Weibel's World

Q&A With FCC Chairman Kevin Martin

2008-12-30T07:45:00.000-08:00

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin does not see much chance of tightening program-access complaint rules or getting his free broadband proposal out the door before he exits as chairman in mid-January.

He is more sanguine about the prospects for the digital-television transition, though he concedes there will be challenges, including possibly running out of available money for DTV-to-analog converter boxes.

President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team has reportedly pushed for a more concentrated and coordinated call center program to field viewers’ calls around the time of the Feb. 17, 2009, switch. Martin says broadcasters will need to step up—NAB already has announced a call center plan—but that funds they have requested from the FCC would be subject to government contracting rules.

Check out the complete story.

Holiday Shopping Becomes Breeding Grounds for Identity Thieves

2008-12-12T10:05:00.000-08:00

LifeLock’s Identity Theft Protection Available Through Best Buy, Office Depot, CVS and HP

The busy holiday season has proven to be an ideal time for identity thieves to target unsuspecting victims. The Federal Trade Commission reports that in 2007, consumers reported losses from identity theft and fraud of more than $1.2 billion, and with consumers facing an already tough economy, they need to be particularly vigilant this holiday season.

There are many steps consumers can take to protect their credit and to ensure that when the holidays are over and they are done spending, their credit won’t need mending. This holiday season, LifeLock – the industry leader in identity theft protection – is offering everything from a discount on its service to a one-year membership at various retail outlets. Shoppers who purchase a new computer from HP can receive a discount on LifeLock’s services. Online shoppers can purchase a one-year membership to LifeLock at BestBuy.com. Traditional retail shoppers can purchase LifeLock’s Identity Theft Protection Starter Kit at Office Depot locations nationwide for just $9.99 or can purchase the same one-year membership to LifeLock offered at BestBuy.com in Best Buy stores nationwide. CVS Pharmacy also offers discounts to shoppers, as well as a CVS gift card upon enrollment with LifeLock.

“While the holiday season is surely a time for cheer and celebration, it is also a time when identity thieves are waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce on unsuspecting consumers,” said LifeLock® CEO Todd Davis. “Whether it takes place at shopping malls or online, identity theft can increase over the holidays. However, we are confident that if consumers are armed with the necessary tools to protect their personal information, thieves will not continue to profit nearly as much off innocent victims.”

First-of-Its-Kind Curriculum Sponsored by the Qwest Foundation Helps Teachers Fight Cyberbullying

2008-12-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

Top Educators from Five States Come to Seattle Seeking Solutions to Growing Problem

Recent research conducted for the National Crime Prevention Council found that 43 percent of teens ages 13 to 18 were victims of cyberbullying in the last year. Cyberbullying, the act of using the Internet via computers, cell phones or PDAs to be cruel and harmful to others, has become more frequent among young people due to the increasing popularity of social networking sites, blogging and microblogging.

To address the growing issue of cyberbullying, the Qwest Foundation® will host top educators from several states to present a first-of-its-kind cyberbullying prevention curriculum funded by the Qwest Foundation and created by Mike Donlin, project manager for prevention-intervention and technology services at Seattle Public Schools. Donlin and educators from Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Oregon and Washington, as well as key Qwest executives, will gather at Hamilton International Middle School in Seattle on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. to review and discuss the program, which was implemented in Seattle middle schools this fall.

At the event, Donlin will also offer tips for implementing the curriculum and will share his experience in working with teachers who have incorporated the course into their curriculum. A guide complete with key learnings from the curriculum and suggestions for building a standards-based curriculum at their schools will be distributed at the event. This guide is also available for free download at www.IncredibleInternet.com.

Bridgevine Ranked Number 57 on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 list for 2008

2008-11-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

Attributes extraordinary revenue growth to compelling customer value proposition, marquee partnerships, and proprietary marketing software platform.

Bridgevine today announced that it ranked number 57 on Deloitte’s 2008 Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications and life sciences companies in the U.S. and Canada. Rankings are based on percentage of fiscal year revenue growth over five years, from 2003–2007. Bridgevine grew 4,582 percent during this period.

Bridgevine’s CEO, Vinny Olmstead, credits the growth to a strong customer value proposition, marquee partnerships and a world-class performance marketing software platform. He said, "We’re honored to be a part of this esteemed group of companies named to the Fast 500 list. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our employees and our impressive list of valued partners."

"Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 recognizes companies that have achieved extraordinary growth in North America’s most innovative and competitive market sectors,” said Phil Asmundson, Deloitte LLP vice chairman and national managing partner for Technology, Media and Telecommunications. "We congratulate Bridgevine on this significant accomplishment."

Fast 500 Selection and Qualifying Criteria

The Fast 500 ranks the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications and life sciences companies in North America. It is compiled from Deloitte’s regional North American Fast 50 programs, nominations submitted directly to the Fast 500, and public company database research. Companies are selected based on percentage revenue growth from 2003 to 2007.

Entrants must own proprietary intellectual property or proprietary technology that contributes to a significant portion of the company's operating revenues or devote a significant proportion of revenues to research and development of technology. Using other companies' technology or intellectual property in a unique way does not qualify. Base-year operating revenues must be at least $50,000 USD or $75,000 CD, and current-year operating revenues must be at least $5 million USD or CD. Companies must be in business a minimum of five years, and they must be headquartered within North America.

About Bridgevine
Founded in 2003, Bridgevine, Inc. has offices in Atlanta, GA, and Vero Beach, FL. The company’s performance-based merchandising platform empowers marquee advertisers to efficiently market their products through multiple online and offline channels. Focused on the service industry, the company’s customer base of more than 110 leading companies includes Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Qwest, Verizon, Protect America, Real Networks, Verizon, Speakeasy, Covad, and D-link. The platform powers in excess of 1,000 websites and is licensed by leading retailers, websites, and Fortune 500 companies. The company also operates Bridgevine.com, a website dedicated to consumer for comparative shopping and exclusive promotions from the leading service providers. For more information, please visit www.bridgevine.com.

Corporate Contact:
Mark Ballard
Bridgevine, Inc.
772-539-0618
mark.ballard@bridgevine.com

Comcast Begins Rollout of Extreme 50 Mbps High-Speed Internet Service

2008-10-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

Plans to Reach More Than 10 Major Markets and Nearly 10 Million Homes and Businesses in the Next Several Months

Two New, Faster Speed Tiers Introduced and Speeds Doubled for Most Existing Customers

Comcast, the nation’s leading provider of entertainment, information and communications products and services, today announced it is making the leap from broadband to wideband with the launch of next-generation DOCSIS 3.0. With wideband, Comcast will introduce a brand new echelon of Internet speed tiers, which will redefine the customer experience online and create a platform for Internet innovation in the years ahead.

In the next few weeks, Comcast’s new services will be available to millions of residential homes and businesses in parts of New England, including the Boston Metropolitan region and Southern New Hampshire, as well as areas of Philadelphia and New Jersey. These services also will be available in the Twin Cities where wideband was launched earlier this year. Comcast plans to continue to roll out wideband across its footprint and expects to reach more than 10 major markets and pass nearly 10 million homes and businesses in the next several months.

With wideband, Comcast will offer among the fastest speeds available today, including the Extreme 50 tier at up to 50 Mbps. It also will enable Comcast to double speeds for the majority of existing high-speed Internet customers at no additional cost.

“Wideband is a game-changer for the industry. With wideband running over our next-generation fiber-optic network, we can greatly enhance our customers’ online experience immediately. And these speeds are only a preview of what’s to come—wideband will provide the capability of delivering dramatically faster speeds in excess of 160 Mbps in the future,” said Mitch Bowling, SVP and General Manager, Comcast Online Services. “Today’s announcement reaffirms our commitment to offer more speed to more homes than any other U.S. Internet service provider.”

EA Passes Go to Release Monopoly Across Multiple Video Game Platforms

2008-10-22T08:20:00.000-07:00

Digital Versions Complement the Classic Game with New Twists on Gameplay

The Casual Entertainment Label of Electronic Arts, Inc. today announced: MONOPOLY for the Wii™, the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, and the PlayStation 2 and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment systems is now available at retailers nationwide. The video game, which took inspiration from Hasbro’s brand new MONOPOLY Here & Now: The World Edition board game, also is currently available on mobile phones and Pogo.com™.

The MONOPOLY video game brings the classic board game into the digital realm with state-of-the-art twists and turns while staying true to the rich 70-year heritage of the original brand.

“It’s exciting for EA to bring the world’s most popular board game to interactive life on a wide variety of gaming platforms,” said Chip Lange, General Manager and Vice President of EA Casual Entertainment. “We’ve brought a classic game that families have been enjoying for generations into the digital arena, giving players a new way to rediscover and experience their favorite board game.”

The MONOPOLY video game makes gameplay accessible for players of all ages and skill levels. The digital versions feature multiplayer capabilities allowing up to four aspiring tycoons to play simultaneously. In addition to classic MONOPOLY gameplay, EA has created several new features including the ability to unlock multiple never-before-seen game boards that each carry a unique theme such as jungle, snowy ice and delectable desserts.

Another digital twist includes shorter bursts of gameplay such as “Richest Mode” which allows players to complete a game of MONOPOLY in 30 minutes or less. Adding to the fun are 12 mini-games that have been designed to keep players engaged and entertained throughout gameplay such as “Get out of Jail” where you saw prison cell bars to escape and “Take a Ride on the Reading” which challenges gamers to stop on-time at each train station.

“MONOPOLY fans worldwide will be enthused about trying their hand at ‘winning it all’ with this modern classic,” said Mark Blecher, General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. “EA has done a great job of digitally recreating one of the world’s best-selling board games, adding features that make the digital experience fresh and fun, but honoring the integrity of MONOPOLY’s history.”

AOL Launches New Lifestyle and Pop Culture Sites; AOL Programming Hits Record Traffic Numbers in August

2008-09-30T10:43:00.000-07:00

AOL announced the launch of two new specialty sites, Lemondrop, http://lemondrop.com, which covers women’s lifestyle, and PopEater, http://popeater.com, which focuses on pop culture. The new sites continue AOL’s efforts to launch experiences targeted at specific audiences. Both sites provide consumers a forum to interact and engage in a fun and entertaining format about lifestyle and pop culture features. In addition, AOL announced that unique visitors and page views for its programming sites grew in August, the nineteenth consecutive month of growth. Unique visitors climbed 5% year-over-year in August, page views climbed more than 100%, and time spent climbed 49%, according to the August 2008 comScore Media Metrix report.

The new sites are supported by AOL’s digital advertising business, Platform-A, http://www.platform-a.com, which will identify key opportunities for advertisers and provide relevant display advertising and content-targeted links on the sites.

“As people change the way they use the Internet, we are continually looking to offer more relevant content that targets people’s passion points,” said Bill Wilson, Executive Vice President, AOL Programming. “The new sites provide comprehensive engaging and interactive experiences and offer a place for consumers and advertisers to connect with programming that is truly dynamic. In addition, our continued growth in traffic and engagement show that this approach is resonating with online consumers.”

Vignette Launches Digital Publishing Platform for Telecommunications, Media and Entertainment Industries

2008-09-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

Vignette announced the upcoming availability of Vignette Media, a unique solution that helps telecommunications, media and entertainment (TME) organizations deliver integrated media strategies. The new solution empowers marketing and business professionals to manage, deliver and present virtually any type of digital content. For IT professionals, Vignette Media reduces the need for multiple software solutions.

The rapid evolution of technology is creating new opportunities for TME organizations. As these companies develop new business models, they require software and services that meet specialized needs and requirements for managing and selling digital assets such as online games, ringtones and music, where the content is the product. Vignette Media’s digital publishing platform was designed specifically to meet the needs of organizations that require a digital storefront, a video-on-demand solution or a rich multichannel Web experience.

“Vignette Media enables us to deliver the comprehensive platforms TME organizations require to retain and grow market share,” said John Griffin, chief sales and marketing officer at ioko, a Vignette partner and global IT provider for media and entertainment companies. “Vignette Media’s specialized user interface and workflows allows ioko to reduce implementation times for rich media solutions and achieve rapid commercial returns for our clients.”

AT&T Expands International Data Offerings for iPhone

2008-08-26T06:44:00.000-07:00

More Data in More Countries for iPhone Users Traveling Abroad

AT&T Inc. today announced expanded international data offerings to help keep iPhone customers connected around the world. Beginning tomorrow, AT&T will offer two new plans that accommodate iPhone customers' increasing reliance on data services while traveling abroad. The two new plans, which offer 100 megabytes (MB) or 200 MB a month, can potentially save customers hundreds of dollars compared to pay-per-use international data roaming charges.

For discounted international data usage in 67 countries(1), the 100 MB iPhone plan is available for an additional $119.99 a month, while the 200 MB plan costs an additional $199.99 a month(2). These new plans are in addition to existing plans for smartphones, including iPhone, which offer 20 MB and 50 MB in the same countries. There are no long-term commitments required, so customers can add or remove these plans to their existing packages on an as-needed basis.

"AT&T has worked diligently to provide affordable options for international roaming because the feature-rich mobile experience of iPhone is indispensable to users," said Bill Hague, executive vice president of International for AT&T's wireless operations. "With these new international data plans, iPhone users can access more data in more countries for less cost."

Going Back To School? Make Some Big Money Sharing This Widget.

2008-08-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

High Definition TV Suite for Tech-Savvy Urban Dwellers

2008-08-14T07:44:00.000-07:00

AOC Releases Three Newly Designed HDTVs

For TVs, size matters, but definition is more important, so AOC developed their Envision Series for an urban digital lifestyle with the L19W861, a 19” High Definition LCDTV, the L26W861, a 26” High Definition LCDTV, and the L32W861, a 32” High Definition LCDTVs.

“This line of HDTVs are designed to fit the needs of consumers in an urban living environment, with sizes and resolutions specifically tailored for optimum viewing with limited space,” said Robert Velez, Marketing Manager of AOC. “They are designed to look cool in any room and meet the demands of how today’s consumers use TVs, such as HD gaming in a bedroom, watching TV in the kitchen, or a movie in the den,” added Velez.

Small space; hooked to your TV

The L19W861 is the right fit for a video lover who spends a fair amount of time in small spaces such as a home office or kitchen. This 19” LCDTV is designed for smaller living spaces and can be used as an HD PC monitor. Priced at $299.00, the L19W861 is great for viewers interested in gaming, movies, and everyday PC usage.

Medium space; game station

The L26W861 is perfect for any type of living space, with a sleek size and at an affordable price of $499.00, the 26” LCDTV is made to fit the needs of consumers that want simple elegance. This TV has both quality, in terms of High Definition, and quantity, in terms of how much money is saved.

Large urban space; for movie time

The L32W861 brings movies to life, causing viewers to get lost in liquid crystal. High Definition is now reachable to consumers that don’t have thousands of dollars to spend, because of its low MSRP of $599.00.

It’s 3 A.M. – Are You Checking Your Email Again?

2008-08-13T06:36:00.000-07:00

Fourth Annual Email Addiction Survey from AOL Mail Reveals More Americans are Checking Email While Driving, in the Bathroom, on Vacation, in Church

New York, Houston & Chicago Top List of Cities “Most Addicted” to Email

If you check your email in the middle of the night or even while driving, you’re not alone. According to AOL Mail’s fourth annual Email Addiction Survey, nearly half (46%) of email users said they’re hooked on email (up from just 15% last year) and 51% check their email four or more times a day (up from 45% in 2007). One in five said they check their email more than 10 times a day. Full results can be found at http://www.CrazyForEmail.com.

More than one-quarter (27%) are so overwhelmed by their email that they’ve either declared “email bankruptcy,” deleting all their email messages to start anew, or they’re seriously thinking about doing so. Maybe it’s because 20% of users said they have over 300 emails in their inboxes!

To start fresh, 24% admit they’ve signed up for a new email address. It comes as no surprise then that 69% of email users said they have multiple email accounts, up from 52% in 2007. To get a new email address, including NAME@CrazyForEmail.com, just visit http://MyeAddress.com.

“We really do live in a 24-7 society and it’s not uncommon to be online and checking email at all hours of the day,” said Regina Lewis, AOL Online Consumer Advisor. “Sometimes we need to take a step back and refresh with an empty inbox or even a new inbox altogether to clear our mind and focus on those emails and relationships that are most important to us.”

DIRECTV to Offer HD Local Channels in 121 Markets by Year-End

2008-07-30T07:24:00.000-07:00

With Launch of 44 New HD Markets More Than 88 Percent of U.S. Television Homes Will Have Access to Local HD Channels from DIRECTV

DIRECTV, Inc., the satellite television service provider, continues to strengthen its HD presence with the addition of 44 new HD local channel markets. By the end of 2008, DIRECTV will provide local HD broadcast channels in 121 cities, representing more than 88 percent of U.S. TV households. DIRECTV will begin the rollout of the new HD local markets in August and continue through the end of the year. The new markets include:

Augusta, Ga.		Harrisonburg, Va.
Bangor, Maine		La Crosse-Eau Claire, Wis.
Baton Rouge, La.		Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.
Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas		Lincoln-Hastings, Neb.
Boise, Idaho		Macon, Ga.
Burlington, Vt.-Plattsburgh, N.Y.		Mobile AL-Pensacola, Fla.
Butte-Bozeman, Mont.		Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C.
Champaign-Springfield-Decatur, Ill.		Norfolk-Newport News, Va.
Charleston, S.C.		Palm Springs, Calif.
Chattanooga, Tenn.		Peoria-Bloomington, Ill.
Colorado Springs-Pueblo, Colo.		Richmond-Petersburg, Va.
Columbia-Jefferson City, Mo.		Rockford, Ill.
Davenport, Iowa-Rock Island, Ill., Moline, Ill.		Rochester, N.Y.
Dayton, Ohio		Savannah, Ga.
Des Moines-Ames, Iowa		Sioux Falls, S.D.
Dothan, Ala.		South Bend-Elkhart, Ind.
El Paso, Texas		Springfield-Holyoke, Mass.
Evansville, Ind.		Syracuse, N.Y.
Fort Smith, Ark.		Tallahassee, Fla.
Fort Wayne, Ind.		Toledo, Ohio
Greenville-New Bern-Washington, N.C.		Traverse City-Cadillac, Mich.
Harlingen-Brownsville, Texas		Youngstown, Ohio

“With the rollout of 44 new HD local markets, DIRECTV continues to strengthen its position as the leading provider of quality HD programming among cable and satellite competitors nationwide,” said Derek Chang, executive vice president, Content Strategy and Development, DIRECTV, Inc. “Our DIRECTV 11 satellite has recently begun operations and significantly expands our capacity for more national and local HD channels. And as we have with the SuperFan^® service for MLB EXTRA INNINGS^® and NFL SUNDAY TICKET™ and our multi-screen coverage of US Open golf, we will continue to use HD to enhance our unique interactive services to provide our customers with more of what they want and expect from us – the best television experience available.”

DIRECTV will deliver HD programming from the primary broadcast networks – ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC – where available and authorized, to customers who subscribe to any TOTAL CHOICE^® programming package that offers local channels. DIRECTV HD customers will continue to pay only a $9.99 access fee, allowing them to receive DIRECTV’s premier HD technology and all channels broadcast in HD that are tied to their particular base programming package.

Customers should visit directv.com to learn more about the full complement of DIRECTV’s HD programming lineup including existing channels, new channels, details on equipment required for the new DIRECTV HD services and updates on when the new markets will launch.

With the DIRECTV 11 satellite just introduced to the fleet and the launch of the DIRECTV 12 satellite next year, DIRECTV will have the capacity to deliver 200 national HD channels and 1,500 local HD and digital channels in addition to new advanced programming services for customers nationwide.

Great new widget for movers! Share it with friends!

2008-07-29T08:07:00.000-07:00

ValueClick Media Launches Predictive Behavioral Targeting

2008-07-25T07:59:00.000-07:00

Precision BT™ Suite Delivers Increased Behavioral Targeting Performance at Scale

ValueClick Media, a division of ValueClick, Inc. , announced the availability of its Precision BT suite today, combining access to a wealth of anonymous consumer online behavior with an innovative predictive technology to create the most robust and scalable behavioral targeting solution available to marketers.

The Precision BT suite contains two products, including Precision Retargeting, an enhanced version of the user retargeting capabilities offered by ValueClick Media since 2005, and Precision Profiles, which uses a proprietary predictive algorithm to identify a marketer’s best prospects in hundreds of consumer interest segments.

Until now, predictive algorithms have rarely been applied to behavioral targeting, compared to the common cluster and custom business rules approaches popularized by Tacoda and Revenue Science, respectively. Predictive analytics includes only the best consumers in each segment at any given time, based on a marketer’s intended objective and the consumer’s likelihood to take action in the future.

“What makes Precision Profiles unique is our access to a critical mass of anonymous consumer online experiences and the way our technology dynamically categorizes and transforms them into hundreds of interest segments,” said Matthew Boyd, senior vice president, ValueClick Media. “Combined with the ability for our optimization technology to identify the best possible context in which to serve an ad, we have assembled the most scalable, data-driven audience targeting platform for marketers to achieve their brand and direct response objectives.”

Over 50% of US Population Watches Video Online – Are You Missing the Advertising Opportunity?

2008-07-24T06:17:00.000-07:00

More than a Quarter of Advertisers Use Online Video for Product and Service Promotion

It is projected that US marketers will spend over $4.3 billion to reach the online video audience in 2011, citing the high engagement factor and the Internet's superior tracking and targeting capabilities as a valuable revenue stream and a highly accountable method for advertisers to sway target audiences.

As such, The ClickZ Network, the largest resource for interactive marketing news, information, commentary, advice, opinion, research, and reference in the world, is hosting a one-day forum on Online Video Advertising tomorrow, July 22, 2008, at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York. This fast-paced, full-day forum is geared for senior advertisers, marketers, publishers, and content providers who are using or considering this fast-moving medium.

A helpful widget about MP3s. Share it with your friends!

2008-07-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

Internet TV Leaps Ahead in China

2008-07-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

UUSee.com becomes the first online peer-to-peer TV operator to receive China's SARFT video license and Olympic broadcasting rights

With its announcement that it has secured Internet TV broadcasting rights to this summer's Olympic Games, UUSee is on the verge of orchestrating one of the world's largest real-time interactive TV events. UUSee, the leading Internet TV and interactive broadcasting service operator in China with almost 100 million users, is partnering with CCTV.com, China's largest TV network and the only authorized Olympic TV channel in Greater China. UUSee will broadcast live the opening ceremony, closing ceremony and all the important sporting action of the 2008 Olympic Games via the Internet in China.
"Since 2005 we have successfully collaborated with UUSee to broadcast TV content and distribute breaking news over the Internet," said Wenbin Wang, the General Manager of CCTV.com. "Expanding this partnership to include live broadcasting of the 2008 Olympic Games will be a major digital media milestone in the history of the Olympics."

"Broadcasting the 2008 Olympic Games is expected to give a huge boost to UUSee and Internet TV in China," added Mr. Zhu Li, CEO of UUSee. "Through our robust network platform, UUSee's nearly 100 million users will enjoy a reliable, smooth and clear online video experience."

Time Warner Cable to Sell Certain Non-Core Cable Systems

2008-07-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Time Warner Cable today announced that it entered into an agreement to sell a group of small cable systems to Windjammer Communications, a venture between MAST Capital Management, LLC and Communications Construction Services (CCS). The systems serve approximately 80,000 basic video subscribers and 120,000 revenue generating units spread across more than 125 head-ends in 25 states and located in areas outside of the Company’s core geographic clusters. The sale of these systems is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s ongoing financial results, but Time Warner Cable’s second quarter results will reflect a pretax, non-cash loss on the sale of these systems of approximately $45 million, which will be included as a component of Operating Income.

The sale to Windjammer Communications is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2008, subject to obtaining customary regulatory approvals.

AT&T Kicks Off Sales of iPhone 3G

2008-07-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

Variety of Attractive Plans Combine Voice and Unlimited Data

AT&T begins selling iPhone 3G today in its retail stores at 8 a.m. local time across the United States, along with a variety of attractive monthly plans that combine voice and unlimited data use. iPhone 3G uses the nation's fastest 3G wireless network, which reaches 300 major metropolitan areas.

AT&T Inc. has announced that AT&T is making it easy for customers to prepare for their iPhone 3G purchase by posting "Get iReady" tips and frequently asked questions at www.att.com/iphone. The site also includes a link for customers to check their upgrade eligibility and other wireless account information.

The Analog To Digital Conversion

2008-02-22T06:40:00.000-08:00

According to the FCC, the February 17, 2009 deadline for the DTV transition only applies to full-power broadcast stations. Cable companies are not required to transition their systems to digital and can continue to deliver channels to their customers in analog; in fact, they are actually required by FCC rules to continue offering local broadcast stations to their customers in analog as long as they offer any analog service. This requirement will continue for at least three years after February 17, 2009, and the FCC will decide in 2011 whether the requirement should be continued beyond February 17, 2012. This means that customers who receive analog cable service (without a cable set-top box) will be able to continue to do so.

However, to keep pace with current technology and customer demand, and in an effort to deliver better quality and broader content choices, it is very likely cable companies will begin to transition to all-digital service. Under the FCC’s DTV transition plan, if a cable company makes the business decision to go all-digital (meaning it will stop offering any channels to its customers in analog), it must ensure its analog customers can continue to watch their local broadcast stations. However, this will likely require these customers still using analog TV sets to either upgrade or purchase a set-top box; in many cases this will be at the discretion (and price) of the individual cable provider.

For most people who are reluctant to give up their current analog TV or service, the best (and cheapest) long-term bet is to take advantage of the NTIA set-top converter coupon program.

NEW SERVICE LETS MDU RESIDENTS CHOOSE DIGITAL AND BUNDLED SERVICE PROVIDERS

2008-02-20T07:38:00.000-08:00

Broadband National’s new “MDU Module” enables property managers to provide unbiased information and access to Internet, television, digital phone, rental insurance, home security and more

Broadband National, Inc., the leading ecommerce platform promoting digital services and products, today announced a new application focused on the 20 perecent of U.S. households that move annually. The new “MDU module” is a turn-key application that allows owners and management companies of multi-dwelling units (MDUs) to offer residents a seamless process to order services that are typically required when moving into a new apartment or condo. The company’s MDU Module will provide the millions of Americans living in apartments and other multiple dwelling units with access to of the largest selection of services backed by an unbiased, unified comparison and ordering experience.

The announcement comes on the heels of a recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruling which makes exclusive deals between network operators and the owners of MDUs illegal. The Broadband National offering addresses this new freedom of choice by enabling owners and managers of MDUs to provide their residents with unbiased information on and access to a number of digital services, including Internet, cable and satellite television, and digital telephone. Owners and managers will also have the flexibility to customize the module to offer additional services, such as renters’ insurance, security systems, appliance and furniture leases, grocery delivery services and more.

“The MDU Module was designed to help property owners and managers not only remain in compliance with the FCC ruling, but also to streamline their own operations while enabling their residents to conveniently choose the best available services in their area,” said Vinny Olmstead, president and CEO of Broadband National. “The offering truly enables MDU managers to become a trusted, one-stop resource for their residents by leveraging Broadband National’s insight and access to thousands of service options.”

Several top real estate management companies have already signed-on to deliver this new level of convenience to residents at properties across the country. The Broadband National MDU Module is scheduled for general availability in Q1 2008. More information is available by calling Mark Weibel at (772) 316-1007.