Monthly Archives: September 2011

SMBs continue to look ahead at future growth, but a sluggish economy has them looking harder for products that help them reduce costs, according to a new survey conducted by hosted VoIP provider 8×8. Nasdaq: EGHT  (Fierce Enterprise)

How’s about a 7-inch IPS (!) panel, Gorilla Glass coating, a dual-core CPU and a chassis that weighs 14.6 ounces at just $199.  Naturally, that bargain-bin sticker explains the lack of an embedded camera and microphone, though consumers will find WiFi (no 3G, sadly) and a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.  There’s access to things you’d expect to have access to: Android Appstore, Kindle books, magazines, etc. — all stored for free via Amazon Cloud Storage. Per Jeff: “Delete it and get it back when you want.” Oh, and Whispersync now works with movies and TV shows! “When you get home, switch to your big screen TV. Your movie will be right where you left it.”  Naturally, that bargain-bin sticker explains the lack of an embedded camera and microphone, though consumers will find WiFi (no 3G, sadly) and a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. (Enagadget)

 Dish Network Corp. (DISH), the second- largest U.S. satellite-TV provider, may consider partnering with or buying a wireless carrier such as Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) or Clearwire Corp. (CLWR), Chief Executive Officer Joseph Clayton said. (Bloomberg)

Now comes a final competitor, the best-placed challenger of all: Amazon.com. The retailer is on the verge of introducing its own tablet, analysts predict, a souped-up color version of its Kindle e-reader that will undercut the iPad in price and aim to steal away a couple of million in unit sales by Christmas. (NYTimes)

Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), the second-largest U.S. phone company, expects that the total market for cloud computing services will grow to $150 billion by 2020 from about $10 billion now. (Bloomberg)

You don’t need an invitation anymore to check out Google+, the search giant’s stab at social networking. Earlier this week, Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) opened it up to the public, although–as it does with almost all of its projects–the company said it would continue to evolve the platform, thus the Beta tag.  You also don’t need an invite to check out what I think is its best feature: Hangouts, the group video chat that lets you connect with up to 10 people at a time. (FierceEnterprise)

In the crowded and sometimes confusing market for smartphones based on Google’s Android operating system, Samsung’s Galaxy models have been among the best and most popular. Launched last year on multiple carriers, the Galaxy S models made the Korean electronics giant a serious rival to Apple’s iPhone as well as to Android competitors like Motorola and HTC. (AllThingsD)

That’s the day Apple is currently expected to hold its next big media event, according to sources close to the situation, where the tech giant will unveil the next iteration of its popular iPhone. (AllThingsD)

AT&T Inc. (T) is approaching smaller rivals including MetroPCS Communications Inc. (PCS) and Leap Wireless International Inc. (LEAP) to sell spectrum and subscribers as part of an attempt to save its $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile USA Inc., said two people with direct knowledge of the situation.
(Bloomberg)