Another Telecom To Offer Netbooks (US Need To Follow)

GigaOM, via Engadget, reports another telecom offering netbooks in exchange for muli-year subscriptions.

This time, it's an India company who has teamed up with multiple companies to made this deal work.  This is a concept that isn't new but we at Onxo believes strongly in.  Unfortunately, we've yet to see anything like this in the United States.

Why?  Your guess is as good as any financial analysts as mine.  But this is a growing trend among wireless providers who are seeking to expand beyond traditional voice revenue streams.  It is inevitable that American telecoms have to deal with increase number of subscribers.

Sprint will soon unlease additional WiMax-ready mobile devices.  Though we have no idea of subsidies will be involved, it's a no brainer that it will help them attract a customer base.

It's only a matter of time, my friends.  Vodafone is already offering Dell laptops

Via Engadget , GigaOM

Onxo Posts and Others on this matter:

• Should Apple offer subsidized Macbooks with wireless services?
• EEE PC with 3G connectivity.
• 3G modem sales rises.
• Vodafone and Dell offer netbooks with wireless plans.
• Engadget on Wind U120 with 3G connectivity.
• Engadget on T-Mobile's EEE PC offer in UK.
• Wired reports Asus adding 3G to EEE PC.  Coming soon.

My G1 - New Observations

I've posted at On Android some pics comparing it to the Trace, Zire 72, and a Dell PDA.

I've noted some ergonomic issues as well.  I'll be providing daily updates and reviews.

So far, I'm happy with Android.  Not so happy with the design.

Sprint Needs Android

More specifically, WiMax needs Android.  Not just Android handsets but also Android netbooks.  Any device Sprint can get Android into with WiMax, they have to do it.

Intel, a backer of WiMax, now says they'll support any mobile broadband connectivity.  And it makes a lot of sense.  Users don't care if they're on LTE or WiMax.  Thus, Intel will integrate HSPA chips along with their mobile chips.  This is a great victory for Dave the Mobile Warrior and all who want choices.

Well, Sprint and Clearwire, despite the economic woes we're going through, need to take advantage of a time when companies typically scuttle or curtail their plans and get as much of the country blanketed with WiMax coverage.  Their two biggest competitors going with a shared LTE network, the WiMax backers cannot afford missteps.

One of the thing they can get going for them is Android.  Google is a friend of WiMax as far as wireless access is concerned and Sprint can really use Google's name, innovation, and muscles.  Earlier, we learned Google is courting Asus into the Android camp.

If Google can come out with Android netbooks and handsets linked to the WiMax network (hopefully, on their terms), it may go a long way in change the landscape of the mobile market and bring about controls to users.  It's may have even greater ramification than Apple's entry into the mobile device market.

Sprint does not have long to get WiMax up and running.  And it needs all the time and help it can get.  Once WiMax gets out of Baltimore and into more cities, I'm predicting we'll see news about WiMax and Android.

Tough Times May Lead To Great Deals

CNBC posed the question whether a souring economy will head to even better deals than what we've got in the last Holiday rush.  To keep factories and stores running, businesses have to keep consumer coming back for more.  Better gears.  Lower prices.  New jingles may help.

The problem is American consumers are scared and uncertain about their financial future or the direction this nation is headed.  Let's face the facts.  Here are some numbers from Gallup:

• 59% are worried about their financial future
• 78% consumer confidence
• 84% believes the economy will get worse
• 47% believes standard of living wil get worse, 34% believes things will improve

These are not good numbers if you're a business owner. But if you're out looking for stuff this Black Friday, you're in luck.  Let's look at each mobile category.

• Laptops - necessity but they'll be competing with Wind, EEE PC, and Mini Notes.  I've noticed a drop about 11% since the high of back-to-school with the values added (memory, HD space).  One of the thing I'm beginning to see a lot of pushing bigger screens for movies.  I have to say though the screens are bright and crisp.  But on the low-end, we'll see a lot of $400 laptops to compete with the netbooks.  Below $400?  It can happen with generic brands you find at Fry's.
• Netbooks - they're stuck at $400 for a while but some have already begun to crack it.  I've seen deals for as low oas $300 (retail around $450).  33% off.  No wonder Apple doesn't want to compete there yet.   Great deal if you're in the market for a simple easy to use machine.  Keep in mind, it's no laptop.  And if you do decide to pick one up, get one with a LED screen.
• Digital Cameras and Camcorders.  I  haven't taken a look at these lately.  Largely, because I have yet to find a reason to upgrade.  And this is an area where we might see a lot of great deals.  We're talking about consumers here.  Dave the Mobile Warrior.  Not a prosumer.  It's gotten complicated and the sector needs an iPhone-like shake-up.  Because of all the confusion, we may see a price drop.  And those 5MP cameras people picked up three years ago still work fine.  My Canon hi-def camcorder still works great from about two years ago.  
• MP3 players.  If you're not looking an iPod or Zune, there are deals now.  Once, MP3 players were locked behind glass cabinets are now just sitting in bins for the picking.  Style aside, these are great music players, san the multi-touching, social functions, or gaming.
• Mobile Devices.  There is definitely a possibility here.  Last year, we saw some wireless providers come out with some pretty good deals and I'm thinking, given the competition in the smartphone arena, we'll see some pretty good deals with Blackberries like the Curve.  Earlier, Sprint did well with promotion.  I'm guess others will follow.  Competition is fierce but for the top line devices, they'll be standing on their own merits.  I don't think we'll see price cuts coming to Storm, iPhone, Bold, or G1.  But then again with Sprint, I'm looking for them to pull something crazy with the data plan.
• Mobile Gaming.  DS and PSP.  It's going to be about bundles.  Typically, we won't see a lot of changes here.  With bundles, we'll see maybe a 5-10% saving.  Not a whole lot.  But that's taxes right there.  And while PSP is of the latest edition, DSi won't be available outside of Japan.  The iPod Touch will be mainly a media player, video and music.  It won't influence gaming or prices, if ever.

Already, you can get a jump on the rest of the herd by using live.com to save.  We've talked about it last week and we're very happy with our purchases.  Saving up to 30% on eBay is incredible.  Best of all, you don't even have to abandon your favorite search engines.  

Deals will start early to get the people excited.  We'll see things trickle out here and there from retailers.  Sort of like a taste of things to come.  Walmart will always bring its A-game.  Best Buy will try to knock out Circuit City one and for all.  

Amazon will do it's deal a day thing it always does.  eBay is hurting a bit so we'll see agressive promotions.  

Here's a tip:  sign up for newsletters from the etailers so you can get an early jump pricing and what's heavily promoted.

Link of Interest:  CNBC 

Wireless Providers Needs a Scrooge Moment

In the past, I've said that Android isn't an open system because of the constraints that wireless providers put on handsets.  Of course, that goes for everyone (maybe except Apple.  I'm sure there'll be some form of restrict at play).  Symbian, Linux, Palm, and WM.

I was playing with Android and looking for apps that are  no longer on the Android Marketplace to install and I realized there are a lot of things these little computers can do if we are only allowed to do them.

So with the Holidays already here (I've seen the Christmas decorations at Osh), let's pick up on Christmas Carol.  Let's assuming the Scrooge-like wireless providers had an encounter with ghosts of wireless past, present, and future.

And they see a future in which all networks are open and competition if fostered by variety, great services, and fast wireless broadband.  Wireless providers are not dumb pipes but equal partners in commerce, entertainment, and enterprise.

That is the time to get Android.  That's is the time where Symbian and Windows Mobile shine.  See, right now, we're locked into what we can't do on the networks.  We'd have to scurry around and look for  Wi-Fi networks to do any of that.

I created "Dave the Mobile Warrior" yesterday.  Dave is going to have to limit what he can do for his work because wireless providers won't allow him to show his client a video presentation on the spot.  That's not right.

Anyway, where may be help on the way.  We have white spaces (FCC may delay vote on it) and AWS-3 that can be made into a national wireless broadband network that will allow Daves across the country do truly innovate, compete, and play.

The G1 Has Landed

I got some play time with my G1, got it two days ahead of everybody else. Then again, there are tons of folks with their G1 last week too. Anyway, I've posted at On Android where I've offered some of my own first impressions on G1.  


The forthcoming review will be a through review from a G1 owner, me. I'm also currently uploading some pictures that I've taken. They're comparisons with some PDAs and my iPhone to start.  


What do I think so far? Android is promising. I can say the same about the G1 design though.


More at On Android.

Mobile Update for October 20, 2008

I got my G1.  Look for my initial reactions tonight (tomorrow morning at On Android) and thorough review as I spend more time with it.  I can say this so far:  I'm excited, setup was easy, the location doesn't work well (I'll change locations and see if it gets any better), typing is difficult with the protrusion on the right hand-side.  Love the battery.  As in it's user-replaceable.   Apple, get with it!

But here's the biggest news of all today:  Apple and the Beattles have come together to create a limited edition iPod for $795.  Wow!

• Black iPod Classic
• 120GB
• Collector's Box
• 13 Original Beattles CDs, two Masters, Love CD
• Engraved guitar
• 2,500 units made
• $795
• Info:  Wired , Sold only at Bloomingdale's 

Mobile Device Update:

• Liliputing lists 31 netbooks for $399 or less.  If you use live.com search, you can get a lot them for less via 30% off on eBay.  Just thought you might want to know.
  
• Onxo looks into October mobile surprises.
• RCR Wireless reports Firefox Mobile released.  Mobility Today reports new Opera Mobile beta released.
• Blackberry Cool hands on with Storm.  Must read.
• Electronista on Moto's Android phone.  But I only got my G1 today...
• Business Week has a report on Moto's Android plan.  See below on Mobility Today's post on MW woes.
• Engadget on MSI Wind - to get 3.5G integration in November.
• Crunchgear on book industry's careful optimism regarding Kindle.
• Engadget on PSP 3000 hands-on.
• Of all the days to take down apps on Android Marketplace, Google does it the day I get my G1.  Engadet reports.
• Another Macbook (aluminum) review.

Mobile Issues:

• The Apple Blog thinks Apple is about the provide subsidized Macbooks.
  
• Onxo on AWS-3 saga continues.
• Yahoo News on Symbian's open source future and hope.
• RCR Wireless reports teen market growth slows.  Either allowances are being with held or folks aren't having as many kids.
• Mobility Today thinks Windows Mobile is in trouble.