New broadband devices to make modest impact in 2005, say analysts

摘要

The coming year will see the growing availability of home-networking devices that take broadband beyond flat-rate PC access, including wireless voice-over-IP (VoIP) handsets, video phones, hi-fis and TV set-top boxes. But while these products could help incumbents and alternative providers to broaden their audiences, derive new revenue streams and reduce churn, analysts warn that a number of commercial and technical problems could limit uptake. The general consensus is that while it makes sense to develop, test and even sell new broadband devices this year, the most significant launches may not take place before 2006. Incumbents BT, France Telecom and Telecom Italia, and alternative VoIP providers Vonage and Net2Phone, already offer or plan to offer Wi-Fi-enabled handsets for use in the home. In addition, Cisco-owned equipment vendor Linksys has launched an array of broadband devices and so-called "media adapters" aimed specifically at gaming, music and video applications. Industry group the DSL Forum, meanwhile, predicts that a home-networking standard it finalised late last year will aid the creation of a range of similar products as well as more esoteric appliances, such as "online baths" that can be operated remotely (that is, using a broadband connection to operate the taps remotely for a bath that can be taken on arrival).