AT&T
AT&T's De la Vega is getting in trouble for saying that they want to find ways to discourage people from using their data plans. It turns out that AT&T's data network is overloaded and rather than fix the problem, they think punishing their users will help.
As an AT&T customer, it makes me sick.
As an ex-AT&T employee, it just reminds me of why I was so happy to leave.
This is what you get for having salespeople run the company instead of engineers. Engineers would have budgeted for appropriate growth to match customer growth.
AT&T's mindset is that bandwidth is scarce. Every bit is so impossibly costly that it must be measured, counted, monitored, and charged for. On my first day as an employee I had to watch a 30 minute video that did nothing but explain that I can't make a single personal phone call from the office; it looked like it has been made when phone calls were still $3/minute. Don't waste their precious, precious bandwidth.
Bandwidth was expensive for the first 100 years of their history, but it certainly isn't true now. What made the internet great was thinking in terms of plenty, not scarcity.
I remember when “the web” (HTTP) was new. A friend at a different division of AT&T told me their engineers were fearful of HTTP and didn't want it to catch on because their network could never handle such a graphic-rich system (this was 1992 or 1993). I couldn't figure out why they weren't thinking, “Yeah! An opportunity to sell more bandwidth!” If you sell apples, don't you want to freely distribute apple pie recipes? If you sell paint don't you want to encourage everyone to repair their house? Ugh. If AT&T was selling bacon they'd be encouraging everyone to become a vegan.
At the time UUNET (the first commercial ISP) was giving away free Usenet feeds (at this time this was a HUGE amount of bandwidth) and paying people to develop open source Usenet software: all to make it easier for people to need more bandwidth. I thought UUNET's way was much smarter.
It also annoyed me, as an employee, that AT&T kept acting as if Moore's Law didn't exist. This is odd because the Moore revealed this observation during a presentation at AT&T's Bell Labs. Maybe they have to remember that Nielsen's Law makes similar claims about bandwidth. Pushed on by cheaper electronics, bandwidth gets cheaper too.
The biggest innovations in computing have come from brashly using more resources, usually slightly ahead of the supply curve. Textual user interfaces were a “waste of CPU” when first seen by batch computing people. Graphical user interfaces were a “waste of CPU” at first, but now it is what enables billions of people to use computers. RAID was a “waste of disk” but now I would never build a server without it.
The other attitude that I saw at AT&T was sheer shock and surprise that anything changes. “What? We built this thing for our customer base and… there are more customers a year later? They want new features? How could anyone have expected that?” Combine that with an intentional ignorance of Moore's Law and you have a disaster.
A disaster called AT&T.
Yes, AT&T, you have the best selling phone. People use it for data more than voice. The data apps are what make it such a success. Why do I get the feeling that when you negotiated with Apple you thought, “Sure, we'll throw in flat-rate data plans… it isn't like anyone is going to use that stuff!”
Are you still thinking that the internet is a “fad” like CEO Robert Allen?
My AT&T/iPhone contract is over in a few months. Maybe when it ends I should help De la Vega's bandwidth problem by not using his network at all.
P.S. I have a lot of pent up anger bout my AT&T service because twice a day as I take the train from Bloomfield, NJ to New York City and back I am faced with dead-spots at key locations such as the Secaucus transfer station, Watsessing Ave, and others locations along the way. It is frustrating to be on the train and see other passengers using Verizon and T-Mobile able to talk on their phone (and I presume surf the web) at all the points that I can't. It is my twice-a-day reminder to leave AT&T that I could be doing better with a different vendor.
Although made official a while ago, the HTC HD2 is still making waves. The hot Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone hasn’t been released in the USA yet but that’s not the only market still missing HTC’s flagship WinMo phone.
According to rumors and leaked ROMs, the U.S. version of the HD2 is coming from T-Mobile USA. The phone is scheduled to arrive at some point in the first quarter of next year so don’t go off buying that other Windows Mobile 6.5 phone that comes with a 1GHz processor, the LG eXpo, just yet. Naturally nobody from T-Mobile or HTC will confirm any of this so we will have to rely on leaked HD2 ROM filled with T-Mobile content.
Now if you live in India and want the same phone, you’re not going to be thrilled to hear that some smart people discovered in a ROM version what carrier will launch the HTC HD2 in the USA. But you will be particularly interested to hear that Tata DoCoMo has gone ahead and launch the HTC HD2 in India.
Tata DoCoMo is a new GSM carrier launched by Tata Group and Japan-based NTT DoCoMo. The phone will be available for prices varying from around $790 to $855 depending on the region you live in.
Sure the HTC HD2 seems expensive but it’s a handset worth paying extra for. The phone comes with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm, a 4.3-inch WVGA touchscreen display with multitouch support, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth 2.1, a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash, 3.5mm headset jack, HTC Sense UI and Windows Mobile 6.5 running in the background.
As you can see folks, India is going to get the hot smartphone before the U.S. but fear not, the HD2 is going to come your way too. On the other hand, by the time T-Mobile does release the HTC HD2 in the USA, some hotter Windows Mobile 6.5 phone might get launched. What do you say? Is it worth waiting for the device?
Robinho looks set to stay at Manchester City for another six months at least after the Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, today ruled out a move for the Brazilian during the winter transfer window. The player had made no secret of his desire to join the Catalans, but Laporta revealed that Barcelona's bid, made when they met representatives from the Premier League club in Abu Dhabi, was rejected. He insists that there is no plan to sign anyone during January – unless City's stance changes over the next month.
“We're happy with our squad and if we have to make any slight alteration we will do so,” the Barcelona president said. “Our offer for Robinho was not accepted and with the team we have, barring any unexpected last minute changes, we will not be signing during the winter .”
Barcelona have been discouraged from making a sizeable offer by the performance of their emerging youth team players. Pedro completed a unique record of having scored in every single competition in 2009 by adding a World Club Championships goal to go with strikes in the league, Champions League, Copa del Rey and Spanish and European Super Cups. He scored the 89th minute equaliser in the final of the World Club Championships against Estudiantes. And, as Barcelona chased the game, coach Pep Guardiola also replaced Thierry Henry with another Barcelona B player, Jeffren Suárez.
Robinho has publicly courted a move to Camp Nou, even as he has insisted that his future lies in City's hands. He admitted: “Of course I would like to play for Barcelona, who wouldn't? We could really enjoy ourselves. It would be a pleasure to play alongside Messi, my compatriot Alves, Xavi, Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, everyone. They are a great team. I have played against them and I know all about their quality. But until now I have only been able to play with them on the PlayStation.
“Pep Guardiola's side is truly spectacular. It is an honour that a coach like Guardiola speaks highly of me, for him to rate me as highly as I have read that he does. I genuinely appreciate it, from the bottom of my heart.”
Meanwhile, Laporta has also said that Gerard Piqué is poised to extend his contract with Barcelona beyond its current end date in 2012.
“He deserves it,” said Laporta of the defender. “He is one of the best in the world in his position.”
The 22-year-old began his Barcelona career at the age of 10 and later spent three seasons at Manchester United and one term on loan at Real Zaragoza before returning to the Catalan capital where he was a key part of last year's treble-winning side.
Following an order by Sir Gus O’Donnell, the Head of the Home Civil Service,
the quarterly details of all expenses incurred by senior officials and
non-executive members of departmental boards must be published online, along
with the hospitality they have enjoyed.
The first documents published by the Department for the Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs – which is meant to “secure a healthy environment” by reducing
carbon emissions and making efficient use of resources – show that its
senior civil servants do not always use “green” modes of travel.
Bob Watson, the ministry’s chief scientific adviser, took nine flights in six
months this year.
He flew to Helsinki, New York, New Zealand, Washington DC, Beijing, Cape Town,
Edinburgh and Madrid between April and September.
His three-day trip to China in July to attend a meeting of the “China-UK
Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network” cost £3,664.
His week-long visit to South Africa later the same month, to chair an
“International Ad-Hoc Technical Expert Group Meeting” cost £5,387. A note on
his file states that the £5,001 flight was the only one available.
Meanwhile Helen Ghosh, the department’s Permanent Secretary, took the 63-mile
journey from Bedford to Oxford by road, costing £249.60, in order to speak
at a school.
Moira Wallace, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Energy and Climate
Change, charged taxpayers £8,157 for the use of an official car between
April and June. Her file notes that the contract is “now terminated”.
Peter Betts, an Acting Director General, claimed £3,944 for a flight to a
meeting in Mexico in June and a further £79 for taxis.
The Permanent Secretary at the Department for Transport, Robert Devereux spent
£37,278 on an official car in six months.
Mike Mitchell, the director general of National Networks, spent £242 in three
months on taxis for meetings in London, many of them to events associated
with public transport.
He was driven to Willesden train depot, a Network Rail Event, a High Speed
Rail conference and a Rail Awards dinner along with London Transport awards
and the launch of the Greyhound bus service in Britain. In the previous
three months, Mr Mitchell spent £138 on cars and taxis.
Bronwyn Hill, the director general city and regional networks took a taxi to
the National Transport Awards in July, which were held at a Park Lane hotel
in February.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Wherever practicable officials
must use public transport unless inefficient in terms of cost or official
time. Board members have very demanding schedules which can often only be
met through the use of private transportation.”
Prof Dame Sally Davies, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health,
claimed £2,722 for a flight to St Lucia to attend a Caribbean Health
Research Council meeting in April. Despite this, her file declares a
“contribution to air fare” from the council, as well as free accommodation.
At the Department for Children, Schools and Families, David Bell, the
Permanent Secretary, claimed £369.83 for one night’s accommodation in London
in April because of “operational requirements”.
In July he spent £112 on an early-morning flight to Newquay.
Between April and September he claimed £43,612 for the use of an “official
secure car”.
Professor John Beddington, the Government’s chief scientific officer, claimed
£10,352 for flights for a three-day official trip to Washington, San Diego
and San Francisco in May. He claimed another £267 for accommodation and
meals during his stay.
Sir Jon Shortridge, a retired mandarin, claimed more than £3,000 in expenses
during the month he was interim permanent secretary at the former
Universities department. Sir Jon, who stood in from May 25 to June 30 this
year, claimed £2,740 for accommodation and travel and another £350 for
travel to meetings.
Louise Casey, the Home Office’s neighbourhood crime “tsar” claimed £213.50 for
a taxi on a visit to a “Community Payback” project in April. During the same
month she claimed £434 for a taxi to “official meetings and speaking
engagement on crime and policing” in London and Surrey.
Marilynne Morgan, a non-executive director in the Treasury Solicitor’s
department, claimed £3.50 in May to cover the cost of parking for a meeting
of the senior civil service pay committee, which oversees mandarins’
salaries.
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Sure, the Chicago Blackhawks pulled back into sole possession of the Western Conference lead by beating Detroit yesterday, but the Nashville Predators are riding high these days, and so are their fans. Perhaps one of the most satisfying …
See what you know about the news of the day. … News Quiz | December 21, 2009. By SCOTT KOENIG. See what you know about the news below. To prepare, you might scan the articles or summaries on today's front page. …
Thanks in part to AT&T's spotty service, iPhones are great computers, but lousy phones. The mainstream is starting to catch on.
During his fake newscast on Saturday Night Live, Seth Meyers reported on the upcoming Google Phone.
“It was reported this week that Google would soon launch its own cellphone as a challenge to the iPhone,” said Meyers.
“Also a challenge to the iPhone? Making phone calls.”
Now we know why Verizon, which expects to carry the iPhone next year, is already investing so much in its network.
Brian Nieves