Pivot, From Time Warner and Sprint, a Waste of Time?

I am not so sure what demographic group, would be willing to purchase such a display of struggle shown by Time Warner Cable, in developing an appealing wireless addition to a solid buddle of communication services. Sure AT & T will be gaining massive market share-at least in the eyes of an industry, in which the mobility arm has had ZERO share.....the iPhone, even if they have paid to sell it, brings marketing power to an already powerful advertising force. The consumer will recieve benefits as found in the ads; such as mobile TV, mobile email, mobile everything a normal Blackberry offers-except TWC and Sprint are using phones with normal size screens that are not really built for constant use for services other than voice or SMS....I could be wrong; I see this as a waste of money for both TWC and Sprint (Sprint already has a new sketchy ad campaign-still based on creative and not media consumption!). Pivot is not competition to any new services from the wireless community-perhaps other cable operators, yes!

Pulled From Time Warner Website 8-13-2007

"Wouldn't it be great if you could take the Time Warner Cable services you use at home - like Digital Cable programming, Road Runner High Speed Online, and Digital Phone - with you on your wireless phone? Now you can. Pivot is a new service that combines the best of Sprint wireless with the Time Warner Cable services you enjoy at home.........Wherever you go, Pivot lets you take Mobile TV, Mobile Email, Mobile Web, and even unlimited wireless-to-home calling with you - all on your Sprint wireless phone. Watch ABC News Now®, E! News Update®, Fox News®, Comedy Time® and additional entertainment, news and music channels with Mobile TV. Enjoy unlimited calling between your home Digital Phone and Sprint wireless phone. Access the Web and check your Road Runner email on the go."

(Some More Copy From Time Warners Website) "Take advantage of all this and more - like unlimited night and weekend calling that starts at 7pm, and unlimited mobile to mobile calling.
And, enjoy it all on one bill, from one company - Time Warner Cable."
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News Release On Sprint Website from several months ago....

Innovative Wireless Service Gives Customers The Power To Feel At Home Anywhere
Available in 40 metropolitan areas this year, "Pivot" delivers value, convenience and access to comforts of home everywhere customers turn

Media Contact:
Melinda Tiemeyer, Sprint, 913-794-1089
melinda.g.tiemeyer@sprint.com

ORLANDO, Fla. — 03/26/2007

Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE:S), Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC), Cox Communications and Advance/Newhouse Communications today launched the branding of "Pivot," the integrated service that gives consumers the ability to link their mobile phone service with their home digital phone, and certain high-speed internet services and digital cable services. Pivot combines powerful wireline and wireless networks to bring more useful capabilities to customers, such as one-button access to the Internet, home and wireless email and mobile TV.

"Pivot was designed to help customers connect to home with an easier, more convenient and more affordable way to keep in touch, stay informed and be entertained. We want to make technology work better and faster for the customer—and with our unique partnership, we can do things our competitors can't," said John Garcia, president Sprint/MSO Joint Venture. "Pivot links your wireless phone with the comforts of home. Our common vision is to give customers anywhere easy access to the entertainment, communications and information services that are already important to them."

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Pivot Product/Service Info

New Sprint Advertising Campaign

Apple and the "i" Generation of Marketing

With the iPod, iPhone, and now the "new look" and updates to the iMac; I could place a strong to very strong winning bet on Apple having a record year, in more than one category. Just think the iPod and iPhone have at the least, drawn out a valuable group of consumers whom are now looking and visiting the Apple stores, lurking on the (Apple) websites, reading the press, buying these "i" products and in general helping Apple gain market share in a disguse....it is perfect timing as several have said for the new school year and the holidays...in addition the new iMac cost less than the first one did.....how about that! Still a great company-however I feel something in the future (5-10 years) will have to change in the most unexpected manner...perhaps a market shift into a new technology or product line for Apple, a major purchase or sell....or thats it right now.....

Apple Unveils New iMac

CUPERTINO, California-Apple® has recently unveiled an all new all-in-one iMac® line featuring gorgeous 20- and 24-inch widescreen displays encased in elegant and professional aluminum and glass enclosures. The entire new iMac line features the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors and a new, ultra-thin aluminum Apple Keyboard, built-in iSight® video camera for video conferencing and iLife® ’08, making it the ultimate digital lifestyle desktop computer for both consumers and professionals. The 20-inch iMac now starts at just $1,199, $300 less than the previous 20-inch model, and the 24-inch iMac starts at just $1,799, $200 less than the previous 24-inch model.

Man, I really like this brand and would like to speak with the entire team of maketing and advertising personalities-sharp folks over there, if I could ever get the chance, even just one would be an educate. I agree, that yes Apple has the technology to make this market jump or push take place; however someone still has to package and market to the consumer; carefully.

“This new iMac is the most incredible desktop computer we’ve ever made,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Our new design features the innovative use of materials, including professional-grade aluminum and glass, that are highly recyclable."

Jobs, is no joke!

Press Contacts: (please contact for questions about Apple)

Teresa Brewer
Apple

(408) 974-6851

Lynn Fox
Apple
lfox@apple.com
(408) 974-4300

Full iMac Story

Apple Hot News

I Like Gannett's Style....

I like their style, go big or go home. Every digital signage network I see has Verizon (Wireless) as a client-easy pickin's?....nah, they just want to keep their market share and take over one day, thats all. Captivate is ready to launch and battle with the Wall Street Journal Office Network I suppose...or one of these other groups that has signage in office complexes...there is plently of real estate and logically Captivate or Gannett I should say will win this battle. That is my guess, 1/2 way educated, although Wall made the first move with the move from offices to elevators, or at least public move; perhaps they will merge or sell out to the other.....at least it will be interesting to watch and at this point these networks can really help the industry as a whole, if they choose too. Enjoy the articles, and Miller got to this first, I just checked....at least I know I am picking good headliners....


Captivate to Launch Suburban Network
Katy Bachman
JULY 24, 2007 -

Captivate Network, the company that pioneered a network of digital screens in office elevators, announced Tuesday it will create a second network. The Captivate Suburban Network will complement Captivate’s current Office Tower Network, yet allow advertisers to target a more suburban marketplace.

The Suburban Network will include a pedestal display for office lobbies in a 40 inch size and wall mount screens available in 26- and 40-inch displays.

“A few years ago, we began to experiment with lobby displays in the suburban office market,” said Mike DiFranza, president and general manager of Captivate, which is owned by Gannett. “This opens up a whole new space for us.”

Founded a decade ago, Captivate’s Office Tower Network now reaches more than 2.3 million viewers daily in 21 markets. It’s also doing a brisk advertising business, up 12.3 percent in second quarter, Gannett reported. Advertisers that have used Captivate to reach its upscale, business consumer, include some of the nation’s largest including Lexus, AT&T, Toyota, BMW, FedEX, Discovery Channel, Verizon, Blackberry and American Airlines.
Full Story

Nike News

Nike would not give small networks the time of day....correct me if I'm wrong but they do not advertise at a regional and local level-it is all national (for the most part). I imagine that stores like Foot Locker or Dick's Sporting Goods spends a lot of co-op dollars, thus Nike can stay away from all this regional advertising which is critical from other industries and organizations....it is always fun to watch and monitor a company when staffing changes have been made.

Nike Picks New Marketing Chief
July 11, 2007
By Joan Voight and Andew McMains

SAN FRANCISCO Nike has hired Ken Dice as U.S. vp of marketing, a post that has been vacant for six months, according to sources.

A Nike representative confirmed that Dice was joining the company but declined to disclose his title. Dice will oversee advertising, retail marketing, public relations and overall brand positioning, sources said. He had been evp of marketing at Discovery Networks since 2003, and before that he served as svp of consumer marketing at Sony Electronics. Dice will move from Maryland to take the new position in Nike's Portland, Ore., headquarters, per sources.

Full Story from Adweek

Nokia, DIY mobile TV startup...

Nokia invests in DIY mobile TV startup kyte.tv
Jul 3, 2007 8:00 AM

Nokia Growth Partners, Nokia’s private equity and venture capital management arm, recently invested in kyte.tv, a startup company that enables users to create and broadcast interactive TV channels on their mobile phones, as well as the Internet.

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Ripple: Rolling Strong!

Ripple has got the right idea and I like the hyper local aspect that can be applied to selling spots on their network.

Ripple TV Gets Funding, Jack-in-the-Box Venues
by Erik Sass
Ripple TV, A NEW PLACE-BASED video advertising network targeting local advertisers, is rapidly expanding its footprint. Today, the company announced a new round of funding as well as a major new retail partnership with Jack-in-the-Box, the popular fast-food chain. The company is also planning to provide free Wi-Fi access to all venues that install its video displays.

The second round of funding, to the tune of $10 million, was led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson and included first-round investor Trinity Ventures. Concurrent with the new funding, John Fisher--co-founder of DFJ--is also joining the Ripple board.

The Jack-in-the-Box deal stands to increase Ripple's distribution network with up to 2,000 new retail locations around the country. Ripple plans to install its video displays in the majority of JIB locations over the next few months. The company has already established video displays at 500 locations throughout Southern California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii; company reps say the number is growing by double digits every week.


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Are Cable Operators a Fair Match for Verizon's FiOS TV?

Verizon is becoming more and more aggressive from every angle. Just today I spoke with a bluetooth marketing firm and my IT Director mentions Verizon, Bluetooth and Spam all in 1/2 of a sentence. Okay-so adding or attempting to add 77k TV households is legal and for heavens sake they are providing a service that will soon either be adapted to or become the next wave of TV....here's the article...


Verizon Files Application to Add 77,000 TV Households In Competition with Local Cable
New State Franchise Law's Five-Day Provision Simplifies Expansion of Service to Hundreds of Thousands of Households in 2008

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -Verizon today applied to offer a real choice for TV services soon to 77,000 more households in the Tampa area. The application was filed under Florida's new cable TV franchise law and strengthens Verizon's coverage for its FiOS services to nearly 2 million households in the Tampa Bay region.

This initial application will add the cities of Tarpon Springs and Sarasota as well as portions of Pinellas County to Verizon's franchised municipalities and counties in Florida, which now numbers 16 communities. The law also features a unique provision for expanding into other calling areas, referred to as wire centers, in the future. As Verizon expands its fiber network and begins to provide service to customers, it can add these new areas to its franchise application simply by filing an amendment within five days of providing initial service in the area.

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