That ever-growing wish list

Last week in this space, I made up a wish list of video-oriented services that Verizon should provide to differentiate themselves from cable operators when they get around to rolling out their video service. The reader response was incredible and varied, with suggestions spanning from the simple to the incredibly complex. Below are a few of the more interesting comments. (I'm only including readers' first names since most of the responses came from within various telcos, including several from Verizon.)

Mike: "Customers really want one bill. They love the idea of bundles and writing one check, and believe me when I tell you that above that, they feel like they are being royally screwed by the CATV companies, both with price and, even above that, service."

Mario: "How about a receiver with a USB2 (or similar) connection that can interface with laptops? It would be nice to be able to download that PVR-recorded 'American Bachelor Idol Survivor Factor' reality show and watch it on the go (for those who still have a travel budget)."

John: "HD Video Telephony. From my hotel room on a business trip I want to 'visit' my wife and kids during a long week away from home. I want to see my niece blow out the candles on her 6th birthday, live and in HD color."

Lowell: "Not just networked PVR, but the ability to store video on any hard drive (and, dare I say, DVD burner) in my home network. A solution to the remote replication dilemma (are remotes related to rabbits?). Since networked PCs are now capable of driving all home entertainment, why not get rid of all remotes but one, and let the PC be the home-entertainment hub, delivering your 1000 channels, not only of video, but music, art, PPV sporting events and concerts, education, games, etc., all driven through the ISP? [Also] the capability to apply an edit list (as ClearPlay or MovieMask do for DVDs) to an IP-streamed R-rated or PG-13 movie so my kids can watch it. In the past, parents could rely on network TV to clean up a movie for family viewing--not any more. The success of TBS and TNT (all their movies are edited for language and content) tells me there is still a market for this. And a comprehensive parental control solution that covers video, music, Web, chat/IM, P2P and e-mail."

Thanks to everyone who responded.

Keeping perspective: Every day on my way into the office, I walk by a large plaque that marks the spot of a fatal disaster that had a direct impact on telecom. Eighty- nine years ago last Saturday, thousands of employees of Western Electric (the predecessor, twice removed, to Lucent Technologies) gathered on the shore of the Chicago River, boarding five excursion boats bound for a company picnic in Michigan City, Ind. Some 2500 passengers boarded one of the boats, the Eastland, before something went drastically wrong and the ship rolled onto its side. More than 800 people, including 22 entire families, were killed. A wreath of flowers was still in place this morning from a small remembrance ceremony.

Just something to keep in perspective when you hear references to the "telecom nuclear winter."

E-mail me at vvittore@primediabusiness.com