Yeah, there was some discussion about this at the Summit, the problem is that there didn't seem to be any hardware guys there to answer our questions, and the Nokia software guys just shrugged, you know, not-our-problem shrugs. I was expecting Igor to show up (I thought he said he would) but ... nothing.

My feeling is that when mobile providers, currently still thinking of themselves as mobile phone providers (oh woe to you, you fools) are reduced to ISPs, they will be caught in the same situation that current ISPs are caught in; if you try to restrict protocols or bandwidth, people just go to somewhere else that provides better service.

The mobile ISPs won't be able sell these stupid voice / text / data bundles anymore, because they won't be the only provider of the voice / text services anymore. Anyone will be able to download Skype or some generic SIP client for voice, and Pidgin or some other IM client for text.

What will they be left with?

Well, they can still provide the pipes, and compete in that arena. Woe, woe to them, because that arena is bloody and dangerous, and few emerge unscathed. The shakedown will leave the market a different place.