Acknowledgments

My many and heartfelt thanks to all the people involved with this book. First, Stephane Thomas (associate editor, Addison-Wesley) is the brilliant young woman at Addison-Wesley who came after me to write this book, and then worked with me to make it a reality, not the least of which meant finding a talented editor. That editor, Kitty Jarrett, had to work with some nontraditional approaches, timetables, and my globe-trotting calendar, but despite all, was able to capture my voice throughout the book to create a very special mix of technology, delivered with a human touch. I'm hoping to see Kitty become a permanent part of LIDO Telecom Essentials Learning Center.

I'd like to extend special thanks to my key reviewers, whose comments were extremely helpful (and sometimes just extreme). Their combined thoughts are represented throughout the book. Some are old friends, some are new friends, and some I've never met, but all of them are involved with the industry in one way or another, and as a group they represent the kind of audience this book is intended for. They represent professionals in IT&T, marketing, sales, business development, education, government, finance, and law, and they come from various corners of the world. Thank you, Dr. Richard Horton (senior program manager, Market Development, ODTR, Ireland) for providing three views in one: those of scientist, a regulator with global experience, and a European. Along with providing technical commentary, his voice ensured that we provided you with at least an understanding of the significance of the regulatory environment to the telecom industry. Big thanks to Mr. Steve Riley (telecommunications consultant, Microsoft), for his dedication in providing a technical voice, ensuring that you would never be misled by my simplification of a complex subject, and for his encouraging notes about some of my more controversial comments. I'd like to thank Mr. Craig Mathias (principal, Farpoint Group), my favorite wireless guru, for sharing his vast wireless knowledge with me over the years, as well as for his ongoing contributions to LIDO's seminar programs on wireless and mobile essentials. My gratitude to Mr. Reb Forte (chief financial officer, Portarius); Mr. David West (executive vice president, Equinox Information Systems); Ms. Natasha Zaslove (lawyer and technology marketing consultant); Mr. Peter Leonard (partner, Gilbert & Tobin); and Ms. Valerie Forte (vice president, business development, LIDO), who offered a m lange of marketing, sales, finance, business, and legal perspectives. Many thanks for the time and feedback you all contributed to the successful completion of this book. To the colleagues I've known over the years (and you know who you are), a really special thank-you for your friendship and constant encouragement you're simply the best!

I'd like to also acknowledge and express gratitude to Mr. Blake Webster, LIDO's Web master, for the design and implementation of the Telecom Essentials Learning Center, the Web-based learning resource that accompanies this book. I've always appreciated his ability to visually manifest my ideas, and never more so than in the design of the artwork for the cover of this book. His creative interpretation emphasizes our belief that telecommunications is a universe unto itself, where there's heaps to explore! And I'm grateful to Ms. Melanie Buck of Addison-Wesley for designing the perfect book cover out of it! I'd also like to thank one of LIDO's interns, Ms. Judy Starcevich, for her diligent work on Telecom WebCentral and the Telecom Essentials Learning Center; keeping up with telecom resources on the Web is an awesome task, and not one many take on so bravely.

I'm delighted to be fortunate enough to acknowledge and thank a family that can be counted on to do whatever it takes. Their support has always been a blessing, and their help in taking care of my home and me, while I sat chained to my computer, was no small sacrifice Mom, Dad, and Richard, and Alcatraz, I appreciate you greatly!

Finally, my sincere and hearty thanks to all those behind the scenes at Addison-Wesley, who have always expressed great enthusiasm for the project, from the artists in the art department, to the marketing team, to the production staff: You've all been an absolute pleasure to work with!