Article on BBC
Warning over net address limits
Vint Cerf is one of the founding fathers of the netInternet Service Providers urgently need to roll out the next generation of net addresses for online devices, internet pioneer Vint Cerf has said.
Every device that goes online is allocated a unique IP address but the pool of numbers is finite and due to run out around 2010.
A new system, called IPv6, has been awaiting roll out for 10 years.
Unless IPv6 is switched on in the coming years, some devices might not be able to go online, Mr Cerf has warned.
Mr Cerf, who played a key role in the development of the protocols which underpin the global net, said: "There is a risk of not being able to get online."
He added: "The rate of consumption of available remaining IPv4 numbers appears to be on track to run out in 2010/11."
Mr Cerf is about to step down as chairman of Icann, the body which oversees the net, and is also Google's chief internet evangelist.
Potential shortage
The current system, called IPv4 provides four billion addresses but the explosion in the number of devices which go online has led to the potential shortage.
Although IPv6 was standardised 10 years ago it has not been rolled out at speed.
While modern computers, servers, routers and other online devices are able to use IPv6, internet service providers have yet to implement the system.
"The reason they haven't - which is quite understandable - is that customers haven't asked for it yet," said Mr Cerf, adding, "my job, whether with my Icann hat on or not, is to persuade them to ask for it.
To be clear - if we finally exhaust the IPv4 pool it doesn't mean the internet stops working
Vint Cerf
"If you don't ask for it, then when you most want it you won't have it."
IPv6 will create 340 trillion trillion trillion separate addresses, enough to satisfy demand for decades to come.
"To be clear - if we finally exhaust the IPv4 pool it doesn't mean the internet stops working. But people wanting an IPv4 address won't get one.
"If there is an internet that does not support IPv6, not getting an IPv4 address means not getting on the net."
He added: "The appreciation of the importance of getting IPv6 into operation is very much more visible than before.
"I'm anticipating in 2008 a substantial increase of use of IPv6, introduced in parallel with IPv4."
One complicating factor is that IPv6 and IPv4 are not compatible so ISPs will have to run the two systems in parallel - adding to costs.
In Asia, governments in China, Korea and Japan have begun to lead roll out of IPv6 and the European Union is reviewing methods to encourage adoption.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Google keeps rocking huh ...
An article from BBC
Google has launched an open operating system for mobile phones, called Android. It has also formed an Open Handset Alliance with 33 partners, promising "better, cheaper" mobile phones.
What is Android?
Android is a series of software tools built by Google designed to power a next generation of mobile phone handsets.
The tools are based on Linux - and so are open source and free to use. It means any one can develop software for the platform and that Android itself can be tailored for individual phones, networks and potentially users.
What is the Open Handset Alliance?
Thirty four companies, including Google, have formed an alliance to promote Android and to develop features and handsets to take advantage of the platform.
Companies include handset manufacturers such as LG, HTC, Motorola and Samsung, chip firms such as Qualcomm and mobile networks like T-Mobile and China Mobile.
What is different about Android?
Google is stressing the open nature of the platform. Operating systems on current phones - such as Windows Mobile, RIM, Symbian and Palm - are proprietorial and have to be licensed for use. Google believes it will be easier and quicker to develop new applications for Android than the other systems.
What kinds of features and phones will we see?
That is the big question. Google and its partners believe that the new phones will make the internet experience on a mobile "better than on a PC".
But they have given little details about how this will be achieved, except to say Android includes an advanced web browser.
Most mobile web experiences are hampered by the limitations of the browser and screen resolution of the handset.
But devices such as the Apple iPhone and Nokia N800 - which are not powered by Android - are already showing the potential for a PC-like experience on a mobile device.
Google and partners have said the new phones will be able to take make web experiences, such as video, sharing content and social networking, much easier on a handset.
The first phones are not due until the second half of 2008 but developers will be able to get a look at the Android tools from next week.
Will my current phone work with Android?
No. You will have to buy a new phone that is running the Android platform.
Does that mean current phones are obsolete?
Not at all. Rival platform systems, such as Symbian, Palm, Windows Mobile and Blackberry, will continue to exist on an ever expanding array of devices. The companies behind all these platforms say they are also working on more accessible web experiences on future devices.
What has the reaction been to Google's big jump into mobiles?
Mixed. Analysts are emphasising the impressive partners Google has secured. But it is clear that none of the handset partners in the alliance are ditching deals with existing platforms in favour of Android. Google's system will be part of the mix.
Forrester analyst Charlie Golvin wrote: "Paradoxically, Android will increase complexity for developers initially since it represents yet another platform to support."
Technology writer Om Malik has described the move as a "massive PR move, with nothing to show for it right now".
He added: "The partners - with the exception of HTC and T-Mobile - are companies who are, in cricketing parlance, on the backfoot. Motorola, for instance is not exactly a bastion of handset excellence."
What are the business implications of the Google deal?
It is clear that Linux - the open source operating system - is going to be a big player in the mobile space. Android is based on Linux and there are other Linux-based mobile OSes in existence, such as OpenMoko, LiMo and Qtopia.
ABI Research predicts that Mobile Linux will be the fastest growing smartphone operating system over the next five years.
Linux-based smartphones will account for about 31% of such devices by 2012, the analysts have reported.
Why is Google doing this?
There are more people with mobile phones with access to the net right now than there are PCs with online connections.
This is a massive potential market for Google - and every other online firm - that is yet to be tapped and developed.
Improving the mobile web for all is a rising tide that will float all boats, including the Google battleship.
More people online means more people using Google's services, which means more advertising revenue for the firm.
Google has launched an open operating system for mobile phones, called Android. It has also formed an Open Handset Alliance with 33 partners, promising "better, cheaper" mobile phones.
What is Android?
Android is a series of software tools built by Google designed to power a next generation of mobile phone handsets.
The tools are based on Linux - and so are open source and free to use. It means any one can develop software for the platform and that Android itself can be tailored for individual phones, networks and potentially users.
What is the Open Handset Alliance?
Thirty four companies, including Google, have formed an alliance to promote Android and to develop features and handsets to take advantage of the platform.
Companies include handset manufacturers such as LG, HTC, Motorola and Samsung, chip firms such as Qualcomm and mobile networks like T-Mobile and China Mobile.
What is different about Android?
Google is stressing the open nature of the platform. Operating systems on current phones - such as Windows Mobile, RIM, Symbian and Palm - are proprietorial and have to be licensed for use. Google believes it will be easier and quicker to develop new applications for Android than the other systems.
What kinds of features and phones will we see?
That is the big question. Google and its partners believe that the new phones will make the internet experience on a mobile "better than on a PC".
But they have given little details about how this will be achieved, except to say Android includes an advanced web browser.
Most mobile web experiences are hampered by the limitations of the browser and screen resolution of the handset.
But devices such as the Apple iPhone and Nokia N800 - which are not powered by Android - are already showing the potential for a PC-like experience on a mobile device.
Google and partners have said the new phones will be able to take make web experiences, such as video, sharing content and social networking, much easier on a handset.
The first phones are not due until the second half of 2008 but developers will be able to get a look at the Android tools from next week.
Will my current phone work with Android?
No. You will have to buy a new phone that is running the Android platform.
Does that mean current phones are obsolete?
Not at all. Rival platform systems, such as Symbian, Palm, Windows Mobile and Blackberry, will continue to exist on an ever expanding array of devices. The companies behind all these platforms say they are also working on more accessible web experiences on future devices.
What has the reaction been to Google's big jump into mobiles?
Mixed. Analysts are emphasising the impressive partners Google has secured. But it is clear that none of the handset partners in the alliance are ditching deals with existing platforms in favour of Android. Google's system will be part of the mix.
Forrester analyst Charlie Golvin wrote: "Paradoxically, Android will increase complexity for developers initially since it represents yet another platform to support."
Technology writer Om Malik has described the move as a "massive PR move, with nothing to show for it right now".
He added: "The partners - with the exception of HTC and T-Mobile - are companies who are, in cricketing parlance, on the backfoot. Motorola, for instance is not exactly a bastion of handset excellence."
What are the business implications of the Google deal?
It is clear that Linux - the open source operating system - is going to be a big player in the mobile space. Android is based on Linux and there are other Linux-based mobile OSes in existence, such as OpenMoko, LiMo and Qtopia.
ABI Research predicts that Mobile Linux will be the fastest growing smartphone operating system over the next five years.
Linux-based smartphones will account for about 31% of such devices by 2012, the analysts have reported.
Why is Google doing this?
There are more people with mobile phones with access to the net right now than there are PCs with online connections.
This is a massive potential market for Google - and every other online firm - that is yet to be tapped and developed.
Improving the mobile web for all is a rising tide that will float all boats, including the Google battleship.
More people online means more people using Google's services, which means more advertising revenue for the firm.
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