Are user groups still effective at influencing carriers?

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: STEVE TAYLOR AND JIM METZLER ON WIDE
AREA NETWORKING
08/02/05
Today's focus: Are user groups still effective at influencing
carriers?

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Reader feedback on carrier user groups
* Links related to Wide Area Networking
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: Are user groups still effective at influencing
carriers?

By Steve Taylor and Jim Metzler

In the past two newsletters, we've been sharing some of the
feedback we received when we asked whether user groups are still
relevant <http://www.networkworld.com/nlwan4232>. This week's
newsletters will wrap up that feedback for the time being.

One reader responded that the move to IP-based networks has
decreased the need for groups that influence carrier services.
The reader wrote: "I would say at a high level that as the world
is 'migrating' to IP/Internet that it is much more difficult to
'control' or add influence to what is taking place and ask for
certain 'features'."

The reader continued: "AT&T used to have several forums for Data
and 800 services, but those were cut to the bare bones 'Customer
Advisory Council.' That council still meets with AT&T
executives and product people, but it no longer has the
visibility that the previous user groups used to perform. I
think as 'IP' takes over everything, if I was a client, I would
be more inclined to try to work with Cisco/Microsoft and
possibly IBM as a means to gain influence."

This is a trend that we may see gain momentum as the various
vendor-specific user groups gain more clout. Another reader
wrote: "I have also observed this at a regional level. I have
difficulty attending monthly meetings but always attend Nortel's
INNUA show. I believe we have Nortel's ear and did when even
when they were rolling. Also, workshops - 1 hour - are extremely
valuable and perhaps the networking with peers is most
beneficial part. I think if you can get five people to attend,
four will come back. People have to be shown the value for the
time commitment."

Of course, we also received some feedback that, while not
necessarily as optimistic, was more pointed. In particular, a
reader responded, "Once SBC gobbles up AT&T and MCI goes to
Verizon, we will soon be back in the bad old monopoly days. I
think we will see a rise in user groups as prices go up and
services go down."

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Cisco vulnerability posted to Internet
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwan4233>

2. Router flaw sparks battle
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/080105-blackhat.html>

3. Researcher at center of Cisco router-exploit controversy
speaks out <http://www.networkworld.com/nlwan4235>

4. Black Hat event highlights RFID and VoIP security threats
<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/080105-blackhat-side.html>

5. Cisco nixes conference session on hacking IOS router code
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlwan4012>
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Steve Taylor and Jim Metzler

Steve Taylor is president of Distributed Networking Associates
and publisher/editor-in-chief of Webtorials. For more detailed
information on most of the topics discussed in this newsletter,
connect to Webtorials <http://www.webtorials.com/>, the premier
site for Web-based educational presentations, white papers, and
market research. Taylor can be reached at
<mailto:taylor@webtorials.com>

Jim Metzler is the Vice President of Ashton, Metzler &
Associates, a consulting organization that focuses on leveraging
technology for business success. Jim assists vendors to refine
product strategies, service providers to deploy technologies and
services, and enterprises evolve their network infrastructure.
He can be reached at <mailto:jim@ashtonmetzler.com>
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FEATURED READER RESOURCE
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