In an unprecedented rush to speed, at least four more large U.S. cable multi-system operators (MSOs) –Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications, Adelphia Communications and RCN Corp. — are making their broadband Internet-access services even faster this fall. [Cable Datacom News]
BellSouth offers VoIP for businesses
The regional phone provider will sell Internet-based telephone services to small and medium-size businesses. [CNET News.com]
Let the games begin… I’m sure they won’t be the last ISP/RBOC to initiate IP telephony for business. Interesting to note that residential service is still in testing modes most places.
A Growing Number of Video Viewers Watch From Crib
Many babies and toddlers are now immersed in electronic media for hours every day, according to a new study. [New York Times: Education]
Thought this was of particular interest as my wife Ashley is now in her 9th Month!!!!
MSN splits in two
Microsoft says its MSN business will split into two units–one focused on information and another focused on communications–an effort to streamline the long-struggling Web property. [CNET News.com]
Interesting move…
Coke Launches Wireless Campaign in U.S.
Coca-Cola launched the ‘Decibel Central’ campaign that will allow consumers to interact with the brand and win thousands prizes using text messaging. It appears to be a one of those smart ideas that helps both with branding and direct sales, also benefiting from the novelty of the medium. [MarketingWonk]
The coolest part of this program is that Mobliss was able to enable a short code that works across all carriers.
Digital Sports Tiers: 1’s and 0’s, X’s and O’s
On Nov. 19, 1.4 million Time Warner customers in New York and New Jersey will see the latest permutation in sports programming: the digital sports tier.
For $3.95 a month, viewers with digital cable will be able to buy a package containing NBA TV, the Tennis Channel, Fuel (Fox’s new extreme sports network) and Fox Sports Atlantic, Central and Pacific [New York Times: Business]
Interesting… doubt I’ll buy, but will be looking to check out the NBA channel before it goes pay. We’ll get a 3 week window to check it out
Can Cable Fast-Forward Past TiVo?
TiVo, the best-known maker of digital video recorders, may need to worry about the cable industry, which is nipping at its heels. [New York Times]
We’ll see how far they get aiming to be a premium brand in the DVR space. It’s not about the features as much as it is about the simplicity. Being in the cable box, means a single remote and no installation complexity, since the cable company does it for you.
California Chalks Up a Spam Win
The Golden State wins its first antispam judgment, against marketing firm PW Marketing. The company is fined $2 million under a 1998 statute; the state expects spammers will be easier to prosecute under its tougher new law. [Wired News]
Google Launches Local Search Targeting For AdWords
Google has rolled out a new Regional Targeting feature that lets advertisers have their AdWords ads appear in front of those searching from specific local areas in the United States. [Search Engine Watch]
Apple readying ‘iTunes Producer’ for record labels
Apple is in the process of launching new applications and marketing tools for its iTunes Music Store that aim to make it easier for record labels and artists to sell and promote music on the service… [MacMinute]
This is very cool news and even includes a co-marketing budget if you reference the ITMS in your Google ad. Very Intel like… and very smart.
CNN to use mobile polling
Very cool…
CNN is about to start using mobile phones to enable viewers to send in opinions and vote on questions using their mobiles… [textually.org]
Time Warner Cable tangles with DSL, dial-up
The company reports another quarter of sagging growth in broadband Internet, raising speculation that the high-speed cable access market is maturing and facing more competition. [CNET News.com]
Web Sites: Now, Built for Leads
Lead generation is edging out e-commerce as the raison d’etre of corporate Web sites, according to a survey by analytics provider WebTrends. Marketers, meanwhile, are taking over control of that Web site from the IT department. But as the mantle of power shifts from IT to Marketing, it’s up to marketers to optimize the site and to turn visitors into customers. [CyberAtlas]
Longhorn delay has Windows users considering OS X
Microsoft Watch has posted a number of e-mails from readers who say they are considering switching to Mac OS X due to the delay of Longhorn, Microsoft’s next major version of Windows… [MacMinute]
Amazing what can happen when you take advantage of user error…
Fumbling fingers drive VeriSign traffic surge
The company soars into the top 50 most visited U.S. Internet properties in September, a substantial improvement from its 135th ranking the previous month, according to a report. [CNET News.com]
Buck a Song, or Buccaneer?
Now that it is open to Windows customers, Apple’s iTunes Music Store will spell doom for file-sharing networks — at least, that’s how Apple tells it. Others are more skeptical. By Leander Kahney. [Wired News]
‘Metrosexuals’ Just Good Old Gentlemen
Razor Magazine Publisher Richard Botto, in perhaps one of the best comments on the current “metrosexual” craze, sets the record straight and says a “metrosexual” is simply a new fangled term for what has always been known as a gentleman. [Adrants]
Zinio rocks
“Zinio makes money through three different sources, and really only two of them matter,” explains Bruce. “Primarily our money comes from deliveries. Every time we send a copy of BusinessWeek or whatever, we get a fee for that. That’s our primary business. Our secondary business, which will become much more important over time, is revenue from sourcing new subscriptions. We bring a new subscriber, and we get some remit on a percentage of the subscription.”
Bruce adds that the company also has production services, wherein it charges a basic price to convert the magazine to the digital format. “We add all the enhancements such as links and rich media,” he says. “We just charge to cover our cost for that, though, and the fees are very low.”
Because of the two main ways Zinio makes money, its four-person marketing department (out of a total staff of 45) has a dual role. “We’re pretty neutral on how strong our brand is or isn’t with the consumer, because they’re buying the publisher’s brand,” Bruce explains. “It only becomes important for them to know the Zinio brand when they’re using the software or getting customer service. On the other hand, making Zinio a known place to get digital magazines is important. Ultimately, our brand is an agent, and whatever helps more people read more digital magazines is the right answer.”
I rediscovered Zinio right before getting my new computer and think it really is a great way to read many magazines if you already like reading on your computer screen.
Replacing the Checkout Line
Yet the Shopping Buddy does far more than ring up purchases. You can use its touch screen to order items from the supermarket deli; when your pastrami’s ready, the computer tells you to go pick it up. The Shopping Buddy automatically displays which aisle you’re in, what’s on sale there, and what you bought the last time you strolled through. If you can’t find an item, punch in its name on the touch screen and the Shopping Buddy will point you to the correct aisle. It’ll even display a “you are here” map that tracks you through the store like a homing device from a James Bond film. [Boston.com]
Carriers come together on common short-code service
Great news for those people looking to incorporate Mobile Messaging into campaigns… about time actually. There have been companies who have maintained a carrier specific solution which is not exactly the most idea way to manage things – unless of course you are promoting that carrier.
Twelve of the nation%u2019s top wireless carriers have joined forces to launch a common short codes, a service that will be commercially available next week.
“The program will allow TV stations, movie studios and virtually any other business to purchase a five-digit text messaging code and use it to interact with the vast majority of the country%u2019s 151 million wireless subscribers, a system widely used in Europe, reports RCR Wireless News.
The common short-code service will work through the Common Short Code Administration (CSCA), and their easy to remember URL is USshortcodes.com. Any interested business can log on to the site and purchase a short code. The codes will cost $500 per month for a randomly generated code or $1,000 per month for a pre-selected code”. [textually.org]