Change is inevitable. The music industry is in the process of undergoing huge change both as a result of rising technologies and demanding consumer tastes. But to put this in a negative light would be both unfair and as far from the entrepreneurial mindset that those in the business should have. This current evolution of the music industry is not a bad thing at all. Rather, if current businesses abandon any thought of fighting the change, then the transition will be smooth and both the consumer and provider will benefit. Of these technologies, mobile media–in particular cell phones–are quickly becoming the future of the industry. In the next three to five years the cell phone market will increasingly tighten its relationships with the music industry and as is already evident, promote musical products and services in hopes of providing the consumer with the best of both worlds. However, as individual preference is very important to today’s consumer, the focus can not solely be on the service or product but also on catering to the individual–the here is no longer just one mass market. The questions that remain are what type of new business models will be required of a mobile based company and what types of mobile music technologies will keep the industry alive; moreover, how will this affect the lives of the consumers.
It is quite possible that the coming years will result in one, two, or all of the five following scenarios:
1. With the ease and frequent use of telecommunicating one would reasonably think that physically traveling from place to place is outdated, and that there is really no reason to leave the home. Ironically, this is not the case and it seems that no one is ever home these days. Economist Tim Hartford calls this the “distance paradox” and further makes the claim that “mobile phones aren’t substitutes for face-to-face contact, they are complements to it (Hartford).” A huge mobile company like AT&T knows this all to well and have been the first to introduce a technology that allows the user to be in control of his or her home media while on the go. Still fairly new, this “Homezone” technology will be a huge player in the next few years. A service like Homezone will in essence allow the user to control his or her entertainment media through his or her cell-phone as long as there is an AT&T Homezone receiver on the other end. The user is able to view up to date television listings from their phone and choose which programs to record. Also, AT&T is offering the ability to “trigger” video-on-demand and music-on-demand downloads from among the most current selections (Block). AT&T is equipped with an expansive on-demand content library that includes thousands of titles that build from many partnerships with content providers. As is evident already, music and movie content providers are teaming up with mobile based businesses to attract consumers. Providers working with AT&T and Homezone are LAUNCHcast music, Movie Showtimes, and Movielink (AT&T.com). Rick Welday, chief marketing officer at AT&T believes, “Compelling features, like wireless remote access and thousands of downloadable titles, give us an entertainment service that goes beyond others on the market today (Block)." The cell phone–home entertainment connection in general is indeed a revolutionary service that seems to suit the on-demand fervently paced lifestyle of the typical consumer.
2. The next couple of years will favor those companies that can offer the best in the “all-in-one device.” A product with music and video playing capabilities alongside with phone and internet service will soon become the industry standard. In particular, wireless delivery of content is what consumers want and is simultaneously becoming the future of music distribution. A company at the forefront of this type of mobile service is Sony. When Sony introduced the
Walkman in 1979, they sparked the portable audio revolution (Sony.com). Almost three decades later and Sony is involved with the mobile phone media center revolution. The music industry is already on its way to becoming associated with mobile technology and Sony will once again be a company that blends the two together. Sony is leading the way with its line of Sony Ericsson Walkman Phones. This music based cell phone is the future platform for which the music industry will base its future. According to mobile technology review website Mobileburn, music based phones like this are readily becoming equipped with Bluetooth 2.0 stereo connections for wireless listening and increased song storage space (in eAAC+ format) that will soon average about 1500 song files (Oryl). In terms of music media libraries, the change has been going on for the past two years and will continue well into the future.
3. A mobile music service called visual radio is quickly becoming the preferred means by which consumers are exposed to radio. Visual radio’s motto is “see what you hear,” and because that is the main focus, visual radio will become a huge market. This is partly due to the fact that the technology of visual radio is simple, well understood, and inexpensive. The audio is received through normal analog FM radio that is embedded in the phone, whereas the graphics and text that is synchronized with the audio is sent through the phone via a data connection (Visual Radio.com). What makes visual radio most appealing however are the interactive capabilities. Besides music/artist quizzes, station messaging, and content download, visual radio displays artist information, local tour dates, song lyrics, and artist websites. In addition, direct interaction with the radio station is becoming more readily accessible insofar as users will be able to participate in audience poles, opinion sessions and contests. This mobile user-radio station interaction is the most important aspect of visual radio and is a means by which the music labels can benefit. Because the market is so diverse, assuming what content the majority of people want to hear is no longer applicable. The evolution of the music industry will not only rely on mobile media but also on user interaction so that listeners have a legitimate say in what musical content is made available; moreover, they can learn what the listener wants, when they want it, and in what form, because inevitably the “on-demand” individual is now and will be the music industry’s target market.
4. As technology is speeding up exponentially, the next couple of years will provide for mobile services to be taken to the next level. The ability to discover new music and manage existing music is a practice that the consumer is not only very good at, but also one that consumers rely on. Gracenote has created a mobile music service that is an example of what the next couple of years will offer the mobile music aficionado. It is called the Gracenote Mobile Music Solution Suite and is made up of various applications that can be run on mobile phones. The “on-demand” lifestyle of the consumer once again comes into the picture as a driving force behind the revolution in the industry in the form of one particular application called Mobile MusicID (Gracenote.com). According to Gracenote, the application allows consumers to “simply hold up their phone anywhere the music is playing, then a short clip of the music is matched to Gracenote's global database of audio fingerprints and music information (Gracenote.com).” The user receives the song's title, artist, and album information within seconds and with a library of over 60 million songs, this mobile service is likely to be the future of discovering new music. Also, in conjunction with Mobile MusicID, Gracenote’s Discover application provides a music recommendation engine that feeds off of stored music files and search history to recommend similar artists (Gracenote.com). But as much as mobile music technology will drive the evolution of the music industry, it will not be effective if the business and economics do not adapt to the change.
5. Phone companies in particular today make very little money directly from phone calls and as the entertainment industry in general is rapidly evolving, telecommunication companies must find new sources of revenue. A 2006 FCC report shows that around 75% of interstate cell phone calls are less than two minutes in duration, so the first action that companies must take is to use music and other media to keep the user actively on the phone (FCC.gov). Making money from data transfer on a monthly basis is likely to be a huge portion of revenue for not only telecommunication companies but also record labels. On a basic level, charging for the interactive content such as visual radio, and Gracenote’s Discover and Mobile MusicID, is the way that the companies will profit. For record labels in particular, the physical distribution of CD’s is slowly phasing out and being replaced with digital distribution. A successful business model could be to drop actual album prices and rely on interactive and promotional offers to supplement the income lost by not selling a physical good. Also, with digital distribution, the cost of third-party distributors and purchasing top line shelf space will not be incurred, further allowing for a wider profit margin.
Change is inevitable. The mobile music companies that take advantage of this change will live to tell the story...as for the rest...RIP.
AT&T, (2007). AT&T Homezone-Bringing it all Together. Retrieved April 8, 2007, from http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=AT%26T+homezone
Block, R (2006, May, 26). AT&T's Homezone caught! Engadget, Retrieved April 9, 2007, from http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/atandts-homezone-caught/
FCC, (2006). Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS). Retrieved April 10, 2007, from http://wireless.fcc.gov/cmrsreports.html
Gracenote, (2007). Gracenote-Mobile MusicID. Retrieved April 8, 2007, from http://www.gracenote.com/gn_products/mobileMusic.html
Hartford, T (2007,February,3). The Distance Paradox. Slate Magazine-MSN, Retrieved April 8, 2007, from http://www.slate.com/toolbar.aspx?action=print&id=2158571
Oryl, M (2007,March,14). Sony Ericsson launches W660i Walkman Phone. Mobileburn, Retrieved April 9, 2007, from http://www.mobileburn.com/review.jsp? Id=3204&source=HOMETOP
Sony, (2007). Sony Ericsson. Retrieved April 10, 2007, from http://www.sonyericsson.com/walkman/
Visual Radio, (2007). Visual Radio-See What you Hear. Retrieved April 10, 2007, from http://www.visualradio.com/vr/about.htm
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Just What You Wanted–Hi-Def TV on Your Mobile Gadget
Just as most cell phone users are barely getting used to the idea of TV via their mobile phones, LG announces mobile phones capable of handling high-definition digital TV. Credit must be given to LG Electronics and Harris Corporation considering that not only is such a technology very complex and not fully understood, but also because economically speaking, it is very risky.
Ah but on the other hand, if it wasn’t for companies taking risks, then the economy would fall and the ice age would cometh. So in that light, let’s see what this digital mobile TV is all about.
Officially it is called “In-Band Mobile DTV service” and un-officially there is a great deal of technical jargon that even most techies are still figuring out. To keep the technical specs to a minimum, this mobile DTV service would be possible by means of A-VSB transmission and receiving equipment. According to an Engadget article by Darren Murph, this technology ultimately allows the transmission standard to be enhanced to be able to “get television broadcasts in motion, indoors and out.” Also, this technology better synchronizes signal timing across towers (a Siginal Frequency Network). Enough of that.
What does this mean for the consumer?
Basically, the consumer will be able to receive the same DTV signal that is being sent to their home receiver, on their mobile device. This is definitely a nice little perk for all the techies out there but that’s the problem–seems that people are taking on mobile TV in general at a snails pace. What companies have to do is market a mobile DTV service in such a way that it does not scare away the customer.
One way to accomplish this is that watching DTV will not kill the cell phone battery and will not cost an arm and a leg if say, you watch two episodes of The Simpsons. Also, the technology must be at a good enough quality so that there won’t be any interruptions/interference while watching TV. The marketing departments can definitely have fun with this as long as they don’t isolate the non-technology savvy users. Unfortunately it is too early to put a price tag on such a service but like everything else, it won’t be for pennies the first few years.
In all honestly, a service like this can quickly scare a lot of people away if not treated the right way. Integrating such a technology from the mobile device to the home could be a way to get people comfortable with the idea...hint hint.
It will be interesting how cell phone companies react to this new technology. It will be more interesting to see if the iPhone will come up with its own version of the technology or play fair and just accept it as is…I can guess which way they’ll go.
Engadget-LG / Harris announce In-Band mobile DTV system By Darren Murph
http://cellphones.engadget.com/2007/04/03/lg-harris-announce-in-band-mobile-dtv-system/
Engadget-ATSC developing its own mobile DTV broadcasting standard By Darren Murph
http://cellphones.engadget.com/2007/04/10/atsc-developing-its-own-mobile-dtv-broadcasting-standard/
Ah but on the other hand, if it wasn’t for companies taking risks, then the economy would fall and the ice age would cometh. So in that light, let’s see what this digital mobile TV is all about.
Officially it is called “In-Band Mobile DTV service” and un-officially there is a great deal of technical jargon that even most techies are still figuring out. To keep the technical specs to a minimum, this mobile DTV service would be possible by means of A-VSB transmission and receiving equipment. According to an Engadget article by Darren Murph, this technology ultimately allows the transmission standard to be enhanced to be able to “get television broadcasts in motion, indoors and out.” Also, this technology better synchronizes signal timing across towers (a Siginal Frequency Network). Enough of that.
What does this mean for the consumer?
Basically, the consumer will be able to receive the same DTV signal that is being sent to their home receiver, on their mobile device. This is definitely a nice little perk for all the techies out there but that’s the problem–seems that people are taking on mobile TV in general at a snails pace. What companies have to do is market a mobile DTV service in such a way that it does not scare away the customer.
One way to accomplish this is that watching DTV will not kill the cell phone battery and will not cost an arm and a leg if say, you watch two episodes of The Simpsons. Also, the technology must be at a good enough quality so that there won’t be any interruptions/interference while watching TV. The marketing departments can definitely have fun with this as long as they don’t isolate the non-technology savvy users. Unfortunately it is too early to put a price tag on such a service but like everything else, it won’t be for pennies the first few years.
In all honestly, a service like this can quickly scare a lot of people away if not treated the right way. Integrating such a technology from the mobile device to the home could be a way to get people comfortable with the idea...hint hint.
It will be interesting how cell phone companies react to this new technology. It will be more interesting to see if the iPhone will come up with its own version of the technology or play fair and just accept it as is…I can guess which way they’ll go.
Engadget-LG / Harris announce In-Band mobile DTV system By Darren Murph
http://cellphones.engadget.com/2007/04/03/lg-harris-announce-in-band-mobile-dtv-system/
Engadget-ATSC developing its own mobile DTV broadcasting standard By Darren Murph
http://cellphones.engadget.com/2007/04/10/atsc-developing-its-own-mobile-dtv-broadcasting-standard/
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Countdown to the End of DRM: Zune’s Take
I dislike DRM as much as the next person so I am quite happy to see the beginning of the end for DRM. What is interesting however, is how EMI’s agreement with Steve Jobs will affect the rest of the industry.
Ryan Block of Engadget predicts a “domino effect.” He has the right idea, but his phrase does little justice to just how much things are going to change. This is going to be great for those involved in the industry IF they treat it as an opportunity and not hide in some corner. Apple is at the forefront of this change and is at the same time creating massive brand awareness. But what about Microsoft? Where do they stand as of EMI’s big announcement?
According to another article by Ryan Block, this is what Microsoft has to say regarding this madness:
"Consumers have indicated [having DRM free music] is important to them so Zune has been working with a variety of partners to head in this direction. [Emphasis ours] This is a time of transition for the music industry and Microsoft is committed to striking a balance between delivering the best consumer experience while still protecting the rights of the content owners."
Microsoft has no choice. The market is driven by the consumers need and desires. This makes you wonder why the Zune is as lackluster as it is. People did not like it yet a new generation of Zune is on the way and it will only have a chance if DRM is done away with. But reading on, it is clear that Microsoft is pro-DRM. They strongly believe that DRM will always have a place whether in delivering video content or music subscription services. Microsoft wants to create “flexible DRM technology” that will make the consumers and content owners happy. Likely? I think not.
Microsoft’s whole approach to DRM mirrors the old-fashioned mentality of the stubborn record labels (minus EMI in this respect of course). While they are putting so much concentration on a technology/philosophy that is clearly on its way out, they are falling way behind in the race that is mobile music.
Let it go, let it go! The fate of the Zune 2.0 depends on it (among other things, but we will let that go right now).
Engadget- Zune the next to drop DRM? By Ryan Block
http://www.japan.engadget.com/2007/04/02/zune-the-next-to-drop-drm/
Engadget- Why Jobs is going to London: EMI is ditching DRM By Ryan Blockhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/01/why-jobs-is-going-to-london-emi-is-ditching-drm/
Ryan Block of Engadget predicts a “domino effect.” He has the right idea, but his phrase does little justice to just how much things are going to change. This is going to be great for those involved in the industry IF they treat it as an opportunity and not hide in some corner. Apple is at the forefront of this change and is at the same time creating massive brand awareness. But what about Microsoft? Where do they stand as of EMI’s big announcement?
According to another article by Ryan Block, this is what Microsoft has to say regarding this madness:
"Consumers have indicated [having DRM free music] is important to them so Zune has been working with a variety of partners to head in this direction. [Emphasis ours] This is a time of transition for the music industry and Microsoft is committed to striking a balance between delivering the best consumer experience while still protecting the rights of the content owners."
Microsoft has no choice. The market is driven by the consumers need and desires. This makes you wonder why the Zune is as lackluster as it is. People did not like it yet a new generation of Zune is on the way and it will only have a chance if DRM is done away with. But reading on, it is clear that Microsoft is pro-DRM. They strongly believe that DRM will always have a place whether in delivering video content or music subscription services. Microsoft wants to create “flexible DRM technology” that will make the consumers and content owners happy. Likely? I think not.
Microsoft’s whole approach to DRM mirrors the old-fashioned mentality of the stubborn record labels (minus EMI in this respect of course). While they are putting so much concentration on a technology/philosophy that is clearly on its way out, they are falling way behind in the race that is mobile music.
Let it go, let it go! The fate of the Zune 2.0 depends on it (among other things, but we will let that go right now).
Engadget- Zune the next to drop DRM? By Ryan Block
http://www.japan.engadget.com/2007/04/02/zune-the-next-to-drop-drm/
Engadget- Why Jobs is going to London: EMI is ditching DRM By Ryan Blockhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/04/01/why-jobs-is-going-to-london-emi-is-ditching-drm/
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Hey, can I Borrow your Google so that I can make a Google?
Yes, a Google phone. No official mobile device has been formally announced but they have announced that they are involved with new Google mobile software. BUT, what if Google does release a phone? Besides creating a whole new meaning to the phrase “let me Google it”, such a product would most likely carry features that are integrated with all of Google’s existing programs and search engines. But we will get to the speculation fever in a moment.
Let’s play the “what if” game, shall we?
First, a quick note on what is factual about Google’s involvement in the mobile market. According to an Engadget article by Thomas Ricker, LG plans to release many of their phones with pre-installed Google services. According to Google’s South-East Asia managing director Richard Kimber, Google is “very focused on the software, not the phone.” This is a very true statement given that the LG’s will be pre-installed with applications like Google Maps, Gmail, and Blogger. Also according to Ricker’s article, Google currently has 18 major R&D projects being worked on in the labs so the chances of a Google mobile device are still pretty good…
But now let’s play the “what if” game, shall we?
IF Google put out a phone it could have the potential of being the iPhone’s biggest threat (if not it’s only). Yes I understand that this is a bold statement to make but there is some glimmer of reason behind this.
Samsung has called a possible Google phone a “iPhone killing monster.” There ya go, that’s my reasoning! No but really, the Google can be a threat because of its applications–in particular, Google Maps. With a sophisticated service like this, the iPhone and even many GPS services would see a qualified competitor. But with all the techies (not trekies) there are many rumors floating around about the Google phone.
One, the contact system is said to be “an extended version of Gtalk combining Gmail, text and instant messaging (Ricker).” Nice in its own right no doubt but there is also rumor that is quite revolutionary in mobile technology. According to sources and “tipsters” that contribute to Engadget.com, the Google phone would likely not have an on-board storage. Basically this would mean that all applications would be attached to your account over a live network. (The techies love this one).
So when all is said and done, would you buy a Google phone? Many people would be turned on by the applications, but considering not much is known about how the phone itself would look, I can imagine that people would be reluctant to commit to buying one.
If I was Google, I’d try my hardest to get a sleek looking phone. With a sleek looking phone at my side I would not hesitate to Google a fellow Googler and hope many people will Google me so that I could show of my Google phone. Success!
Engadget- Google Phone Articles
http://www.engadget.com/tag/googlephone
Engadget- More details emerge on the mythical Google phone? By Evan Blass
http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/06/more-details-emerge-on-the-mythical-google-phone/
Let’s play the “what if” game, shall we?
First, a quick note on what is factual about Google’s involvement in the mobile market. According to an Engadget article by Thomas Ricker, LG plans to release many of their phones with pre-installed Google services. According to Google’s South-East Asia managing director Richard Kimber, Google is “very focused on the software, not the phone.” This is a very true statement given that the LG’s will be pre-installed with applications like Google Maps, Gmail, and Blogger. Also according to Ricker’s article, Google currently has 18 major R&D projects being worked on in the labs so the chances of a Google mobile device are still pretty good…
But now let’s play the “what if” game, shall we?
IF Google put out a phone it could have the potential of being the iPhone’s biggest threat (if not it’s only). Yes I understand that this is a bold statement to make but there is some glimmer of reason behind this.
Samsung has called a possible Google phone a “iPhone killing monster.” There ya go, that’s my reasoning! No but really, the Google can be a threat because of its applications–in particular, Google Maps. With a sophisticated service like this, the iPhone and even many GPS services would see a qualified competitor. But with all the techies (not trekies) there are many rumors floating around about the Google phone.
One, the contact system is said to be “an extended version of Gtalk combining Gmail, text and instant messaging (Ricker).” Nice in its own right no doubt but there is also rumor that is quite revolutionary in mobile technology. According to sources and “tipsters” that contribute to Engadget.com, the Google phone would likely not have an on-board storage. Basically this would mean that all applications would be attached to your account over a live network. (The techies love this one).
So when all is said and done, would you buy a Google phone? Many people would be turned on by the applications, but considering not much is known about how the phone itself would look, I can imagine that people would be reluctant to commit to buying one.
If I was Google, I’d try my hardest to get a sleek looking phone. With a sleek looking phone at my side I would not hesitate to Google a fellow Googler and hope many people will Google me so that I could show of my Google phone. Success!
Engadget- Google Phone Articles
http://www.engadget.com/tag/googlephone
Engadget- More details emerge on the mythical Google phone? By Evan Blass
http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/06/more-details-emerge-on-the-mythical-google-phone/
Monday, March 26, 2007
The Comforts of Home Connected Through One Mobile Service
Yes it is possible, it is finally commercially available, and in due time will become typical of all mobile services. Sprint calls it Pivot. In a nutshell, Pivot is a service that links together your mobile phone, home digital phone, internet, and digital cable services.
John Garcia, president of the Sprint/MSO joint venture, comments, “Pivot links your wireless phone with the comforts of home. Our common vision is to give customers anywhere easy access to the entertainment, communications and information services that are already important to them (Multichannel.com).” With a culture that thrives on everything entertainment and with little patience for slow/outdated forms of communication, the Pivot seems like a godsend. Let us take a look at what makes Pivot an indication of future technologies.
One of the best things about this service is it allows the couch potato in all of us to leave the house without leaving behind our favorite shows. According to Brad Kellett’s article on MobileBurn.com, Pivot allows the user to “watch live and mobile TV,[and] access home TV listings.” Sprint is also promising a feature that allows for the user to program his or her DVR box. So far so good. The options for the TV junkie are fantastic but I fear that this could cause an increase in those “less than safe” drivers on the streets. As if our mobile phones weren’t overly important already, this service promotes the TV + phone feature. This will definitely help sell people on this here Pivot.
Besides TV, Pivot subscribers will be able to access home email and voicemail while on the go. Internet service will also be included and the user will have unlimited calls between home and mobile phone. But the best part of all?! All of these services will be on ONE monthly bill! For the people with hectic lives (pretty much everyone) this is quite the convenience. Another selling point on top of this single bill craziness is that night minutes begin at 7 p.m! This in itself seems small compared to the above mentioned offerings of Pivot but a nice little added bonus nonetheless.
So in the grand scheme of things what do we really have here?
We have a service that will become the future of mobile technology. More and more, people are using one device as a central hub for everything else. Sprint’s Pivot offers a service that can potentially make life easier for many people. However, for those that prefer using multiple devices, Pivot can be just an all too easy way for things to go haywire. It’s a philosophy I tell you.
Ironically, the comforts of home are becoming more and more accessible out of the house. It is interesting how things work out like that. Services like Pivot will make our gadgets even more a part of us to the point that we can’t have some alone time, away from it all. On that note, a quiet stroll in the park seems nice and well deserved…that is of course not without an episode of The Simpsons to accommodate me.
Mobile Burn- Sprint Unifies Home and Mobile Services with Pivot By Brad Kellett
http://www.mobileburn.com/news.jsp?Id=3237&source=HOME
Multichannel News- Sprint, Cable Ops to Market ‘Pivot’ Mobile Phones By Steve Donohue
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6427970.html?display=Breaking+News
Engadget- Pivot: Sprint's quad-play package By Peter Rojas
http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/26/pivot-sprints-quad-play-package/
John Garcia, president of the Sprint/MSO joint venture, comments, “Pivot links your wireless phone with the comforts of home. Our common vision is to give customers anywhere easy access to the entertainment, communications and information services that are already important to them (Multichannel.com).” With a culture that thrives on everything entertainment and with little patience for slow/outdated forms of communication, the Pivot seems like a godsend. Let us take a look at what makes Pivot an indication of future technologies.
One of the best things about this service is it allows the couch potato in all of us to leave the house without leaving behind our favorite shows. According to Brad Kellett’s article on MobileBurn.com, Pivot allows the user to “watch live and mobile TV,[and] access home TV listings.” Sprint is also promising a feature that allows for the user to program his or her DVR box. So far so good. The options for the TV junkie are fantastic but I fear that this could cause an increase in those “less than safe” drivers on the streets. As if our mobile phones weren’t overly important already, this service promotes the TV + phone feature. This will definitely help sell people on this here Pivot.
Besides TV, Pivot subscribers will be able to access home email and voicemail while on the go. Internet service will also be included and the user will have unlimited calls between home and mobile phone. But the best part of all?! All of these services will be on ONE monthly bill! For the people with hectic lives (pretty much everyone) this is quite the convenience. Another selling point on top of this single bill craziness is that night minutes begin at 7 p.m! This in itself seems small compared to the above mentioned offerings of Pivot but a nice little added bonus nonetheless.
So in the grand scheme of things what do we really have here?
We have a service that will become the future of mobile technology. More and more, people are using one device as a central hub for everything else. Sprint’s Pivot offers a service that can potentially make life easier for many people. However, for those that prefer using multiple devices, Pivot can be just an all too easy way for things to go haywire. It’s a philosophy I tell you.
Ironically, the comforts of home are becoming more and more accessible out of the house. It is interesting how things work out like that. Services like Pivot will make our gadgets even more a part of us to the point that we can’t have some alone time, away from it all. On that note, a quiet stroll in the park seems nice and well deserved…that is of course not without an episode of The Simpsons to accommodate me.
Mobile Burn- Sprint Unifies Home and Mobile Services with Pivot By Brad Kellett
http://www.mobileburn.com/news.jsp?Id=3237&source=HOME
Multichannel News- Sprint, Cable Ops to Market ‘Pivot’ Mobile Phones By Steve Donohue
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6427970.html?display=Breaking+News
Engadget- Pivot: Sprint's quad-play package By Peter Rojas
http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/26/pivot-sprints-quad-play-package/
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Sony Ericsson Walkman Phones- Now Everyone Can Hear Your Music
We are coming closer to the end of the white ear buds and the convenience of our own private listening party. Remember those big 20 pound boom-boxes that people used to carry on their shoulders? Well, the new Sony Ericsson is the new version of that. Although I set my hopes high, I am crossing my fingers that this new “boom-box” will facilitate a new public dance craze like break dancing just as the original boom box did.
With my dancing shoes and bright jump suit on, I am ready to begin.
The new Sony Ericsson W660i Walkman Phone is the latest addition to the Walkman series. According to a review by Michael Oryl on a website called Mobile Burn, the W660i “focuses a bit more on design than some of its siblings.” With that, besides the maroon color (black also offered) there are no features that standout. It looks like the typical phone, but in agreement with Oryl, it is sleeker and thinner than previous models. But with a “walkman” phone, looks don’t matter…it’s all about the music capabilities.
According to Oryl, the W660i can store up to 470 songs on its 512 Memory Stick Micro (included with the phone). Not bad. According to Steve Jobs’ “Thoughts on Music,” the average iPod holds about 1000 songs, but iPod owners know that a fraction of those are actually listened to. So, in terms of storage space, the W660i is just fine for the average music listener. But what sets the Ericsson W660i apart from the rest?
Bluetooth 2.0 capabilities and attachable stereo speakers! (This is where you get ready to boogie down).
The W660i allows for music tracks to be played over a Bluetooth 2.0 connection, allowing the use of wireless headphones. This is a HUGE plus for the music lover because now there is no need to have phone in hand or pocket just to listen to the music. And then there are speakers. The W6601 can be used with snap-on-speakers, which will hopefully lead to previously said dance craze. Currently there are speakers for previous models that will hopefully be compatible with the new models. One drawback that I see is that the portable snap-on-speakers do not run on separate batteries…meaning they run off of your phones battery. This could be a problem.
The official Sony Ericsson Website depicts the silhouette of a man walking down the street dancing, having a good time listening to his music via his Ericsson phone/walkman. From a business perspective this is genius. What better product to push for Sony than a phone with the word “walkman” in it. Sony defined portable audio in the 80’s with the introduction of the original cassette-walkman. If I personally want a walkman/phone I would trust Sony because of their history. Many people I would imagine feel the same comfort in such a decision.
What Sony has to do now however is market WHY their Ericsson is better to own than oh I don’t know, let’s say an iPhone. If Apple blows the first generation of the iPhone then this would be the perfect opportunity for Sony to jump in and be the consoling friend of those hurt and weeping by the iPhone. On the other hand, if the iPhone is received with nothing but happy faces then Sony has their work cut out for them. As long as I am dancing though, I am a happy man.
MobileBurn- Sony Ericsson launches W660i Walkman Phone By Michael Oryl
http://www.mobileburn.com/review.jsp?Id=3204&source=HOMETOP
Sony Ericsson Website-
http://www.sonyericsson.com/walkman/index.aspx?cc=us&lc=en
With my dancing shoes and bright jump suit on, I am ready to begin.
The new Sony Ericsson W660i Walkman Phone is the latest addition to the Walkman series. According to a review by Michael Oryl on a website called Mobile Burn, the W660i “focuses a bit more on design than some of its siblings.” With that, besides the maroon color (black also offered) there are no features that standout. It looks like the typical phone, but in agreement with Oryl, it is sleeker and thinner than previous models. But with a “walkman” phone, looks don’t matter…it’s all about the music capabilities.
According to Oryl, the W660i can store up to 470 songs on its 512 Memory Stick Micro (included with the phone). Not bad. According to Steve Jobs’ “Thoughts on Music,” the average iPod holds about 1000 songs, but iPod owners know that a fraction of those are actually listened to. So, in terms of storage space, the W660i is just fine for the average music listener. But what sets the Ericsson W660i apart from the rest?
Bluetooth 2.0 capabilities and attachable stereo speakers! (This is where you get ready to boogie down).
The W660i allows for music tracks to be played over a Bluetooth 2.0 connection, allowing the use of wireless headphones. This is a HUGE plus for the music lover because now there is no need to have phone in hand or pocket just to listen to the music. And then there are speakers. The W6601 can be used with snap-on-speakers, which will hopefully lead to previously said dance craze. Currently there are speakers for previous models that will hopefully be compatible with the new models. One drawback that I see is that the portable snap-on-speakers do not run on separate batteries…meaning they run off of your phones battery. This could be a problem.
The official Sony Ericsson Website depicts the silhouette of a man walking down the street dancing, having a good time listening to his music via his Ericsson phone/walkman. From a business perspective this is genius. What better product to push for Sony than a phone with the word “walkman” in it. Sony defined portable audio in the 80’s with the introduction of the original cassette-walkman. If I personally want a walkman/phone I would trust Sony because of their history. Many people I would imagine feel the same comfort in such a decision.
What Sony has to do now however is market WHY their Ericsson is better to own than oh I don’t know, let’s say an iPhone. If Apple blows the first generation of the iPhone then this would be the perfect opportunity for Sony to jump in and be the consoling friend of those hurt and weeping by the iPhone. On the other hand, if the iPhone is received with nothing but happy faces then Sony has their work cut out for them. As long as I am dancing though, I am a happy man.
MobileBurn- Sony Ericsson launches W660i Walkman Phone By Michael Oryl
http://www.mobileburn.com/review.jsp?Id=3204&source=HOMETOP
Sony Ericsson Website-
http://www.sonyericsson.com/walkman/index.aspx?cc=us&lc=en
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Steve Jobs and Picking the Lesser of Two Evils
Verizon or Cingular?
Verizon or Cingular?
Verizon or Cingular?
Up until a few minutes ago I had no idea that Apple first offered the iPhone to Verizon. Many questions are running through my mind as to Verizon’s rejecting the seemingly shimmering gold offer. However, Verizon does get some brownie points for a few reasons.
One, Verizon did not give in to Apple’s demands. According to an article in USA Today by Leslie Cauley, the demands were…rather demanding for lack of a better word. Although the financial terms are not known exactly, Verizon Wireless vice president Jim Gerace makes clear that “Apple wanted a percentage of the monthly cell phone fees, say over how and where iPhones could be sold and control of the relationship with iPhone customers.” Verizon ultimately said no to these terms.
Looked at closely, some of the terms are more beneficial to Apple than it would have been for Verizon (a clear example of Apple’s way of thinking). In particular, Steve Jobs wanted direct control over distribution. According to Cauley, the Verizon and Apple stores would naturally carry the iPhone but quite not necessarily any other Verizon product carriers such as Wal-Mart and Best Buy. Basically, giving this discretion solely to Mr. Jobs could have posed a problem by hurting relationships between Verizon and their distribution partners.
What else turned this deal sour in the mouths of Verizon you ask? It is something that I and many other customers consider HUGE and very influential in purchasing behavior.
GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE!
Anyone who has heard the horror stories of Apple customer care (i.e broken MacBooks, iPods…) and their warranty provisions would hope that the iPhone carrier would handle any customer concerns. But no. Apple wanted discretion over whether to repair or replace the phone. Being that Verizon is not my mobile service provider I can’t say that Verizon would in fact be better than Apple, but let’s just assume that they are and that Verizon holds customers high on a pedestal. In this case, Verizon would have lost control of customer care with a product they are distributing. Gerace commented on this, “They would have been stepping in between us and our customers to the point where we would have almost had to take a back seat … on hardware and service support.” Verizon did not like this. Honorable wouldn’t you say?
On the other hand, Cingular spokesman Mark Siegel stated, “I don't want to leave the impression that these (iPhone) customers are not ours. They are.” This might be tough to prove given that Apple wants a lot of the control.
So, Verizon declined a deal that could have possibly generated a new tidal eave of customers, increases in revenue, and a new “hip” brand image. On the other hand, they did not see a deal that was mutually beneficial. They passed and what do they gain (if anything)? Brownie points? Honorable mention? We won’t know until June what kind of hit Verizon will take.
If Cingular alienates the iPhone customers then good news for Verizon; however I find it difficult for Jobs to let it get that far. Oh how we shall see, we shall see!
Mac Forum-
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=274576
USA Today- Verizon rejected Apple iPhone deal By Leslie Cauley
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2007-01-28-verizon-iphone_x.htm
Verizon or Cingular?
Verizon or Cingular?
Up until a few minutes ago I had no idea that Apple first offered the iPhone to Verizon. Many questions are running through my mind as to Verizon’s rejecting the seemingly shimmering gold offer. However, Verizon does get some brownie points for a few reasons.
One, Verizon did not give in to Apple’s demands. According to an article in USA Today by Leslie Cauley, the demands were…rather demanding for lack of a better word. Although the financial terms are not known exactly, Verizon Wireless vice president Jim Gerace makes clear that “Apple wanted a percentage of the monthly cell phone fees, say over how and where iPhones could be sold and control of the relationship with iPhone customers.” Verizon ultimately said no to these terms.
Looked at closely, some of the terms are more beneficial to Apple than it would have been for Verizon (a clear example of Apple’s way of thinking). In particular, Steve Jobs wanted direct control over distribution. According to Cauley, the Verizon and Apple stores would naturally carry the iPhone but quite not necessarily any other Verizon product carriers such as Wal-Mart and Best Buy. Basically, giving this discretion solely to Mr. Jobs could have posed a problem by hurting relationships between Verizon and their distribution partners.
What else turned this deal sour in the mouths of Verizon you ask? It is something that I and many other customers consider HUGE and very influential in purchasing behavior.
GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE!
Anyone who has heard the horror stories of Apple customer care (i.e broken MacBooks, iPods…) and their warranty provisions would hope that the iPhone carrier would handle any customer concerns. But no. Apple wanted discretion over whether to repair or replace the phone. Being that Verizon is not my mobile service provider I can’t say that Verizon would in fact be better than Apple, but let’s just assume that they are and that Verizon holds customers high on a pedestal. In this case, Verizon would have lost control of customer care with a product they are distributing. Gerace commented on this, “They would have been stepping in between us and our customers to the point where we would have almost had to take a back seat … on hardware and service support.” Verizon did not like this. Honorable wouldn’t you say?
On the other hand, Cingular spokesman Mark Siegel stated, “I don't want to leave the impression that these (iPhone) customers are not ours. They are.” This might be tough to prove given that Apple wants a lot of the control.
So, Verizon declined a deal that could have possibly generated a new tidal eave of customers, increases in revenue, and a new “hip” brand image. On the other hand, they did not see a deal that was mutually beneficial. They passed and what do they gain (if anything)? Brownie points? Honorable mention? We won’t know until June what kind of hit Verizon will take.
If Cingular alienates the iPhone customers then good news for Verizon; however I find it difficult for Jobs to let it get that far. Oh how we shall see, we shall see!
Mac Forum-
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=274576
USA Today- Verizon rejected Apple iPhone deal By Leslie Cauley
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2007-01-28-verizon-iphone_x.htm
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Palm Takes on the iPhone
Why not? Spring break is here and what better way to start then to bring back our old friend into the discussion–Mr. iPhone.
Smartphone manufacturer Palm did not care too much for Apple’s jump into the mobile phone industry. It came out of nowhere and provided a reality check for every other mobile phone big-whig. Now, a few months later, Palm has acquired some ammo to go up against Steve Jobs.
Palm announced a few days ago that they have hired ex-Apple designer/computer engineer Paul Mercer. The hefty paycheck that he will be receiving is right fully justified as his resume is quite impressive. He was the lead designer on the finder team for Mac OS 7, worked on the Samsung’s “slick” Z5 Range, and founded Pixo (Harper). So, this guy Mercer is a nice investment on behalf of Palm.
Why is he the guy to take on the iPhone?
Because, he knows his stuff. His company, Pixo, provided many of the necessary tools that made up the original iPod’s user interface. I say again, he knows his stuff. With this knowledge, Mercer can help Palm develop a mobile phone user interface that is beyond that which the iPhone has. Palm, has no choice but to move ahead and keep up with Apple. In any event that they don’t, it’s doom.
Mercer can definitely lead Palm in the right direction but in order for Palm to see return on their investment they must not solely depend on him. Palm must not try to create a user interface as good or better than the iPhone, rather, they must let Mercer do his own thing while focusing attention on creating new features!
Paul Mercer knows the “inner working’s” of Apple. He is familiar in how they think (no, there is no divine intervention at Apple). He is aware that once Apple has its loyal iPhone customers that they will do nothing but grow and grow and grow in numbers. Apple will be ruthless in this venture and so must the teamwork between Mercer and Palm. Together, they can be a legitimate competitor of the iPhone and change what many think will be Apple on top once again.
The not-so friends of Apple are hoping that Steve Jobs has heard this Mercer news and is worried. But then again, when has he ever been worried? I hope that Palm is working through nights/weekends/holidays/weddings and child births so that they have every minute they will need to be a worthy opponent.
For the sake and sanity of my slight vacation, I will end here, for I don’t work for Palm.
Palm Official Website
http://www.palm.com/
Engadget-Palm hires ex-Apple designer, puts iPhone in its sights By Conrad Quilty-Harper
http://www.engadget.com/category/cellphones/
Smartphone manufacturer Palm did not care too much for Apple’s jump into the mobile phone industry. It came out of nowhere and provided a reality check for every other mobile phone big-whig. Now, a few months later, Palm has acquired some ammo to go up against Steve Jobs.
Palm announced a few days ago that they have hired ex-Apple designer/computer engineer Paul Mercer. The hefty paycheck that he will be receiving is right fully justified as his resume is quite impressive. He was the lead designer on the finder team for Mac OS 7, worked on the Samsung’s “slick” Z5 Range, and founded Pixo (Harper). So, this guy Mercer is a nice investment on behalf of Palm.
Why is he the guy to take on the iPhone?
Because, he knows his stuff. His company, Pixo, provided many of the necessary tools that made up the original iPod’s user interface. I say again, he knows his stuff. With this knowledge, Mercer can help Palm develop a mobile phone user interface that is beyond that which the iPhone has. Palm, has no choice but to move ahead and keep up with Apple. In any event that they don’t, it’s doom.
Mercer can definitely lead Palm in the right direction but in order for Palm to see return on their investment they must not solely depend on him. Palm must not try to create a user interface as good or better than the iPhone, rather, they must let Mercer do his own thing while focusing attention on creating new features!
Paul Mercer knows the “inner working’s” of Apple. He is familiar in how they think (no, there is no divine intervention at Apple). He is aware that once Apple has its loyal iPhone customers that they will do nothing but grow and grow and grow in numbers. Apple will be ruthless in this venture and so must the teamwork between Mercer and Palm. Together, they can be a legitimate competitor of the iPhone and change what many think will be Apple on top once again.
The not-so friends of Apple are hoping that Steve Jobs has heard this Mercer news and is worried. But then again, when has he ever been worried? I hope that Palm is working through nights/weekends/holidays/weddings and child births so that they have every minute they will need to be a worthy opponent.
For the sake and sanity of my slight vacation, I will end here, for I don’t work for Palm.
Palm Official Website
http://www.palm.com/
Engadget-Palm hires ex-Apple designer, puts iPhone in its sights By Conrad Quilty-Harper
http://www.engadget.com/category/cellphones/
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