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The Wireless Outpost Newsletter Issue #12 Vol. 4
Wednesday, August 14, 2002
Another issue of the Wireless Outpost Newsletter. This newsletter
is for the soon to be educated cellular phone user community. If you know of
anyone else that may have an interest in our newsletter, make sure to forward
them a copy. Now we move forward at Mach II speed!
[Note: This newsletter is delivered Bi Weekly on Wednesday.]
ANALOG USERS CAN FORGET THEIR PHONES IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
Rural users of cellular phones aren't going to be too pleased with
the FCC's latest ruling. Analog service will no longer be required for
wireless carriers to offer to cellular phone users. If you think that
the build-out of towers in rural areas is bad now, wait until that
ruling goes into effect. Verizon, Cingular, and AT&T Wireless are
looking forward to it.
Some carriers have claimed that they will extend the phase out of
analog service for a couple of more years beyond the FCC's decision to
no longer require analog services being made available to the public.
The problem is that the wireless carriers are not going to be under
any type of commitment to do so. That is where the Governors,
Congress (people), and Senators of states with rural populations will
need to step in.
Around 15% of wireless users still use analog service and a
majority of those users are in rural areas. Another concern by a FCC
commissioner was the lack of digital technology to the hearing
impaired. The FCC's latest ruling included eliminating service
requirements in rural areas too. If your public representatives are
not actively vocal and applying pressure on getting digital tower
build-out in rural areas, those of you in these areas could find
yourselves in a real bad position.
Remember our past comments on cellular phone waste? This ruling is
going to have a major impact on it because there are still hundreds of
thousands if not millions of analog phones in circulation. What
can't be sold outside of the US is going to end up in the land fills
to substantially increase pollution from discarded cellular phones.
It could also speed up the introduction of legislation to handle
the expense of dealing with waste from electronic devices. If no
legislation is passed, then it will probably end up coming out of the
taxpayer's pocket. Either way, the general public is going to lose by
paying more in taxes or paying more for phones and services. In the
end, we are still stuck with the bill.
A real shame that we won't see people running around with those
bulky 3 watt bag phones anymore. Hey, wait a minute here. That means I
won't be able to run around looking cool with talking to people on our
DynaTac 8000X cell phone either. That settles it then. I forbid the
FCC to cut off analog service if it means that I can't run around with
my 2 pound cell phone.
The national Association for the Deaf opposes the move.
Surprisingly, even a spokesman for Sprint also stated that they were
against a premature phase out of analog service even though they are
exclusively digital. We haven't figured that one out yet. Onstar users
will also find that they will have to upgrade as that service is
also analog.
It will be interesting to see if and how these issues may be addressed
in the future. You can bet that the CTIA will be there to represent
the wireless industry members of their organization. The question is
who is going to be there to represent the public's interest? You have
the Wireless Consumer Alliance. I may be willing to become a lobbyist.
I heard that it pays better than being a journalist.
CTIA LOBBIES FCC FOR SELF INTEREST OF MEMBERS OR CONSUMERS
This is one organization that cellular phone users should be wary of
as a general rule. The organization specifically states they are there
to serve the interests of service providers, manufacturers, and
others. They also make it a point to state that they are involved in
constant "dialogue" with the executive branch, Congress, and
the FCC.
They include a missive about consumers in there somewhere though it
is quite vague. They are also tied in to service providers big time
with their billion dollar industry of offering financial protocol
services. So is the CTIA functioning on behalf of consumer interest or
is it really trying to lobby on behalf of its members instead?
Is this action consumer or member oriented?
Let's see. The analog service ruling was one that the CTIA
president whole heartedly approved of as an action. Getting rid of
analog phones means people will have to buy new digital phones. This
translates into carriers having a better chance of selling the
services that can only be found with enhanced digital phones.
The strange part is that we haven't heard a peep out of them on
cell phone recycling efforts on a massive scale. The next subject is
the CTIA's comments to the FCC stating that a ruling requiring
carriers to give consumers a 30 day notice that they are dropping
services and the user must find another provider isn't in the public's
best interest.
Really? So if I wake up one morning and find my service is no
longer available, that is going to be in my best interest. One of
their attorneys reasoned that in a competitive marketplace, consumers
have more choices than ever before. So what? It still doesn't solve
the problem that I wouldn't have service.
So I ask again, is this action consumer or member oriented?
The CTIA also claimed that the FCC was looking for a problem before
it existed. It was almost an expression of "if it ain't broke,
don't fix it" kind of thing. Well, I am not one who subscribes to
that piece of stupid advice at all. For the most part, the FCC does a
pretty good job at regulating the wireless industry as it should on
behalf of consumers.
Once again, that isn't to say that we agree with everything they
decide especially if there are parts and pieces missing that haven't
been properly addressed. Now that I think of it, I am probably pretty
stupid to raise the ire of the CTIA with my comments. They have plenty
of financial backing that we couldn't hope to compete with for at
least another 20 years or so.
Then again, that is what freedom of press is all about and I am
observing my rights to such. I am entitled to my opinion and I will
express my opinion to anyone who is willing to listen. Just because
our parent company is a wireless products company doesn't mean that we
can't be a consumer advocate. It's called accepting social
responsibility as a corporation.
The driving ban in New York isn't working as well as the legislators
may have hoped. Wait. Maybe it is working and working even better than
legislators may have hoped. This ban was put into effect not even a
year ago. In that time, nearly 30,000 citations have been handed out
since its enactment. The exception to the ban was if the cell phone
user employed a hands free device.
It may be working better than the politicians may have hoped
because 30,000 tickets is a good piece of revenue to be bringing into
the state coffers. With tickets being issued up to $100 per shot, that
comes out to 3 million for those of you who don't like doing the math.
Your other option is to run out and buy a hands free device to prove
to a judge that you have purchased one since the citation.
That would make the retailers very happy plus the state still gets
the tax on the sale, too. Either way, the state gets to boost their
revenue base. However, it was said that most of the citations were
actually given in conjunction with other moving violations such as
speeding, running a red light, etc. The state still hasn't released a
report on the severity of other driving distractions, either.
In light of that, I think the intentions of the original sponsors
of this kind of legislation may have been good, but the motives in
getting it passed are a bit more suspicious. Right after New Jersey's
release of the huge debt from the state, the Governor decided that a
ban on cellular phones while driving was also a good idea.
Personally, I think there is a connection between cell phone
driving bans and states wanting to increase their revenues either
through sales tax or citations. At one point, federal legislators
looked at it as a possible platform and they have all but run from the
idea of even introducing such a law on a nationwide basis. It is
because of States' rights they say.
Sure that sounds good. I mean the federal legislative branch
doesn't get involved in public safety issues, right? Maybe it is
because everybody under the sun is criticizing cell phone driving bans
because there isn't anything to show that using a cellular phone isn't
as distracting as many other activities that are not currently
regulated.
How about eating for example. A major distraction which has caused
numerous accidents. To regulate that activity would put fast food
companies out of business. We can't regulate that because it would
diminish the collection of taxes for the state and city coffers. It
looks to me like Cell Phone Bans have become an easy scapegoat that
was least likely to upset the economy and the commercial
establishments that would have been affected.
But what do I know. We just try to look at these issues from all
different angles to see if there is a catch. That is my theory on cell
phone driving bans. I am going to stick with it too until I am
presented with a different theory that makes more sense than mine. If
any of you disagree with my theory, I would love to hear your
feedback. I promise not to rip into you.
FINALLY, I AM AN "ACCREDITED" JOURNALIST & WIRELESS
MERCENARY
I have often wanted to be considered an "accredited"
journalist. Now that I have it, I don't even think I feel any
different. But it is still cool to have it listed on my business cards
and my new press pass. For a long time, I didn't even know what it
meant to be an accredited journalist. It was some kind of big secret
or something. Here is what really got me.
Some organizations would say they were looking only for accredited
journalists to work for them. It became quite clear that they were as
clueless as I was about what it meant to be accredited. For some
reason, being accredited was meant to bestow prestige on the
journalist or something. You know what I think? I don't really think
that it matters if a journalist is accredited or a freelancer.
If they are good then they are good. Now that I have the title of
being accredited, I think to myself, "that's it?" I can't
say that I feel special or anything. Here I am longing for something
that had no significant impact on me personally. If anything, I really
feel stupid for wanting something so intangible. There is one
advantage to it that I like. I can officially claim to be a real
reporter.
Don't let me get you on the phone or see you out on the street. I
might just start asking you a bunch of questions. It also means that I
get to bug the politicians in an official capacity. I really like
that! Now, on to my comment of being a wireless mercenary.
Due to the nature of my job, I get to be part of any new part of
our company. Besides, being a wireless mercenary sounded kind of cool
too.
The Wireless Mercenary is the name of our new company/subdivision
that has a major focus on wholesale accounts for our wireless
products. I thought it was a catchy name myself. The people who will
be working for the company are going to be referred to as Wireless
Mercenaries. The definition applies only in that everyone is working
solely for money or other material rewards. I think they call it a
paycheck.
Outside of that, the definition as we will describe it is that we
are working as an army for multiple customers all in one shot. No pun
intended but that is how the name came about. In total, we now have 3
separate companies all under one corporate umbrella. I should also
mention that access to the wholesale website will be restricted to
authorized corporate clients only.
But you will still be able to check out the main page when it comes
up. We expect to have an online presence available in the fourth
quarter. Also, to avoid getting overwhelmed with inquiries to become a
distributor for other companies. Please keep in mind that we will
specialize solely in wireless phone products. We will not allow any
form of advertising and we will not be offering software, services, or
other unrelated products to our clients.
The bottom line is that we are not looking to become a company that
is all things to all people. Our mission is to stay within the field
of our expertise. That and it is the only way that we can ensure that
we will become a competitive threat to our larger counterparts in the
future. For now, we will just continue to plug away in the background.
Manufacturers and wireless carriers should be talking to their
public relations agencies and fast. Many of the wireless related
companies are losing ground fast in the branding wars when it comes to
everyone else who is out there looking to make a name for themselves.
Some of them have lost so much ground that they dropped into a pit of
sorts. Here is an example.
Ericsson last year was ranked at # 36. This year they plunged to #
71. Motorola took a slight beating by dropping down to # 74. Samsung
on the other hand came screaming up the charts to reach # 34 as its
place in rank. What you have to keep in mind with these brand rankings
is that they are compared to all other major brands regardless of
industry.
As to Samsung's sudden rise in the charts, that could be attributed
to their other electronics or it could be due to the cool cellular
phones that they are coming out with. With the new cell phone they are
coming out with, I can see why. More on that in another article
further on in this issue. But they did jump up a full 8 positions
which is quite an accomplishment in only one year.
Motorola may just see a rise in next year's charts though. Their
new move into providing customized phones to wireless carriers should
help them advance back up the charts again. Nokia also dropped to the
6th position in brand ranking. You know that they have got to be
hating that. Serves them right for trying to sell $500,000 phones.
Branding is an important facet for any major business. Branding is
when a company works to have a consumer think of a specific company
associated with a given product. Hopefully, if they did it right, you
will think of their company when you see that product. When you think
of a soft drink, you think Coca Cola or Pepsi. How many times have you
heard someone refer to a cola as a Coke regardless of the brand. That
is what branding is all about. Name recognition. In my case, I think
of Mr. Pibb. I just love that stuff.
Cingular's PR firm is something like Ketchup & Ketchup. They
are a well-known PR firm but I just can't recall the correct name off
the top of my head. If this statement is still here when I finish my
other articles, that means that they too will probably need to work on
the branding of their name. Especially if I am thinking of something
that some people douse a burger with.
You may have noticed that many of the other wireless manufacturers
and carriers weren't mentioned here. That is how far down the list
they are for the branding ranking. Let's put it this way, they didn't
make it into the top 100 ranking. I would say that they definitely
need to invest into some PR agency services. Maybe not. The brand
ranking methodology used for this chart isn't based solely on consumer
perspective which is really what counts for the most part.
Think about it. If someone said wireless phones, you would
immediately think of EarthVision Cellular, Verizon, Cingular, Sprint
PCS, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and others. The question is who would
you think of first. Rather, who would you think of second beyond your
current carrier or phone manufacturer. That is how powerful that
branding can be for a company. Yes, I put EVC in there first because
we all know that we are the first company you would think of as being
associated with wireless.
If you disagree then you are in a state of denial. You thought of
us first, you just didn't register that it was your very first
thought. OK, so I am having a one way debate here. Now you know how
late I have to stay up just to write these articles for your viewing
pleasure. Raise your hands if you have any more questions on branding.
If you are from a PR agency, keep your hands down.
The point of this article is this one. Don't believe everything you
read. These branding ranks on such a broad scale are just another
resource for companies to strut around like peacocks with claiming an
honor of some sort. Just because another company scored lower than
another doesn't mean that they have fallen from grace. It just means
as I have said before, they are not trying to be all things to all
people.
MOTOROLA TAKES A DIFFERENT STEP WITH NEW PRODUCT LINE
Another unexpected move by Motorola. It looks like they are working
on getting really creative in trying to pick up market share and boost
revenues. This time they are going for the Soccer Mom demographics
with a recent license agreement to use Disney images and recordings
for their new product line. Here are the latest products coming from
Motorola.
First, they are coming out with a pair of two-way radios. They will
be offered with the Mickey Mouse Disney character. The radios will
include various ringtones such as the one from the Mickey Mouse club.
They should become available in October just in time for the holiday
shopping season. They will be sold in pairs for a reasonable price of
$59.99 when they hit the retail shelves.
Next are cordless phones. This product has already been released
also at the price of $59.99 per unit. The ringtones for the cordless
phones will include the Mickey Mouse Club March, Beauty and the Beast,
and The Little Mermaid. Motorola's goal is to tap into the children's
market targeting the 6 to 12 year olds.
They intend to continue to roll out new Disney Characters and ring
tones throughout 2003. Customized cellular phones along with cordless
phones and two way radios featuring Disney characters. You have to
give Motorola credit for aggressively pushing for a turnaround. There
has to have been some serious brainstorming going on over there.
I guess this means that I am going to have to start following their
quarterly filings to see where this is going to lead. From what I have
seen in their activities, I would have to be fairly optimistic about
their future. I can't wait to get my hands on a pair of those two-way
radios. For the kids of course. Then again, they won't be using them
all the time.
If you would like to check out the available products or to get
more information, you can follow the links below for more information.
A company called Eros Technology Corporation has designed a new
software that is quite interesting and appears to be well ahead of its time. This is the kind of software that has incredible potential
for website owners who would like an opportunity to reach an audience
with millions of PDA and cell phone users.
Our research has indicated that there are approximately 15 million
plus PDA users as of this year. PDA sales continue to increase at a
rate of 18% per year on the low end of estimations. This number does
not include the rollout of hybrid PDA cell phones. With the
increasing use of PDA devices and now the introduction of PDA hybrid
cell phones, this is a dream come true kind of software for website
owners and developers.
This software allows corporate websites to make their content
available to visitors on the go if they are a PDA user or use a hybrid
PDA cell phone. In other words, we no longer have to worry about how
to make our websites compatible for the non-existent WAP phone users.
Further research indicates that corporate enterprises around the world
have abandoned WAP phones and replaced them with PDAs and/or cell
phones. That is where this software comes into play.
If you have a website, you can install what is called the WYNCS
WEB-SYNC software and create what are to be known as WYNCS icons (or
links). The icons allow website visitors to download the content
indicated by the icon directly into their Palm Pilot or cellular phone
equipped with MS Outlook. It supports the four standard 'data' types
used by MS Outlook and Palm OS including Contact, Calendar, Memo, and
To-Do classifications.
Web Site owners and developers can place 'syncable links' on their
sites that are fully functional within minutes. Using this innovative
'grab-and go' concept, site visitors can quickly sync anything from
News Headlines, Weather, Business Contact Information, and Scheduled
Events, which can then be read or referenced at the reader's
convenience.
Additionally, Intranet or Extranet applications can use Wyncs to
sync daily tasks, reports, product info or technical help directly to
their staff members. Outside sales teams will find the Wyncs tool to
be highly efficient in conjunction with mobile devices. With the one
click of Wyncs, both sales reps and prospects have necessary
information exactly where they need it, right at their fingertips.
We spoke with the Marketing Director for the company, Mr. Jeff
Weaver, in reference to the need for technical support. He informed us
that there was really no need for technical support because the
software was easy to load and would be active within the matter of
minutes. The instructions included with the software would cover all
other technical questions. Website visitors would also find it to be
very user friendly.
Mr. Weaver's enthusiasm bubbled through when we asked him about the
response to the release of the software. "It's just
incredible", he said. He went on further to explain that this
software has caught the attention of many of the major corporations
who would have a need for this type of software because it solved a
number of problems from an operational and customer satisfaction
perspective.
"Web developers will also find this to be a useful
utility", said Mr. Weaver. "All a web developer has to do is
install the software and within a matter of minutes, they will have a
value added service that can be offered to multiple clients." Mr.
Weaver agreed with our conclusion that this software utility carried
substantial potential for web developers to boost revenues simply by
converting client sites and in setting up new clients.
Overall, we were quite impressed with the capabilities and
potential use of the software. Enough so that we decided that we just
had to put it up on our website too. In the meantime, we would
recommend that PDA users, web developers, and companies interested in
establishing a website that is PDA user friendly to visit their
website at http://www.wyncs.com/
and look over the demo program available. You do not need a PDA to
review the demo program.
For more information, you can also contact Mr. Weaver directly by
calling the telephone number provided below:
Jeff Weaver
National Marketing Director
Wyncs -Web Sync
CELLULAR PHONE USERS ARE INCHING CLOSER TO REBELLION
Do you remember only a few short years ago when retailers and
carriers couldn't throw enough free phones in your face to choose from
in exchange for a one-year contract for service? You could change or
upgrade your plan twice a year, though there was a penalty for
terminating service early. Simple enough at the time but things have
changed since then. Wireless carriers are now fighting to reduce churn,
and they are trying to hold cell phone users hostage for much longer.
Dr. Caroline Bell, a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry
isn't too happy about it either. "I don't mind paying for a
service but the current practice of requiring customers to sign a one
year service contract is an outrage," says Dr. Bell. "I
perfectly understood that this was a reasonable requirement when cell
phone companies were providing free phones as part of the sign on deal
but now they are imposing this without any such incentives."
Another wireless user whom we spoke with told me that he went in to
switch his service to a different wireless carrier. He reviewed the
contract and found it was for a two year agreement. When he inquired
about a one year contract, the representative told him that the two
year contract was standard. The customer didn't want a two year
agreement and insisted on a one year agreement. The representative
merely came back with the statement again saying that a two year
contract was standard.
The end result was a full out rebellion by the cell phone user. He
told the clerk that he would produce the paperwork for a one year
contract to be signed right then and there or he would be heading down
the street to a competitor. As if by magic, another contract appeared
and the clerk got busy with transcribing the information from the
first form onto the new form.
Dr. Bell has a beef with the service contracts currently being
offered by wireless carriers. "Even when one has been a customer
for some time and simply wants to change the plan, the contract clock
restarts in most instances and usually this is not conveyed to the
customer at the time," she said. "So what happens if then
you find that you are not fully satisfied with the service? You get
socked with a huge fee. Imagine if we had to do this for other utility
providers!"
She isn't too pleased with her current service either. As a
consultant, she is constantly on the go and must use her mobile phone
constantly not only for work but to keep in touch with her family. Ask
about her satisfaction level with her current provider and this is
what she will tell you. "I hate my cell phone provider. The
reception is terrible, about 50% of the time I get a signal that I
will have to pay roaming charges and the customer service personnel
are rude and unhelpful much of the time."
Enough is enough for Dr. Bell. She is starting to look into
starting a crusade against the current practices imposed by carriers
in their contracts. She definitely doesn't like the idea that there
isn't any grace period to test the service or the fact that some
carriers lock phones to their networks forcing consumers to buy new
phones when they switch, and in feeling trapped when consumers buy
into the family plans with multiple cell phones.
She brought something else to our attention. The cost of switching
a family plan from one service provider to another can be quite
expensive. If three or four people are on the family plan, you could
end up paying close to a thousand bucks or more when all was said and
done in paying for the current phones, the penalty for early
termination, and then purchasing new phones.
I would say that would be cause for some serious heartburn if you
have a family. That is a lot of money that could be put towards tuition
for college, fixing up the mini van, or to buy groceries. I think I
would be a little hesitant to make the switch to a new provider if I
were in that situation too. Working parents can only hope that they
are given full disclosure before signing up or else they are going to
have to decide if they can afford to miss their kid's soccer game or
if they need to sit down and verify that they were told everything
they needed to know to make an educated decision.
NEW PRODUCTS & SERVICES ROLLING OUT TO CELL PHONE USERS
There are some new developments in the wireless industry as well as
the rollout of new products that we felt that you should know about.
It looks like global wireless service is coming ever closer as a
reality. AT&T Wireless has signed two way agreements with 41
different wireless carriers in 35 countries. They also have another 30
agreements in an additional 12 countries in the works.
The phones that will be offered to international roaming customers
will Sony Ericcson T68i and Siemens AG’s S46. As far as pricing for
these new plans, we don't have a clue just yet. We will keep you
posted as we learn more.
Next we have Nextel Communications. They are
bringing out the i60c flip phone. You can buy them for $149.99 with a
one year agreement.
The features included are the standard walkie talkie, internet
access, email, instant messaging, a 250 entry phone book, and
vibration alert. It will also allow for a cell phone subscriber to use
Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards for the transfer of data
between handsets. The company has also stated that it will begin
offering inter-carrier text messaging services in the near future.
Then we have the Samsung A500 being offered by Sprint PCS. It has
some of the more advanced features including the ability to use the
new Sprint Vision camera. A very nice looking and cosmetically
appealing phone. It will run you about $300 per phone. I would still
buy it at that price. It is your standard clamshell with the blue
screen and comes with voice activation.
It is not even 4 inches and length and weighs less than 4 ounces.
The only drawback to it is that due to its size, the standard battery
that comes with it will only allow for 2.5 hours of talk time before
it has to be recharged again. If you use your phone throughout the
day, you are almost forced to buy the extended battery. I really like
it because I am obsessed with shiny metallic objects. Even more so if
it is a high polished chrome.
Last but not least is T Mobile's PDA cell phone hybrid phone coming
out later this year. They call it the Sidekick. Danger who designed
the device is suggesting that it be sold for under $200. Service
should cost about the same as regular wireless service plans. The PDA
Cell phone has 16 MB of RAM and comes with a retractable keyboard.
Kyocera has also manufactured a digital camera accessory for use
with the phone. At a price of $200 or less per unit, this could pave
the way for early adoption of PDA cell phones with corporate
enterprise users and consumers who are obsessed with being organized.
With all of these options, I think I am just going to have to get one
of each.
SPRINT PCS ONCE AGAIN LEADS THE PACK AS BEING FIRST TO MARKET
Sprint PCS is the fourth largest carrier in the US, yet all the
other carriers wait to see what they are going to do before they will
make a move. Quite odd isn't it? Well, they are once again leading the
pack with wireless services. This time they are going to push more
aggressively for the adoption of WAP data services. This should be
very interesting to watch.
As I mentioned in a previous article, corporate enterprises have
pretty much dropped WAP data as being a viable options. Then you have
other companies like T Mobile USA and others about to come out with a
PDA Cell phone. Not to forget the new software we mentioned above from
Eros Technologies.
Sprint PCS is rolling out a nationwide service which allows
subscribers to access email and surf the internet on a nationwide
basis. Of course, the definition of "nationwide" is subject
to interpretation. The other three big carriers which are Verizon,
Cingular, and AT&T Wireless offer this service too but only on a
regional basis.
The data service pricing to be offered by Sprint PCS is unknown as
it hasn't been leaked as of yet. Verizon is offering a plan where end
users pay a flat fee regardless of how much time they spend on
wireless internet surfing. AT&T Wireless is working on a different
strategy with signing an agreement with Microsoft. It is too boring to
explain in detail.
One challenge for Sprint PCS is the perception of poor quality
service and their inability to hold signals in many metro areas. Plus
there is some major concerns with consumer adoption for WAP services.
European consumers were slow to pick up on this type of service, and
Japan is known for its early adoption of new technologies and users
there were also slow to pick up on it.
Adding another factor in consumers' willingness to buy data services
is the let down and disappointment that ensued after purchasing WAP
phones and service because they believed in all the hype. We heard
that some investors actually invested millions of dollars into a
company started by a teenager who decided to start a WAP search
engine.
The WAP search engine is still there and collecting more dust than
my attic. When WAP was first introduced, it sounded like a good idea
but there are many other choices available today and more to come that
can directly compete with WAP data services. They, meaning Sprint PCS,
are working on the theory that if they build it then they will come.
Next, we will hear in the first quarter about how all of these
people signed up for the WAP data services. There is only one thing to
keep in mind. Those numbers may or may not reflect long term
subscribers. The chances are good that those numbers will include
trial subscribers who get a chance to use the service for free for a
short period of time. I have no doubt that the subscriber growth
numbers are going to be impressive.
Give something away for free and there really isn't any reason for
people not to at least try the service. How many of them actually
decide to subscribe to the service on a long term basis is an entirely
different situation. It doesn't matter which wireless carrier is
reporting the numbers, if it looks too good to be true then you know
how the saying goes. You're not going to see me running to my broker
looking to buy wireless stock on an announcement like this one.
I may miss the mark on this call, but those of you who have been
subscribed to this newsletter for a year or two need to ask only one
question. In all the articles I have written on WAP phone services,
how many times have I been wrong. Now that I think of it, I don't even
know how many articles I have written on this specific subject. This
much I do know.
In previous articles, I have said that WAP phone subscriber numbers
were bogus, I said that WAP phone transactions would die on the
launching pad, I also said that WAP phone advertisements didn't have a
chance in Hell, and I said that WAP phone service wouldn't take off
even though it was being hyped up so much. I wrote all that in total
contradiction to the surveys that were being passed around supporting
the notion that WAP services was in fact a viable industry.
My eighteen million dollar bionic brain combined with my psychic
powers allowed me to make such accurate calls. Fine. It was actually
due to all those years spent on research that we were able to make
this deduction with a very high level of confidence. Let me end this
by saying this to you. When the hype begins, follow your brain and not
your heart.
CELL PHONE SPAM IS CLOSER TO YOU THAN YOU MAY THINK
Here is something that I bet you didn't know. As soon as you ask
for a quote from a company or make a purchase from them, you have just
established a business relationship. In doing so, you have just given
them permission to send you email, faxes, or to call on you to place
an order. The wireless carriers are well aware of this little known
fact and they are taking advantage too.
Short Messaging Services (SMS) is going to be the medium for
cellular phone spam. There is now an organization called the Mobile
Marketing Association whose sole function is to look at how to promote
cell phone advertisements via SMS. Their particular interest in SMS is
because the demographics most likely to use this type of service is the
teenager to young adult market.
A market that has many wireless service providers drooling for a
chance to get at them. It is also getting the attention of less savory
marketers and criminals too. How about a message offering Viagra
(again) or the Nigerian official who was displaced from power and they
have $30 million to be transferred into your account as soon as you
pay the fee.
Acacia National Mortgage Company is still involved in a lawsuit
where they were sending unsolicited text messages to subscribers, and
the plaintiff is filing the complaint under the Telephone Consumers
Protection Act of 1991. Europe is already struggling to find a way to
curb SMS spam to subscribers. Even worse is that the subscribers were
being charged for the SMS spam.
SMS spam has wireless carriers in the US a bit worried about a
backlash. If wireless subscribers find that it is a problem that is
going to cost them time and money, there is nothing to stop them from
demanding to be released from their contract, assigned a new number,
or simply going to a different carrier for service. There is a good
chance that lawsuits would begin popping up fairly soon thereafter
against both the spammer and the wireless carrier.
In one case of spam from a legitimate company, they sent a message
to a military veteran with a message that said he was to report to a
local army recruiting center for a second tour of duty. Turns out that
the message was meant to promote a new action video game. The fastest
way to get yourself opted into a SMS spam program is to enter into a
contest offered by a wireless website. It says so right there, in the
fine print that you agree to receive spam.
Carriers are a little more clever here in the US. You don't get
charged for spam because they are the ones sending it to you. First it
starts out being mundane stuff like new promotions they are offering.
Then it hits a round about where the wireless carrier is being paid by
a company to send spam to its users at no charge to the subscriber.
In the situation where you opt in for alerts from other companies,
the same is starting to appear where these alerts have promotional
messages attached. You were going to be charged for the alert so
having another promotional message attached doesn't really do no harm,
right? Cingular recently sent out alerts to their subscribers at no
charge informing them of the latest spider man movie coming out.
You can expect more spam from many others before too long. Car
manufacturers, fast food restaurants, video stores, and many, many
more. It was only a matter of time before somebody found a way to spam
cellular phones for a profit. I may as well say it. Welcome to the
world of Cellular Phone Spam!
This is an organization that is almost an exact opposite of the CTIA.
Their role is to focus on the cell phone user's interest by addressing
issues with the FCC, Congress, and other legislative bodies. Their
mission statement says that they were formed to promote and serve the
interests of consumers of wireless services. They are also a non-profit organization that subsists on grants and contributions from the
public.
Their website states that they have recently expanded their role to
include becoming actively involved in class action lawsuits which seek
to restrain wireless carriers from practices which are harmful to the
interests of consumers. A review of their website shows that they are
involved in a number of activities and provide relevant alerts to
wireless users from the FCC and other industry events.
One area that may be of particular interest is the section on
consumer rights. Some interesting material in there that you may want
to take a moment to read over. Another section is the Law & Policy
that would have some interest too. You know what, you should probably
just look over the entire website. There is a ton of resources that
may be of interest to you.
We have known about them for some time and they are legitimate.
They were established back in 1999. For whatever reason, we have
failed to do a full discovery article on their organization. From what
we know of their activities, they are certainly a thorn in the side of
wireless carriers and definitely a problem for the CTIA. Something of
a balance of power if you will.
A quick review of various FCC filings show that the organization is
quite active in stepping up for consumer interests too. It is our
bust for not giving them the credit that they deserve for their
efforts on behalf of wireless consumers. So take a few minutes and go
on over to their website to see what they are doing for you. It's more
than you may think.
While you are there, don't forget to check out the guestbook too.
You would be surprised at the number of complaints that cell phone
users have with wireless service. Proof that you are not alone in your
gripes. The best ones are the hecklers who are obviously fresh fish
know-it-alls that were recently hired by a wireless service company.
Right. Commit a crime and you go to a prison with AC, color TV, a
bed, and three meals a day. The same environment as a sailor is used
to when they are on a ship out to sea. The difference is that one
group has volunteered to give up their lives if needed and the other
set is taking them for no other reason than personal gain and
sometimes for fun. Both live in nearly identical environments.
What kind of punishment is that? The inmates don't get paid nor
should they. They are nothing more than leeches on society and the
taxpayer. Up until recently, Pennsylvania must not have seen it that
way. The state legislators recently passed a bill prohibiting inmates
from possessing any kind of telecom device. My question is why would
they be allowed to have any kind of device in the first place. They
are supposed to be in prison, not a summer camp.
I thought they were locked up in there so they could be cut off
from society in order to prevent them from doing further harm and to
reflect on their crimes. The situation that sparked this specific
legislation seems to be in total contradiction to that theory of mine.
It turns out one of the inmates was using a cellular phone to run a
drug ring. He allegedly obtained the cell phone from one of the
correctional officers.
If an inmate using a cell phone was prohibited in the prison, then
that had to be a facility staffed with blind prison guards. How else
could he have gotten away with it for so long. An upside to this event
was that he and his gang banging buddies on the outside were nailed
with felony charges. They were busted when the authorities obtained a
wire tap warrant for the cell phone.
The judge should add ten years to his sentence just for being
stupid. Another ten for being a scumbag drug dealer. He is very lucky
that he isn't in that prison that makes the inmates wear bright pink
jumpsuits. Then again, that would probably be the least of his
concerns right about now. He is going to be worrying about how many of
his buddies will turn state's evidence and how many aren't too pleased
with him right now.
I am all for prisoner's rights. They have the absolute right to
look stupid and act like morons. That is what happens when you get to
be as liberal as I am on criminal behavior. Outside of that, either
throw then in a 6 X 6 cell for the rest of their lives or put them
back to work on pressing those license plates. I am up for a renewal.
COMMENTS FROM THE EDITOR'S OFFICE - THIS TIME FOR REAL
You may have noticed that we are working on increasing the number of
articles that we post in each newsletter. There is a reason for it. We
are working very hard to expand on our resources for new information
which will allow us not only to bring you more news but to do so on a
more frequent basis. Our goal is to become a weekly publication.
Wireless news can be quite boring so bear with us in our transition.
The biggest challenge we have is in locating news that we think may
have a direct impact on you, our reader. We don't care that a company
has formed another commission to discuss 3G services that has yet to
be seen or that a company has changed the color of their faceplates
for one of their standard cell phones. We consider that to be
information worthy of a jaw breaking yawn.
Our mission is to cover a diverse range of subjects that will
hopefully prove to be of some benefit to you if not at present, then
in the future. The one quality that we intend to keep with our
publication is the personalized writing style. It may not meet the
standards for what is considered a standard publication but we are not
your typical publication. We are unique and we don't have a problem
with that.
We realize that we may have a tendency to step on some toes but any
publication is going to do that. You are encouraged to send in Letters
to the Editor at editor@cellularphonenews.com
if you disagree with anything that we have published. Your opinion is
just as important as ours even if we disagree on a specific subject.
Should you decide to tear us apart and you do it well, we will have no
problem in publishing your comments in full for our readers to review.
Depending on how long you have been reading this newsletter, you
will know that we don't have a problem with controversy. If you are
telling it how you see it, then it is worthy of being published. We
are not petty degenerates here so you will not have to worry about
retaliation in the form of bad press for your company in the future
based on your speaking up.
In the whole time we have been publishing, we have had only two
people who have ripped into us for an article that we have posted.
There has got to be someone out there who feels that we are out of
control or that we are too abusive. How about walking on thin ice
then. Our concern here is that we may be viewed as being a politically
correct publication. A label of which we would be horrified to carry.
For the remainder of our readers, who aren't looking to tear into
us, your feedback is also appreciated. We would like to take a moment
to thank Judy, a loyal subscriber who has been reading our publication
for nearly 3 years now, William, the editor from "The
Digest", the gentlemen from the SHG, and many others for your
feedback on this publication. Your comments and for that matter,
compliments are much appreciated.
We hope that you have been enjoying our publication and that it has
been found to be worthy of your time. Once we have moved to the weekly
publication, we will return to our normal publishing of 6 to 8
articles per issue. We apologize for the inconvenience and we will
work as quickly as possible to get back to normal. Thank you for your
time, patience, and understanding.
PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND ASSOCIATES ABOUT OUR NEWSLETTER. WE
APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE IN MAKING OUR NEWSLETTER A SUCCESS.
If you want your name to vanish from our list because our newsletter is just too
boring or someone else signed you up, let us know. We will reluctantly take you
off of our newsletter list. And we still reserve the right to make faces at you
when you aren't looking. If you want your name to vanish from our list because our newsletter is just too boring or someone else signed you up, let us know. We will reluctantly take you off of our newsletter list. And we still reserve the right to make faces at you when you aren't looking.
