Om Malik is reporting that the telcos are looking at creating a Skype-killer. From the article:

[Incumbent local exchange carriers] are going to offer a VoIP client that will work on the incumbent broadband/3G wireless pipe, and will use a backend platform that will allow folks to make free voice calls to anyone who's logged into it.

Hello, incumbent carriers? 2003 called and wants their idea back. Way too little, way too late. That and I don't believe they can do it any more than elephants can fly or monkeys can fly out of my butt.

My solution? Go back to your roots. Take this 1980 bell system commercial:



While the details might seem quaint and the commercial date, the idea is still valid. Of course, instead of switching telephone circuits, they should be switching IP packets. As fast as possible. On the fattest pipes the world has ever seen. Keeping our communication system the best in the world, indeed.