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More Media Coverage....

Midwest Business did a story about my review of AT&T's U-verse.

The story was accurate, except for one thing:  I don't live with my girlfriend.  (wish I did...)

NewTeeVee Did a Blurb About My Upcoming Review Which Starts Next Week

Om's new site, NewTeeVee did a blurb on me.  It was also good to connect with Paul Kapustka, who's just joined their editorial staff

My Other Blog Gets More Coverage in Telephony Magazine

I'm still trying to shift the content about my experience in using the AT&T U-verse system from  SAtechBlog to this blog.  Somehow, I missed this one:  another story in Telephony Online regarding my proposal to turn my home into the United Nations of television.

The idea here is that with more and more global telcos coming to San Antonio to do bidness with AT&T, or just hang out at Betty's, the fact is that my home is a great demonstation of a real world family setting where you can see how both IPTV and Cable are deployed without corporate speak from the cable or phone company.

Maybe I'll never solve world peace, but if you are from any global telco, a major investment bank, strategic supplier or partner to AT&T and want to come to my home, see the Toilet Seat Museum, the local DSLAM, and have dinner at the Liberty Bar, send me an email to: alan at weinkrantz dot.com.

Also, if you are a gantseh macher media exec from the studios who are doing content deals with the phone company, you're welcomed to the house. 

No, this ain't Hollywood, but you can see how our family consumes content in all types of flavors.  (I also make a wonderful brisket- so what's not to like?)

Telephony Magazine Writes About Opening My Home to Global Telco Providers

Telephony Magazine just did a story about my opening up my home to global telco providers who want to see a real live installation of a house with both IPTV and Cable.

So, no matter where in the world you are, "mi casa es tu casa." Come to San Antonio and I will not only show you my installation but take you see the DSLAM in my neighborhood and the world famous Toilet Seat Museum, just a few blocks away.  No kidding.  We really have a museum that is actually in someone's garage, dedicated to various toilet seats.

See:  we really do have culture in our fair city of 1,000,000 + people.

Interested?  Send me an email to: alan at weinkrantz com and let me know when you want to come.

"Light Reading's" Story on Flicker Light On Substance

A few days ago, I spoke with Light Reading's Mark Sullivan who wrote a story about the supposed "jitter" or flickering in the ITPV signal users of AT&T's U-verse service may be experiencing.

I cannot tell you how many calls, emails and inquiries I have had asking me about this supposed issue. 

While I think Mark's heart is in the right place, I somehow got the feeling that he was trying to develop a story line simply by finding a few users who were experiencing a  problem that is really not a problem.

Have I seen flicker on AT&T's offering?  Yes.  Maybe a few times over the last three months.  Guess what?  I have the same thing happen on TimeWarner Cable's offering as well.

I am currently running both AT&T and TimeWarner in my home.  I believe, but cannot confirm, that I am the only nut-case blogger who has both IPTV and Cable in their home.  I think that makes me a pretty good judge of the importance (or insignificance) of this issue.

Mark also points to the issue that if someone was watching the SuperBowl and the signal spiked or flicker it would be huge problem. Guess what?  During the NBA championships, I had the HD signal break up multiple times during two of the games.  And this was on the time tested cable-based TimeWarner platform.  Cause for alarm?  I don't think so.  Should we all rush out and dump our TimeWarner stock. Maybe, but for other reasons.

The fact of the matter is this:  I don't think there are any statistically significant tests available yet to determine if the flicker issue is really an issue.  Moreover, AT&T's offering is, after all still in trial phase by a few hundred people in San Antonio. Some are AT&T employees and others are people like me who just want to try it out.

I am not for or against the phone company or the cable company.  I am for new types of programming and service offerings that are going to bring new choices for consumers to view and create content.

So before everyone starts looking for something that really is not there, I would wait until the market is large enough for a market research firm like Frost & Sullivan or IDC to do a survey of both Cable and IPTV users.