Talk:Roy Mason (architect)

Erasal of interesting info

I am proceeding to the removal of the following chunk of text. I hesitated because this text explains what happened to Mason's smart home project, but that info barely concerns him and primarily focuses on the work done by the network operators. Also, no sources, so... I kept a small version of this text, where Mason is actually mentioned, on the page.

-- Start erased text -- During the mid 1980s the Bell System was being organized for a breakup into 7 Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs), also known as "Baby Bells". A new company, Arlington-based Intelligent Building Information Systems (iBis) was formed by entrepreneur Tom Colligan whose telecom career included a brief stint with United Technologies' intelligent building endeavor. His vision was to create a hub and spoke network of office building complexes that not only took advantage of new telecom network technologies but incorporated central computer efficiency within the building's or office park's infrastructure. Those elements included HVAC environmental systems, elevator controls, fire and safety and security systems. The term Shared Tenant Services was also introduced to help lure tenants into an infrastructure that would allow central computing and communications into the formula. À la carte phone charges and PBXs were expensive business charges at the time and PCs were just being introduced at that time. An article in MIS Week and the Washington Post gained the attention of Roy Mason. Roy and Tom shared futuristic visions that would someday include intelligent homes. Roy was immediately enveloped into the strategic business plan process and lent his experience to iBis' corporate resume. He became a spokesman for the company, often holding seminars for contractor/developers interested in offering services beyond the brick and mortar. In 1984, iBis signed a contract with NYNEX (now Verizon) to offer tenant network services nationwide. The contract included network switches and a national sales campaign plus $10 million in startup cash for iBis. Nine months later, the 1984 Modified Final Judgement by Judge Green disallowed the newly formed RBOCs to offer voice and data services. The NYNEX contract was nullified immediately, leaving little time to find a backup investor. The data network part of the business plan later resurfaced as Data America, minority funded by individual investors loyal to iBis and anchored by Northern Telecom. -- End erased text --

--Croskyit (talk) 01:17, 5 August 2020 (UTC)