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What worries me about this trend is that I don't think the free lunch can end without websites/services getting in bed with the ISPs. Having to deal with hundre
by 9oliYQjP 18y ago
What worries me about this trend is that I don't think the free lunch can end without websites/services getting in bed with the ISPs. Having to deal with hundreds of subscriptions to websites/services is just not going to fly with your average consumer. I highly suspect what will happen is that your ISP will negotiate with websites/services and offer up bundled tiered Internet packages like they do with cable TV. Should that prove to be successful, that will mean the end of the world wide web as we know it. Then again, that may not be saying much as the world wide web as I know it today is not the same one that I knew even 5 years ago.
- harshavr 18y agoIs it necessary for the agent managing the subscriptions to be the same as the agent providing you internet services? Maybe you can have a webapp which provides an easy interface to both users and website owners. Website owners provide usage info & bills, and users see all charge details in one place. Something like what credit card companies do but also managing any extra details specific to websites.
- ntyntyesr 18y agoWhich means you wouldn't be reading this story - The Economist is owned by the FT, which competes with the Times, which is owned by Murdoch. If you internet is from Sky then they aren't going to be shipping a competitors content over their fibres. AOL your time has finally come!
- karl11 18y agoThis already happens with ESPN 360. I can access it on campus, but can't when I walk home to my Time Warner connection, apparently because Time Warner has not negotiated with ESPN to provide it.