A third is the potential for the industry to adopt proprietary technology rather than standards-based technology that every company can build upon. So driving standards, driving the Windows platform, driving applications and services into the market remains a challenge. Betting on Broadband Koll acknowledges that working in the fast-paced telecommunications environment has its pressures. But it's also fun because we are at the leading edge of new technology and services, and it's exciting to work with other partners to make something new happen. There's no cookie-cutter approach to forging alliances with companies in the telecom industry, Koll says.
Some deals take weeks.
Others take months. Some take months and end up nowhere. A one-sided agreement usually never works. You need to understand your objectives, and you need to understand your partner's objectives, and then see if you can find a creative way to make it a win-win situation for both. The most difficult part of his job, Koll says, is making accurate predictions about the future of the industry.