9 posts and columns on customer base

Voices

The Case for the Fat Start-Up

in News on March 17, 2010 at 12:00 pm PT

Much has been written and said about the current economic downturn and the resulting lessons on how to run high-technology companies. Quite famously, Sequoia Capital, the premier venture capital firm in Silicon Valley, held a mandatory all-CEO meeting in fall 2008 during which it advised them to “Cut spending. Cut fat. Preserve capital.”

Barnes & Noble’s Nook Finally Limps Into Stores. Too Late?

in Media on February 8, 2010 at 1:30 pm PT

Barnes & Noble’s e-reader entry was supposed to have one big advantage over the Kindle–you could buy one at the retailer’s stores. But it has been a long time coming, and in the meantime, you may have heard about another compelling e-reader heading to market.

HotJobs Sold to Monster in Yahoo Garage Sale

in News on February 3, 2010 at 1:43 pm PT

Apparently, Yahoo’s efforts to sell off some of its noncore properties are going quite a bit better than previously thought. Moments ago, the company said it will sell Yahoo HotJobs to Monster Worldwide, proprietor of rival online career site Monster.com. Price: $225 million in cash.
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AT&T Earnings Expected to Be Better Than Expected

in News on October 21, 2009 at 5:01 am PT

AT&T reports third-quarter earnings Thursday and by all accounts, they should be strong enough, thanks to the sheer size of the company’s footprint and, of course, its exclusive carrier rights to the iPhone.
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AT&T Earnings Expected to Be Better Than Expected

in News on October 21, 2009 at 5:01 am PT

AT&T reports third-quarter earnings Thursday and by all accounts, they should be strong enough, thanks to the sheer size of the company’s footprint and, of course, its exclusive carrier rights to the iPhone.
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Sprint Nextel Silences iPCS

in News on October 19, 2009 at 5:01 am PT

Wireless company iPCS is a legal thorn in Sprint’s side no longer. This morning, Sprint said it would acquire its litigious affiliate for $831 million, including the assumption of $405 million of net debt.
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Did Amazon Really Fail This Weekend? The Twittersphere Says “Yes,” Online Retailer Says “Glitch.”

in Media on April 12, 2009 at 7:33 pm PT

Last fall, a small but vocal group of Twitterers managed to shame Johnson & Johnson into apologizing for one of its Motrin ads. This weekend’s replay: a howl of outrage, amplified and directed via Twitter at Amazon, which may or may not have instituted a boneheaded policy regarding “adult” books on its site. Or “adult” books aimed at gay and lesbian readers. Or something. No matter what really happened, the retailer is now in a real pickle.
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PRC Mulling "One-iPhone Policy"

in News on March 30, 2009 at 6:00 am PT

If Apple is indeed preparing to offer the iPhone 3G in China in partnership with China Unicom, its sales prospects are looking pretty damn good. Bank of America analyst Scott Craig believes the company could claim as much as a fifth of the smartphone market in China when it launches the device there–and in relatively short order.

PRC Mulling “One-iPhone Policy”

in News on March 30, 2009 at 6:00 am PT

If Apple is indeed preparing to offer the iPhone 3G in China in partnership with China Unicom, its sales prospects are looking pretty damn good. Bank of America analyst Scott Craig believes the company could claim as much as a fifth of the smartphone market in China when it launches the device there–and in relatively short order.