Next In Wireless

Microsoft’s Defeat and the Evolving Mobile Operating System War

2008-05-06T15:44:40Z

Well, as predicted 3 months ago here, the Microsoft-Yahoo deal is off. It just made no sense, and despite threats of taking the deal into a proxy fight, Redmond backed down. So much for the “hostile” side of the proposed takeover. To be fair, it would be hard for that 900-pound gorilla to force its way, and not look like a total monopoly.
Still, the aborted attempt is enough for Microsoft’s board to consider a change in the leadership, and try to produce some kind of innovation with its assets...

As far as mobile goes, unless Redmond wants to risk mobile extinction at the hands of Blackberry and Apple, Windows Mobile (WM)7 should now attempt some very slick things, and not just another incremental upgrade.
(Especially given Apple’s impending enterprise push)

If you just look at Palm, WM, Blackberry, and Symbian, and look at where they’ve been and where they’re going, you can see what Apple is doing, and how the new SDK fits in.
So far Symbian and proprietary OSs dominate the consumer space. Palm is trying to hang in there, but they will probably be acquired soon. And Symbian has had minimal impact in the

USA

.
So, Apple started out in the space with something that combined 2 things it does very well: UI and music player. Oh, and they threw in a phone with some cool features (visual voicemail...). It was an excellent start in a market where they could and should leverage their strengths.

When you look at the enterprise marketplace, there is clearly an opening for Apple where the incumbents (WM and Blackberry) don’t yet compete very well: a productivity phone which is easy to deploy and support, and is intuitive and enjoyable to pick up and use. (I mean, WM for a small business is a nightmare to support! I’ve seen that first hand, and eventually jumped ship.)
Blackberry has it much better, and their Pearl and Curve lines are mainstreaming their phones. The Pearl is the first rock solid business phone (QWERTY keyboard, email, etc.) that acknowledges that the user may actually want to listen to high quality music or snap a decent picture, and not have to use a holster to carry it around. I don’t doubt that RIM could sortie a nice touch-screen phone, and so the real battle on the business side will be between RIM and Apple, with Microsoft probably losing share.

The notion, however, that Apple will somehow dominate the consumer or enterprise market within the next 5 years is pure nonsense. Neither RIM nor Nokia will stand by to see their core business eroded without a fight, and for now the i-Phone represents only a small niche of the entire market.

Next: On Yahoo's mobile program...

New SDK Stokes Potential i-Phone Sales Growth

2008-04-13T13:39:38Z

In the same way the i-Phone challenged the marketplace to innovate phone design and UI, the recently-released software development kit (SDK) and it’s surrounding ecosystem will challenge Microsoft, RIM, and Nokia (the principle owners of Symbian) to match the kind of access developers need to make their work worthwhile. Most notably, that would include access to potential customers.

As with all the mobile operating systems (OS) owners, there’s a co-dependent relationship between them and the developers who create applications (apps) which enhance or extend the OS and the device which runs it. In the case of the i-Phone, Apple had to provide the tools to let developers create certified apps for the i-Phone in order to capture revenue for distributing those software products (it’s another revenue stream for them). The happy by-product will be more-contented users, a more powerful phone, and increased future sales.

Now, $99/year (and a mandatory purchase of an Apple computer) will get a developer access to i-Tunes and a software store presence on the phone itself, provided they don’t mind waiting for their app to be certified. Apple’s success in engaging the developer community with this SDK will depend on how smoothly the certification program runs, and just how long smaller developers will have to wait while Apple services their preferred “partners”.

Also, we know about Apple’s aspirations for making the i-Phone a viable business phone. At first blush, this seems ridiculous, but then when you think about small businesses (doctors, lawyers, or anytime an executive’s image is important...) it makes sense. In fact, IT support or not, there is much pleasure for users in any organization to be able to just pick up and intuitively use a communications device, rather than to struggle with a learning curve and software glitches.
Since Apple has licensed Microsoft’s Active Synch with Exchange servers, they’ve broken down another enterprise mass-deployment barrier.

The i-Phone SDK is most important to Apple’s ability to offer a business phone-solution, since they more lack applications there. This is strategically what the SDK is all about.

How successful the i-Phone can be in the business market will also depend on how primarily RIM and Microsoft respond with product innovation and better developer access to the retail channel.

Poisson d'Avril is Hottest New Mobile Game, Wins "Green" Stamp of Approval

2008-04-13T21:11:49Z

As far as mobile applications go, this one should not be overlooked. While shrugged-off by many wireless carrier executives as a mere “toy”, Poisson d’Avril is gaining major traction in the wireless world.

Forget BrickBreaker, which consumes precious battery power and requires lateral dexterity, not to mention a significant mobile-phone purchase; “Poisson” has appeared out of nowhere to take the Best Mobile Game of the Year award at a recent CTIA event. The game’s demand for constant water swishing button pushing (thumb usage recommended) has become an addiction even the most responsible executive cannot deny.

“From the first swish I was hooked”, admits Dexter Wheeler, Senior Vice President at a well-known wireless vendor. “At first I was reluctant to pull out the device in public places”, he continued, “but now, it’s difficult to take a flight without my noting the entire business class swishing away.”
On a recent coast to coast flight, Mr. Wheeler was challenged by no less than 4 fellow passengers to a “swoosh-off”, with one such game leading to the winning of a major hardware deal.
“I had him beat”, he said, “with only one ring to go on my left post. But my instinct let him win, and it paid off”.
Finding the game an effective stress-reliever, another passenger remarked, “the flight attendants even let me play during take-offs and landings!”

An unexpected payoff to many “Poisson” players is a new found bonding with their young children.
“My daughter turned me on to it”, admitted one heavy player on a recent Amtrak train from Washington to New York, which was full of solo players. “Sometimes we have to fight for who gets to play at breakfast time”, he said.

With Yahoo In Play, Google Mobile Advances

2008-04-13T15:01:03Z

Looking at Yahoo’s future in wireless is a bit presumptuous without consideration of the hostile mega-merger attempt launched by Microsoft last week. So before we get to the wireless skinny, let’s talk merger for a minute.

Should any merger be eventually worked out, it would be great news for Google shareholders. MSFT-YHOO would need at least 2 to 3 years to integrate their businesses and eliminate some 8000 jobs, mostly through layoffs. (Ballmer himself claims $1B in savings. Assuming 2/3 come from salaries, just do the math)

As morale slumps at the joint behemoth, Google would speed ahead, especially with its wireless business, possibly building its own network. And Android promises a shot of innovation into the wireless space that many a user have been hungry for.
We’ve known for years that mobile represents the biggest growth opportunity for the web, and hence on-line advertising.

But despite Redmond’s desperate attempt to establish itself in the on-line ad business, this merger probably won’t happen.
Jerry Yang’s apparent penchant for Yahoo’s independence (especially from Microsoft), anti-competitive concerns, and the presence of better potential partners (which Yahoo will likely seek out) are among my reasoning for this.
Nevertheless, Microsoft’s attempt has put Yahoo in play and (mobile market) change is on the way.

More to come...

I can’t believe I just bought a Blackberry !

2008-02-22T23:10:43Z

Last week, I returned the AT&T Tilt (with Windows Mobile 6) basically because I have no 3G coverage at home (you can read more details here).
Prior to the return, while in the Verizon store to get ported back and return to my cluncky Samsung i-730, I spot the Pearl 8130. What a gem!

Long story short, to go back to “the V” I had to do a 1-year contract, so thought I should get something for it. (i.e. a phone subsidy)
So, I went for the 8130.

I’ve done the Symbian thing, lived with a Palm OS Treo, done Windows Mobile 2003, 5 and tried 6. And now Backberry completes my tour of operating systems.

I had turned my nose up at Blackberries for years:
They were too wide, obliged you to buy their server service, the phone voice quality was poor, they had greyscale screens when everyone else had color...
Well, the 8130 has none of these drawbacks.

Here is my initial reaction:

Pluses:

Cool trackball
Sleek size and weight: don't need a holster any more; no more geek factor
Tablet form-factor: eliminate thickness and moving parts, keyboard more at the ready
Standard mini-USB charge plug can also be plugged into any PC for a charge
3.5mm standard audio out plug
Camera has flash !
Great screen resolution
Voice Signal included, don’t have to train for each contact
Headset and holster included
Can get up to 10 mail accounts pushed to the phone
Screen adjusts to the ambient light !
Communications log can integrate all message types, calls
The phone starts up in a second, unlike Windows Mobile
Speedy surfing: looks like this device is EvDo Rev A, although there is no such documentation. I got 1.6mb/s in my initial tests!

Minuses:

TheStreamCenter doesn’t work because there is no Windows Media Player support in the stock media player
Cannot download podcasts/mp3 files from a web site or as a mail attachment. Could mp3 files be blocked my the Blackberry proxy server?
No music player equalizer (is one available?)
Can’t seem to toggle the flash on/off in the camera app where I need to; have to go to settings
Menus don’t wrap
Only 2 programmable buttons
GPS is not working out of the box
The phone is almost as slippery as a bar of soap

More later...

Sprint Looking More Vulnerable. Where Is Carl ?

2008-01-28T13:37:09Z

With the horrid results Sprint reported today, plummeting its share price to $8.7 from a high 6 months ago of $22.9, the stock has now fallen some 60% (whereas the NASDAQ is down about 13% over the same period)
So, I’m wondering when someone like Mr. Icahn might put them into play.
(the stock is down 41.6% over the last 5 years, where the NASDAQ is up 31.5% over the same period)

I’m not talking about the buy-and-chop-up kind of takeover, but rather the buy and turn-around kind. As in consolidate operations, unify the branding, get the product offering back on track, and fix customer service.

I mean, I think 3 years is enough time to change the signs above the stores, and to unify the web site!
In a way, solid branding is the hallmark of a heavily ad-driven consumer product like wireless services and phones.

Sprint's latest stab at initiating change was a trial balloon about consolidating operations in Kansas as opposed to the dynamic telecom hub of the east coast in northern Virginia. Uh, OK. I guess access to and attracting top talent might not be part of Sprint’s priorities.

To be fair, new CEO Dan Hesse has only been on the job a month and needs time. But how long will it be before a takeover group takes it’s case to the shareholders and proposes fast, decisive action?
And if one of the cable guys came in, it would send a shock wave though the industry in a market which has already battered the MVNOs.

Either way, the market needs more competition to spur innovation, and Sprint’s eventual leveraging of their assets and development of an irresistible offering will be good news for wireless consumers.

The Un-Tilting Factors

2008-01-28T14:05:01Z

Despite one’s glazed-over eyes and zombie smile that seem to go along with the purchase of a new PDA-phone, the reality simply cannot be known until some weeks later. Thankfully, the wireless operators acknowledge this, and allow a 30-day trial. (the cynical view is that they know some of these phones are only half-baked)

Although I didn’t have 3G coverage at home (a place I often work, as well), I tried to rationalize keeping the Tilt.
“It has WiFi-g, maybe that will fill the gap”, I thought.
“I can even drop the data plan altogether”, I further reasoned, except that that would rendered Google maps useless when I needed it the most. Besides, nothing beats "anywhere" high-speed internet access.

I was rather disappointed that the Tilt is even less one-handed friendly then my Samsung i-730, which ran Windows Mobile 5. Another important issue was about the device’s readiness out of the box. In several ways, I was looking at a downgrade, even from a device which was 2 ½ years old!

Here are some other realities which led me to reject this product, despite its allure. That’s to say that prosumers and professionals who are making their own handset choices might very well take issue with --

...some realities about Windows Mobile 6:

One must upgrade at least to Outlook 2002 to be able to sync with your PC (this makes AT&T also a partner with Microsoft for pushing Office 2007. Hope they get a commission out of it!)

Fewer button mapping is available, only 5 verses 12 for WM5 with the Samsung i-730. This makes the Tilt less one-handed friendly. (There are actually more buttons to work with on the Tilt, but most are not programmable)

Microsoft didn't bother fixing the forced reset when you swap the battery, as with WM5

The “note” and “speakerphone on” button is missing from the GUI seen during a phone call

...and about some errors that were made with the hardware:

The power plug gets in the way if you use the keyboard
Hands-free is a non-standard connector, and uses the same connector as the power plug, so you can’t charge and use the hands-free at the same time
There is no included hands free, holster, or extra battery and the AT&T store didn’t have any stock of OEM products
The phone is too heavy to not have an OEM holster provided. What was I supposed to do with this thing until I could order a proper OEM holster (if one existed)?
The only stereo hands-free headset which they could provide me in the AT&T store was a generic unit, without a volume control. This was another downgrade for me
You cannot power off the phone my pressing and holding the power button. One must rather go to the wireless manager screen (which includes a clutter of redundant icons)

...and with some application disappointments:

The camera takes about 3 seconds to take a photo after you press the button; and even longer to be ready to take another

GPS didn't work when I needed it; it isn't ready “out of the box”

Can no longer "recognize" handwriting in Notes (convert it to text)

The keypad is de-activated when accessing voicemail (problem when wanting to take a note while listening)

My reminders in the calendar never sounded off, despite audio setting being properly configured

No button could be mapped to the voice dialling application. This is simply a blunder

Can no longer enter a voicemail passcode in the phone application, which was useful to make one-handed checking of messages possible while driving

The Tilt will no doubt excel for many users. There is much upside, as previously discussed. But it's obvious that AT&T should :
1. Have this platform's hardware design and applications re-evaluated / redesigned
2. Include a CD with Outlook 2002 or later, to assure that customers can sync their phone
3. Better match the overall product proposition to the reality of the handsets features and placement in the marketplace
4. Offer an OS update to users ASAP
5. Accelerate their 3G rollout

While no operator can do much about Microsoft’s mistakes with Windows Mobile 6, perhaps they can reduce their product line exposure to those Redmond guys who appear more and more to be asleep at the wheel.
Or at least oblige them to offer updates to an agreed schedule.

Needless to say, the Tilt went back. I just expect a better overall product design from a communicator I’m going to be using for a year or two.

No 3G iPhone yet, but here are some cool vibrating icons...

2008-01-28T13:40:09Z

Seems like the biggest wireless news lately is the no-news of no 3G iPhone announcement at Macworld 2008.

The iPhone remains the object of desire for many, but also simply unjustified for most.

The fact is that while one can deal with a slower Edge connection even for most data-centric activities, when it comes to surfing full web pages on that big beautiful screen, you’ve got to have the speed. And no firmware update will give owners of the original iPhone the speed they need.
Surfers are better off using a proxy server which parses their pages accordingly.

As for those with iPhone-envy who are waiting for the iPhone 2, my bet is that they will have to wait until June to get to pay a premium for some 3G love. And early adopter iPhonies looking for a speedy connection will have to rather focus on consuming the occasional firmware-upgrade bone they get thrown, until summer.

It’s a great product-release strategy, and should help Cupertino get up to the 7-8m units sold range as they approach the end of their first year and cut the price once more...

I score a very cool little "burner" for 29€

2008-05-04T22:34:55Z

Why can't some US operators offer sleek little gems like this to pre-pay customers for under $40? Don't they want a competitive advantage?

I am traveling in Europe to, among other things, bring home some prospective on which continent is truly ahead. Wirelessly-speaking, of course.

Early into this adventure (which is due to wrap up Jan. 8th), I procured a wafer-thin Sagem 220 to keep me in mobile voice contact. The marked price of only 19€ attracts me to this sleek little jewel, but that price involved turning in an old phone for a 10€ credit. Huh? Even my oldest relic is worth more than that to me, when I think of the conversations I've had with them...

But I am still smitten with the little phone, not even caring if there is a hands-free (there is) or a loudspeaker (there is). Maybe it's that nice grippy coating they used on the back of it...making me want to flip it endlessly in my pocket while waiting for it to spring to life with that infectious salsa-jive ring-tone. In fact, my enthusiasm is so that I don't even care if the sound is good.
"You don't understand, mon cherie", I explain to my friend, "I don't actually want to USE this, it's for placing on the table, between my water and wine glass..."

In fact, the sound is excellent. And as the receiver of a call never pays, under the Euro-GSM rules, I am having a tough time using up my minutes.

Some Nice Tilt Things, Some Annoying Things

2008-01-28T14:01:05Z

There are some nice improvements with Windows Mobile 6, which make the AT&T Tilt a nice phone to use.
There is a task manager which is ever-present in the upper right of the Today screen, allowing you to close any application without 6 screen taps, as before. This, like other improvements, accomplishes what 3^rd party applications did for Windows Mobile 5. Another example is the icon which lets you change the orientation of the screen in one shot.
Also, there are more direct links to applications than before on the Today screen.

But an essential function of any phone is the ability to press a button to engage voice dialing. With no dedicated button for this, I looked to see if there is a way to map a button to the voice dialing application. Nope. In fact the only such application is called “Voice Speed Dial”, but apparently each contact had to be trained. Not good. Where is Voice Signal?

Some users looking to their phones to accomplish a quick task (such as send a text message or do an internet search, etc.) will prefer to not have to swivel and push open a device to use the keypad before they can type. I’m realizing that I may be one of them, although the Tilt form-factor seems to be holding a long-term spot in the marketplace.

I Get Tilted

2008-01-11T18:58:24Z

I felt like the 13^th was a lucky day for me, as I finally pulled the trigger and went for the AT&T Tilt. It was a tough call, as the new BJ2 is very capable, but it would have been too hard for me to give up the large touch screen I had on my Samsung i-730.
So, I braved the snow and ice to trek to an AT&T store, and close the deal prior to my trip abroad. Now I have a mini-laptop, 3G compatible even in Europe, to take along.

When I saw the phone on display, I couldn’t believe it. It’s smaller and sleeker than I imagined, has a brushed metal finish on the front and a grippy coating on the back. Nice. I had been put off by the glossy button cluster on the face, but in person it was no issue. (I guess the Internet photos all use a flash, which exaggerate the gloss)

As reported all over the 'net, the build quality is excellent. You have to slide open and tilt and tap on the nice keyboard a bit to know what I mean. When I saw some of the improvements in the OS, I felt confident in my decision (more on that later).
But the big test was if I had 3G coverage at home, and.....
I do not.
So, I am not sure what I am going to do (I did warn the sales gal about this; there is a 30-day trial period)
I can’t really see paying for unlimited 3G data if I can only get Edge, so maybe I can downgrade my data plan; let’s see.

The second disappointment came because of Microsoft. To sync my Tilt, I need Active Sync 4.5, which is not compatible with my Outlook 2000. They suggest I upgrade. I resist. I need a solution for this problem, too (maybe switch to Thunderbird?).
More later.

The Wireless Story of 2007: Open Handset Alliance / Android

2008-04-13T15:01:41Z

When I first read some snippets about Google’s Android project and Open Handset Alliance (OHA) initiative, I thought, “People are going to have phones that are accessible to all developers, allowing them phones which are incredibly flexible and original. And, users will be able to customize their phone right down to the main screen layout!”

I dreamt of a day where Skype could run unfettered on a phone, making international conversation air-time free, and mobile surfing became practical and speedy. And that swift connection (with low latency) truly opened a world of information and web-based applications to all mobile humanity, myself included. And to pay for it all, I would see (and ignore) ads along the way.

But while most operators have joined OHA, they are the gatekeepers regarding whether and how applications can use their networks and it remains to be seen just how OHA fits into their revenue models.

Irregardless, there is a related initiative which makes things even more interesting:
Google (the leader of this new paradigm) says it will bid for 700 Mhz spectrum in the upcoming FCC auction. Speculation for months has been that they are hot to build their own wireless network; I suppose to guarantee an open channel to ad revenue growth.
They would indeed need to have the desire (and partnerships) to accomplish this, and to guarantee the level of network access needed to make the dream a reality.

But just as the i-phone raised the bar for handset quality and usability, just the prospect of Google building an alternative wireless network could encourage operators to provide the access and low latency which is needed. If they do, there may never be a need for Google to build any network.

Why I like the Blackjack 2

2008-04-11T20:29:20Z

It’s no secret that I am in the market for a new PDA-phone, and the Blackjack II (BJ2), which hit last week at AT&T, has caught my eye.

I tried the Motorola Q, a similar PDA-phone, for a couple of weeks back in August and was definitely digging the ultra-thin form-factor. What I didn’t like was that it’s too wide (the BJ2 is 2.3 in. wide versus the Q’s 2.6 in.), which made it less attractive for talking and perhaps pocketing.

The slim profile is a happy result of avoiding the ubiquitous slider, which only adds thickness to a phone. After all, there are always tradeoffs, in this case between the practicality of the keyboard being always at the ready and in preserving the design line.

But what else is it that makes me want to buy a Blackjack II?

Perhaps it’s the hope that Windows Mobile 6 will be better than 5: faster, handle Bluetooth connections better, more power controls.
Could it be the upgraded features like a 1700 mAh battery, (as opposed to the 950 mAh that came with the BJ1) which I hope will be power plenty? (apparently, the power management is improved, too)
Maybe I am willing to excuse the lack of touch screen for the one-handed ease of using the jog wheel (i-pod style).

And how about loving the integration of a GPS receiver, which is only now starting to appear on mobile phones?

Maybe I’m thinking that a 2.4 in screen is big enough, and downsizing from my 2.8 in screen is worth it to have the device thinness, save power, and have the keyboard always ready to go. And since the resolution is still 320 x 240, everything will look razor sharp.
Could I be thinking about how I’d be able to rock 3G even on my Christmas trip to France, with the tri-band HSDPA support? (or even swap my SIM card into another phone, since it’s a GSM phone!)
Perhaps I like getting an IM and RSS client pre-installed, making the package more complete out-of-the-box. And that there’s enough RAM to run everything (128 M.

And there’s nothing wrong with the fact that AT&T will throw in 1500 monthly text/IM/MMS messages with my data plan, whereas the big V is still clipping me at 10 cents a pop for messages going in or out.

True, the BJ2 is missing WiFi, but if my house is covered by their 3G goodness, then I’m fine with that. I’m keeping my fingers crossed...

The Kindle is a $400 E-book reader from Amazon.

2008-04-13T14:58:18Z

Just not sure who will buy one. It’s got an odd (retro?) form-factor, has a monochrome screen, and will likely break within 2 years (“last as long as a Blackberry” is how Mr. Bezos put it).

The coolest thing about the Kindle is it’s wirelessness! A free 3G connection (via Sprint’s network) allows users to shop for and download books, magazines, and newspapers, with only the device and the desire.

I’ve often wondered why electronics didn’t integrate phone chips. We can only hope this is the start of a deluge.

Hey, reminds me of a great product idea...

The Perverse Reality About Stereo Bluetooth Headsets

2008-01-21T21:36:13Z

A stereo Bluetooth device promises not only early adopter prestige, but previous-track and next-track controls which you don’t see on corded headsets. And there is the freedom from those dang tangly wires!

But while stereo Bluetooth headsets have their advantage, I’m disappointed by their sound. Then I realized that what was missing was the audio enhancement what is “SRS WOW”, which is basically a software equalizer on my phone. (SRS labs has licensed the technology to a host of products)

If I listen on my phone with a wire, I can turn on SRS and WOW, it sounds much better! (base enhancement, 3-D sound)

Not so when playing the same tune over my Bluetooth headset. This sound enhancement doesn’t cross the Bluetooth bridge.

Credit goes to IO Gear for producing the only Bluetooth headset I know of which has licensed SRS WOW, and their Bluetooth Audio Transport presumably can enhance audio from ANY phone.

But despite the allure of stereo Bluetooth:

The sound quality may be worse than wired headsets
You must have direct line of sight between your phone and your Bluetooth, otherwise you will experience the infamous “skipping” of your audio content
You have to keep your Bluetooth charged – hard enough to always be ready with a spare battery for your phone, but to have your BT always ready? (The battery is hard-wired; no swapping possible)
You may also have to hassle with “profiles” to toggle between audio and phone calls. I had this problem with Windows Mobile 5, but others report it works perfectly....
Your phone battery will discharge faster if you have Bluetooth pairing turned on
For all of these “features”, you have to pay for the device!

It’s amazing we even bother.

Maybe Wires Beat Stereo Bluetooth

2008-01-21T21:42:25Z

After slicing and dicing my original wired headset which came with my Samsung i-730, in an effort to restore it’s stereo goodness, I realized 2 things:

1. You can’t really repair these things at home once the wires break and fray on the inside, usually at the earbuds or the connector jack.

2. I would have to explore the (wireless) stereo Bluetooth world to restore that music to my ears.

Having explored that path, attempting to repair my Nokia HS-12W, and springing for the Plantronics Voyager 855, I now repent my reproach of the wire.

I finally received the correct order of my OEM Samsung replacement headset, and I am hearing the quality stereo sound that I was missing.

Yeah, I know, they are meager earbuds, but given that the SRS Wow equalizer feature on my phone doesn’t walk the “Bluetooth bridge”, the wire actually sounds better.

And it just works.

Bluetooth Solution Part 2: the Voyager 855 Judgment Day

2008-04-11T20:14:39Z

As part of my search for the ultimate stereo Bluetooth solution, I surfed around, finding the following potential suitors:

Moto S9
Helium Digital’s HDBT-700
Sony DBRT21
JabraBT8010

But since I need a good microphone which would let my callers understand me in all conditions, these all fail on that count. You cannot convince me that these options, as attractive as they appear, will allow good voice capture with the microphone directed 170 degrees in the opposite direction. At least a small boom gives one a chance...

Then I got to thinking about the buds v. independent plug v. fixed plug v. padded v. cups methods of providing maximum sound translation and comfort. The 855 uses independent plugs, as there is one for each ear, allowing freedom of movement and maximum sound translation. This just makes sense to me.
I don’t like the other options because:

Buds sound like crap, partially because they are too loose in your ear. I tried Earjams with my plugs, which were a big improvement, but made the plugs protrude from my head something weird.
A fixed plug, like the Moto S9 would seem to work only if my head was exactly the right size, and even then might get painful if I had to jerk my head suddenly to check if that idiot in the Beemer was about to mow me down.
I have had padded, behind the neck phones, and they do get hot, although I think this method is the 2^nd best option (there is potential to deliver better sound than with the plugs)
The cups might work at home, but unless I was a DJ living in Zurich, I would prefer to leave them there. (plus I’d have no chance of hearing that Beemer, if he did decide to give me an audible heads-up that he was about to wipe me out)

Besides the call-static problem mentioned previously, the second and last disappointment I had is caused by the same limitation: the occasional “skipping” of music and podcasts. I think both these problems are caused my a lack of sufficient power to overcome likely path losses, such as those encountered with clothing or your own body.

Nevertheless, I decided to try living with the 855 for a week to see how I felt with them. At this point, I don’t think there is any “ultimate” solution, but rather a “best available”. And that seems to be all too often the choice we are making, with wireless.

My cold-weather bike ride with the 855 was a big success. I had trouble with my ski-headband forcing the main piece into my ear canal – a bit uncomfortable – but finally got things adjusted. I kept my phone in a pouch in front, and I guess my position allowed a virtual line-of-site, because I only heard a skip if I turned my head to look at traffic.
Knowing the sound quality could be richer, I felt like this was the best possible solution for a ride, since I could still hear the music really well, avoid skips, skip forward to the next song, and take an incoming call.

While I missed the sound quality of the wire, the phone call quality was excellent.
Also, considering the conditions in which I listen to music and podcasts, i.e. out in the world, excellent sound quality has limited use anyway, since the world is noisy and you have to be somewhat aware of your surroundings. (I prefer to keep the audio in the background, unless I am bored on a train...)

I think if you want to run with only 1 BT for all uses (which makes practical sense), the 855 is an excellent choice.

Oddly, after a week of use and following a charge, I suddenly couldn’t get the 855 to turn on! Without the time or patience to deal with any sort of customer service, I simply returned the unit to Best Buy, which obliged me with an easy refund.

Oh well, better luck next time...

Sprint Played Softball for Too Long

2008-01-21T21:44:05Z

In observing the events leading up to Gary Forsee’s removal as Sprint CEO in October, and the company’s ensuing abandonment of their WiMax-service partnering with Clearwire, one thing becomes obvious. Well, 3 things. The first is so obvious I don’t even have to say it: Large mergers rarely work in tech (see HP-Compaq, Alcatel-Lucent, etc.), and equity is destroyed. Sprint-Nextel is no exception.

The second is that post-merger decisions can’t be done by committee. It can’t be done by canvassing employees to see what strategy they prefer, or where they want to work (Sprint’s operations are still split between Kansas City and the Washington DC area).
The merger execution has to be a bit dictatorial. The corporate office has to issue marching orders, and directors must execute. (similar holds for corporate re-organizations)
Otherwise the mergers are even more vulnerable to losing market share than they already are.

The third thing is tied to the second: A firm implementation plan for what to do with the network assets, handset product lines, services offering, billing, and customer service has to be completed within the first 3 months. Sure, there must be plenty of fact-finding and weighing of options during this time, but then the orders have to come. The following 12-18 months need to be about executing the plan.

Despite the problems with Sprint’s difficult merger, I look forward to seeing them leverage their assets and ultimately offering an irresistible proposition to the marketplace.

Until Sprint can become competitive, there’s clearly less incentive for “the other guys” to do some innovating and to offer consumers a better deal.

In Search of Stereo Bluetooth Solution: the Plantronics Voyager 855

2008-02-10T22:01:21Z

After 2 months of naked irradiating talk without a wire or Bluetooth, I went seeking the ultimate Bluetooth solution. (I detest wires, anyway)

And having spontaneously purchased a Jabra 125 for hands-free use, a static prone starter set, I decided it was time to go exchange it.

This time, I went for a relatively expensive Plantronics Voyager 855 stereo Bluetooth headset. (I’ll refer to any stereo Bluetooth headset simply as “BT”)

The word was, as I read BT reviews online, that BTs cannot touch the sound quality you get with a wire. That would probably explain why Apple is so anti-Bluetooth regarding their mobile products. Fair enough.

The problem with a wire is that I have never used one that didn’t break after 1 year of normal use. That fact may be OK for a mono headset that you can replace for 20 bucks, but for $120+ BT headset, which my Nokia HS-12W was, that ain’t cool.

It seems that if a product is for wireless use, by decree it must break within a year or two of purchase. As we all know, this is unacceptable. But we all buy anyway because we have no real quality choice.

As I scanned the options at Best Buy, I recalled the excellent Mobile Burn roundup that concluded that none of their contestants had acceptable sound quality AND compatibility. So they were all off my list. The Plantronics had not been considered, so what did I have to lose? If it sucked, I would return it.

The Plantronics Voyager 855 has a classic Bluetooth main piece, and an add-on plastic ear loop attached to a wire, which leads to another ear plug (called a “stereo plug-in cable”).
At least if this wire broke, I would be left with a decent monaural Bluetooth earpiece, assuming that the performance was decent.

But there was another nice surprise about this design. The wire actually has a cloth shell. This should keep it flexible in the cold, and, hell, maybe it will actually last for a while. Time will tell.
(I also later noticed that you can order a replacement stereo plug-in cable. If I kept the BT, I would order a spare straight-away)

After the charge (and dinner), I jammed the main piece into my ear and was surprised at how well it a) insulated sound and b) seemed set to actually stay in! But I have to say, you have to be used to using ear plugs; some can’t do it.

I was amused to read instructions about how to screw the main piece into my ear. These guys had obviously thought of everything, because it actually worked to snug the thing in comfortably, though I had the odd sensation that I was preparing to sleep in a cheap hotel in Madrid. After snugging the sidecar piece into my other ear and walking a bit, I could only hear the thump thump of my steps. This is what I call isolation! I later discovered how to back them off a bit to allow the real world into the background.

I checked out the action on the telescoping boom. Now, I don’t know about you, but I prefer to talk into a microphone (mic), not into the air and hope the mic picks up my voice. Sure, the marketing guys will tell you about how these BT devices are designed with directional mics, but that doesn’t help trying to be discrete in your conversation. I appreciated the boom gig, which at least got the mic closer to my mouth. Also, the 855 boasted “Audio IQ”, perhaps a technology that would actually make me better understood. (this is the weakest point about any hands-free device. (The ultimate test is calling your father, or a friend’s father)

My first test was a walk around the neighborhood and a chat with dad. He actually didn’t remark about the connection, meaning it was excellent. But when I put my phone into my jacket pocket, the static came. In fact the static seemed to image my stride, as if there was some secondary pickup from my phone, even though the BT was paired with my phone. Weird.

So, static disappointed me once again. My Nokia HS-12W and the Jabra both had static in this situation, hence my assertion:

Bluetooth headsets in general only work static free in open free-space.

That means if you clip your phone to your left hip and BT into your right ear, you will have static. I dare anyone to prove me wrong with any BT which is on the market today!

So, I finished my conversation holding my phone in my hand in front of me; ridiculous considering the whole point of a wireless link between my ear and my phone.

Does this nix the 855?

No, because they all do this.

Later, in my office I had 2 impeccable conversations with the phone sitting on the desk.

More later...

I'm Holding Off On the i-Phone

2008-01-21T21:45:23Z

I am completely dissuaded from the i-phone. I’ve awoken from the spell...

There are too many things I would miss (verses my current kit):

High-speed mobile browsing
Skype over 3G
Writing a quick note on the screen
Being able to add software
Audio notes
Having a tethering option
A physical QWERTY
Stereo Bluetooth
Easy contact search
Task Sync
Outlook email sync

I'd also like to see video capture and GPS in any new phone I go for, being as all high-end phones have them now.

Also, I don’t like supporting a closed ecosystem, where I would be obligated to use i-tunes as a conduit to my PC’s PIM info, and have to buy software only from Apple, etc.

The way I see it, Apple consumers are willing to sacrifice features, freedom and value for some best-of-breed implementations and the cool factor.
That’s just not me.

Although, I will be keeping my fingers crossed for the i-Phone 2...