Valleywag
loren feldman
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Verizon
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loren feldman
loren feldman
"TechNigga" video gets 1938 Media removed from Verizon
1938 Media is a one-man videoblog run by Loren Feldman. The guy is funny, in that edgily-offensive way that makes you wonder when someone's going to punch him in the face. Last week, Verizon cut a deal with Feldman to market his videos on Verizon phones and broadband connections — a big win for a one-man act. But eight days later, 1938's clips are gone from Verizon. The reason? A backlash from activist groups who've branded Feldman's shtick as racist. A year ago, Feldman posted "TechNigga," in which he pandered to stereotypes in an attempt to parody TechCrunch. The video wasn't in Verizon's collection of 1938 clips, and Feldman long ago made his apologies. Protesters don't care. Watch the first 1:05 of "TechNigga" and you'll understand everything.
quotable
Verizon CEO thinks iPhone hype is a "conspiracy"
Obviously tired of being pestered with questions about iPhone this and Steve Jobs that, Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg put on a tinfoil hat and sat down for an interview with the Financial Times:He scoffs at suggestions that the iPhone is about to become a mass-market handset because Apple has accepted mobile operators' pleas to subsidise it. "There goes the conspiracy again," he says of Apple. "You're declaring them a winner before they've earned it on the field."More »
politics
TelCos bought wiretapping immunity for a song
The average contribution from AT&T, Verizon and Sprint to the 94 Democratic congresscritters who change their votes from "no" to "yes" on the bill which would grant the companies immunity from charges of illegally wiretapping American citizens? $8,359. How much for all 293 "yes" votes, total? $2,830,087. Eleven California dems changed their votes — Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who represents San Francisco, scored $24,500 in sweet, sweet lobbyist contributions. [MAPLight.org] (Photo by AP/Susan Walsh)
your privacy is an illusion
Verizon's privacy reputation is due for an update
In a statement last updated in 2003, Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg calls the company's "Privacy Principles" the best in the industry. One of Verizon's broadband customers doesn't buy it. He's forwarded us an email Verizon sent him updating its "Acceptable Use Policy." The policy now reads: More »
google
Spectrum winner Verizon not concerned with letter of the law adherence to Google's "open rules"
The members of Google's team for its multibillion-dollar wireless-spectrum bid worked themselves to exhaustion and sickness. That was all in an effort to force the contest's eventual winner to abide by "open access" rules Google convinced the FCC to adopt last summer for its 700-Mhz spectrum sale. The auction winner, Verizon, seems to have little concern for Google's mobile whimsy. It plans to launch and heavily market "crippled, walled garden phones with no VoIP, Verizon content, highly restricted [terms of service], [and] high priced SMS," according to Broadband Reports. More »
online advertising
AOL lands Verizon's 94 million monthly pageviews -- but will splashy deal make money?
AOL moved into its new New York headquarters today, and new ad boss Lynda Clarizio has roped Verizon into paying a portion of the lease. The companies announced a deal today that will make AOL's Platform-A the exclusive manager of Verizon's Web and wireless ads. That inventory includes 94 million pageviews a month. It's Clarizio's first big deal after replacing Curt Viebranz in an internal coup earlier this year. He was the the sixth advertising chief at AOL since 2001. But should we be that impressed? More »
wireless
Verizon pays dearly for right to operate open network
The big winner in the U.S. government's recent wireless-spectrum auction was Verizon, having spent at least $4.7 billion and as much as $10 billion to acquire licenses nationwide. AT&T was the next highest bidder, with satellite broadcaster EchoStar the biggest of the new kids. Verizon unveiled plans to open up its wireless network to third parties yesterday, likely in anticipation of today's announcement. I have to agree with VentureBeat's MG Siegler — the real winner here is Google, which didn't have to pay a dime, but changed the terms of the contract for the eventual winner just by entering a lowball bid. Well played, Google, well played. (Photo AP/Don Ryan)
wireless spectrum
Who are the big wireless spectrum auction winners?
The FCC's auction of the 700MHz spectrum, soon to be abandoned by analog television broadcasters, is over. Bids totaled $19.6 billion for licenses across the country. But it may be weeks until the winners are announced publicly. Among the big bidders, AT&T and Verizon are the most likely, and the most boring. Google tried to shape the debate over access to the spectrum with a promised bid, and have been acquiring infrastructure over the years. And there's a chance an unknown or three might make a splash. Valleywag is, of course, all ears at tips@valleywag.com. More »
file sharing
Why Verizon isn't fighting file sharing
While Comcast has been trying to curtail file sharing, Verizon has taken a hands-off approach. Why? It's not because Verizon executives are free-the-Internet libertarian nutjobs. No, it's because file sharing can make them more money. The phone company partnered with peer-to-peer software startup Pando Networks to speed video downloads. When DSL customers share files with others on Verizon's network, it cuts costs 75 to 90 percent and dramatically reduces the load on Verizon's network. Before you hold up this capitalist move as an argument for network neutrality, consider this: Verizon had to share data about its network with Pando to optimize delivery of the video files. (Photo by /Mark Lennihan)
price war
Sprint rolls out super-unlimited-everything-plan for $99
The great wireless price war of 2008 continues. The latest salvo from Sprint: A new plan, called Simply Everything, offers unlimited voice, data, SMS, email, Web, music, TV, and Nextel's push-to-talk feature — for $99. The other providers charge between $140 and $150 a month for all that stuff. An AT&T spokesman told us "we will review Sprint's offer against what our customers have told us they want and we will continue to evaluate the marketplace as we always do." Hopefully that means I can hook AT&T's version of this bad boy up with my iPhone by the end of the week — but I'm not holding my breath. (Photo by AP/Robert F. Bukaty)
wireless
AT&T, Verizon join Sprint in offering unlimited voice plans
The great cell-phone price war of 2008 has begun. Almost 2 weeks ago, Sprint introduced a $119 unlimited voice plan in four markets (including San Francisco). Today, both Verizon and AT&T have rolled out $99 all-you-can-talk voice plans nationally, with Verizon introducing a less-than-spectacular new EVDO data plan. More »
Who needs the iPhone? Verizon Wireless added 1.9 million customers last quarter, more than analysts had predicted. In its financials, Verizon met expectations, making $1.1 billion on $23.8 billion in sales. The company also reported broadband subscribers were up 18 percent year over year, in part because of the rollout of its Fios fiber-optic service. Verizon now has more than 1 million Fios subscribers, though higher than predicted capital expenditures — including on the Fios rollout — hurt earnings. [Wall Street Journal]
Vonage isn't just facing service issues today. It's also been revealed that Nortel countersued the Internet telephone provider over a patent dispute. That makes four big telephone companies suing Vonage for patent infringement: AT&T, Sprint Nextel, Verizon, and now Nortel. The good news: At this rate, Vonage is running out of companies to get sued by. [News.com]
bad ideas
"Don't tase me bro" goes commercial
Andrew Meyer, a student at the University of Florida who was tasered after trying to ask John Kerry questions at a forum, got his 15 minutes of fame when millions saw video of him saying, "Don't tase me, bro!" on YouTube. If you thought it was the funniest thing you've ever seen, and you're a Verizon Wireless customer, you're in luck! You can purchase "Don't Tase Me Bro!" as your ringback tone. (A ringback tone is a short song or audio clip that plays when someone calls you. So, instead of hearing a boring "ring ring," your debt collectors and babydaddies will hear "DON'T TASE ME, BRO! ARGHH!" repeatedly. Who doesn't want that?) OK, seriously, this must be a sign of the coming apocalypse. For those who missed it, the full video of the arrest and tasing is after the jump. More »
4:35 PM on Fri Dec 7 2007
By Jordan Golson
24,799 views,
4 comments
Latest by Jeremy: He's annoying - they should have hit the fire button two more times to quiet him. more »
comcast
Comcast shares drop on lowered expectations
Has cable's golden age ended? Cable-TV subscriptions were long seen as recession-proof. But as their price continues to soar, at last, consumers are voting with their pocketbooks. Comcast shares dropped 12.3 percent Wednesday after the company lowered earnings and growth forecasts. Added competition from Verizon, satellite providers and other cable companies took most of the blame as the triple-play price war continues, driving down average revenue per customer across the industry. On top of that, capital spending is up as Comcast rolls out more HD channels and video-on-demand. We would suggest that Comcast stockholders pray for strong growth, but after the cable giant blocked the Bible, it might not be the best idea.
mpaa
MPAA head asks ISPs to save the movie industry
Dan Glickman, head of the MPAA, is calling on Internet service providers to implement filtering to protect movies from piracy. AT&T has already announced plans to develop such a system, but there are few details. It's also not clear if Glickman has any rationale for placing the onus on ISPs, considering the law's not on his side. And yet, the prospect of holding them legally responsible for piracy on their networks is implied in his statements. More »
wireless
