28th May 2008, 8:24 PM
That's true actually, and my main worry is that the consumer is going to be hurt by sheer greed like this. In the long run, it is in the best interests of everyone involved, and I think decades from now it's a near certainty that it'll occur, but companies rarely look at things in the long haul, and by that I mean looking at things more than a few years down the line.
And yes, government forcing this would be downright stupid.
However I'll note one thing. Sad to say, a lot of companies are attempting to segregate the web, as in provide different online experiences the companies control instead of the universal intercompatible system we currently enjoy. They seem potential profits right now, and fail to see the big picture of why NOT doing that is in everyone's best interest, including their own. Sure they can offer unique services if they do that, but the potentially infinite services they cut off far outweigh it. (The spin the cable companies put in those commercials is crazy as well.) Sadly, government force to prevent companies from more or less destroying the internet may be required in this case.
At any rate, down the line I just can't see the segregated individually owned and operated current services staying that way forever. I can only see it slowly merging into one universal system that will be as seamless as the internet in general.
And yes, government forcing this would be downright stupid.
However I'll note one thing. Sad to say, a lot of companies are attempting to segregate the web, as in provide different online experiences the companies control instead of the universal intercompatible system we currently enjoy. They seem potential profits right now, and fail to see the big picture of why NOT doing that is in everyone's best interest, including their own. Sure they can offer unique services if they do that, but the potentially infinite services they cut off far outweigh it. (The spin the cable companies put in those commercials is crazy as well.) Sadly, government force to prevent companies from more or less destroying the internet may be required in this case.
At any rate, down the line I just can't see the segregated individually owned and operated current services staying that way forever. I can only see it slowly merging into one universal system that will be as seamless as the internet in general.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)