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Consolidation means less equipment, less networks, and less jobs.

If you are worried about the risk to your reputation, you don't launch a telecoms firm in an aggressive way.

The phone space is tough because it is consolidated.

Consolidation isn't new, though... it was a major factor in our rush to form the Gathering and place a stake in the ground to ensure that there is a solid path for developers who are willing to stay independent and build their own companies on their own terms.

Charter's merger sales pitch is pretty straightforward: it argues that it has always been too small to bully Internet companies, TV makers, and its own customers, so it has'un-cable' practices they hope to extend.

We feel there is already widespread broadband available today.

Seriously, we are in the midst of the convergence of voice and data and that is challenging the infrastructure of the telephone companies. There are huge commercial interests in the basic technology, but even more so in content delivery and control of content.

I think that we are trying to put data communications, telecommunications and media communications together and be the No. 1 player there.

I think a lot can be said for consolidation, but I think it should be done for the right reasons.

Telco is totally committed to commercial vehicles, where it is bound to remain a major player. What may well happen in the future is we may split the company into two business units.