IP Carrier

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Why is NCR Renting DVDs?

You might have seen Blockbuster DVD rental kiosks in grocery stores. Those kiosks actually are owned by NCR. You might wonder why NCR is in that business. Basically, NCR is doing so as a way of increasing demand for its automated terminals, and to gain operating knowledge that could be helpful as NCR attempts to create new uses for automated terminals.

Today NCR makes most of its money from automated teller machines and retail checkout systems. Nobody knows yet how much more that might change in the future, but observers might point to substantial use of retail kiosks in Japan, for example, as pointing to the possibility that consumers might want to buy a broader array of products from kiosks in the future.

Who Should Buy Blockbuster? - Seeking Alpha

How Airlines Use Twitter

Social media is a two-edged sword, a tool brands can use, but also a tool consumers can use. Note that United Continental gets 57 percent negative tweets.

It's tough to control a brand message when that level of negative commentary is being posted.

France Could Outlaw Skype

Many executives in the telecommunications industry, a decade ago, thought it was unfair that VoIP services such as Skype did not have to abide by many of the rules that govern providers of public telecommunications service. Contributions to universal service funds and payment of taxes were sticking points.

Skype is not "registered" as a "telecommunications provider" in France. Skype also has been the subject of legal proceedings in France for that reason. So it appears the issues will be raised again.

France Could Outlaw Skype

Readability Tests Apple App Store In-App Fee Policy, Loses

Readability is a software development boutique whose reading functionality is part of the Apple Safari browser, but whose Apple App Store app (Readability iOS ) has been rejected, apparently because the app uses a non-Apple in-app purchase mechanism.

Readability says content providers get 70 percent of revenues when users buy content, but that Apple's 30-percent fee for app content sales then destroys the business model.

Which brings up an interesting question: as cloud-based software subscriptions start to proliferate, will Apple apply the same 30-percent fee? And, if so, will providers of all sorts of cloud-based apps avoid the App Store?

There are signs Apple already has thought about this, and does not plan to impose the same arrangements for cloud-based software apps. See http://www.macrumors.com/2011/02/21/steve-jobs-email-suggests-in-app-subscriptions-dont-apply-to-software-as-a-service/

An Open Letter to Apple

Monday, February 21, 2011

Mobiles are Most-Owned Gadget

Mobile phones are by far the most popular device among American adults, especially for adults under the age of 65. Some 85 percent of adults own cell phones overall. Taking pictures (done by 76 percent of cell owners) and text messaging (done by 72 percent of cell owners) are the two non-voice functions that are widely popular among all cell phone users.

Desktop computers are most popular with adults ages 35-65, with 69 percent of Millennials, 65 percent of "Younger Boomers" and 64 percent of "Older Boomers" owning these devices.

Millennials are the only generation that is more likely to own a laptop computer or netbook than a desktop: 70 percent own a laptop, compared with 57 percent who own a desktop.

While almost half of all adults own an mp3 player like an iPod, this device is by far the most popular with Millennials, the youngest generation. Some 74 percent of adults ages 18 to 34 own an mp3 player, compared with 56 percent of the next oldest generation, Gen X (roughly between the ages of 33 or 35 up to 43 or 46).