Netflix on CLEAR 4G: Wireless Issues are Clear

When Netflix recently released data on Netflix high-definition video performance on a number of networks, it included Clearwire's 4G wireless network among all the other fixed networks. That a 4G wireless network would rank behind wired DSL, cable, and fiber optic networks in terms of experience, when the content being streamed is high-definition video, would not surprise anybody who follows such things.

Larry Dignan at ZDNet notes that "looking at the Netflix data you’d think Clearwire was a dog." He argues the opposite is true. Clearwire’s 4G service is fast enough for consumers to stream Netflix, and he sees that as a plus.

Still, the study, which might be criticized on some grounds, suggests the issues wireless service providers will have as video becomes a more-important application on all networks.

See http://www.techzone360.com/topics/techzone/articles/139170-ranking-isp-performance-no-simple-matter.htm, for example.

Netflix Streaming on CLEAR 4G

AT&T Earnings

LinkedIn Ad Revenues $18 Million a Quarter

LinkedIn has 90 million members. They are a little bit older, professional, and wealthy than average, which makes them an interesting demographic for at least some advertisers.

So far, LinkedIn has not been able to convert its audience into ad revenue at a high rate. In the three months ending September 30, 2010, LinkedIn generated just $18 million in advertising revenue.

Advertising might be the key, or most important, revenue source for some sites. But it is harder than you might think to create a big ad revenue stream even for popular social media sites.

LinkedIn Revenues Prove Social Media Advertising Is Still A Lousy Business

Verizon Buys Terremark to Support Cloud Services

Verizon’s $1.4 billion acquisition of cloud and hosting company Terremark has some analysts putting a bevy of Internet infrastructure companies on the “to be acquired list.

The bet seems to be that large incumbents like AT&T may have to go shopping to beef up their enterprise units.

In a research note, Oppenheimer analyst Tim Horan argued that "the transaction highlights the attractive fundamentals of the Internet infrastructure space driven by the ongoing migration to cloud computing."

"Other providers in this space that represent potential targets include Savvis, Rackspace, Cogent Communications Group, Level 3 and Limelight Networks. Potential suitors include the incumbents AT&T, Verizon, CenturyLink, Windstream and foreign carriers."

Verizon's Terremark purchase puts Rackspace, Savvis on shopping list

Is the Era of Webmail Over?

Globally, total minutes spent on web-based email (not including PC web applications such as Outlook) was down two percent in November 2010 compared to November 2009, with time spent in the Asia-Pacific region showing even more dramatic decline dropping 10 percent, according to comScore.

Within the region, markets showed varying levels of engagement trends. The largest decline in time spent was seen in Malaysia (down 22 percent), India (down 19 percent) and South Korea (down 15 percent). Taiwan, Hong Kong and New Zealand on the other hand actually showed increases in overall minutes spent in the category.

Is the Era of Webmail Over? (comScore Voices)

Zong And Boku Launch Carrier Billing with BilltoMobile on Verizon Wireless Network

Zong and Boku, providers of online payments, now are working with Verizon Wireless, using a relationship with BilltoMobile. The move might help both firms leverage BilltoMobile's cost advantages with Verizon.

Historically, wireless carriers have charged roughly 30 percent to 40 percent to process transactions made on the carrier billing systems.

That obviously limits the range of goods, and types of goods, that sellers might be willing to transact using a carrier billing method. Perhaps the biggest potential change is that both firms could move beyond digital goods, at some point, though clearly the immediate incentive is to support mobile digital goods sales.

Mobile Payments Startups Zong And Boku Launch Billing Partnerships With Verizon

Mobile Payment Service Jumio Gearing Up

Jumio, a new online and mobile payment solution, is headed by Jajah founder Daniel Mattes.

Internet pioneers Zain Khan (former Google executive), Mark Britto (former Amazon executive) and Maarten Linthorst (former NASA partner) have jointed the Jumio advisory board.

Internet Pioneers Join Forces to Launch Online and Mobile Payment Service Jumio