|
While everyone is focusing on Steve Jobs and his announcement about the new iPhone, I found a Amol Sharma's article about Ralph de la Vega, head of AT&T's wireless division.
I found the interview to be better than most in regards to the AT&T and Apple relationship because it didn't bemoan what the iPhone didn't have. Also, de la Vega focused on how the iPhone would drive long-term revenues and not just those revenues in the next couple of quarters.
NOTE - Steve Jobs finally got me... iPhone here I come... Tap me on the shoulder if you find me in line on July 11 at my local Apple store. :)
Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, Ralph de la Vega, Amol Sharma, AT&T, Apple, iPhone
Tom Burton had a recent article that looked at IPTV adoption in the EU. It appears that many implementations are struggling to find the adoption numbers that make investors happy.
I'm not saying that IPTV won't come. However, it is possible that IPTV might come in a form that most established telecoms won't enjoy. It might just be that Internet based, Google-esqe video offerings will dominate the IPTV landscape rather than the HDTV, cable-esqe offerings that have lots of value-add and high ARPU.
It makes Tim McElligott's take from TMF-Nice all the more poignant.
Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, Tim McElligott, IPTV, EU, Tom Burton
My brother and I have always enjoyed the exploits of Larry Ellison. He has been quasi-battle with Paul Allen of Microsoft fame for the largest yacht in all of IT. However, exactly how big a yacht can you have before you have to dock with the Navy's aircraft carriers instead of the "beautiful people".
Ellison has also been in battles with various CEOs over the biggest IT company. My brother and I chuckled at the "victory" over Tom Siebel with Ellison's $5.85b purchase of Siebel Systems. We both guess that Tom ( ... like we can call him tom... ) was cordial, said thanks and cashed that "check" with a smile on his face and was probably thinking "have fun docking Oracle 'somewhere'...".
This week's news of a Verizon Wireless/Vodaphone - Alltel merger made me think of Larry Ellison. Yep. Verizon Wireless is now bigger than AT&T Wireless. Great. I'm not sure that makes Verizon Wireless better or worse than AT&T, but I'm guessing that AT&T will try to make their "yacht" bigger just to say that they can.
Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, Larry Ellison, Vodafone, Verizon Wireless, Alltel, AT&T, yachts, Tom Siebel, Jim Barthold
...It must be a goose.
While that might not make much sense, take a look at Tim McElligott's blog from the TMF-Nice show.
There are lots of organizations who believe that they are "every down players" ( ie great defensive linemen and linebackers in American Football ). However, they are really good pass rushers or good run defenders, but not both. How do you tell the telecom service provider industry:
"You're a good pipe provider, but not an end-to-end player...."
Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, Tim McElligott, TMF
ABI Research has a new report out on location based services (LBS). I agree with them that LBS is getting ready to blossom as a wireless technology and service offering.
However, I didn't like how they were assuming that most of the value would be flowing from the application developers via telecom service providers. I believe that the Google ( ...and other yet to be determined "open garden" providers... ) version of LBS will be a much stronger play than those offered by the established telecoms. Google was not listed as a part of ABI's competitive landscape. That is something to be considered when evaluating this particular piece.
Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, Location Based Services, LBS, Google
Yesterday, Andrea Seabrook has an interesting interview with Jonathan Zittrain about his views on the possible future of the Internet and some of the associated telecommunications aspects: Skype, Tivo, etc.
I do not agree with Zittrain's fears about Internet "censorship". However, I do see the possibility of the telecom organizations who want walled garden content and subsidized equipment limiting the access of the Internet. This would get around the Net Neutrality and "open Internet" aspects of FCC rules.
NOTE - I am not quite willing to "give up" on open devices. In particular, I think that Zittrain misses the fact that the recent FCC auction included an open device spectrum and that the Internet has shown that there is always a way to open free distributed content (ie VoIP, Video, etc) past the guards of the walled garden.
Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, Jonathan Zittrain, Andrea Seabrook, Walled Garden, Net Neutrality, FCC
I thought that iPhones were only dragging down my local cell tower. It appears that iPhones are also "attacking" the LANs of businesses. Ephraim Schwartz looks at some of the non-cellular un-intended consequences relating to iPhone usage.... or rather "over usage".
- Are the networks of the US ready for the 'always on' iPhone?
- Can "all you can eat" data access plans support this business model?
- Will Americans allow a usage based data plan to come into effect if "all you can eat" doesn't work?
Let me know what you think? Send me an email (John.Myers@BlueBuffaloGroup.com) or post your comments.
NOTE - It appears that the only option is for higher "all you can eat" plans and not for usage plans... Or so says JD Powers...
Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, iPhone, Bandwidth Limitations, JD Powers, Billing Plans, All you can eat Billing, Usage-based Billing
Mobile users continue to ask "what's in it for me?" when they are offered mobile advertising and coupons. Erika Janes has a look at how the Oakland A's are using mobile coupons to continue to leverage their online and mobile relationships with fans.
Not all organizations have the visibility and the draw of sport to encourage mobile coupons. However, this example shows how if you are offering $5 per interaction with a customer that you can get their attention with specialized offers. Types of interactions like this will push the development of habits that will make mobile marketing and mobile coupons more mainstream rather than simply an unwanted intrusion into a person's day.
Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, Erika Janes, Oakland A's, mobile coupons, mobile marketing
Most people know that I have taken to bashing Motorola for their business strategy and lack of stock performance... Well I guess not so much Motorola's lack of stock performance, but Wall Street's reaction to their lack of progress.
However, I am not without balance here.... Nokia posted a less than stellar quarter and their stock price suffered because of it.
NOTE - I agree with Scott Moritz's analysis about the lack of a current touch screen phone from Nokia. It does show an issue with product positioning. But, I'm not sure than anyone really wants to go "toe to toe" with iPhone for high end users. It might make sense to go after lower price point buyers, but at the high price point Apple will hold the high ground for quite some time.
Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, Nokia, Motorola, Scott Moritz
While this particular information has been out for a while, I found the comments of Verizon CFO Doreen Toben to be interesting.
"We see prepaid as an opportunity, we felt in the past we left some money on the table."
The North American market has been traditionally a post-paid market. It is "ingrained" into our habits much like "all you can eat" billing for usage. The question is will the declining economic conditions be the motivation for both consumers and telecoms to make a significant change? In order for that to happen, you would need a significant downturn in the economy.... Most economists don't see the economic conditions taking that path. Then again "on the other hand..."
NOTE - I tried to find that classic economist joke about "On the one hand... but then again on the other hand". I will greatly appreciate it if anyone can find a link for that joke and/or the text of that joke. Drop me an email at John.Myers@BlueBuffaloGroup.com or post your comments to the blog.
Technorati Tags: Telecommunications, Telecom, Doreen Toben, Verizon, Pre-Paid, Post-Paid
|
