
When will the rumors and predictions stop? Probably when
Apple produces a 3G iPhone. Bank Of America analyst Scott Craig thinks Apple will produce a small number of 3G iPhones (3 million) come Q2 2008 and launch a big production build (8 million) in Q3 when demand has risen. Apple stock jumped 2.8% to $144.20 because of the report.
More info here.
March 28th, 2008

I received an email from Netflix this morning saying “We’re Sorry Your
DVD
Was Delayed” and offered me a measly 5% credit. I suppose it’s better than nothing, but 5% of $15.99 is $0.80, not even the tax I’m charged monthly here in Cali. I assume they aren’t offering a credit based on subscription plan. Well, at least it’s a start, but it still doesn’t address the issue of throttling me on new releases because I’m not a new customer - two of my friends are new customers and they’ve got new releases before me.
March 26th, 2008

According to a press release, The Sharper Image (yes, the same one that is supposed to be shutting down) just signed a multiyear licensing agreement with a company called Merchsource. Merchsource will build the Sharper Image branded electronic gift items, MP3 players and rip all of us off this holiday season. WTF!
[Businesswire]
March 10th, 2008

The ’sort of’ because Apple managed to eclipse Dell in
laptop
sales to ‘higher education’ only, in 2007. That means people studying at the degree or college level. This stat was further affirmed by Oklahoma Christian University who has moved away from Dell laptops and offered a program that allows PC users to trade in their current machines for Macbooks. This news comes on the heels of the
university that’s offering a ‘free’ iPhone upon enrollment.
[Appleinsider]
March 3rd, 2008

As of 5/28/08
Tivo
will discontinue their rewards program. According to
ZatzNotFunny, Tivo has upgraded the reward prizes to include the HD boxes for 120,000 and 150,000 point, which also includes lifetime service. David of Zatz is ‘hardcore Tivo’ and somehow he has only managed to amass a mere 90,000 points. So help him out and sign up for Tivo, and make sure to mention him as your referral. For his referral email
see his post (I don’t want him to get more SPAM than he is already soliciting to himself).
Update: David asked for it, now he’s gonna get it (wink): davezatz@yahoo.com
February 28th, 2008

The guys at
Wired put this together. Interesting, yes, but accurate, not entirely, especially (and Wired makes this point) since Apple’s stock fell before the
Macbook
Air was released. Nonetheless, the svelte bodied machine didn’t help matters. Take it as you will and talk to Wired if you got a beef.
February 28th, 2008

T-Mobile completed its purchase of SunCom Wireless today. The deal was announced September 2007 and approved by the FCC on February 8th. The completion of the merger adds more than 1.1 million new customers to T-Mobile’s roster.
Official press release (if you like that kind of thing) after the ‘leap’
T-Mobile USA Completes Acquisition of SunCom Wireless
More Than 1.1 Million New Customers to Benefit from Industry-Leading Customer Service, National Network and Rich Personal Communication Products and Services
BELLEVUE, Wash., & BERWYN, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–T-Mobile USA, Inc., and SunCom Wireless Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:TPC) today announced the completion of T-Mobile’s acquisition of SunCom Wireless. This means more than 1.1 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will now be able to benefit from T-Mobile’s award-winning customer service and the unique products and services offered by T-Mobile.
The acquisition enhances T-Mobile’s network coverage. The company now serves 98 of the top 100 markets nationally.
“We look forward to offering our new customers in the Southeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico T-Mobile’s industry-leading customer service, quality national network and unique personal communications products and services that help customers stay connected to those who matter most,” said Robert Dotson, president and chief executive officer of T-Mobile USA.
T-Mobile recently earned the highest ranking in the J.D. Power and Associates Wireless Customer Care Performance Study, the seventh consecutive period it has held the top spot.
T-Mobile and SunCom Wireless announced their merger agreement in September 2007. The deal received Federal Communications Commission approval February 8.
Through this acquisition, T-Mobile USA expects to significantly expand its national network to cover 259 million Americans, an increase from 244 million. T-Mobile USA also expects to realize synergies with a net present value (NPV) of approximately $1 billion through reduced roaming and operating expenses. Plus, the company anticipates further upside growth opportunities through the addition of the new markets.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Deutsche Telekom’s, T-Mobile USA’s and SunCom’s management with respect to future events. They are generally identified by the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimate,” “aim,” “goal,” “plan,” “will,” “seek,” “outlook” or similar expressions and include generally any information that relates to expectations or targets for revenue or other performance measures. Forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections. You should consider them with caution. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche Telekom’s, T-Mobile USA’s or SunCom’s control, including those described in the sections “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” of Deutsche Telekom’s Form 20-F and SunCom’s Form 10-K reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which may be obtained by contacting the investor relations department of Deutsche Telekom or SunCom via their websites, www.telekom.com and www.suncom.com. Among the relevant factors are the impact of other significant strategic or business initiatives, including acquisitions, dispositions and business combinations and cost saving initiatives that may have a material adverse effect on costs and revenue development. These factors also include risks that the acquisition disrupts current plans and operations; the potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the acquisition; and the ability to recognize the benefits of the acquisition. If these or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, Deutsche Telekom’s, T-Mobile USA’s and SunCom’s actual results may be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile USA and SunCom can offer no assurance that their expectations or targets will be achieved and do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to take new information or future events into account or otherwise.
About T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc., is the U.S. operation of Deutsche Telekom AG’s (NYSE:DT) Mobile Communications Business, and a wholly owned subsidiary of T-Mobile International, one of the world’s leading companies in mobile communications. By the end of the fourth quarter of 2007, 120 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 28.7 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM, the world’s most widely used digital wireless standard. T-Mobile’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect effortlessly to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile highest, in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care. For more information, please visit www.t-mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG.
For more information, please visit www.t-mobile.com for T-Mobile USA, Inc.; www.t-mobile.net for T-Mobile International; and www.telekom.com/investor-relations for Deutsche Telekom.
February 22nd, 2008

T-Mobile is getting into the VoIP game. Offered exclusively to current T-Mobile customers paying $39.99 or higher, the new service costs $10 a month (plus taxes and fees) and includes unlimited domestic and long distance calls over the customer’s preexisting broadband service. According to
CNet, numbers can be ported over. The T-Mobile required router will set you back $50 after rebates. Unfortunately, the service will only be offered in Dallas and Seattle initially.
Guess this is T-Mobile’s response for losing the Hotspot deal to AT&T.
February 21st, 2008