To increase the number of contactable users available and
reachable on a network requires the ability to be able to reach
others on different systems with different devices using various
protocols. The voice telephony system in the United States
today uses something called the SS7 layer as a common
method that all phone systems can use to transport voice calls
from one system to another. The same common connection for
Wireless data does not yet exist but is critical for growth of the
wireless Internet. This interconnection—ubiquitous availability
to communicate across networks, protocols, and media
types—will create the critical mass of users necessary to add
value to the network. Superior technology that does not
interconnect to legacy systems will offer limited value due to the
smaller network size and limited connections to other users
who do not have the same device or service.
Some systems allow for data to be sent but do not yet offer
a way to reply in kind. This inability to reply suffocates innovation
and adoption of new features and systems. For example all
digital phones are able to receive a text message but not all
have the required software to reply. Cellular phones on one
carriers system do not currently have the ability to send or
receive text messages from phones on other systems.
Proprietary technology only works if it allows for interconnection.
Many new features have these same issue and therefore
must start out focused on a niche market—a community of
some type, like a workgroup, service tech group, plumbers
union, or some other closed group that can all agree to use the
technology. Nextel is an example of a service that mixes general
access with private group access. Nextel wireless services offer
a unique service that allows the user to communicate with others
in a group by simply pushing a button and speaking. This
push-to-talk feature is great but only works if the others you
wish to contact have the same device on the same network.
The Internet is all about access to anything and everything—
the Wireless Internet must offer the same broad access
but Wireless Internet data will need to be altered to fit users’
needs in terms of technology, device, and environment.