Sprint claims high margins from its growing M2M business - Rethink Wireless

Sprint says its machine-to-machine mobile services unit is generating average revenue per unit of between $5 and $10 a month, and a very high profit margin. But there is a wide range of applications and revenue cases.

Digital signage can generate $150 a month for the carrier. Smart meters generate less than $1, but offer potentially massive volumes, says Geoff Martin, Sprint manager of platforms.

When mobile executives talk about 300 percent to 500 percent penetration of mobile services, M2M is part of the equation. The assumption is that everybody has one mobile device, some have more than one, and lots of machines using mobile connections as well.

Sprint claims high margins from its growing M2M business

3 Types of Cloud Computing

Most observers classify cloud computing into three basic buckets. Here's a discussion of the different cloud computing categories.

Small Business Skype Usage: Not a Reason for Microsoft to Buy Skype, But It Might Help

A recent survey of about 700 small and medium businesses by Inzenka found that 52 percent of small business respondents said their employees use Skype. About 63 percent of medium-sized business respondents said "at least 25 percent of our employees use Skype," according to Consultant Dan Sachar of Inzenka.

Why Windows Phone Will Beat Android

The conventional wisdom is that Android and Apple's iOS will be among the top-three smart phone operating systems globally, over the next several years. The question is whether Research in Motion or Windows will occupy spot number three.

"While we acknowledge the momentum that Android is experiencing and will continue to experience in 2011 and 2012, we believe that Nokia and Microsoft are a very powerful tandem, and that will show in its full force by the end of 2013," says Stela Bokun,Pyramid Research senior analyst.

The argument is that Nokia's volume manufacturing prowess will allow Windows devices to rapidly move down the cost curve. Quite a few other large handsets vendors in the world, such as Samsung, LG and Sony Ericsson also are backing WP.

Android's scale advantage can be overcome, says Bokun.

Why Windows Phone Will Beat Android

44% of consumers use social networks to enhance TV viewing | jatiN mahindrA doT coM

Thinkbox recently conducted a survey of 3,000 U.K. consumers and found that 60 percent of people concurrently watch TV and go online at least two or three times a week.

Some 37 percent go online while watching TV every day. About 44 percent use social networks, like Facebook and Twitter, while watching TV.

About 37 percent have chatted online about TV content and 19 percent have shared TV content on a social network.

44% of consumers use social networks to enhance TV viewing

Hp Veer 4G: About as Small as a Smart Phone Probably Can Be

One limitation is key size, for a device that cannot be operated completely using voice commands. The other issue is screen size, a more important consideration now that people are watching more video and using web apps. Bigger screens drain batteries faster, and might take up more room in a pocket or purse. But when working with web apps, or watching video, bigger is better.

Google I/O Opening Keynote

If you have about 54 minutes, here is the complete opening keynote at Google I/O, Google's developer conference.