[9931] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: IIA Breaks Out
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Brock N. Meeks)
Thu Jan 27 13:02:17 1994
Date: Thu, 27 Jan 1994 09:50:22 -0800 (PST)
From: "Brock N. Meeks" <brock@well.sf.ca.us>
To: Russell Nelson <nelson@crynwr.com>
Cc: com-priv@psi.com
In-Reply-To: <2d47e21d.crynwr@crynwr.com>
Russell you did some nice work on those figures. I agree that people
will soon get a big awakening after racking up large bills; my point
was to show what was *possible* -- my figure was based on a hypothetical
of full 800 number access. As you point out, when you cut those figures,
the result is signifantly less money... so they clear $1 million per
month, still not bad coin.
The salaries aren't nearly as much as you stated ($60K per year) adn the
equipment is all being underwritten, so far, by IDT, so no cost there.
It isn't IIA's intention to be "profitable," not in the least. Max
Robbins, the IIA exec. dir. has a very ambitious and well meaning goal:
bring the Internet to the world and do it "for free." He believes this
will spur a fundamental change, if it works, he could be right.
But it's IDT that found the lucrative niche. Backing IIA, IDT stands to
make a hefty profit from its association with IIA. That was a calculated
move by IDT fonder, Howard Jonas. Like I said earlier, the guy is
brilliant with a real eye for business. In fact, several companies have
copied IDT's business, which tells you he tapped into a good thing early on.
It was my intent to flesh out a story thathad been of intense interest to
the Net. I think you've made an excellent contribution yourself.
Brock
