Imagine watching a Ravens game in 3D… pretty cool, huh?  How much fun would it be to see Tom Brady get sacked and feel like you are right there…well, 3D TV is right around the corner.

In case you missed it, last week was the CES or Consumer Electronics Show…this is the show where really cool stuff usually shows up before hitting the mass markets.

3D Television was one of the hot technologies on display this year.  While 3D television has been discussed by many folks over the years, the big news is that manufacturers are signing up to start delivering 3D sets this year for about the price of an HD set.   Manufacturers like Sony, Samsung, LG and Panasonic have either rolled out 3-D products or are expected to in the near future.

To make the picture complete (sorry for the pun, but couldn’t resist), several studios are also on board to provide content…which is nice, because we will actually have something to watch if we were to buy a 3D set.  Content providers like ESPN, DreamWorks, Direct TV and Discovery have said they are planning to produce 3D shows in 2010.  ESPN is clearly out in front, because…well, who buys a lot of TVs…um, men.  And who watches a lot of sports…um, that would be men too!

My research shows that some TVs currently available are 3D ready and/or can be upgraded when the 3D content is broadcast.  So, if you are in the market for a TV, be sure to check on whether or not your TV is 3D ready.   Also be sure to check on how 3D will be provided as some TVs will require glasses and some will not.

I checked with some folks in the “biz” and they tell me that this technology is likely to go through a number of early stage changes and enhancements, so if you buy early, you may be left with some obsolete technology pretty quickly.  They recommend waiting for the first few generations to come out before jumping in and slapping down your $8,000 to $10,000.

Personally, I can’t wait.  Anybody seen Avatar in 3D or Up?  3D technology has come a long way in the last couple of years and I believe will become the standard for viewing pretty quickly.

“More than 100,000 apps — downloaded more than a million times a day — are now available through Apple’s iTunes store for the iPhone and iPod touch,” according to Ryan Sharrow of the Baltimore Business Journal in his recent article, “Going App”.

I have to wonder what I’m missing out on…my cell phone consists of a purple Motorola MOTO W755, a standard flip phone from Verizon. I can text, send pictures, and take basic video — up until recently, that was enough for me.

Now with the craze of mobile technology, it seems as though cell phones are expected to double as a mini laptop in your pocket!! Sigh…like grade school recess all over again, I am the outcast.

So what does this mean for business marketers? — They to are now craving creative convenience, entertainment, and information at their consumers’ fingertips.

In his article, Sharrow discussed the explosion of mobile apps and how companies are using them to offer convenience and immediacy to consumers. First Mariner Bank, UMBC, and UMMS are just a few of the examples Sharrow touched on. From locating a nearest branch location, guiding a student around campus, or simply driving traffic to websites – you name it, there’s an app for it.

I found UMBC’s future expectations of apps to be the most intriguing. The campus portal architect, B. Collier Jones, visualizes future UMBC apps to go as far as helping a student find a parking spot on campus!! — Any Towson University student would probably cry tears of joy if this were to come to our campus. It’s truly amazing the direction that mobile technology is taking!

As a G.1440 intern, I am learning from the steps the company is taking to stay above the curve on this trend. With our mobile site recently launched, Marketing Manager, Tim Kassouf, is constantly stressing that strategy is key.

G.1440 is capable of mobile site & app development, as well as text sms marketing – aside from technical expertise, the most important aspect to keep in mind is strategy. Companies need to start by figuring out why & how going mobile would benefit their consumers. The key is using the technology to appeal and suit your customer base, and don’t limit yourself to iPhone apps!

Tim has also pointed out that he believes the trend of software downloads like mobile apps may steer more towards immediate web log-ins as faster connections become available and technology develops — the need for actual downloads may dwindle…

I guess I oughta’ start keeping up with technology — as a loyal Verizon patron…perhaps I’ll go try out Tim’s new Droid while he’s in a meeting ;-]

If you’re a Verizon customer and have been dying for an iPhone…or maybe you’re just tired of hearing how “everything Apple” is the most amazing technology ever created, then you are in luck! Motorola and Verizon are teaming up to release the Droid. The Droid is aimed squarely at the iPhone and is going to be released this Friday, November 6th for around $200.

Credit where credit is due…the iPhone did raise the bar for phone design and there is no doubt about it.  The Droid follows in this design and is a very sleek touch screen phone that has a slide out keyboard and can pick up and use a Wifi signal…very cool.  So far, they are tied. 

So, what is so special about the Droid?  The Droid is focused on providing features that the iPhone does not. An open platform that will encourage app development is a nice start….with a reported 10,000 apps already built for the Droid. The Droid also brings a little more to the party. Multi-tasking up to 6 apps at once, so you can do more than one thing at a time such as placing a call and receiving a text or email all while on the call. I don’t know about you, but I have been frustrated with being cut off from doing anything else, while on a long conference call. The Droid boasts a 5 megapixel camera with dual LED flash for night pictures as well as auto focus and image stabilization, and even provides DVD quality video recording.

My initial impression is that the Droid is a solid contender for the iPhone. The styling is nice and the Droid is a little heftier than its competition. The best part of the Droid may not actually be the phone, but instead, what it represents…a little competition. 

I believe that competition is a good thing and the Droid is going to be good for everyone - even for iPhone users.  

Apple will need to respond to the new kid in town. I have heard even the most diehard iPhone fan complain of dropped calls, no night time pics, multi-tasking, etc…and now the iPhone has some catching up to do.  I believe that they will. Apple is known to design very, very well and they will not want to give back any of their reported 15% market share.

In addition, developers will need to build for both platforms and this should mean more and better apps.  Developers that may have missed the initial surge for the iPhone will jump on the Droid bandwagon. 

So…more features, lower prices and better apps – sounds like a win to me.

Just as 3G wireless technology is hitting its stride, the national carriers are testing and launching wireless 4G.  Sprint struck first with WiMax (think really big WiFi hotspots), but Verizon is on its heels with lte (Long Term Evolution).  Other carriers are on board with 4G, and the bottom line is that mind-blowing wireless data speeds are here, and will be mainstream soon.

This means more people going online with all kinds of mobile devices.  Netbook sales are soaring, but research shows people might be seriously regretting their mini computer purchase.  iPhone sales are way up, but can a pocket sized computer really take full advantage of 100Mbps data speeds?  Maybe 4G will mean more powerful large screen laptop computers will be relevant again. (I’m writing this on my 17inch laptop, so you can guess what I’m rooting for…) But we’ll likely see the same trends continue – faster & more powerful mobile devices giving people ready access to the Internet all the time.

But is your business ready for everyone to have the real Internet in their pocket or backpack?

Ultimately, you need a mobile strategy – and one that takes into account both small screen browsing and anytime access.  Are you giving people the opportunity to buy or connect with you quickly?  Does your site give users the information they need right away?  (I keep hearing Jakob Nielsen whisper, “Usability” in my ear…)

Faster Internet rocks, but is your business positioned to take advantage or miss out?

The inevitable end of summer brings not only the promise of cooler days but renewed attention to the presidential political campaigns as well.

Summer provided a break from the intense primary season and allowed the candidates to squeeze in additional campaigning as they prepared for the upcoming sprint to Election Day on Tuesday, November 4.

The kickoff to the final stretch of the presidential race has typically been recognized at each party’s national convention. During the conventions, the candidates are officially nominated while notable representatives seek to establish each party’s dominance.

This year’s conventions garnered increased interest, which resulted in over 120,000 people attending the combined events.

Such attendance expectations necessitated technology upgrades to the convention locations in Denver, Colorado and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota.

Both cities enlisted the help of Qwest Communications, Microsoft, Cisco and other technology vendors to improve the existing infrastructure and provide technical support for the expected demand.

Instant access to news and updates throughout the conventions required more than twelve miles of fiber-optic cable in Minnesota and nearly five miles of cable in Colorado. The result was incredible data speeds of 50 billion bits per second.

In addition, thousands of voice and data lines were added to provide increased levels of digital connectivity during the events. Cell phone provides including AT&T and Verizon likewise took steps to increase wireless coverage to meet demand and ensure consistent service.

Technology upgrades supplied the essential infrastructure but the conventions also strived to engage attendees by providing blogging stations, web cameras and data centers to upload photos and videos.

The Democratic National Convention also created “America’s Town Hall” to encouraged citizens across the country to actively participate by submitting text and video questions through a live feed.

The improved technology during the national conventions provided the services and networks necessary to support thousands of attendees and viewers across the across. However, the technology will moreover serve a long-term purpose.

Excess materials, such as copper wire, will be recycled and electronic equipment including phones, copiers and computers will be donated to the cities and surrounding communities.

The recent conventions undoubtedly set the tone for the final weeks of the presidential campaign but the success in doing so may not have been possible without the additional help of technology.

Original Post Date – 09/05/2008

In the past, signing on the dotted line for a cell phone contract was akin to snapping a lock shut and throwing away the key. The only way to unlock the contract was to pay a high termination fee that ranged from $75 to $200, depending on the company and contract.

Cell phone providers developed early termination fees to subsidize the cost of cell phones and the fees associated with the service startup. As a result, early termination fees allow cell phone providers to offer a wide variety of newer handsets and more inclusive plans for consumers that are willing to sign a long-term contract.

Until recently, signing a contract would activate an early termination fee that was applicable if the consumer decided to end the service contract after one month, six months or with only five days remaining. Consequently, many consumers expressed anguish over the excessive termination fees.

But, in light of recent litigation and a landmark ruling in California, persistently high termination fees may be a nuisance of the past.

Beginning in 2006, customers of the six top cellular carriers in the United States sued the service providers in California, alleging the early termination fees violated California’s unfair business practices law. Since then, lawsuits have appeared in courts all across the United States.

On July 28, a tentative ruling was made in one such case against Sprint Nextel Corp. Following evidence that demonstrated early termination charges by Sprint likely violated California’s state law, the court ordered Sprint to pay over $72 million to any customers involved in filing a lawsuit or that suffered termination charges.

The lawsuits and pending court decisions prompted at least three of the major U.S. cell phone providers, AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, to adjust their termination fee structure to align with the Federal Communication Commission’s proposal.

The proposal’s guidelines included reducing termination fees over the life of the contract and allowing a certain timeframe to cancel service without penalty.

Most cell phone users can now take comfort in knowing the end of a contract does not necessarily mean an additional excessive fee.

However, despite the current strides in reducing and hopefully ending early termination fees, consumer advocates warn the termination fees may be reclassified as recurring telecommunication rates.

Therefore, before entering into a long-term contract for cellular service, be sure to review the contract and understand the agreement terms. A few extra minutes may save several dollars in the long run.

Original Post Date – 08/08/2008