February 20, 2009
Apple toys with idea of tiered pricing for the iPhone
Network World
Yoni Heisler writes that according to Berstein Research analyst, Toni Sacconaghi, Apple may introduce tiered pricing for the iPhone as a way to enter new markets.
“(Toni) Sacconaghi noted that Apple was looking into ways to bring the iPhone into new markets, and one of the avenues Apple’s exploring is an examination of how tiered pricing for the iPhone might attract new customers. As it stands now, the data plan required for iPhone users stands as a significant barrier to entry for a large number of consumers, a situation only exacerbated in the current economic climate. While Tim Cook has openly stated that Apple would not enter the low-end phone market, a cheaper data plan could be an alternative that Apple would be willing to consider in order to drive up demand.”
Bamboo-zled: Eco Veneers Storm the Design World
Wired
Priya Ganapati writes about bamboo and how it’s recently taken the gadget world by storm.
“Bamboo has become the ‘it’ material for many gadget designers. PC maker Dell has launched its Studio Hybrid PC with the option of a bamboo case, while Asus offers a Bamboo series notebook. There are also bamboo speakers, a keyboard, mouse and USB hub available, all wearing the woody-stemmed grass. Bamboo exteriors are just the most recent flourish PC manufacturers are using to try to signal their concern for the environment.”
Windows 7 Release Candidate: Arriving Before March?
The VAR Guy
The VAR Guy writes about Microsoft’s Windows 7 news.
“According to The VAR Guy, Windows 7 is Microsoft’s attempt to fix and polish everything that was wrong with Windows Vista – including misleading product positioning on low-end PCs. Now, our resident blogger thinks Windows 7 coupled with the forthcoming Microsoft Retail Store initiative could help the software giant to regain trust with consumers and businesses burned by bad Windows Vista experiences.”