According to a Jupiter Research report, "Video on Cell Phones: It's Real in 2005, but a Paying Consumer Audience Isn't," 44 percent of online consumers surveyed are interested in viewing video on their cell phones for free, but only 19 percent indicate they would be willing to pay anything for those services. Wireless carriers in the U.S. have launched mobile video applications demonstrating both the progress and the potential of the technology. The Jupiter report also finds the lack of network coverage, high prices for both handsets and service, and limited access to real time content, however, will dampen consumer interest in the near term. "Although consumer interest in mobile video is strong, the cell phone will remain a voice-centric device in the near term," stated Julie Ask, research director at Jupiter. "Only 4 percent of consumers cited the ability to watch video as a priority feature for them when purchasing their next handset. Carrier subsidies will be required to develop a mass market base of higher end handsets with the most advanced video functionality," added Ask.
What was once a simple, unidirectional flow of electricity from centralized power plants to passive consumers is evolving into a complex, intelligent network where millions of distributed resources actively participate in grid operations. This transformation, powered by smart grid technologies, represents one of the most significant infrastructure shifts of our time. It promises to reshape how we generate, distribute, and consume energy. At its core, the smart grid represents far more than mere digitization of existing infrastructure. This bi-directional capability is fundamental to understanding why smart grids are becoming the backbone of modern energy systems, facilitating everything from real-time demand response to the integration of renewable energy sources. Smart Grid Market Development By 2030, smart grid technologies are projected to cover nearly half of the global electrical grid, up dramatically from just 24 percent in 2025. This expansion is underpinned by explosive gr...