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January 12, 2007

News for telecom industry leaders

News of the Day

AT&T sets Cingular rebranding in motion
AT&T will begin to transition away from the Cingular Wireless brand on Monday in part through an education campaign targeting Cingular customers. For the time being, the Cingular orange Jack character logo will appear with the AT&T blue globe logo until the brand is completely dissolved about mid-year. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (1/12) , The New York Times/Associated Press (1/12)

Live Webcast: Finding the "Search" in Web 2.0 -- On January 16th at 2:00 p.m. EST, join FAST, Forrester Research, Comcast, and Reed Business for a spirited discussion about the role of search as a key enabler for the user experience of Web 2.0. Search is how users and customers connect to your business, content, and services. Register Now: www.fastsearch.com/webinars/Search&Web2.0

Business & Industry Watch

Verizon turns on FiOS TV in New Jersey
Verizon Communications announced its FiOS television service is now available in 106 communities throughout the state. The company expects to expand its service reach to close to 300 towns in New Jersey by year's end. The Philadelphia Inquirer/Associated Press (1/11)

Embarq: Access line numbers better than expected
Embarq's work to keep small-business customers and entice consumers with bundled packages is paying off, as the company reported losing fewer phone lines in 2006 than it had forecast, just 6.1%. The company sees access-line loss slowing and says it may be headed toward its peak. Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas)/Associated Press (1/11)

Samsung: iPhone to create high-end demand
Apple's iPhone may compete with Samsung Electronics' high-end handset offerings, such as the BlackJack, but the company also sees the device's introduction as a path to more opportunity. Samsung plans to continue to push forward in the multimedia handset space. Forbes/Associated Press (1/12)

Samsung posts profit dip: Samsung Electronics reported an 8% drop in fourth-quarter profit, in large part due to declines in average selling prices for mobile phones. The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) (1/12) , BusinessWeek/Associated Press (1/12)

Sprint Nextel still exclusive with "24"
Sprint Nextel will once again sign on as the mobile source for exclusive content from the Fox drama "24." As part of the agreement, Sprint will offer show-related sneak peaks, ringtones, images and games. The Hollywood Reporter (1/12)

Verizon Business ups service ante
Verizon Business plans to introduce Ethernet services nationwide this year, as well as a national virtual private LAN service, with the help of Tellabs. The VPLS will make use of Layer 2 technology, although the company points out that a Layer 3 service will eventually be needed if voice and video are to be added to a company's VPN. Network World (1/10)

Other News

Google in talks with CBS, report says
CNET (1/11)

Revolution of personal and home technologies in the US & Europe
This report that provides a detailed analysis of some of the fastest-growing home entertainment markets, such as digital TV, pay-TV, personal content jukeboxes, portable games consoles, and mobile entertainment. It provides an in-depth analysis of the market size, drivers, and leading players.

Technology Trends

Digital convergence officially arrives
New product introductions, such as Apple's iPhone and Apple TV and Microsoft's next-generation Xbox 360 console morphing into a set-top box, are proof that hurdles to convergence are being cleared. "The PC and consumer electronic worlds are starting to talk to each other," an HP executive says. San Francisco Chronicle (1/12)

Wireless in Asia: A look ahead
ZDNet Asia expects mobility to continue to grow in the Asia-Pacific enterprise market in 2007, especially as more high-speed options come online, but IT issues will exist. Other mobile drivers in the region will be GPS, convergence, mobile-TV uptake and the overall proliferation of mobile networks. BusinessWeek (1/11)

IP Download

BT's VoIP-customer numbers hit 1 million
BT reached the 1 million VoIP subscriber mark six months ahead of schedule. VoIP customers account for more than one third of the company's consumer broadband totals. Converge! Network Digest (1/10)

Skype says data rates hinder its VoIP service on mobiles
Skype believes inexpensive wireless data plans are needed before its VoIP service will be a viable widespread option for cell phone users. The company does have a deal with 3 that gives users unlimited access to Skype for less than $10 a month. Red Herring/Reuters (1/11)

Editor's Note

SmartBrief will not be published on Monday
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the U.S., Smartbrief will not be published Monday. Publication will resume Tuesday.

LeadQuote

They're only truly great who are truly good."

--George Chapman,
English dramatist and poet

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