cdqprimatwThe ISDN world is contracting because of changing technology. Eventually, there will be no more ISDN. In some parts of the US, there already is no more ISDN. But it isn’t dead yet.

I have researched most of the other professional options available and have signed up and paid for some other technology that allows me to connect to studios with them doing the recording – much like what happens when I use my ISDN lines. Source-Connect, ipDTL and ConnectionOpen is what I have now. (Click here for the list I created of most of the options.)

There are others that require additional hardware codecs similar to ISDN and are in fact made by the companies who provide ISDN codecs. But, at the moment, none of the companies that I work with have ever mentioned that they will be switching to those systems.

My Source-Connect sessionsĀ are increasing, as well as ipDTL. Both seem to work well, provided the Internet connection is good.

But what has been happening in the past year is that despite the talk of ISDN’s death, my lines have been working much more than in previous years. I am lucky to be in a part of the country where demand for the technology is still high enough to keep the monthly line charges reasonable. So, for the time being, ISDN is still the connection method of choice for those agents and production companies. But, requests for Source-Connect and ipDTL are more frequent as well.

Perhaps the fact that ISDN is being requested more than usual relates to the Scarcity Principle? Scarcity brings on demand?

“…a limited supply of a good, coupled with a high demand for that good, results in a mismatch between the desired supply and demand equilibrium. In pricing theory, the scarcity principle suggests that the price for a scarce good should rise until an equilibrium is reached between supply and demand. However, this would result in the restricted exclusion of the good only to those who can afford it.”

Read more: Scarcity Principle Definition | Investopediahttp://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/scarcity-principle.asp#ixzz4QIQJ5LYt

Unfortunately, the price part of this principle doesn’t seem to apply! Those of us with ISDN equipped studios are not getting any more $ than we have always gotten. But we do seem to be getting more work from the companies that are still using it! And we have always belonged to a somewhat exclusive club. As ISDN disappears from the scene and the less expensive options take their place, more people than ever will be competing for the work.

A scary thought, but also an incentive to keep the quality high in the other areas of my business. Customer service, Quality Assurance, Timely Delivery, and Value Added Services.