MediaFLO Mobile TV Faceoff: AT&T vs Verizon
Alan Reiter   5/9/2008  
In the U.S. we have two choices for the best video-quality, full-length, streaming TV programs:  Verizon Wireless’s V CAST Mobile TV and AT&T Mobility’s AT&T Mobile TV, which launched last Sunday.

Odds Are Against Sprint/Clearwire WiMax Consortium’s Success
Alan Reiter   5/8/2008  
It’s official.  Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) is combining its Xohm WiMax network with Clearwire’s WiMax network to create a nationwide wireless broadband and voice company.  Called Clearwire, it includes $3.2 billion in investments from Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC), Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX), and Bright House Networks .

Don’t Buy T-Mobile’s 3G Phones Now
Alan Reiter   5/7/2008  
T-Mobile USA has just launched 3G service in New York City, as rumored.  But if you want to rush out to purchase a new handset -- stop!

Vodafone's Alice in Wonderland Data Plans
Alan Reiter   5/2/2008  
The headline of U.K.-based Vodafone Group plc (NYSE: VOD)’s press release trumpets: “Unlimited Internet Access on Vodafone’s New Monthly Price Plans.” Baloney!

Video: Practical Advice for Wireless Advertising
Alan Reiter   5/1/2008  
Are you interested in the business or techniques of wireless advertising? Then check out this video by blogger extraordinaire Robert Scoble of Fast Company TV as he interviews Omar Hamoui, founder and CEO of AdMob.

E-Commerce Strategy: Top 4 Myths
Marc Osofsky   5/9/2008  
Innovative retailers are challenging four key retailing rules of thumb in favor of an online community approach to e-commerce. This new strategy has been written about both in a recent Harvard Business Review study as well as Business Week and is the latest attempt by e-commerce startups to outperform rivals stuck in the old ways.

Why Enterprises Shun Internet-Hosted Apps
Tom Nolle   5/9/2008   3 comments
This doesn’t happen often in surveys: Talking to dozens of enterprises earlier this year, an astounding 100 percent told me they were expecting to host networking or IT services on the Internet. The bad news was that over half said they thought there were serious issues to be overcome in these applications, and a full 30 percent reported explicitly bad experiences.

Fake Your Location, Save Your Life
Alan Reiter   5/8/2008   10 comments
Companies that develop GPS-based products to determine a person’s location strive for the utmost accuracy because they know these devices not only offer tremendous convenience, but also could save lives in emergencies. What few people realize is it could be just as vital to foil that accuracy. We had better realize the dangers of location data – and how to “fake out” the trackers.

The Internet Can Fix Its ‘Green’ Problem
Mary E. Shacklett   5/8/2008   9 comments
Environmental organization Global Action Plan studies show that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the information and communications technology industry exceed the carbon output of the entire aviation industry. From this, it’s estimated that the Internet is generating 5.3 percent of world energy consumption. But, though the Internet is a CO2 contributor to greenhouse gases, it also offers energy and carbon emission alternatives that are more attainable than those in other industries.

Filter This: Email Stamps Could Spell the End of Spam
Leo Nederlof   5/7/2008   11 comments
Using electronic stamps on email as a way to filter out spam or, at least cut down on unsolicited commercial email, has been considered by experts for some time now. Whether the discussion is raised in an email hoax or a serious proposal by a fellow ThinkerNetter, a practical solution is currently lacking. But what if the stamp charge is not collected by the government or ISP, but paid to the email recipient? The benefits there could be sufficient motivation to explore possible implementations.

Microsoft ASA: Who Needs People?
Nicole Ferraro   5/9/2008  
Earlier this week, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) unveiled enhancements to its Automated Search Agent -- an announcement few cared about because it had nothing to do with Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO), billions of dollars, or Steve Ballmer's inferiority complex.