Archive for May 14th, 2008
 Following on the release of financial reports outlining Sprint's drain-circling demise into red-ink hell, Sprint's CEO Dan Hesse has made some significant moves to help stem further losses. The troubled chief has decided to lay off about 4,000 employees across the US and plans to close retail store locations as well as cutting monthly wireless rates in an attempt to gain back some of its 1+ million lost subscribers last quarter.
While the No. 3 US carrier has managed to secure its WiMAX-future in its partnership with Clearwire, it's future as a Big-Three voice-network operator hinges on Sprint's capability to claw its way back to profitability. As such, Sprint's Hesse is considering selling off company assets as well as securing new credit terms.
Nextel could also see itself set loose from Sprint's grip, but Hesse mentioned that selling off the iDEN network side of its business would involve “significant complexities.” And, the $36 billion acquisition of Nextel would likely only net Sprint something like $5 billion in today's market - a big loss indeed, but $5 billion is still $5 billion that Sprint is badly in need of.
We'll have to wait and see how the new cost-cutting measures, combined with moves to recapture lost customers, helps out Sprint's bottom line.
[Via: Bloomberg]
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Following on the release of financial reports outlining Sprint's drain-circling demise into red-ink hell, Sprint's CEO Dan Hesse has made some significant moves to help stem further losses. The troubled chief has decided to lay off about 4,000 employees across the US and plans to close retail store locations as well as cutting monthly wireless rates in an attempt to gain back some of its 1+ million lost subscribers last quarter.
While the No. 3 US carrier has managed to secure its WiMAX-future in its partnership with Clearwire, it's future as a Big-Three voice-network operator hinges on Sprint's ability to claw its way back to profitability. As such, Sprint's Hesse is considering selling off company assets as well as securing new credit terms.
Nextel could also see itself set loose from Sprint's grip, but Hesse mentioned that selling off the iDEN network side of its business would involve “significant complexities.” And, the $36 billion acquisition of Nextel would likely only net Sprint something like $5 billion in today's market - a large loss indeed, but $5 billion is still $5 billion that Sprint is badly in need of.
We'll have to wait and see how the new cost-cutting measures, combined with moves to recapture lost customers, helps out Sprint's bottom line.
[Via: Bloomberg]
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I can't wait to get the HTC Touch Diamond into my sweaty hands, and I'm sure there are a lot of you out there that feel the same way. Alas, we won't be getting any HTC Diamond goodness for some time to come, but that doesn't mean we can't pass the time with some HTC Touch Diamond vs. Apple iPhone action!
Engadget Mobile has managed to score an HTC Touch Diamond of their very own and has pitted the iconic Apple iPhone against the revamped HTC Touch handset. The winner? Well, you decide…
[Via: Engadget Mobile]
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 The gym, the grocery store, the movie theater, the local SCCA chapter. The list of organizations requiring membership cards to verify a person's good standing goes on and on. But, that doesn't mean you need to pack you poor old wallet full of barcode-bearing membership cards.
Albert Alberts has come up with a novel way to rid his wallet of said membership cards with his iPhone. He scanned all cards, front and back, and uploaded them to a specially-created album within iPhoto. The result was an accurate depiction of the membership cards' barcodes on the iPhone's multi-touch display.
The barcodes on the iPhone's screen apparently scan perfectly! But, don't let lack of an iPhone stop you from putting your membership card on your handset. If your display is huge enough, you'll most likely be able to scan and upload the pics to your mobile phone just the same.
I'll be scanning all my cards soon. It's going to be nice to not have to keep track of my gym membership card - I've already gone through five or so.
[Via: Lifehacker]
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 Rumors, being what they’re, should be taken with a grain of salt. That stated, the newest rumor to leak out of Waterloo indicates that RIM is brewing up a serious all-touchscreen contender to the iPhone. The rumored handset, known as the RIM BlackBerry 9500 “Thunder” is said to release as a Verizon Wireless/Vodafone exclusive - possibly making up for Verizon's decision to pass on the Apple iPhone (Steve Jobs's first choice for the iPhone's exclusive network operator).
We're hearing that the BlackBerry Thunder will sport some sort of trick EVDO Rev. C radio mated to a GSM/HSPA radio that will work in tandem to bring high-speed data to its customers. There's also a chance that the 4G LTE data-standard will be supported in the BlackBerry Thunder.
The rumors of an all touchscreen BlackBerry falls in line with previous rumors that RIM was working on a touchscreen-based iPhone-killer, known to RIM engineers as the BlackBerry “AK” (Apple Killer). Could the new BlackBerry 9500 Thunder be stealing the newly announced Blackberry 9000 Bold's, well, thunder as the commercial incarnation of the Blackberry AK?
It would make sense for RIM to finally bring touchscreen interface to the BlackBerry lineup, and we have a hunch that the BlackBerry AK will launch as the BlackBerry 9500 Thunder. But, like it states above - take all this with a grain of salt.
[Via: BlackBerryThunder.net]
Image from BGR
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Rumors, being what they are, should be taken with a grain of salt. That stated, the newest rumor to leak out of Waterloo indicates that RIM is brewing up a serious all-touchscreen contender to the iPhone. The rumored handset, known as the RIM BlackBerry 9500 “Thunder” is stated to release as a Verizon Wireless/Vodafone exclusive - possibly making up for Verizon's decision to pass on the Apple iPhone (Steve Jobs's first choice for the iPhone's exclusive network operator).
We're hearing that the BlackBerry Thunder will sport some sort of trick EVDO Rev. C radio mated to a GSM/HSPA radio that’ll work in tandem to bring high-speed data to its customers. There's also a chance that the 4G LTE data-standard will be supported in the BlackBerry Thunder.
The rumors of an all touchscreen BlackBerry falls in line with previous rumors that RIM was working on a touchscreen-based iPhone-killer, known to RIM engineers as the BlackBerry “AK” (Apple Killer). Could the new BlackBerry 9500 Thunder be stealing the newly announced Blackberry 9000 Bold's, well, thunder as the commercial incarnation of the Blackberry AK?
It would make sense for RIM to finally bring touchscreen interface to the BlackBerry lineup, and we’ve a hunch that the BlackBerry AK will launch as the BlackBerry 9500 Thunder. But, like it says above - take all this with a grain of salt.
[Via: BlackBerryThunder.net]
Image from BGR
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 In a report from LeMatin.ch that has Apple bringing the iPhone to Switzerland through Swisscom this summer, there is speculation that the next-generation iPhone will not only be sporting that 3G (UMTS/HSDPA) data connection, but will also hit hard with GPS, video conferencing, and…wait for it…mobile Television!
Apple's pushing their iconic handset around the world and has been movin' and shakin' to make these deals happen. So, it's no surprise that Switzerland will be getting the iPhone. And, we've heard previous rumors pointing toward the iPhone rocking a true-blue GPS receiver and video-conferencing (courtesy of a front-facing camera). But, the news here is that the iPhone might support some sort of mobile Television standard.
Mobile TV may not be a deal-maker, nor will its absence be a deal-breaker, for most 3G iPhone hopefuls, but it's not a bad way to ice the cake. If the 3G iPhone launches without GPS, we'll all be a little disappointed, but if mobile Television doesn't make the cut, there won't be many tears shed.
[Via: Macrumors]
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 There are just some things that are too good not to be true. And then there are things that are just too ridiculous to believe.
First off, AT&T has released a statement saying that the mention of free AT&T WiFi HotSpot access for iPhone users was “human error.” Apparently, some hasty web-head pulled the trigger too early and let the world in on AT&T's plans to roll-out the free WiFi service for iPhone users. Keep that chin up, us iPhoners will be getting free WiFi access at Starbucks and Barnes & Nobles across the US - it's too good to not be true.
Second up, it seems AT&T wants us to believe that their mention of  the “iPhone Black” in their device management webpage was a mistake. The “iPhone Black” was supposed to be a placeholder to distinguish between the iPhone 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB. The “placeholder” was never changed to reflect AT&T's intention to give iPhone users a choice of handsets to administrate.
More likely than not, AT&T simply dropped the ball on the next-generation iPhone in their database. The mention of “iPhone Black” moniker doesn't fall in line with either the iPhone 4GB or 16GB, nor does it make sense that one placeholder would cover both iPhone variants. And, given that the 3G iPhone is supposed to launch in a glossy-black finish, AT&T's looking like their running damage control more than anything else.
Conspiracy theory: Apple had AT&T intentionally put the “iPhone Black” reference to throw us 3G iPhone fans off their trail. Think what you want, but conspiracy theories are fun.
[Via: iPhone Central and Engadget Mobile]
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 According to HTC's CFO Hui-ming Cheng, the smartphone maker's revenues are expected to grow over 20% on year, to reach NT$34 billion (US$1.12 billion) in Q2 2008.
However, when compared with the first quarter of the year, revenues will grow only 4 percent due to a delay in the launch of new products. But, now with the Diamond being announced, it's kinda safe to bet good times are ahead of HTC.
In related news, HTC plans to deal out a dividend of NT$37 for 2007, including NT$34 in cash and NT$3 in shares. Additionally, they’ll distribute a total of NT$1.21 billion in cash plus NT$10.32 million shares to its employees as bonuses for last year, hence deluting the company's capital by 1.37%.
[Via: DigiTimes]
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 The low-cost vehicle rental company, Payless Automobile Rental, announced that it has launched an iPhone/iPod Touch optimized version of its website, allowing the mentioned two Apple product owners to conveniently rent a car from their beloved device(s), wherever they are.
Payless' iPhone interface (www.PaylessCarRental.com) enables users to book a car in just three simple steps. In addition, by clicking on the “Call to Book” button, users will be connected to Payless' call center, where they can book over the phone — although, that's not the cool way to get around it. 
Finally, the iPhone/iPod Touch optimized website has a section with links to the store locations' contact information and maps — features that could come in quite handy while traveling.
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