Wireless access may not be ubiquitous (yet!) but talk about it sure is. This week I was Out & About to the New England Muni Wireless Conference that was held at the Newton Marriott. Both CCTC member Dan Gallagher and I were speakers on different panels, addressing different elements of wireless.
As I wandered around the modest trade show floor, I realized that I've been on this path before - and that we are watching the emergence of an industry. Right now, it is unclear who will profit and how money will be made. Most of the vendors are systems integrators - lots of companies who will combine A, B, and C for you to create the installation for you.
There are a lot of people holding propriety elements - hardware, software, and other special sauce techniques.
There are lot of theories about business models, but no real answers.
There's a sense that the killer app is just around the corner, waiting to emerge.
This is no longer a novelty. It's not a mature category yet, but its well on its way along the growth path.
I was struck that towns and cities of all sizes and regional geography were represented and that no one was asking 'should I do this?" Rather, the question at hand was "what is the best way to do this?"
We live in a digital world and we have digital expectations. Towns do too. Parking meter reading, civic engagement, public safety, cost savings, public service ... the list of muni wireless dreams is long and creative. Listening to the attendees one quickly got the sense that the muni-entity itself expected wireless capabilities every bit as much as you and I do.
One of the conference keynoters was Stefan Weitz from Microsoft. Microsoft has a number of muni wireless projects in play, including a newly launched initiative in Oakland County MI. He reiterated the emerging industry theme, noting that it was "early days" in the business, for both the business and the technology. He said we have seen clear consumer interest - but caution from bad experience with wireless. The search for the key application is underway, and that the robustness of the data networks is going to be an issue.
Microsoft - like Google, EarthLink, and dozens of other large players - are actively experimenting, making partnerships with municipalities of various stripes and trying on service models for size. The titans are circling - one more sign of an industry coalescing.
Later in the week I found myself at Children's Hospital in Waltham. While waiting I decided to flip open my laptop just for the heck of it and ... there was a free guest network. I downloaded a bit of email and the lovely Miss Allegra and I looked up a couple of things online while we were waiting. The first person in our medical parade came entered the room and saw the open computer.
"Do they have wireless here?" she asked with great interest.
"Yup" I said. "Free."
"Oh good" she said. And then she told me that the place that does her hair has it and so now she has something to do while she waits for the color to take.
How ubiquitous is that?
From the town green, to the hospital, to the hairdresser, wireless is a common thread. Maybe we haven't figured it all out yet, but you get that kind of diversity you know that critical mass isn't far behind.
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