| seems like nobody gets it 1)Where did BellSouth mention Google? It seems like Broadbandreports are the ones that specifically mentioned Google.
2)Where did BellSouth say that they would slow down your connection to certain websites/applications?
Let's assume I have a VOIP and my call travels through the Internet like any other data packet and arrives at its destination with the same delay as any other internet packet, is this the way VOIP works? YES. Now let's say that Vonage can set up an agreement with BellSouth where Vonage pays BellSouth a fee, and BellSouth marks Vonage data packets so that they are sent across the network at a faster rate than regular internet data packets, is there anything wrong with that? NO. In fact this would be beneficial to both Vonage and BellSouth.
1)BellSouth makes more money
2)Vonage calls have better call quality and reliability, so Vonage customers are happier with the service.
Does Vonage HAVE to pay BellSouth? NO. Vonage is not being forced to pay more, and BellSouth will continue to pass Vonage packets like they do today with no QOS. The advantage to Vonage is a better product with reliability closer to that of regular POTS service.
As it stands right now, all VOIP service is provided on a best effort basis. This is like the Postal Service. I put a 37 cent stamp on my letter, put it in the mail and the Postal Service will make its best effort to deliver my letter to its destination. Am I guaranteed that my letter will arrive? No. Am I guaranteed how quickly my letter will arrive? No. However, I can pay a few extra dollars and the postal service will 1)Guarantee my delivery, and 2)Guarantee my delivery time. This is no different than what BellSouth is talking about. All they are saying is that your VOIP call can sound much clearer if they give it priority. Should they charge to give it priority? Yes. If I am an ISP why should I send certain packets faster than others unless I am being paid to do so, just like the postal service doesn't send that letter next day air if it is not paid to do so. BellSouth never mentioned degrading current service levels, nor did they specifically mention Google like so many of you went to rant on about. Right now if you sign on to yahoo.com or google.com or whatever you receive no guarantee as to how fast the page will load, whether its 1 second or 1 minute, its all subject to best effort delivery. Now if Bellsouth says to yahoo, "I can guarantee your pages will load in 1 second to all my subscribers by prioritizing the delivery of your packets if you are willing to pay $$$" Then let them. If yahoo says, "No its ok, let the pages load at the current best effort model currently in place" Then that's their right as well. No one is having service degraded, simply one company is choosing to pay BellSouth a "first-class" ticket and another company can choose to fly coach.
For those who say the slower DSL is coach and the faster tier is first class, you are wrong! The slower DSL just means you chose to drive a car, The faster tier means you chose to ride a train, and the fastest tier means you chose to fly a plane. If I choose to drive a car, I can drive a Hyundai or I can drive a Corvette. Hyundai=coach, Corvette=First Class; albeit on the slowest DSL. If I'm subscribed to 6M DSL, I can still have first class on a train, or I can still ride coach, and if I have a 15/2 Fiber connection then I'm flying on a plane, but I can still have first class and still have coach. The connection speed that you pay for has nothing to do with the quality of service that is offered, and that is the point that most of you miss. Why? Because all of you want everything you can get paying as little as possible. Do I wish I could pay coach for a first class ticket? Yes. Do I expect to? No.
Bottomline - Nothing wrong with BellSouth's comments, they were twisted by Broadbandreports, most of you fell for it, few understand the logic, it makes perfect sense, and you have the right to disagree. |
