Sprint to Turn iPod Touch Into 3G Mobile Hotspot?

The Peel from Sprint, is a great example of what future accessory business looks like. There are various kinds of accessories, which morph in into the shape device and provide additional value added service. We have envisioned a similar concept where the user can add a case to iphone, and the case holds various sensors ranging from health to environment. Batteries packs are the most common and successful accessories at least on iphone segment, which eventually expand their scope to new range. The Hot-spot solution look interesting but should i kill my exiting DSL and have this an alternative or as add-on to my DSL. The later is an expensive proposition, which may work in enterprise segment but not for the regular consumers at this point.

Flash Evangelist Builds Video Chat App for Android

It’s interesting that, Apple's highly boasted, massively advertized Facetime app coming to androids with Air 2.5 build. The open source clearly winner in this case of time to market. I am pleased to know that Air does have peer-to-peer multi cast technology (which is repurposed in this case). Adobe has been hinting at big plans for P2P ever since it bought a small P2P startup called amicima in early 2007. It made some of amicima’s technology available to developers about a year ago, but restricted it to small-scale use cases like P2P video conferencing or multiplayer games based on a few Flash players directly connected to each other via P2P. Hopefully the developers’ embrace the technology to build some 4G use cases.

Apple to Give Away iPhone Case

Giving away the protective case is very simple for remedy for growing negative popularity of iphone4 devices. Steve jobs tried to lighten the issue, as it is the case with any smart phone. The consumer reports review made apple to look backand wants set the message straight. Personally, i think its an innovative design, which provides structural support and suppose to increase the signal strength due to its wide area. There was a rumor that, Apple did not have good expertise on antenna design and they hired few recently. Its good that they are offering full refund and get out of the contracts if the consumers are not happy with it. they may change the next batch of units(after sept 30th) to include some kind of protective coating to reduce the shortage of antennas. Overall, this might be very disappointing for thier aggressive global distribution strategy.

HP’s Android Tablet Tabled

HP's rumored tablet went though many decision obstacles from day one. The initial proposed the Windows7 based design got delayed due to platform release from Microsoft, which made HP to think of the android. I believe HP might have produced couple of reference designs on android. But later the Palm acquisition made HP to re-purpose the tablet with palm's web OS. The iPAD release might provoke smaller OEMS to build the tablets but not the bigger ones like HP and Dell. We don't know if HP is waiting for some hardware differentiation or more improvements to their Web OS.

Even Without iPhone, Verizon Is Gaining on AT&T

AT&T initial strategy of iphone exclusivity for 5 years worked well for both AT&T and Apple to influence other GSM operators across the world. Once the exclusivity ends, AT&T has to find new ways to keep their customers from switiching. The AT&T's subscriber based should have been 30% more than verizon in last 4 years but they are almost same. I can think of two reasons 1) The AT&T did not address the growing demand of data networks, which let many customers unhappy. There are high chances of customers migrating to other networks once the contract ends. 2) Google's android helped Verzion in competing with iPhone. Verzion with storng marketing campaigns managed to increase their subscriber base without the magic device. According to Comscore, Verizon has managed to steadily increase its share of the Smartphone market, to 26 percent in May, from 20 percent in late 2008. In the same period, AT&T’s market share slipped to 40 percent, from around 45 percent. Apart from devices, the apps and the appstores played major role when customer choosing the devices offered by network, which gave positive fetch to verizon with their Droid. Tier2 carriers and MVNO's offered cheaper plans but the magic devices saved the tier1 operators. At least in metro's AT&T is loosing its ground to Verzion because of the poor network.

Motorola Unveils Latest Flagship Device Droid X

Droid X is positioned to be an iPhone killer with strong marketing campaign from Verizon. It is nothing-short compare to the new iPhone4 with the exception of front view camera and face time calling. A kin of droid x, the HTC EVO got great reviews when it launched on sprint 4G network. Droid x is very similar in hardware and feature set. Motorola improved their motoblur interface and Google adds their new froyo update to this device when released. For CDMA carriers like Verizon and sprint, the android provided decently competing products with iphone. Ironically, the network infrastructure evolution is not in sync with fast growing device evolution due to lack of attractive business models to justify.

Best Buy Partners With Sprint To Offer Data Plans

Best Buy has identified mobile as one of the burgeoning areas of consumer electronics to tap into. It created standalone mobile-phone kiosks in its stores to offer better customer service. This looks like to virtual MVNO relation with a twist of retail distribution chain. Currently they are targeting only laptops, which might be easier to execute than a complicated mobile ecosystem. While it will run over Sprint’s network, it will reportedly be limited to its 3G network, and not tap into the carrier’s faster 4G network. The plans seem to be expensive potentially targeting enterprise segment, but other per usage plans may work well in consumer segment.