[2737] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: PSI Enhances PSILink Service, Adds Support for Wireless Data
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Martin Lee Schoffstall)
Tue May 5 08:32:14 1992
To: Derek Atkins <warlord@MIT.EDU>
Cc: Alan Crosswell <alan@curta.cc.columbia.edu>, amr@nri.reston.va.us,
In-Reply-To: Your message of "Mon, 04 May 92 17:49:16 EDT."
Date: Tue, 05 May 92 08:31:01 -0400
From: "Martin Lee Schoffstall" <schoff@psi.com>
You can't make that assumption. I know that there has been a lot of
work going on in making this practical on a larger/faster scale. I
can't mention labs (because of certain agreements I've made) although
there exists on the market a radio-IP link that will get you ~2MBps
across the link.
Sorry for the confusion but, we're talking about narrow band (9.6kbps to 19.2)
radio packet stuff (specifically modified aloha). in addition we're not
running straight IP over this for an important reason - cost. but the
market place could change that eventually.
However, the mobitex subnet technology does take care of certain nice things for
you such as national if non-contiental roaming at your fixed subnet address.
Similiar to the cellular technology hand offs between base stations, and
the base station topology being "infinitely subdivided into smaller cells"
makes one feel confident in the scalabity of the mobitex technology.
Contrast mobitex here today as above with the recent cellular "data" solutions
being announced which are a couple of years away. but also have features
like the inability to roam, or not even have a standard price across the US.
Just to prove my point, I was discussing this same idea with some
friends of mine (and a few other people) over the last 4 months or
more! It's NOT a difficult idea to come up with on your own. Now,
IMPLEMENTING it, now THAT is a challenge!
You bet. And then add operating it to the satisfaction of the customers.
marty
