Archive for February, 2005
« Previous EntriesMarginal Wireless Customers
Monday, February 28th, 2005Hey, it's not only spam that wireless carriers have to worry about. According to a 1,200-person survey done by Bear Stearns, it's apparently going to be far less lucrative to pursue new wireless customers in the U.S. The investment firm said new customers will only spend $30 a month, making it difficult to make much [...]
It's Here: Wireless Spam
Monday, February 28th, 2005If spam on your personal computer wasn't enough of a hassle, Wireless Services said 43% of all text messages sent on U.S. networks last year were spam, compared with 18% in 2003. The wireless messaging company said it arrived at its figures based on the 1.2 billion spam messages it blocked last year.
If Wireless Services' [...]
Vonage IPO?
Monday, February 28th, 2005BusinessWeek has jumped into will-they-or-won't-they arena when it comes to an IPO by Vonage, which has raised more than US$200 million in venture capital. According to the magazine, several VCs believe Vonage will go public this year but investors could be spooked by Vonage's less than stellar retention rate. In a recent posting, Om Malik [...]
Firefox Fixes Flaws; Rolls On
Sunday, February 27th, 2005Mozilla has released Firefox 1.0.1 that fixes 17 security flaws - the most serious of which lets an attacker gain full control over someone else's personal computer. While Mozilla deserves credit for being quick to release a new version of Firefox so quickly after 1.0, you wonder if computer users will think twice about leaving [...]
Skype Back on a Roll
Sunday, February 27th, 2005Looks like Skype is coming back into the spotlight as lower prices for Internet telephony service are causing some people to wonder whether VOIP will eventualy be free. A story in the International Herald Tribune quotes FCC chairman Michael Powell as saying “he knew it was all over when I downloaded Skype”. In conversations I've [...]
Big, Fat Pipes and the power of Internet services
Saturday, February 26th, 2005I've been playing around with the idea high-speed Internet networks dramatically change how Web-based applications and services are delivered to business and residential customers. The theory is that barriers to entry are pretty much eliminated because services can by delivered to anyone anywhere in the world. While Internet telephony has captured most of the attention [...]
Wireless Party!
Thursday, February 24th, 2005If you're looking for the right word to describe how Canadian wireless CEOs are feeling these days, it's chuffed..
With pesky Microcell Telecommunications taken out of its misery by Rogers, the Big Three (Rogers, Telus and Bell Mobility) are enjoying a stable pricing environment, strong subscriber growth and more revenue from data services. As Rogers Wireless [...]
Bell's Bargain-Basement LD Draws Wrath
Thursday, February 24th, 2005A common theme during the first day of RBC Capital Markets' conference was the carping about Bell Canada's $5 a month long-distance plan that it introduced last summer. Everyone not only had to match the Wal-mart types prices to stay in the game, but now everyone launching VOIP service - at least in Eastern Canada [...]
Vonage: Belle of the Banff Ball
Thursday, February 24th, 2005Amid the large, publicly-traded companies at RBC Capital Markets' conference this week, a somewhat surprising participant was Vonage, which was part of a panel on the outlook for the wireline business. It turns out Vonage Canada CEOBill Rhamey was popular as it held several long meetings with invesotors and had to schedule conference calls on [...]
The Wait is Over - we think - for Virgin Canada
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2005After much speculation and a few off-the-mark target dates, Virgin Mobile Canada will launch March 1. At least, that's what a corporate press release said today that promises an appearance by Richard Branson. Virgin says its new service “will change the face of the Canadian mobile phone industry”.
For ex-Bell Mobility president Michael Neumann, who [...]