The prediction, in brief:

It’s possible to patch conventional and Internet telephony together such that a person could dial an Internet access provider in his or her local calling area and dial in a city code. The provider could then set up a connection with another provider in that city – all for the cost of a local call plus change. Using area Internet providers in this way allows the caller to bypass the long-distance circuits completely. A technology like this may well capture a significant slice of business.

Predictor: Corson, Kevin

Prediction, in context:

In a 1995 article for Wired magazine, Fred Hapgood covers the issues surrounding Internet telephony, quoting Kevin Corson of Camelot. Hapgood writes:”Camelot’s Kevin Corson points out that it’s possible to patch conventional and Internet telephony together such that a person could dial an Internet access provider in his or her local calling area and dial in a city code. The provider could then set up a connection with another provider in that city – all for the cost of a local call plus change. Using area Internet providers in this way allows the caller to bypass the long-distance circuits completely. A technology like this may well capture a significant slice of business.”

Date of prediction: January 1, 1995

Topic of prediction: Communication

Subtopic: Internet Telephony

Name of publication: Wired

Title, headline, chapter name: IPhone: Will Telephony on the Net Bring the Telcos to Their Knees? Or Will it Allow Them to Take Over the Internet? (And, Oh, Yes, It’s Damn Hard to Tap)

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.10/iphone_pr.html

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney