December 2010

'DPI' by any name continues to climb in importance

Infonetics Research released its updated Service Provider Deep Packet Inspection Products Market Outlook, a market share and forecast report that tracks standalone DPI solutions and vendors. As in its previous report, Infonetics still thinks that the DPI product market will grow 6-fold to $1.5 billion by 2014 (previous estimates were for that to happen by 2013). The extended period for that growth could have something to do with lingering distrust around net neutrality and previous issues around DPI. Those issues still conjure up bad feelings in the mainstream as its abuse by some MSOs is still remembered; and therefore, telcos may pay the price for a while for being straightforward about its use. I even notice some vendors are coming up with fancier marketing names for what essentially equates to “DPI,” but perhaps they don't want any negative feelings about that label to hinder their ability to sell and deploy solutions, as some continue with a wait-and-see approach to DPI.

However, it does seem like we are moving into a different generation of DPI now, so infringement of net neutrality shouldn't be as big an issue as it was a couple years ago. Though “DPI” used to -- in some circles -- equate to “throttling” or “behavioral targeting,” DPI today really seems to be more an enabler to making networks more “visible” for the purposes of better predicting usage and peak congestion times. Therefore operators can devise better marketing and capacity management strategies -- tailored around the actual usage by different types of users at different times, and the availability of different elements on the network to support the peak periods.

FCC Launches Remake Of Radio Spectrum Technology

In an obscure and largely overlooked Notice of Inquiry, the Federal Communications Commission has begun to overhaul the very foundations of radio communications.

The first practical radio transmitters, early in the 20th century, used a simple “spark gap” technology that spread signals over a wide swath of frequencies. This was not a problem when few transmitters existed, but as their numbers increased, the then-useful part of the spectrum soon became crowded. Within a few years, engineers were using then-new vacuum tubes in conjunction with a circuit that limits a radio signal to a specific frequency. That solved the immediate congestion problem, as each transmitter could be assigned a frequency different from others in the vicinity. Now, a century later, we still use that same system. Every licensed transmitter, whether flea-powered walkie-talkie or megawatt TV station, is assigned a specific frequency. The FCC now wants to expand automatic spectrum-sharing to help alleviate the shortage. Rather than offer specific proposals, however, it is on a hunt for ideas.

Most docs using at least partial EHR: CDC

Adoption of health information technology is growing among office-based physicians, according to preliminary results of a survey released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than half of physicians reported using at least a partial electronic health-record system in their practices, according to 2010 estimates from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, conducted by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. That figure is up slightly from 48.3% of physicians in 2009. Nearly a quarter of physicians surveyed said they had an EMR in place that met criteria for a basic system, defined as having capabilities for viewing imaging results, medication lists, lab results and other features. And about 10% said they have a fully functional system in place. Rates of adoption, however, varied widely from state to state, researchers found. More than 80% of office-based physicians in Minnesota reported having at least a partial EMR in place in 2010, but the rate was less than 40% in Kentucky and Louisiana.

Smurf app for iPhone, iPad accused of encouraging kids to go on Smurf spending sprees

When "The Smurf's Village," a game for iPhone and other Apple gadgets, came out in November, it shot up the charts, becoming the highest-grossing app in the Apple store. And, get this, it was free. So why are parents turning red with anger? Smurfberries.

One California mom realized her 4-year-old had spent $66.88 on virtual Smurf stuff in the game on the iPad before she figured it out and stopped him. Fortunately he did not discover the "wheelbarrow" option, which can be purchased with two taps and sets you back a whopping $59.99. Now, don't go complaining that we are picking on the Smurfs. The makers of Smurf's Village have added a warning ("PLEASE NOTE: Smurf Village is free to play, but charges real money for additional in-app content. You may lock out the ability to purchase in-app content by adjusting your device's settings") and are considering warnings inside the game.

Capcom Entertainment Inc., the publisher of "The Smurf's Village," says inadvertent purchases by children are "lamentable." And the Smurfs are certainly not alone: Six of the 10 highest-grossing iPhone and iPad games are free but encourage purchases. And we are wagering that the bulk of the Smurfs' haul comes from "addicted adults" who want to quickly build their villages, adding bakeries and zoos (I mean, who wouldn't, right?). Right now the game is the fourth-highest grossing game in the App store.

Connecticut attorney general takes legal action to get Street View data from Google

Attorney General (and senator-elect) Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) is taking legal action to force Google to turn over consumers' data it says it inadvertently collected while operating its Street View service. The legal action is in the form of a "civil investigative demand," essentially a subpoena. Google has allowed international regulators to review the data, which includes passwords and entire e-mails. But Google has refused to allow AG Blumenthal to review it.

CTIA will 'unequivocally' oppose network neutrality if wireless rules strengthened

CTIA, the wireless industry lobby, is OK with the Federal Communications Commission's network neutrality plan as it was proposed last week — but if the rules are strengthened, the association will oppose the effort.

"We're not happy where he's at, but we can live with the rules that have been proposed," said Steve Largent, the association's president. If anything more than "a thee or thou" changes, Largent said the wireless industry will "unequivocally" not support the proposal. "We think we've compromised right now," he said. "Any substantive change that applies more regulation to the wireless space would be opposed by the wireless association."

Procter & Gamble moves from soap operas to tweets

Procter & Gamble, whose sponsorship and production of daytime TV dramas helped coin the term "soap operas," has pulled the plug after 77 years. Instead, the maker of Tide detergent, Ivory soap and Olay skincare is following its customers online with a big push on YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

"The digital media has pretty much exploded," marketing chief Marc Pritchard said. "It's become very integrated with how we operate, it's become part of the way we do marketing." The last P&G-produced soap opera, "As The World Turns," went off the air in September. The show was the leading daytime soap for decades, but had lost some two-thirds of its audience at the end. Over the years, P&G produced 20 soap operas for radio and TV. But ratings for daytime dramas have been sinking for years, as women, their target audience, increasingly moved into the workplace, switched to talk and reality shows, and spent more time using online media and social networking sites.

P&G, the world's biggest advertiser, still buys individual commercials on daytime dramas. But the dollar amount has shrunk. P&G won't say by how much.

FCC Again Dismisses Chicago and Milwaukee TV Station License Challenges

The Federal Communications commission's media bureau has dismissed an Application for Review filed by the Chicago Media Action and Milwaukee Public Interest Media Coalition which alleged FCC staff error of law in a series of decisions related to their petitions to deny the license renewal applications of television stations serving the Chicago and Milwaukee markets for failure to present adequate coverage of state and local elections during the final four weeks of the 2004 campaign.

Murdoch's WikiLeaks Cameo

The Wall Street Journal has been aggressively covering the WikiLeaks controversy. Turns out that Rupert Murdoch's newspaper also pops up in one of the secret cables.

In a May 2009 missive from the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh -- titled "IDEOLOGICAL AND OWNERSHIP TRENDS IN THE SAUDI MEDIA" -- there are indications that Murdoch wants to do more business with the kingdom. According to a source whose name was redacted, a Saudi (whose name was also withheld) "recently had a three-hour discussion with one of Rupert Murdoch's sons on a deal to publish an Arabic-language version of the WALL Street Journal." What's more, the cable says, the Saudi Research and Marketing Group -- the country's largest publisher, and said to be one-third owned by Prince Waleed bin Talal -- "is trying to win a contract to publish the International Herald Tribune (uncensored, he emphasized) in Saudi Arabia."

Time Warner tells of arrangement to bypass local affiliate if retransmission dispute goes on

Time Warner Cable is telling local subscribers in Buffalo (NY) it will continue to carry Fox network programs into January 2011 and beyond, even if its deal with the owner of WUTV, the local Fox affiliate, expires and the station is dropped from the local cable system.

WUTV, owned by Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcast Group, could disappear from the Time Warner lineup Jan. 1 if no deal is reach to extend the agreement that allows the cable company to carry the channel. But local Time Warner officials said that they have an arrangement that will allow the cable system to continue carrying Fox's national programming, such as "American Idol," "Glee" and "House," even if WUTV is dropped from its programming lineup. It also would allow Time Warner subscribers to watch the Super Bowl, which Fox will air in early February. Language in the deal that Time Warner struck last January with Fox Broadcasting allows the cable company to carry Fox network programming for up to a year in markets where the local Fox affiliate is pulled from the lineup.

Benton

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