Sidecut Reports

Since we’re knee-deep in new report creation mode here at Sidecut central, this post isn’t going to be too long. But some news nuggets from different parts of the communications world got me to thinking… is it time for Skype and WiMax to do the peanut butter-n-chocolate thing?

One on hand, you’ve got Clearwire experimenting with VoIP handsets in Portland, Ore., the town that may yet go down as the Capital of WiMax before this is all over. On the other you’ve got Skype (and Asterisk) talking about making it easier to interact with SIP and by extension, small business phone systems.

Now throw in some Skype mobile handsets and what do we have?

Probably not anything the Clearwire folks want too badly, since they are counting on VoIP subscriptions to increase ARPU. But… imagine how interesting a WiMax service pitch would be if you got a free Skype phone as part of the signup deal. If anyone wants to continue this conversation over drinks in Vegas, I’m buying…

Good stuff from pal Andy Abramson about what the new Clearwire might do differently, instead of just acting like another DSL or mobile-phone option: Go deep with video, says Andy:

Instead of simply being another voice play to battle Skype or the mobile operators, the WiMax companies and the cable operators, and heck, even Ma Telco may all may find that they may be better off looking in another direction. That direction is real-time video communications bundled up along with other IP related services like voice and text, all in one neat little package.

There’s lots of meat to dig into here, including conjecture about how Skype has changed the game of communications forever, and why video and rich communications matter. So read the post. It’s worth your time.