Good Post On Why DOJ's Suit Against AT&T And T-Mobile Merger Is A Good Call

I'm pro-biz.  Rather I'm pro-competition.  Merger are good if they create value for the market, meaning us the consumer.  However, AT&T and T-Mobile merger never made sense for me from the start.  It's why I support DOJ's lawsuit against the merger.  And This Mercury News article is one of the better articles on this matter.

Bottom line:  

• Eliminate choices.
• Proposed economic benefits is uncertainty. Using jobs as reason for merger but vague on how much it'll lay off due to duplications.
• T-Mobile prides itself on offering value.  Without a competitior with 33-million users, AT&T and others have no reason to compete on value.
• There are cheaper ways for AT&T to build out its network without buying T-Mobile. AT&T has already said it'll spend less than $4 billion to expand coverage from 80% to 97% of US population, much less than the $39 billion cost of the merger.

Take all that together, you come to one conclusion:  the merger is about killing competition and imposing more crummy customer service and shady billing practices.  Plain and simple.  

Honestly, we've all seen AT&T's practices over the year.  And suddenly, it wants to convince the American public that it's got our best interests at heart. Whatev...

Source: Mercury News.

Apple Will Be Able to Fix iOS Devices Remote Via iTunes or the Web

Apple is no doubt an innovator.  And this next example shows just how far ahead it is thinking about the whole mobile system beyond what its competitors are doing.

Just after a patent application by Apple was published last week regarding diagnostic tools that could remotely fix a device, we’ve read today that such tools already exist and is probably in use in limited capacity if not wide-spread.

Mobile: Apple Lost Another iPhone Prototype - Two Years In A Row

No.  Your eyes have no deceived you.  Apple has indeed lost another iPhone, an unreleased prototype. And what makes this that much more bizarre is that it also happened in a bar.

I've gotta say.  I don't know why people need to drink to unwind or have fun but I get whoever lost it probably was drunk and I hope he or she loses the job over this.  

According to CNet, this happened in late July in SF.  It doesn't sound like Apple has recovered the device.  More to the story if you click over...

Sigh...

Apple Inadvertently Confirmed New iPhone 5 Design

Via Cult of Mac, they pointed out that Apple might have a new iPhone 5 design for us.

Through the upcoming Photostream app, an icon showed an iPhone with a bigger screen and a home button with a different shape.

Okay, I'm pretty excited by this...

Sprint Increases Early Termination Fee to $350 from $200; iPhone and Galaxy S II To Blame

According to Cult of Mac, Sprint is increasing the early termination fee to $350, in line with its competitiors AT&T and Verizon Wireless.  

I figure this was coming with the next iPhone and the Galaxy S II due to hit within weeks of each other.  Android dominates Sprint's landscape so it'll be hard to figure if Sprint is doing this because of Apple or Samsung's device.  

Bottom line is that it sucks but that's how we roll here in in the US.

Next Mobile Revolution: Making Tech and Gadgets Without Hurting the Environment

The next mobile evolution is not going to be coming out as a new gadget.  It should be about green components.  Like chips, CPU, and screens.

Today, a bunch of Chinese environmental groups unfairly accused Apple of poisoning China.  Ah, guys...look to Beijing.  The Chinese government is okay with it.  I don't agree with them but that's how their government guys do business there.  However, I am glad they brought up the issue.  It's how it was brought it up that I have an issue with.

This has been an on-going issue since the industrial revolution.  And now, I think tech giants, car companies, and others should invest their billions in trying to develop green manufacturing process and green components that do no harm its customers or the environment.  

And I know with certainty that it can be done.  It'll take money, research, and the will to make it happen.

In science, nothing is impossible.  Coming from someone who has a science background, take my word for it.  this isn't some blind faith.  I should say that "almost" nothing is impossible.  Any scientist on TV who gets interviewed about a certain theory or study and arrogantly dispute it is doing one of two things.  Forcing the issue to meet the highest standard of the scientific community or a buffoon riding on his past success and PhD.  

Trust me, I've dealt with them in the past.  Many of them I like too.

Back to green components and gadgets.  It's doable.  I'm sure we'll get there but someone like Apple, Sony, or Intel will have to take the lead on this.

Rejoice! DOJ Says "Nu-uh" To AT&T and T-Mobile Merger!!!

Just in a bit ago.  On Anti-competitive grounds, the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit to stop the merger between AT&T and T-Mobile.  

Whether AT&T saw this coming or not is something we will know in the coming hours.  Probably days.  Folks will be coming out to talk about this.  You know, people with "special knowledge" of AT&T's thinking.  

This is probably going to make AT&T give up a lot of stuff.  But I hope the US gov is serious about this.  AT&T has not provided sufficient reasons why it needs T-Mobile.  In fact, a leak memo showed that it needs far less spectrum and resources to build out this LTE network.  

This is a great way to start off the morning.

Source:  CNBC.