In this follow-up to the successful The International Callback Book: An Insider's View, author Gene Retske, an active participant in the telecommunications revolution, brings events up-to-date and provides a glimpse at the future of the telecommunications industry from the trenches, where the real battles are fought. Since much of the history of telecommunications is written in the regulatory and legal frameworks, this book covers the significant actions and issues, so the reader is prepared to see not only how competition has developed, but where it is likely to lead. The reader is given a thorough treatment of the technology of telecommunications, from the invention of the telephone to today's global IP networks. Special consideration is given to make sure the reader understands the implications of the technologies used. Learning the history of competition in telecommunications from the Carterphone decision to the impact of the Internet will help you to not repeat mistakes made in the past.

Finally, Retske maintains that the companies that survive and thrive are those that make money sooner rather than later. Since the industry has recently been littered with the carcasses of failed startups and crashing incumbents, a working knowledge of how telecommunications companies actually make money is conferred upon the reader. Whatever your interest in telecommunications - investing, working for, owning, or selling to telecommunications companies, comprehension of the financial underpinnings is vital to understanding how to assess today's and tomorrow's telecommunications enterprises.