In a discussion involving the people responsible for wireless strategies at America’s largest cable companies, one thing was clear – there is no single path they are taking to deliver wireless.  Cathy Avgiris of Comcast, John Bickham of Cablevision, Stephen Bye from Cox Communications, Frank Miller of Bend Broadband, and Mike Roudi from Time Warner Cable spoke today at The Cable Show in Los Angeles, on the panel “Spectrum of Possibility: Technology & Strategy for the Business of Wireless Communications.”

While most noted the agreement between industry players Sprint and Clearwire to provide mobile outside their service areas, there were differing business plans on display.  Stephen Bye noted Cox Communications plans to build its own wireless network using current 3G technology, but also noted the ease of upgrading to LTE in the longer term.  That approach puts Cox at odds with most of the other operators.

Comcast’s Avgiris, for instance, noted the different approach cable operators had taken to telephony years ago.  Rather than try to develop a circuit-switched network, many cable operators began pursuing a VoIP solution that would allow them to be competitive without high upfront costs.

Similarly, Avgiris said companies like Comcast and Time Warner are looking at Wi-Fi networks and dual mode smartphones to deliver their wireless offerings.

Cablevision’s Bickham discussed the deployment of their Optimum WiFi service in the New York area (see this earlier post), and the agreement between Time Warner, Comcast, and Cablevision to allow Wi-Fi roaming across each others’ networks (see this Multichannel News article).

All agreed that wireless would be a key part of the bundle of services offered by cable operators, but most spoke to the consumer benefits of that.  It’s no longer about bundling services just to save money, it’s about the experience.  When customers can use their mobile device as a gateway and player for their home based services, that becomes a powerful driver for consumer interaction.

One of the big trends in technology is mobility. It’s not enough to have a gadget or a service, you have to be able to take it with you and use it on-the-go.

This has not been the traditional province of cable operators, who have typically provided services to homes and businesses. But that’s been changing recently as operators look to provide community Wi-Fi.

Last September, Cablevision began deploying thousands of Wi-Fi access points in its Long Island, Connecticut, Westchester/Dutchess and New Jersey service areas. Subscribers to Cablevision’s Optimum Online high-speed Internet service can then connect to at no additional cost. “Optimum WiFi” is located in “high-traffic and commercial locations like downtown areas, parks and other outdoor locations,” as well as “hundreds of commuter rail platforms and station parking lots.”

(I’m constantly whipping out my iPod Touch to check for Wi-Fi and I’ve found Optimum hotspots in strip malls in Long Island.)

Yesterday, Cablevision announced “its Optimum Online customers have accessed the Internet more than two million times for free over Optimum WiFi, and are averaging more than one million minutes online per day.”  Plans call for the Optimum WiFi network to be completely deployed throughout its New York-Connecticut-New Jersey footprint by early next year.

Earlier this week, a similar service was announced out west in Oregon. BendBroadband announced plans to provide wi-fi access to their high-speed Internet customers at major public parks, the Deschutes County Fairgrounds, the Les Schwab Amphitheater and other popular locations in Bend, Redmond and Sisters.

Detailed information on Optimum WiFi and interactive network coverage maps are available online at www.optimumwifi.com. Residents of Central Oregon can cast their vote for additional Wi-Fi locations at www.bendbroadband.com.