PBS plans to Webcast-only NerdTV, a downloadable series featuring interviews with technology "experts". The show will be hosted by PBS technology columnist Robert Cringely. NerdTV viewers will be allowed to redistribute shows or edit them for non-commercial reasons. Is this the future of TV? Maybe. At the very least, Tivo has shown that couch potatos want more control over what they watch and when they do it. Delivering television - and movies, for that matter, over the Internet poses all kinds of licensing issues but it is an efficient and effective way to distribute programming.

If you're chomping at the bit for a Mitel Networks IPO, don't hold your breath (editor's note: see update below). In the wake of posting its fiscal 2005 results, CFO Steve Spooner said while an IPO in the next 12 to 18 months is the goal, the IP-PBX maker is not under any pressure after raising US$55 million of convertible debt earlier this year. "We don't have a gun to our heads to raise capital," he said. "Mitel can go public when it makes sense for Mitel." If truth be told, the capital climate for IP-PBX makers is far from bullish so that's one reason to hold off on an IPO. It would also be a good thing if Mitel can move into the black after losing US$49.6-million in fiscal 2005. Still, Mitel is playing in a growth market as Infonetics reported IP-PBX sales jumped 36% in the first-quarter compared with a year earlier.
Update (May 10, 2006): Mitel is finally doing an IPO to apparently raise as much as $150-million for general corporate purposes. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the offering is this will be the second time that Terry Matthews, who owns 64% of the company, has taken Mitel public.

Vonage Canada is beefing up its marketing efforts with the launch of a national television advertising campaign over the next 10 weeks. Vonage has focused its TV spots - created by Brandworks - on 13 specialty channels operated by Alliance Atlantis - including Showcase, Life Network and History Television. While the TV campaign is in keeping with Vonage's modus operandi, there is no doubt the Canadian unit believes it needs to aggressively push forward as Rogers Communications begins to roll out its cable telephony service.

After the mobile device market saw double-digit shipment increases in recent years, In-Stat is looking for modest growth of 6% in 2005. The research firm said the lower growth is caused by some mature markets being close to totally penetrated while some emerging markets are seeing weaker-than-expected sales. The leading five handset makers (Nokia, Motorola, SonyEricsson, etc.) control 80% of the global market, which will be worth about US$112-billion this year.

Skype Journal is highlighting some strategic issues facing Skype as it attracts more users, including more than a million people willing to pay for SkypeOut, SkypeIn and Skype VoiceMail. SkypeJournal's Stuart Henshell points to the growing number of video applications for Skype created by external developers as just one example of the opportunities Skype may be missing out on. If you think about it, Skype has two choices: it can start to churn out its own plug-ins/add-ins (some premium, some free), or it can embrace the developer community and share in any new wealth creation. Another way of looking at Skype's relationship with external developers is that the proliferation of new applications drives usage of Skype and its own fee-based services - and maybe that is what Skype wants to generate revenue but keep its own costs lost. Still, there appears to be a growing sense of frustration among Skype users and developers with the company's approach to new applications. Stuart highlighted this view with a rant on Skype's mediocre relationship with independent developers. It is difficult not to get the feeling Skype, the Skype eco-system and VOIP are moving so quick ahead, the company is having challenges tending to all the strategic "fires" now burning.