Instant messagingAnnounced some time ago, Microsoft and Yahoo have begun

Instant messaging

Announced some time ago, Microsoft and Yahoo have begun a beta test in which MSN and Yahoo IM users can interchange messages. If you primarily use MSN IM and you would be interested in trying the beta, please send me your MSN screen name and I will add you.

Why do you think AOL IM is not part of this test?

Martin Weiss

Net neutrality isn't just for Christmas

A Palladium Club mega-uber value reader points me to a presentation on Net Neutrality from Japanese regulator MIC some ten days ago. I note in particular: slide 15, which shows a 20% YoY increase in IP traffic; slide 16, which shows a big increase in bandwidth consumption by P2P applications on the downlink; and most interestingly, slide 17, which shows P2P consistently consuming over 50% of upstream bandwidth. Given that Japan is now ex-growth in DSL and firmly on the pathway to near-ubiquitous fiber, these stats will probably prove to be unsettling to EuroTelcos facing NGN deployments of varying flavors and intensities. This is one reason why in a recent "year ahead" piece for clients, I highlighted the dreaded Net Neutrality as an issue which may generate much more debate and activity in Europe in 2007 than in 2006. It is clear that a significant number of telcos are taking matters into their own hands, at least as it relates to BitTorrent (thanks Wired), but I wonder what the consequences will be with Big Media now firmly in the P2P game? With enough documentation of indiscriminate throttling in a given country, do we eventually see complaints to, say, the WTO?

james.enck@dir.co.uk (James Enck)