Continue reading Googlephone becomes official: The game changes yet again

Googlephone becomes official: The game changes yet again originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) bought GrandCentral, a small telecommunications company, a few years ago, few wondered why Google wanted to become a provider of telephone numbers.

Continue reading Google Voice goes mobile, continues making the telecoms irrelevant

Google Voice goes mobile, continues making the telecoms irrelevant originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• Last November, Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) and 30 partners were said be developing a new type of handset using Android that was expected to revolutionize the industry. The first new phones were expected to be available in this year's second half but are now slated for the fourth quarter the Wall Street Journal reported.
• According to people familiar with the situation, the Wall Street Journal reported that Citigroup Incorporated (NYSE: C) will make sharp cuts in its investment banking division this week.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that Live Nation Inc's (NYSE: LYV) Chairman, Michael Cohl, stepped down down as a director and executive to end the strategy feud with CEO Michael Rapino. over how to pursue the "360 deals" with music superstars.
• The Financial Times reported that there are worries that investment banks will accelerate the pace of their layoffs this summer, after it became known that The Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS) gave pink slips to workers in its investment banking division last week. Goldman is now expected to lay off up to 10% of the workers at the division.

• New Jersey put its $150M center for stem cell research on hold, the Star Ledger reported, eight months after ground was broken on the project.

Newspaper wrap-up: Google's plans for cellphone delayed originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Smart phone are on fire: "the percentage of smartphones sold during the third quarter increased from 4% of all phone sales in the third quarter of 2006 to 11% during the same timeframe in 2007 - an increase of 163% year over year."
• Convergence of musical devices with phones: "Fifty percent of new phones were able to play music in the third quarter of 2007 (double the prior year) and 11 percent were smartphones."

Smart phones getting smarter originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Google is obviously trying to get as many quality developers on the Android platform as possible right from the start so that it can compete better with established platforms like Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows Mobile operating system. Although Google says it's not competing with any established platform -- but merely offering an open-source alternative -- that's the company's strategic mantra. After all, the "non-competition" it always claims is a ruse. Google is one of the most competitive companies on the technology landscape today.

The developer rewards program -- dubbed Android Developer Challenge -- is not something out of a sci-fi novel and will feature cash prizes ranging from $25,000 to $275,000. That is enough to encourage any developer to get on board. With Google having set aside $10 million just for the prize pot, and with many software developers preferring the open-source idea in the first place, Google may score another hit on the way to recruiting some fantastic programs to launch Android with next year.

Google to goose Android developers with cash awards originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Nov 2007 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Twice a year, Barron's does its "Smart Money" poll of institutional investors. This fall's edition includes opinions from 112 money managers. The poll was e-mailed to these participants in late September.

These investors believe that the market is still headed higher. Forty-two percent were bullish compared to 18% who called themselves bearish.

But the strange thing about the poll is that some of the most mentioned "buys" were also among the most mentioned "sells," which shows how deep the spread of opinion is on these companies.

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) made both lists. The first list was called "Two Favorite Stocks," and the other was called "Most Overvalued."

Continue reading Barron's poll has Apple and Google as 'buys' and 'sells'

Barron's poll has Apple and Google as 'buys' and 'sells' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 04 Nov 2007 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Two recent news reports suggest Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) continues laying the foundation for world domination.

The first, from Commsday.com, claims that Google is partnering with other carriers to lay a new multi-terabit communications cable on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, connecting the Americas with the Far East. The "Unity Cable" would compete with another new cable in development by Telekom Maylasia, the Asia America Gateway cable. According to the article, a proprietary cable could provide Google a large cost advantage over competitors such as Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO), although a Level 3 executive recently expressed a concern that the rapid growth in cable networks might result in a "capacity bubble."

The second report, from The Guardian, suggests that Google is prepared to bid for a portion of the U.K.'s mobile phone radio spectrum if the government follows through on plans to reclaim these frequencies from Vodafone Group PLC (NYSE: VOD) and Telefonica SA's (NYSE: TEF) O2 network. Those who are convinced that Google is planning its own Googaphone will see this, as well as the company's interest in a similar upcoming U.S. frequency auction, as evidence that the phone is part of an overall strategy to dominate the coming ubiquitous wireless internet world.

Google (GOOG) laying new Pacific cable, bidding on UK frequencies originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Google (GOOG) gPhone: we're all waiting originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

1. Phone to phone
2. Receive and send e-mail
3. Receive and send instant messages
4. Receive and send text messages
5. Internet access with seamless, intuitive browser
6. MP4 audio/video player
7. Games
8. Address book
9. Calendar
10. PC/laptop backup storage
11. Camera
12. Audio recorder
13. GPS unit
14. Calculator
15. Notepad
16. e-book reader
17. Fax send and receive
18. Thermometer
19. Garage door opener
20. Television & other home electronics remote control
21. Car lock & starter remote
22. UPC scanner
23. Bottle opener/corkscrew
24. Toothpick
25. Pill carrier
26. Flashlight

Nuts to the iPhone, Google phone -- I want my everything device originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Boston Globe reports that Google Inc.'s (NASDAQ: GOOG) Google Phone pursues a radically different business strategy than Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone. But the tiny glimpses of the Google Phone revealed in this article suggest that the Google Phone will not pose a significant threat to the iPhone.

How does the Google Phone compare to the iPhone? Here are three points of comparison:

• Simpler. The Google Phone is simpler and less flashy than the iPhone according to one person who saw a prototype. He praised Google Phone's ability to scroll through icons horizontally, making different features easily accessible despite the limited screen space.
• 3D interface. Another person who saw the Google Phone was struck by its three-dimensional, animated buttons on the screen. That prototype had a small QWERTY keyboard, like a Treo or a BlackBerry, rather than relying on a touch-screen, as the iPhone does.

Continue reading Is the Google (GOOG) Phone an Apple (AAPL) iPhone killer?

Is the Google (GOOG) Phone an Apple (AAPL) iPhone killer? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 02 Sep 2007 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Google (GOOG) phone - another shot across Microsoft's (MSFT) bow? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For some time, Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) has been piecing together a mobile strategy. It's absolutely essential and will mean a brutal war with Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO), Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) and other biggies.

In fact, there is a major piece in today's Wall Street Journal (subscription required) on the matter. For example, it looks like Google has been developing prototype handsets and talking with players like Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and AT&T (NYSE: T). Google's popular YouTube is already a prominent feature on Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone.

To get some perspective on things, I had a chance to interview Omar Tawakol, who is a wireless expert and Chief Advertising Officer Medio Systems (which develops search and advertising services for mobile devices):

"Mobile Search is becoming an industry of its own. Naturally existing players from adjacent spaces want a piece of the growing pie. History has shown that new mediums usually have new winners. How many of the top 10 websites were media winners of the TV age?

"Google understands that ad monetization means that other services can be made cheaper. Carriers spend billions of dollars a year on building and maintaining infrastructure. Obviously carriers don't want to pay for infrastructure that someone else gives away for free. The white label solution is to work with the carriers and not compete with them.

"Much of mobile search still happens on-deck controlled by carrier relationships. That is a large portion of the searching population that Google still needs access to."

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and the EDGAR-Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements.

Can you hear Google now? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As Doug McIntyre posted this morning, The Wall Street Journal reports that Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) is pushing a special cell phone [subscription required] that will help it grab a share of the small, but rapidly growing wireless advertising market. Specifically, Google may not only be pushing handsets customized to Google products, but eventually also developing its own handsets (it has developed a few prototypes already), thus facing conflicts with Apple Inc. 's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone.

The wireless ad market is relatively small now but forecast to grow fast. In 2006, global spending on mobile-phone advertising, including placement of ads in text messages, Web pages, video and all other content, was only $1.5 billion -- growing at a 56% compound annual growth rate to $14 billion by 2011, according to eMarketer.

Not only that, but those revenues are likely to be more profitable than the typical online ad. Google CEO Eric Schmidt noted, "What's interesting about the ads in the mobile phone is that they are twice as profitable or more than the nonmobile phone ads because they're more personal."

How will Google grab its share of this lucrative and growing market?

Continue reading Google's wireless ad grab may challenge iPhone

Google's wireless ad grab may challenge iPhone originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Working to open up the broadband spectrum in the US is not enough. Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) wants consumers to connect their devices to the internet without having to pay charges to carriers, but its grand plan goes beyond that.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Google is pushing both handset companies and cell carriers to use devices loaded with the search company's software. The company hopes that this foot-hold will allow it to become a leader in wireless advertising.

Several companies are recoiling from Google's advances. Verizon Wireless says Google wants too large a piece of the advertising carried on phones.

Google's plans may not work out. Handset companies and cell operators like T-Mobile have probably already convinced themselves that allowing consumers to download their own preferred search and GPS functions or to offer a broad spectrum of these services pre-loaded onto phones is the way to keep people happy. Not everyone want to use GMail or Google Maps.

Google wants to drive a wireless market where the hallmark is choice for the consumer. Open spectrum that allows devices to connect to broadband over the air would permit handset owners to use their phones to download a huge number of software applications without paying a toll.

But, Google's actions say that those applications should be the ones that it builds and not those from its competition.

Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.

Google's grand handset plans originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Aug 2007 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rumored Google Phone could impact entire market originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As Brian White wrote earlier, Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) officially claimed it is not entering the direct cell phone business. It's a smart decision for Google. It is not used to being the secondary player in any business it engages in. Possible partnerships with carriers is a more sensible route if Google does enter the phone business. Google is an online company, providing online service, and not a physical company with hard, touch and feel products.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), on the other hand, is a touch and feel company and would be an extremely formidable foe if Google decided to go "hard-line." Apple has two major advantages and will exploit them to the max: the iPod and the Mac as well as the retail store outlets.

The cell phone business is a retail, physical, touch and feel business. Consumers want to hold that phone and play with a phone's features before buying a certain model. The iPhone will be a mega success due to the retail store system that Apple has brilliantly developed. With 173 stores in strategic locations around the world, Apple will pick all the low-hanging fruit with the iPhone in the first quarter it is available. Google's business model has not encountered any physical products and this could prove to be uncharted waters for it.

Setting up carrier relationships using Google technology may be a wise business decision, but at the end of the day, the customer still wants to test that phone before buying.

It's Apple's game to control and win...

Georges Yared is the author of "Stop Losing Money Today" and "Baby Boomer Investing". Please visit www.georgesyared.com

Google smart not to challenge Apple for iPhone originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 Mar 2007 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Google shoots down mobile phone rumors originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Enough about the iPhone, let's talk Google Phone originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 15:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.