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May 23, 2004
Rediscovering Free World Dialup
I have spent quite a few hours so far this weekend on Free World Dialup answering calls to FWD# 10000, and meeting people once again from literally all around the world.
It was the thrill of IP Communications over Broadband that hooked me into FWD back in 2002 and this weekend has been a refreshing reminder of the fun that I had as a ham radio operator who used the internet as an alternative ham radio band. Back then I looked at Free World Dialup as more of a hobby, than say, a businesses.
One concept that the mainstream media has still yet to grasp is that there are a growing number of communities that are content speaking with each other just using the Internet. For these people there is no need to use the wireless or PSTN networks for such calls. The success of peer-to-peer networks like Skype just helps to accelerate this social phenomenon.
During the work week when I’m in my office, there are times when I answer the 55555 line as a way to greet some of the newcomers to Free World Dialup and in the process, check out our own pulse. For the most part, when I answer the 55555 line, I find someone who is trying out voice over broadband for the very first time and our conversation usually becomes a positive reinforcement of that experience.
I am currently working on introducing a new platform for Free World Dialup which will be introduced when we are ready, and can properly support it. When introduced, if successful, we will be a living example that IP based "voice" is really just an application when compared to legacy networks and regulatory environments.
In the meantime, if you are around this weekend and available on FWD, please feel free to drop my a line at FWD# 10000.
Posted by jeff on May 23, 2004 06:52 AM | Permalink
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