I hear a lot about these technologies on a daily basis, so I thought it would be cool to make a list of technologies — not companies — but protocols and new ways of getting information across, that will make 2006 feel like 1999 all over again (but better).
- VOIP
This has to be on the top of the list. Skype worth $2.6b is a shocker by itself, but regular home users inheriting this technology and it reaching out to developing countries is another plus factor on its own. No doubt telephony (whatever way it is) will be free in the distant features. Business models are shifting: phone companies, please get your head together. - IPTV
What can I say about IPTV? The recent anouncement of Yahoo!, Amazon and AOL all producing programming for this will really be a place-shifting factor for this. If you look at it, Yahoo! may be the future ABC, Amazon the CBS and obviously AOL the Fox. This is an extremely exciting era to be in. - BITTORRENT
Can you say mass content delivery through BitTorrent? Companies, I think, should be cashing into this, and not making lawsuits. Of course, you just heard this for the 1000th time. I know. But when will the companies that actually matter hear this? - RSS
I have the feeling that some beleive RSS is a great outliner that changed the world, but it’s had its brush with fame and there’s not much in store for 2006 when it comes to it. I share a different perspective. I really think that RSS has only started and 2006 might be the year it hits mass-usership which I’d really like it to do. - AJAX
Durr. Need I say more? AJAX, mashups, 2006, I see it! I see the future! Well, actually I don’t. But as good as 2005 was for AJAX, I see 2006 as the center, the peak. AJAX may just be a phase; an era, but it’s still pretty cool.
