Convergence is a dynamic phenomenon. The main drivers for convergence in the communication market are technology, economy, and regulation. These factors working together trigger convergence, the process that is transforming the communication industry.

There are several types of convergence - technical convergence, economic convergence, communicative convergence, and regulatory convergence - and one should not confuse the manifold manifestations and effects of this phenomenon.

Information services have long been delivered customers by many means including copper wire, coax cable, wireless, satellites and the like, each with its own CPE, Customer Premise Equipment - telephones, fax machines, set-top-boxes, caller ID receivers, satellite receivers, modems, routers, hubs, switches, computers, sound systems, game consoles, television sets etc. These are connected by kilometres of wiring and a host of interfaces.

Today, the industry is moving towards packet protocols. The PSTN, or Public Switched Telephone Network, is based on switching technology. The PSTN is being replaced by packet-based technologies such as Frame Relay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode, and Internet Protocol. In the past, different networks were needed for each type of usage. Now, one converged, packet based, network can carry all sorts of traffic including voice, video and new interactive multimedia applications. Technical convergence has had a tremendous impact on the whole media and entertainment industry.

Digital technology and broadband are revolutionising the media and entertainment industry. Dan Scheinman, SVP/GM, Cisco Media Solutions Group, shares his thoughts on how digital technology and broadband are revolutionising the media and entertainment industry.

[Digital Technology Convergence Podcast] [09:05, 8.32MB, MP3]
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BIOS, Jan 31, 07 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Multimedia