (Obligatory wireless, for a change) The main point of this story, use of
> > Home RF 2.0, is notable. AT&T's intended use highlights some of its
> > theoretical advantages over 802.11b. HRF2 can seamlessly interleave cordless
> > phone and data, and HRF claims that FHSS works far better than DSSS in dense
> > use (like apartment buildings) of wireless devices such as access points and
> > cordless phones.
> >
> > But again, the big picture... Anyone else see this entire scenario as a VERY
> > steep challenge for what's left of AT&T?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Steve
> >
> >
> > January 8, 2002
> > AT&T Sees Future in HomeRF
> > By Thor Olavsrud
> > internetnews.com
> >
> > AT&T Corp. (NYSE:T) may have shed its AT&T Broadband subsidiary, but the
> > company is not giving up on broadband technologies. On Monday the company
> > signaled its intentions with plans to make a "controlled introduction" of
> > DSL service this year, and then followed up Tuesday by joining the HomeRF
> > Working Group as a contributor member.
> >
> > "AT&T looks forward to working with HomeRF members and other home networking
> > groups to develop new applications and to offer a smooth migration path from
> > today's analog telephone services to a new generation of multimedia services
> > we'll offer over AT&T's broadband networks," said Steve Huels, transport
> > products and services vice president, AT&T Consumer.
> >
> > AT&T seems eager to exploit the latest version of HomeRF, HomeRF 2.0. The
> > company said the standard's new voice capability, combined with AT&T's
> > advanced voice and data services, will give AT&T customers both high-speed
> > Internet access and the ability to make telephone calls over broadband
> > connections that have the same quality as those made over traditional
> > telephone lines. The standard also supports up to eight voice connections,
> > which would allow the company to push extra services, even in homes in which
> > the wiring and RJ-11 phone jacks only support two telephone lines.
> >
> > "By using the license-free 2.4 GHz frequency band and integrating voice,
> > data and entertainment on the telephone handset, we hope to make HomeRF the
> > worldwide cordless phone standard," said Ken Haase, chair of the HomeRF
> > Working Group.
> >
> > AT&T's decision to join the HomeRF Working Group builds on its announcement
> > Monday that it will issue a tracking stock for its consumer business, which,
> > along with working to offer local service in markets it expects to be
> > profitable, will also make a push in DSL using the assets it acquired last
> > spring from NorthPoint Communications.
> >
> > Betsy Bernard, president and chief executive officer of the consumer
> > division, told investors Monday that the company expects the DSL operations
> > to be profitable in three years.

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