Internet Neutrality
The statement that Vint Cerf makes in his letter about “Internet Neutrality” apply equally well to cellular and mobile networks:
The remarkable social impact and economic success of the Internet is in many ways directly attributable to the architectural characteristics that were part of its design. The Internet was designed with no gatekeepers over new content or services. The Internet is based on a layered, end-to-end model that allows people at each level of the network to innovate free of any central control. By placing intelligence at the edges rather than control in the middle of the network, the Internet has created a platform for innovation. This has led to an explosion of offerings – from VOIP to 802.11x wi-fi to blogging – that might never have evolved had central control of the network been required by design.
In mobile we got gatekeepers. Lots of ‘em. And although everyone says that all walled gardens tend to fall (I’ve even said it and believed it myself), it seems like there are more cases where things are going poorly for the openness of mobile than they are going well. Remember, it’s not paranoia if everyone really is out to get you.
