Is the Internet evolving into a Billion Channel Universe where each website's content is broadcasted directly to thousands or even millions of users. Instead of material just sitting on a web server waiting for visitors -- are we at the stage where a site's content is broadcasted wirelessly to all interested parties.

More importantly, is the function, how we use or will use the Internet -- really changing? Are we going from a re-active system to a pro-active one?

A billion channels? Sound too farfetched, total nonsense, hogwash! Get the hook! Where is that Gong?

Don't be too quick to dismiss this idea, the genesis or seeds for a Billion Channel Internet may already be amongst us!

Years from now, researchers will scan and search for the genesis of the Billion Channel Internet -- when did it all start? When did the Internet change from being a file sharing warehouse into a full blown broadcasting system; delivering or broadcasting content directly into the biosphere -- to be picked up by anyone, anywhere.

A totally wireless global broadcast system with a Billion Channels or more!

But what were those seeds? What were the indicators? What were the precursors to this billion channel universe? Will the researchers be focusing on our present time period and the events that's happening at this very moment. Are the seeds already sprinkled amongst us? What will they consider:

Will it be RSS?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and it basically syndicates your site's content to all interested parties. It's original acronym stood for Rich Site Summary and it is a way of broadcasting your site's news, content and information. Will they look closely at Podcasting, which is using RSS feeds to syndicate audio files in MP3 format. Or will they concentrate on Broadcatching -- the video version of this system.

Regardless, Blogging and RSS feeds really did or does change how content is moved around on the Internet. There is a slight change in how we get our content -- don't come to us, we will deliver it to you. This is more in line with broadcasting than your garden variety Internet download or surfing.

Will it be Verizon Wireless 3G EV-DO network?

Verizon Wireless 3G EV-DO (evolution-data optimized )which began commercial operations in Oct. of 2003, is now expanding to over 125 million U.S. consumers by the end of 2005.

With this kind of system and the ones coming very soon, we are very close to a totally wireless global web. VCAST (which came online on Feb. 1st) even provides video broadcasts thru this wireless system. In order to have a broadcasting system - you must have a broadcasting mechanism in place. Is this the first peg in a global broadcasting network that will produce the billion channel universe?

Will it be Google Video?

Google has recently introduced Google Video and members can now upload their videos to be broadcasted (technically still called downloading but that will change as the Internet Changes!) to the masses. Is this a forerunner of things to come...

Of course, in the Billion Channel Internet - Google will be our TV Guide -- who else?

Will it be the notebook computer?

What?

It's not as strange as you may think -- don't underestimate the revolutionary power of this little device. The notebook or laptop computer is doing for the Internet what the cell phone did for the phone industry. Making it wireless, portable, and accessible anywhere.

No small feat in itself, but perhaps it's the fundamental change in our psyche that the little notebook has contributed which may be more important. The Internet was always viewed as a wired connection, something physically connected together with lines and cables, a file sharing warehouse with wires.

The portable, wireless notebook computer freed us not only from those wires but also from the notion that the Internet is tied to this grounded connection. In essence, liberating it.

Maybe all this discussion is relatively pointless, it might not be that much of a stretch to suggest -- isn't the Billion Channel Internet already here and all these seeds are already working together to present it to us!

If you have a website and syndicate your site's content by an RSS feed and it's picked up by thousands of users using Verizon Wireless Vcast network on their notebook computers -- don't you basically have a rudimentary broadcasting system already in place?

So it might only be a matter of time before technology gives us a totally wireless world and download speeds that can handle video/audio feeds instantly -- we will be able to tune in or turn on this billion channel Internet anytime, anywhere.

Just imagine the size of those couch potatoes. Better yet, let's just hope this system comes with a remote!

Pass the chips!

----
Copyright