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The AT&T store of the future in Huntington Beach, CA

I was invited down to the AT&T store in Huntington Beach to check out their new interactive store of the future. This is the second store of its kind in the Los Angeles market and it is the first store in LA that is a brand new store vs doing a remodel on an older store.

ATT Store of the Future

There was a team of people on hand and they took us around in groups of 12 or so to show us the different stations that they had setup in the store. There was beer, wine and snacks (which always works for me). Before we got started, people hopped up on the mic to talk about what was going to happen that including Ryan C from Yelp.

One thing that caught my ear was that they were going to be giving away a Braven BRV-X to the person that posts the best picture on social media using the hashtag #storeofthefuture. This thing is dubbed the World’s Best Outdoor Speaker and it is pretty high end so I went to work on taking pics and hashtagging.

I hooked up with some old friends and met some new ones. After learning a bunch of stuff about this new store it came time to announce the winners of the various contests that they had going on throughout the night.

First up was the announcement of the Braven BRV-X, which I won! In a different contest I also won an iFrogz GoLite 7800 phone charge/flashlight combo so I had my hands full with awesome swag from AT&T when I left.

Here are a few of the gadgets that I checked out and liked.

The store of the future is broken up into these 5 sections

  • Music Station
  • Automation Pavilion
  • Entertainment Pavilion
  • Explorer Wall
  • Community Tables

Here is the video:

Here are the images of the night:

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Are cell phones and social media killing drivers?

Texting while Driving

Picture it. You’re driving down the road singing along to Britney Spears and your phone blows up with notifications.  Your best friend Sally texted you, someone liked the selfie you posted to Facebook and all of a sudden your breaking heavily to stop at the red light in front of you…As you try to come to terms with what just happened, you soon realize that was a really close call. It seems as if drivers are becoming too easily distracted while driving with all the new technology that is introduced into the world each and every day.  Are cellphone companies and social media to blame?

Let’s face it—the statistics are all over the web. Over 77 percent of young adults seem to be overconfident and think they can safely use their phone and drive at the same time. Over 50 percent of them think it’s easy to text while they operate their vehicle, but do they know they are also putting other drivers in danger?

A quick glance at your phone could cost someone their life.  People who text and drive are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car crash.  That may not seem like such a big number, but why risk it?

Each day in the US, nine people are killed and over 1,000 are injured due to distracted driving.  That’s over 3,000 deaths and 365,000 injuries a year!

Back in the day, it was your parents and driver’s education instructor telling you to never lose your concentration while driving. Now, with tons of distractions like cell phones, states and various organizations all over the US are taking initiative to help protect their citizens. So far, 11 states have completely banned the use of a cellular device while driving, while the other 39 have created some type of law limiting what you can do with a cell phone. New Jersey, which has banned using a cell phone while operating a vehicle, is really trying to crackdown on this epidemic.  The state is looking to create a law giving police officers the ability to go through a person’s cell phone if they believe distracted driving was the cause of a crash.  They are fore-going personal privacy to stop drivers from harming each other on the road.

Even cell phone companies are teaming together to try and prevent this issue.  The Big 4 (AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile) have come together and created anti-texting ads to show their customers that they care.  By joining forces, they hope to send a bold message to their customers to stop using their cell phones while driving.  If that’s not enough for you, there are many links on social media sites where you can connect with groups, find driving statistics, and ways to prevent this dangerous act. There’s even apps you can download to disable your phone while driving. Some of them are:

With all that said, I go back to my original question.  Are cell phones companies and social media agencies to blame for drivers becoming too distracted?  Quite frankly, I believe the answer is no.  The person holding the phone in their hand is the one who should be held responsible. We have become too connected and too attached to put the phone away for a simple drive down the road.  It’s not like someone is twisting our arms to use the phone when we’re driving; we do have the ability to disconnect for our daily commute, we just need the willpower to do.

Samsung bares its teeth and takes a bite out of Apple

Samsung vs Apple

Round one of the epic battle between Apple and Samsung started last year. The patent war began when Apple accused Samsung of design and format function infringement. Apple claimed that Samsung infringed on patents for software features and as a result, the company was awarded over $1 billion in damages.

However, round two is just beginning. Samsung recently claimed that Apple infringed on its patent for encoding mobile communication in AT&T model phones. This claim resulted in an embargo that will be sure to rock the market in the near future.

The International Trade Commission (ITC) officially banned Apple from importing and selling the AT&T models that infringed on the Samsung patent.  The big news here is not only the embargo, rather the products that fall under it. The AT&T iPhone 4, 3GS, 3, and the 3G iPad/iPad 2 can no longer be sold due to the ITC ruling.

This is quite possibly the biggest blow a company like Apple could receive. Samsung could really take advantage of this and easily take a strong lead in the smartphone battle. Even before this ban, we have been seeing a strong growth in Samsung products.

Could it be that Apple’s window of success is nearing a close?

This is a tough question to answer due to the constant fluctuations in the tech market. These changes in the market come from powerful Internet marketing companies and ad campaigns that help to brand companies like Apple and Samsung. However, I strongly believe that Samsung is a major competitor for Apple that has done its homework and its ready to take first place.

But it is important to note that Apple is not totally in the dark and its executives totally understand how this “game” works. Apple plans to appeal the ruling despite the fact that the ruling is “final,” as stated by the ITC.

Apple realizes the finality of the ruling, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the right to appeal the ban. And by appealing the ban, Apple has bought more time. Time, not only to prepare new products and stay in the market battle, but time also to continue selling the banned products.

Yes, you read that right. If Apple appeals, which a spokesperson of theirs has already claimed they will, then the products are still alive because the appeal is keeping the ruling in session. Thus keeping the products breathing in the U.S. and ready for sale. When the appeal fails and the ruling stands as is, then the ban will take affect.

As Samsung’s window of opportunity begins to open, keep your eyes on what Samsung will do next. Expect big advancements that could knockout Apple and push smartphone technology to a new level. Samsung has a great opportunity that they must seize.

Lines at T-Mobile stores show Apple’s clout

T-Mobile Store

The iPhone 5 is six months old. That isn’t stopping happy T-Mobile subscribers from lining up to get it as part of the T-Mobile’s bold new pricing and marketing plans.

People were lining up outside of T-Mobile stores this morning across the country. The hype is what one would expect of the launch of a new device, not an aged device adding a new carrier. It demonstrates the popularity of Apple, but is this good news going to translate as well for T-Mobile?

Perhaps the real test will come when the carrier pushes forward head to head with the other carriers with the Samsung Galaxy S4, set to launch May 1. If their marketing techniques are aggressive pricing plans resonate, that will tell whether or not it can really move the needle for the fourth largest service provider. The appeal that they hope to resonate centers around no contracts and paid-out purchase plans. Rather than sell the iPhone 5 16gb for $579 like other carriers, they’re pricing it at $99 down and $20 a month. It’s the same overall cost but by allowing their customers to make payments without making them sign long-term service agreements, they hope to get people to switch.

It’s a risky move, but if the lines are any indication, their message is at least reaching the consumers. Early indications are that it’s working at least to some extent; last week they announced 579k new users in Q1.

Leap Wireless shows the iPhone still can’t be popular for low income consumers

Cheap iPhone

Hindsight is 20/20, or so they say. This is important for Leap Wireless as it seems on the surface that their failure to sell a no-contract iPhone was a doomed concept from the start.

Last year, the company became the first pay-as-you-go carrier to offer the Apple iPhone. Now, they’re on pace to sell half of the iPhones they committed to sell by June. This means they could get stuck with around $100 million in hardware with no way to get ride of them easily.

The obvious reason this didn’t work is the target. Pay-as-you-go carriers focus on lower income or poor credit consumers. These consumers are less likely to be interested in the mid- to high-level pricetags associated with leading smartphones like the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S III. The less obvious reason is the subsidy model. It works. People are willing to pay hundreds for iPhones knowing that much of the price is covered by the term of their contracts, normally two years. With Leap Wireless, consumers had to fork over $500 up front.

“We are not concerned about…meeting the Apple commitment,” Chief Operating Officer Jerry Elliott said in a conference call with analysts last week. “We think that’s going to be fine.”

Analysts are skeptical. The rest of us are, too.

 

Tips to avoid international mobile expenses

iPhone Roaming intro data roaming2 580 75

Knowing your data plan can mean the difference between a normal cell phone bill and a heart attack. 1 in 6 mobile phone customers have experienced some degree of bill shock. 50% of those were hit with charges of $50 or more. This infographic, provided by Xigo, explores the most insane cases of bill shock and how to avoid this happening to you.

What's Eating Up Your Data Plan? [Infographic]
© 2012 Xigo

Telecom companies spend billions on advertising

Verizon Ad

In the competitive world of telecommunications, it’s often a matter of name recognition and trust that help people determine which service to use and which product to buy. The mobile arena is particularly top-heavy with Verizon and AT&T ranking #2 and #3 amongst the top US ad spenders behind Proctor & Gamble Co. At nearly $6 billion in combined advertising spend between the two biggest US mobile service providers last year, the stakes are clearly high when it comes to buying exposure.

Here, we take a look at the top spenders in US advertising dollars. This infographic from Kissmetrics comes to use via Used Cars Statesville and explores “Top US Ad Spend”. Click to enlarge.

Top US Ad Spend
Hat Tips: Oklahoma City Dodge

Verizon’s “Share Everything” plans make everything unlimited for up to 10 devices

Verizon Share Everything

Verizon has had its share of foibles over the last few months over how their customers interact with their cellular plans. On June 28th, they debut their “Share Everything” plans which will allow up to 10 devices within a family to pull from a common pool of data coverage while enjoying unlimited minutes and messages.

“Customers asked, and today Verizon Wireless delivered an industry first,” said Tami Erwin, VP and CMO for Verizon Wireless. “Share Everything Plans are the new standard for wireless service. They are simple; customers no longer have to think about their voice and message plans, because both are unlimited.”

Verizon Unlimited

Adding additional devices is the costly component and arguably the hardest sell for the mobile company, but when people take separate bills and start adding it up, Verizon hopes that the numbers will make sense.

Who will buy T-Mobile now?

T-Mobile Choices

The unraveling of the AT&T merger with T-Mobile was not entirely bad for the fourth largest mobile carrier in the US. They get $3 billion. It isn’t enough to keep them afloat for more than a year or two, but it does buy them time to find someone else. It gives them time to formulate a plan-B.

Unfortunately, they don’t know what plan-B is for them. It was shortsighted of Deutsche Telekom to go into this without a plan-B. Putting all of one’s eggs in a single basket makes no sense when so much as at stake. The company has to regroup quickly.

First, they have to make themselves valid by improving the infrastructure. AT&T had it already so there was no need to focus on building up. That, of course, didn’t work out.

“In the long term, we need more spectrum and network capacity,” said Deutsche Telekom Chief Executive Rene Obermann. “We are working on that. But we will not speculate about any inorganic steps or deals.”

They might not be willing to speculate but the rest of us will. We have to. The company thinking “long term” by improving their own infrastructure is not really thinking at all. If anything, they are simply trying to increase their own value by such actions.

“Stabilization is the first step and then it’s about finding a new partner in the medium term,” said Wolfgang Specht, an analyst at WestLB AG in Dusseldorf. “In the long run a standalone strategy seems impossible. Everything from here on is only a second-best solution.”

Who can fly in and be the valid second-best solution? Here are some possibilities:

Sprint

It’s hard to imagine a situation in which the government would block one carrier from buying T-Mobile only to allow another later, but if they would be willing to do it, Sprint is the only option. It would be a last resort; the goal is to have 4 major carriers, not 3. Sprint, being a distant third behind AT&T and Verizon, would be an alternative better than losing the T-Mobile option altogether.

There have been technical incompatibilities that have prevented the two from working together in the past, but this has become less of a challenge with recent upgrades to the infrastructure and software.

Is this a likely scenario? No. Is it feasible? Yes. Is it desirable? To current Sprint customers, probably not as T-Mobile brings little in the way of value other than spectrum. It has a weak 4G network, and therein lies the more likely scenario: a partnership between the two companies that keeps them separate but that gives them strength against AT&T and Verizon. In this scenario, there would still need to be a buyer for T-Mobile, which could be…

Dish Network Corp

Dish is in an odd position. On one side, it’s being named as a possible acquisition target for AT&T. On the other end, they are a possible buyer or partner with T-Mobile. At the center of their situation is billions of dollars worth of wireless spectrum they acquired earlier this year as part of deals for bankrupt DBSD North America Inc.

For AT&T, they represent a consolation prize. Shares jumped 9.1% yesterday behind those rumors.

Buying or partnering with T-Mobile is an option for putting their spectrum assets to work because of the relative weakness the company has exposed. It would mean jumping into one of the most competitive industries out there and starting from way behind the leaders, but if the deal is good enough, why not?

Many look at their involvement as a waiting game. Their value in AT&T or Verizon’s eyes will only go up as time passes while T-Mobile’s goes down. If they wait too long or decide to get gobbled up rather than being the gobbler, the long-shot companies might step in grab T-Mobile for the sheer value. Those long-shot companies include…

Google, Amazon, and the other usual suspects

Google is already partially in the mobile game from every angle other than carrier. They bought Motorola Mobility. They have Android. Why not complete the set?

Amazon is a company that’s always looking for value and T-Mobile at a low-enough price might be enough to get them interested.

Facebook has cash and nowhere to spend it. They’ve expressed a desire to get into the mobile business and their relationship with Skype puts them in a position to put a T-Mobile to good use.

Apple, Sony, and  Microsoft have to be in the conversation because they always are despite the fact that it simply won’t happen.

Who will buy T-Mobile? Someone has to. The company is unable to stand alone. In the end, it will come down to value. AT&T was able to offer more than the company was worth for market-share needs, but nobody else other than Verizon (which would get blocked faster than AT&T was) would have an interest in a $39 billion T-Mobile.

The option that nobody is talking about is the government itself. An auto-industry-style bailout would be required before the company would be allowed to fail simply because the repercussions would rock the industry as a whole. Thousands of jobs, sold off infrastructure, a “meddling government” tag that Washington can’t afford; if nobody comes in and saves T-Mobile, we could conceivably see a government-owned entity.

If the government took control of a portion of mobile, the conspiracy theorists would go insane.

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