Blackberry 8830 versus iPhone (and most other smartphones)

My company gave me a Blackberry 8830 (thank you!).  Despite my pleas, my company is Blackberry only.  However, I thought that since the Blackberry 8830 was a smartphone (and a popular one at that), I would be able to customize it to my heart’s content.  I was wrong.  

As a gadget loving tinkerer, I enjoy finding great new programs for my electronic  toys (i.e. phone and computer).  By great, I almost always mean easy to use, useful, and, most important, free.  Sadly for all the developers out there, I have found almost no reason to purchase most pieces of software.  A legal, free alternative is usually viable and available.  If there is no alternative, I pay but it is rare that I actually need said software enough to buy it.  I just do without.  

Back to the berry — I started finding great programs for my phone.  Many seemed useful and fun.  Of course, the options for the Blackberry 8830 are not as easily found or as good as those for the iPhone.  Despite this fact, I was able to find many things that interested me.  I downloaded them.

I quickly ran into a problem that many Blackberry owners have found — lack of memory = messed up Blackberry.  I soon ran out of memory.  Suddenly, most of my messages, past call history, and other important items were deleted.  My berry took forever to open up programs.  I did not get it.  I added a memory card.  At least in the 8830, memory cards do not actually help in the memory department unless you only want to store photos or music.  All programs are stored on the internal memory.  

What did this mean?  Simple — my smartphone is a lot less smart than the competitors (i.e. iphone).   Besides the normal bberry programs, I have Gmail, Google Maps, Viigo, Beyond411, Wall Street Journal program, and an icon for the New York Times and WashingtonPost.  Anything more and my memory would run out.  

I can somewhat forgive RIM for shipping my phone with such a minimal amount of memory.  However, it is unforgivable on the newer Berrys (such as the Bold and new Curve).  On the new phones, memory cards can store programs but this is still ridiculous.  Memory is very cheap.  For the same price as an 8GB iPhone, you can purchase a Bold.  From a memory and program option perspective, the choice is clear (iPhone).  Obviously, some people love BlackBerrys but if you want programs that make your phone truly smart – an iPhone or any phone with real internal memory is the winner.

iPod Touch Apps & Apple App Store

For my study break tonight, I installed Apple’s version 2.0 software update for my iPod Touch.

Put simply, it makes my iPod the best pda in the business.  Now I really want an iPhone since I hate being tethered to wifi but might dislike ATT and their iPhone ripoff just as much.

I am tired so I will keep this brief (and try not to regurgitate too much of what other’s have already said) — the iPhone is a great piece of hardware but the software + the app store = an amazing piece of equipment.

In a manner similar to computer makers who are stuck with Windows (see my previous post), phone manufacturers are going to have difficulty replicating the iPhone/iPod Touch’s software and app store.  Hardware is easily replicated (see Sprint’s Samsung Instinct) but software legions of fans (and businesses) wanting to create programs for your software is not.  Apple’s App store is the “hot” place right now.  That could change (especially when Google’s Android is released) but Apple has a big head start, which is growing by the day.

Quick review: The App store is already good and will only get better as more software is released.  However,  not all of this new software is up to Apple quality and my Touch has already frozen on me once.  How long until people begin to blame Apple for 3rd party software problems (see Windows for an example of how this happens)?

Even still, RIM, Nokia, Samsung, LG, you have major work to do and I hope you do it asap!

iPhone vs. Nintendo DS vs. Playstation Portable (PSP)

I just wrote this long, elegant (not really) post about the above title.  Somehow it was deleted.  I don’t have the energy to re-write it.

Here is a rundown:

• iPhone’s multi-touch + gyroscope/accelerometer + software version 2.0 (and the download website) make it an amazing gaming platform.  I speak from experience with my “cracked” iPod Touch.
• The iPhone is what the next DS should have been (and maybe will be):  the iPhone is the mini-Wii.
• When it comes to portability, would you rather have many devices that do 1 thing really well or one device that does all the things pretty well (and in the Iphones case, maybe better)?  I would rather have one.  My pocket will thank me.
• What does the future hold?  Nintendo and Sony (and probably Microsoft albeit through a software/zune gaming solution), will launch multi-touch, accelerometered gaming cell phones.  If they are marketed as gaming cell-phones, a-la Nokia’s Ngage, they will fail.  However, the PSP next is just an amazing looking (and working) Sony/Ericsonn phone that also happens to play playstation games, then it could succeed.
• Microsoft will spend a lot of time making Windows Mobile gaming a reality
• I might be wrong on Nintendo DS Next’s future — knowing Nintendo, they will keep it just as a gaming platform.
• One thing is certain, the iPhone is about to steal the portable gaming market’s thunder the same way it stole the smartphone market’s thunder.  Cue the slapping your head “duh” moment from Nintendo/Sony/MS executives and fanboys alike (minus Nokia, they saw it coming although they couldn’t get it really right).

Check out this video from IGN.

Now I wish Randi could finish her work (it is 11:47pm and my twenty minutes of non-bar thought is up.  Time to go to bar dreams…evidence, crimpro, property — snore).

Sprint-Clearwire-Google-Intel-Cable Companies create WiMonster

The big news last week as I was graduating and taking my final law school exam was a consortium’s creation of a WiMax network.

The consortium is made up of Sprint/Nextel, Google, Intel, Comcast, Time Warner, and Clearwire.  The deal is valued at $12 billion.  For basics on the deal, read this from the New York Times.  Why did this deal happen?  Simple — economics.  Sprint was attempting to build their own WiMax network, Xohm, with a spectrum footprint that covered about 60% of the US (that number is not precise).  Clearwire was attempting to do the same using spectrum that covered the other 40%.

Sprint was planning on spending $5 billion to build out their 60%.  However, there was one problem with this scenario — imagine spending $5 billion to build a wireless network that did not work everywhere in the US.  Would you buy a cellphone service plan that only worked in certain areas?  Some people would (see Metro PCS) and frankly there might be a business plan for someone to come out with local only wireless broadband (see any of the failed municipal WiFi networks).  Unfortunately, as the failed WiFi networks illustrate, the time is not yet ripe for local wireless broadband.

Consumers need devices that will make them want to go online anywhere (see the iPhone or a Nokia Internet tablet).  Those devices are just starting to proliferate as people begin to need the internet anytime, anywhere.  As relatively early adopter, I don’t know what I would do without internet/email on my phone.  Once everyone else gets a taste, they will need it as well.  The problem with the Sprint or Clearwire plan when standing alone is that few people would want to buy a device that only works in part of the country.  Imagine taking your $300 WiMax Sprint enabled device from DC to Seattle only to find that you will have to sign up for Clearwire service to use the device.  Bummer and a barrier to entry.

Sprint and Clearwire needed to merge their WiMax divisions.  WiMax investment is not cheap (although Sprint’s original $5 billion is much cheaper than the $18 billion Verizon is spending to roll out FiOS).  Plus, you need devices with WiMax chips built in (Intel) with awesome cloud software to make the experience worthwhile (Google).  Throw in some marketing partners (Comcast/Time Warner with a nice quad-play offering) and you have a WiMonster.

Why a WiMonster rather than a WiPrincess (or maybe a WiiMaximus to be very vogue)?  Well, operational HQ for the new venture is in Virginia (Sprint), while strategic HQ is in Seattle (Clearwire).  Intel, Google, Cable guys are also located all over, have strong leaders with strong opinions, and disparate interests.  This deal holds plenty of potential but also myriad risks.  The new leaders need vision and strength.

I hope for the best (plus I like rooting for the underdog, aka Sprint).  I want WiMax everywhere as I am tired of being tied to my home Wifi connection and I won’t pay for a 3G connection.  I want every device I own to be connected — from my computer to TV to my fridge to my AC.   Cross your fingers and prepare for the future!

Sprint loses $29.5 billion…sucking sounds continue

Sprint just announced losses of $29.5 billion for the fourth quarter. Read about it here. I wish I could have said I saw this coming but $29.5 is almost too hard to fathom.  (However, note, a large portion of that loss is the write-off related the failed Nextel merger — an almost text-book example of how not to merge two companies). Sprint seems to be falling apart. The stock lost nearly 11% today. I was thinking of shorting the stock but I did not. Bummer…

I have read a lot about Dan Hesse, Sprint’s new CEO. Everything I have read impresses me. I think he has a decent chance of turning the company around if he can only hold the walls together long enough. Moves like Sprint’s $99 truly unlimited plan is a start (although I was hoping for a much cheaper version). However, Sprint is fighting a huge negative wave.

I know a lot of people who hate the service. They either had the service or have heard from others who used to have it. No one ever says anything kind. As a long-time Sprint user, I try to defend the company. I never have dropped calls (except in NYC), can roam on Verizon if I am really pissed, and pay way less. I do try to avoid customer service if at all possible.

For competition sake, I hope Hesse can hold it together until they stop losing customers. Once that happens, they can start to turn the corner. The process is going to be slow and hard. Too many people are too annoyed with the company and would rather pay $10 more a month for another service without the hassles or dropped calls.

How can Sprint turn this around? That is for another post.

Sprint launched their own $99 unlimited plan — no “” marks needed

Today, Sprint launched their own $99 unlimited plan. Peep the press release here. Unlike its competitor’s $99 plan, this one truly is unlimited. That means the quote marks surrounding Verizon/Tmobile/ATT’s plans are not necessary. This plan includes all you can talk, all you can web surf, all you text, all you can watch. For the smart phone (or really talkative crowd), this is a great deal.

For a comparison, a similarly unlimited plan with everything included costs $35 more from ATT and $39 more from Verizon.  Of course, ATT also happens to have the best smart phones (such as that unnamed monstrosity from Apple) and the slowest network while Verizon has the best coverage and a 3G network as fast as Sprints’.

No matter how you look at it, you have to say, “Sprint, great job!”  You have finally given users a reason to switch to Sprint. You have now differentiated yourself.  That wasn’t too hard, was it?

The slippery slope towards commodity status marches on…

Sprint’s $59.99 unlimited plan

I have only heard rumors, but Sprint might be considering a radical $59.99 unlimited plan.  Compare this to the $99.99 plan offered by the other major carriers.  A $40 savings for a service that is generally on par (within reason) to what the other carriers offer.

Sprint needs to do something radical and this could be it.  They used to differentiate themselves on price.  Now, they are just another carrier, which is boring.  New marketing campaigns have tried to right the ship but when the product is bland, a snazzier picture can’t do much.

Sprint, do something crazy and wild, launch the $59.99 unlimited plan and make this month truly one of the most interesting the telecom world has seen in a while.

The end of landlines

The offer of $99/mo unlimited calling plans means the beginning of the end for landlines.

Why have a landline now that you can talk all time, at any time of day, everywhere [in the US] you go?  There is no reason.  Depending on your current cell plan and landline plan, you might pay a slight premium for the new $99 plan.  However, the average consumer might decide that the premium is worthwhile for the gain in mobility.

Once people start to add up their phone costs, they might find that $99 is not too bad.

More thoughts on $99 “unlimited” plans

How does $99 compare to other, older plans and why would someone want to buy/upgrade to a $99 plan?

If you use more than 2000 minutes, then it compares favorably (Sprint’s 2000 anytime minute plan is $99).  Also, if you spend $30/mo on a landline phone with unlimited minutes plus say, $60/mo on a cell phone, this deal becomes pretty sweet.

The real power of the $99 “unlimited” plan is its simplicity.  2000 minutes sounds like a lot and scares people.  “There is no way I will use 2000 minutes a month.”  However, unlimited minutes might sound like a sane investment.  You never know how many minutes you will use.  Why not buy the unlimited plan, for a reasonable price, and protect myself.  It is simple.  There are no hassles.  Just talk.

Also, keep in mind that people sometimes find that when they have an unlimited amount of something, they want to use that thing all the time.  The same goes for minutes.  Let’s say that friend X decides to buy the $99 plan from Verizon.  Suddenly, that friend can talk to anyone in the US, anytime.  He/she starts calling all of their friends all the time.  He tells everyone how great it is.  Now I want the same plan so that I can talk nonstop (or, were I younger, I would beg my parents for the plan…”but mooom, Johnny’s parents bought him the unlimited plan, why can’t I have it, as well…”).

You can’t talk on the phone all the time but buying an unlimited plan might mean canceling your landline phone.  Now you can anytime, anywhere, for one flat rate price.  Not bad.

Verizon, ATT, Sprint, and T-Mobile launch $99.99 “unlimited” plans

Within the span of one week, all the major carriers have launched or are studying a $99.99 “unlimited” calling plan. There are some major implications involved in decision: 1. Mobile lines, like landlines, are becoming a commodity. Remember when $0.10/a minute was a big deal price for a landline? Now we have $100 (let’s call it what it is) unlimited plans and the price is only going to drop from there. Let me say this one more time — the mobile phone business is becoming a commodity. The carriers better figure out what to do next before they become the next Embarq (whose business is babysitting a slowly dying, but dependable, business model). 2. The carriers all made announcements within days of each other. How could these turtle-like giants pull this off? They must have already studied the business aspects of this proposition. Likely, no one wanted to be the first to take this step since it begins the slow, inevitable roll towards commodity status. However, the moment one person took that step, the rest were business plan ready to follow suit.

The plans are not quite as good as they sound. $99 gets you unlimited talk. Nothing more. No text messages (except with T-Mobile). No internet. Probably not even a free ring tone. I am sure there are some people who only use their cell phones to talk. However, the people who talk so much that they need an unlimited plan are also likely users of text messages and, potentially, internet applications. That means the price goes up. It still might be a good idea and is certainly going to save some people some money.

The first shoe drops…