[GRLUG] telephony shake-up again

[George (Skip) VerDuin]

Just as we discuss Asterisk in meeting and as I get ready to buy the
hardware to make it happen in my home, along comes a new hardware that
jumps the game to another level:
  see for example  www.openspeak.com

I've been looking for a while at Asterisk, plus various home-control
approaches that include creature comfort like heat, and security
including door locks/video/sound to remotely permit/monitor access.
These thoughts took root while I was checking my parents home in MI
while they were in FLA.

Why bring this up?  I'm a subscriber to conventional telephone and DSL,
but not to cable because my lifestyle would change for the worse to sit
before the tube for more hours than I do now (remotely).  I expect my
choice is on the fringe of normal.  As a meeting topic, would it be
useful to discuss the various external sources of services and the
effect it has on I/O devices we support under the Linux umbrella?  For
example:  I have heard but not validated the detail that my town is
seriously considering broad band over power line service & I'd be happy
to investigate the subject further for GRLUG.  Perhaps someone in GRLUG
already knows if/when fiber service is to be locally considered to
replace copper telephone/DSL.

I for one have interest in trying to tie a ribbon around the subject of
what services are being offered & considered by local providers and the
impact on my pocketbook as my computer I/Os change from generation to
generation.  I also am not certain how this subject flies inside GRLUG?

Warmest regards from here,
George