WOW: Greek spying case uncovers first phone switch rootkit
Just read this article on infoworld. The overall exposure from the new communication technologies is huge!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Obopay - Wireless Payment System
In January at CES, I saw how (and wrote about) Visa intends to convert your phone system into a visa card. Today, I came across another cell-phone based payment system: Obopay. The service lets you instantly send or receive money via cell phones, internet or even AIM. You can withdraw the cash at a bank or it can be charged to a pre-paid MasterCard. Check out a slightly longer overview on fiercewireless.
They claim to have signed deals with carriers (Verizon, Amp'd and Helio) to pre-load the software on the phones. The service does sound very simple and I am tempted to try.
I am still waiting to see someone pay using a phone ...
In January at CES, I saw how (and wrote about) Visa intends to convert your phone system into a visa card. Today, I came across another cell-phone based payment system: Obopay. The service lets you instantly send or receive money via cell phones, internet or even AIM. You can withdraw the cash at a bank or it can be charged to a pre-paid MasterCard. Check out a slightly longer overview on fiercewireless.
They claim to have signed deals with carriers (Verizon, Amp'd and Helio) to pre-load the software on the phones. The service does sound very simple and I am tempted to try.
I am still waiting to see someone pay using a phone ...
Monday, July 09, 2007
Threadless.com: Engage customers to design products
Read about this in the NY Times magazine over the weekend. Consumers submit T-shirt designs. Everybody votes. The company selects most of the designs that get a high customer approval for conversion to a product. They produce and sell about 1500 units of each selected design. Designer gets $2,000. Everybody wins.
Read about this in the NY Times magazine over the weekend. Consumers submit T-shirt designs. Everybody votes. The company selects most of the designs that get a high customer approval for conversion to a product. They produce and sell about 1500 units of each selected design. Designer gets $2,000. Everybody wins.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
FemtocellI just discovered these devices. From what I can make out from the various articles I read, these devices will allow cellular phones to make calls over the Internet. Put one of these devices in your house, connect it to your broadband connection and make cellular calls using your handset over your broadband connection. It seems that cell companies love this as it reduces their infrastructure costs and eliminates the need for cellular / wifi dual-mode handsets.
Here are a few links to articles I found on the topic:
- fierce wireless
- wikipedia
- VOIP Monitor
- Om Malik
Interesting technology that I intend to follow and evaluate over the next several months!
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
iPhone - Very Cool
I finally relented and purchased the cell service. As expected, the device is very cool. The user interface is one of the best I have ever experienced. The apple team has once again proven that they are a class apart. Nokia had a chance with N770 ... but they blew it with a very poor UI. The design proves that a good UI is also about what you leave out.
The device seemed to get many more oohs and aahs from women than men!
I finally relented and purchased the cell service. As expected, the device is very cool. The user interface is one of the best I have ever experienced. The apple team has once again proven that they are a class apart. Nokia had a chance with N770 ... but they blew it with a very poor UI. The design proves that a good UI is also about what you leave out.
The device seemed to get many more oohs and aahs from women than men!
iPhone - the first day was very frustrating
I bought an iPhone on Friday (6/29). Over the weekend, I tried to activate it with an exiting SIM from my employer. I was stuck on the first screen as it demanded the last 4 digits of the SSN of the owner of the existing number. I tried hard to get the device to work without AT&T service. I could not pull it off. I have since found some other frustrated customers (Om Malik). He does refer to some potential workarounds in his post.
Right now, I feel worse about AT&T / Apple gang than I ever felt about the Wintel crowd. I cannot understand why WiFi, Camera, iPod had to be disabled if I did not have cellular service.
I bought an iPhone on Friday (6/29). Over the weekend, I tried to activate it with an exiting SIM from my employer. I was stuck on the first screen as it demanded the last 4 digits of the SSN of the owner of the existing number. I tried hard to get the device to work without AT&T service. I could not pull it off. I have since found some other frustrated customers (Om Malik). He does refer to some potential workarounds in his post.
Right now, I feel worse about AT&T / Apple gang than I ever felt about the Wintel crowd. I cannot understand why WiFi, Camera, iPod had to be disabled if I did not have cellular service.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Notes on Recruitment
Have not posted an item for about a month now. Usual excuse - 2 busy 2 post!
Attended the Digital Media Conference in Silver Spring. Interesting agenda ... enjoyed networking with other attendees the most.
Met a recruiter from a local start-up (his blog), who pointed me to Doostang, a social networking driven recruitment site. Over two years ago, when I first used LinkedIn, I was convinced that social networking, an essential element of recruiting, needs to be a core functionality of all recruitment sites and services. Doostang is making it the center-piece of its solution. I feel that existing social network platforms (facebook, myspace, LinkedIn, etc.) is where this feature belongs.
Check out this post on video resumes!
Have not posted an item for about a month now. Usual excuse - 2 busy 2 post!
Attended the Digital Media Conference in Silver Spring. Interesting agenda ... enjoyed networking with other attendees the most.
Met a recruiter from a local start-up (his blog), who pointed me to Doostang, a social networking driven recruitment site. Over two years ago, when I first used LinkedIn, I was convinced that social networking, an essential element of recruiting, needs to be a core functionality of all recruitment sites and services. Doostang is making it the center-piece of its solution. I feel that existing social network platforms (facebook, myspace, LinkedIn, etc.) is where this feature belongs.
Check out this post on video resumes!
Monday, May 28, 2007
3D World Wide Web
I expect the virtual worlds to evolve in the same way as the World Wide Web:
- Businesses and consumers will be able design, build, host and control their own presence in the 3D Web. Service providers will provide options to outsource any of these aspects.
- Consumers will be able to design and control their avatars. Everyone will belong to and participate in several communities: family, friends, work, associations, etc. with complete control on what overlaps and what does not.
- An HTTP like protocol will allow us to interlink and traverse the worlds and spaces in a seamless way.
We will also see several of these features get built right into the browsers for the 3D Web.
I expect the virtual worlds to evolve in the same way as the World Wide Web:
- Businesses and consumers will be able design, build, host and control their own presence in the 3D Web. Service providers will provide options to outsource any of these aspects.
- Consumers will be able to design and control their avatars. Everyone will belong to and participate in several communities: family, friends, work, associations, etc. with complete control on what overlaps and what does not.
- An HTTP like protocol will allow us to interlink and traverse the worlds and spaces in a seamless way.
We will also see several of these features get built right into the browsers for the 3D Web.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Google Trends
Came across this really cool product from Google. It is very interesting to see what people are searching for. Read here how it works. I especially like the feature to compare multiple search terms. Fascinating!
Came across this really cool product from Google. It is very interesting to see what people are searching for. Read here how it works. I especially like the feature to compare multiple search terms. Fascinating!
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