There was a very interesting article in today’s Wall Street Journal (sorry, I can’t hyperlink to it here as it is password-protected) about Amazon’s decision to pursue a “shopping mall” strategy. In a roundabout way, this article shares a lot in common with some recent remarks made by Kevin Rollins of Dell (for more text on Mr. Rollins, comments, click here). In a nutshell, there seem to be a dialog going on in the computer/IT industry that I find particularly troubling. There are some really good reasons why these discussions about “the twilight of technology” are flawed.
Month: September 2003
Improving Indoor Mobile Coverage — Is the Time Right?
I have been tracking the development of two companies, Radioframe Networks and Kineto Wireless, for some time. Both companies are working on ways to improve the quality of in-building mobile/WLAN coverage. Is the time right for products in this space?
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Fun vs. Productivity — What is the Market Telling Us?
Every now and then I come across an article that raises some interesting issues in the world of wireless technology. A recent CNET artilce talks about the differing rates of adoption for camera and so-called “smart” phones.
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Why Aren’t All of My Services “All You Can Eat”?
I have been told that this is a distinctly American fascination, but I am a big proponent of all you can eat (pay a flat price for unlimited usage) products and services. Many of the services that I consume, such as broadband Internet, DVD rental, wireline phone service, and digital cable are all available in all you can eat packages. It seems to take a lot to get companies to move to all you can eat pricing packages, but I believe that such pricing plans are a key ingredient to driving adoption of new products and services.
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Friendster and the Changing Face of Online Dating
Occasionally I find a topic that really polarizes many of my friends and colleagues. Lately, I have found that many of my friends and colleagues have very strong feelings about one Internet activity in particular — dating and dating services.
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What Should be Done with Gateway?
What has become of Gateway? Are they a computer company? An electronics company? A digital camera and flat screen superstore? I have been watching the various twists and turns that this company has endured and I am beginning to think that the company is in the midst of a serious identity crisis.
Thoughts on European Pre-Paid Mobile
After spending an extended holiday in Europe, I was amazed by the convenience and quality of Vodafone’s pre-paid mobile service. I have virtually no experience with pre-paid mobile in the United States, but there are a few elements of the European experience that make it incredibly enjoyable for the traveler.
Correction
In my earlier post about , a representative from GoodContacts pointed out that there was an error in my post. The GoodContacts software product does not employ a database-in-the-sky approach — the GoodContacts application does not store user contact data in an Internet-addressable application.