AT&T’s “Next” Plan Offers A New Smartphone Every 12 Months, With Some Strings

AT&T is following in T-Mobile’s footsteps and letting consumers upgrade their phones once a year instead of once every two years. Its new plan calls for user’s to turn in their old device if they trade up early.

Amazon’s Bezos Knocking on Wood for a Record Holiday Season

This year, physical retailers have lined up a fairly broad defensive strategy against the online behemoth, but Amazon’s Jeff Bezos says they are ready.

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Wal-Mart Is Testing Mobile Checkout

Employees at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are testing a new checkout system that allows shoppers to skip the cashiers’ lines.

With New Merchant Local Updates Tool, Foursquare Is Getting Serious About Its Business

A month after its redesign pitch to users, Foursquare appeals to businesses with improved tools.

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T-Mobile Customer Losses Continue to Mount

T-Mobile USA said it lost more than a half million of the most lucrative customers in the first quarter, casting doubt on whether the company can regain momentum after regulators blocked its sale to AT&T Inc.

Verizon Introduces “Convenience Fee” for Some Online, Phone Payments

There are still plenty of ways to avoid that $2 charge, however.

Don’t Listen to Your Customers

Entrepreneurs need to be reminded that it’s not the job of their customers to know what they don’t. In other words, your customers have a tough enough time doing their jobs.

— From Mark Cuban‘s 2011 book “How to Win at the Sport of Business: If I Can Do It, You Can Do It”

Groupon Races to IPO Based on Strong Q3 Performance

Groupon’s third-quarter performance is clearly what made it possible to move forward on its initial public offering. Here’s a look at some of the key numbers.

The Average Groupon Customer Has Purchased Four Deals

Groupon’s aggressive marketing tactics have been very effective at getting new subscribers to sign up. But has it been good at getting those subscribers to buy?

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Secrets From Apple’s Genius Bar: Full Loyalty, No Negativity

Steve Jobs turned Apple Inc. into the world’s most valuable technology company with high-tech products like the iPad and iPhone. But one anchor of Apple’s success is surprisingly low tech: its chain of brick-and-mortar retail stores.

Verizon’s iPhone Picture Comes Into Focus