Archive for the ‘Business’ Category
Times are a changin. Yes. Yes they are Mr. Dyaln. Last night over 111 million people tuned in to watch the Superbowl. But I would say only half of them tuned in for the game. The ones not watching Rodgers firing on all cylinders, were tuning in for the commercials.
Gone are big budgets, yet we tune in. Gone are the overboard productions, yet we tune in.
Gone are the talented writers, yet we tune in.
Yes. We met while back actually. First off, I want to say that I love your sexy new look. Look at you using the latest and great web tech, and blazing a path of your own. Mmmmm Mmm! Hot Damn! Okay, but that’s as far as the sexiness goes.
I miss the version that would clean & cook for me. You know the one. Wasn’t as flashy as you, but took care of my needs and knew how to get into my heart. Yup, you know that old adage—”only way to get into a man’s heart is through is stomach.”
I miss the way you served up heaping helpings of that good stuff. Now all you want to is be secretive and not share any of the tasty tidbits. What happened? I thought we a good thing going. C’mon gimmie that good stuff one more time.
Please baby, please baby, please baby, baby baby please!
What’s got me quoting old Spike Lee movies? DATA.
The NEW Twitter is great for people wanting to consume info & tweets that others post; displaying images and videos without having click a link at all. But if your business relies on knowing who’s watching your videos, you are SOL right now.
When someone views an image or video from a service supported by twitter, those stats are not logged in most of the services they are coming from. I’m not sure that this was a calculated move by the talented folks at Twitter to shift towards monetization, but it sure looks like it. I’m surprised that a lot more people are not up in arms about this. Where are the social media experts?! I need your help! As Twitter Analytics rolls out I’m sure that they will address this issue. Why? Because Twitter Analytics is only for advertisers.
I am sick of everyone complaining about the iPad. For one, only a hand full of us have even seen the device in person. I know… the name should have been vetted. But, I am tired of all the articles still speculating on what the iPad can and can’t do. Especially those pointing out the lack of Flash.
If it is allowed on the platform, flash will take away many developers from the App Store. Flash allows developers to make their applications for multiple devices in one environment; why wouldn’t they? Not only would Apple lose money from the App Store, but Apple would also loose market share to other devices. Apple could no longer position themselves as the only company with a gazillion apps in it’s store. Apple is not going allow that to happen, it does not make any business sense.
Also, I am tired of hearing that device will fail. There is HUGE untapped market for this device. Apple is taking the right steps to lock it down. Software cannot keep pace with the rapid changes engineering any longer. Apple recognizes this and address the issue with the iPad. It is not a device for all those that were live streaming the announcement on the 27th. In fact, it is a device for those who were not even aware of the impending launch. The game has changed. Apple has recognized the shift & adjusted its strategies to take advantage.
I am not writing this because I am the biggest fanboy you know, rather I saw this change coming a couple of years ago & I was too slow to act on it. I write this as a reminder to myself of what could have been and what needs to be.
Be careful who you partner your business with. Make sure that the partner has a clear picture of your core customer. Without that, you could do more harm than good with your new partnership. Case and point: Nexus One launch.
It’s no secret that T-Mobile has been struggling here in the States. Outages, lack of coverage, unappealing devices, the list goes on. How do they remain in business? Ask any T-Mobile subscriber—if you can find one—why they are still with them, certainly they didn’t get a visit from Catherine Zeta-Jones. They will let you that T-Mobile has the best customer service of any wireless company hands down. Full disclosure: I am with T-Mobile & that is the ONLY reason why I’m still with them.
I digress, to get back on point, partnering with Google has angered their core loyal customer base. Many folks, not just me, have been waiting for a top of the line device on T-Mobile. We hoped that the Nexus One would be our savior. As soon as it went on sale, I went and tried to buy one from Google’s site. I found out that I had to pay $100 extra for the phone cause I was an existing T-Mobile customer even though I’m not under contract. Other existing customers with data plans had to pay an extra $200. I am not alone when I say:
You will allow me to get a new number with T-Mobile and cancel my current plan for $179. But for some reason you want to tack on an extra $100 if I want to keep my existing phone number. Again:
Not only are you screwing loyal T-Mobile customers: the ones who have stayed with the pink provider past their contracts, but you are screwing T-Mobile. You point out that a version will be available on Verizon in a few months for the price of $179. Causing the remaining customers who haven’t switched to Ma Bell, to jump ship in the spring.
I’m sure that T-Mobile is helping to subsidize the cost of the phone somehow, but what are they gaining from being the first one to carry the phone? They are incurring wrath from existing customers. Google is doing nothing to help promote T-Mobile. Google could have at least mentioned that T-Mobile upgraded their 3G to become fastest 3G network—7.2 mbit/s HSPA—in the States as of today (01/05/10) to help push sales up. I don’t understand why they didn’t given T-Mobile’s public perception as of late. This version of the Nexus One can only take advantage of the T-Mobile network in the States. Thus, making you a FOOL if you pay the $529 to have the freedom to choose your provider. Even better how many of you knew that the Nexus One was available for sale at the launch?
Need more proof?
Sorry to use Google again, but Google has a track record of late of screwing over it’s partners. Motorola pushed DROID with an all out media blitz past few months, only to be blindsided by the Nexus One. Killing numerous DROID sales for sure.
So what can we takeaway other than Google doesn’t care about it’s partners? Be sure to define the goals of your partnership before you engage in the project. Analyze the effects that your new partnership might have on both your existing customers & new customers. Make sure that you and your partner have the same business philosophy. This will help ensure that things are resolved quickly if you run into a bump on the road such as the checkout process on Google’s site. 😉
Rants about design, food, and other randomness.
