Apple launches new Web-to-TV device, introduces new iPods
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Apple unveiled its new web-to-TV device, a smaller and cheaper version, on Wednesday. The new device, that can access content from the internet and play it on a TV, will sell for $99 which is quarter the size of the original that cost of $299. The 4-inch device allows users to rent TV shows for 99 cents and first-run films for $4.99. In addition, users will also be able to stream content from video rental site Netflix Inc. The launch of this device is expected to step up a battle with Google Inc and Microsoft Corp for control of the digital living room according to Reuters.
Moreover, Apple has revamped its product line just ahead of the key holiday sales season:
The new iPod shuffle is smaller than the previous model and has been updated to include playlists and buttons to navigate the volume. Jobs said it would play 15 hours of music and would come in five different colors for a price of $49.
The nano, the next model up, now includes FM radio and can hold 24 hours of music. It will be priced at $149 for the 8-gigabyte model or $179 for the 16-gigabyte version, Jobs said.
The touch, the third revised iPod model, is thinner than the current model and will include a front camera. It will be available next week at a price of $229 to $399 depending on storage.
Sony to launch digital-media service to rival Apple, FT says
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
According to a recent article from the Financial Times, Sony will soon begin its latest attempt to fight back against Apple’s dominance in the digital media field, by unveiling a new music and video subscription service to run across a range of its devices.
The announcement is expected to be made in Berlin at the IFA technology show, FT added. Sources in the media industry told the newspaper that Sony would use its PlayStation games consoles as the starting point for a new service that users will be able to use across a range of other internet-connected devices. That could include Walkman music players, Vaio computers, Bravia TVs, Blu-ray players and Sony Ericsson mobile phones.
Content owners have been keen for a company with Sony’s scale and marketing power to counterbalance Apple’s dominance.
Sony declined to comment this.
Bouygues Telecom reached 10.5 million mobile customers and 525,000 Bbox activations at end-June 2010
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
French alternative telecommunications operator Bouygues Telecom -part of the Bouygues Group a diversified industrial group- has experienced an interesting second quarter in terms of both financial and operational performance.
In fact, according to the Group’s first half 2010 earnings release, Bouygues Telecom overall sales rose by 4% to €2.7 billion and sales from network by the same figure to €2.5 billion. As a result, EBITDA increased by 5% to €702 million while net profit stood at €264 million down 1% compared to a year ago.
In terms of operational performance, the operator managed to attract 351,000 new mobile contract customers to bring its total mobile customer base at more than 10.5 million of which 78.7% are on call plans by the end of June. In the same time, the fixed line business continues to grow adding about 97,000 new activations in the second quarter only to bring the total Bbox routers activated at 525,000 thus, confirming the company’s growth strategy.
