All of the McDonald’s in Paris also have free WiFi which are operated by METEOR Networks, practically all of them were equipped from 2003 to 2004

Maybe it is all in my mind but this MacDonalds WiFi news is HUGE. It means (at least to me) that WiFi will be rolled out BIG TIME all over the world and very quickly. Starbucks can forget about charging for WiFi usage and they will have to make it free as will their competitors. And of course that will generate even more buying of iTouches and iPhones…

Universal WiFi access has practically failed when you consider the efforts made by cities who’ve invested a lot of money with very little returns ( Link ), but I agree with SNIPUS that free WiFi access will be made ubiquitous by fastfood-restaurants/coffeeshops and alike, though I do not necessarily see it as an “iPhone driven phenomenon”...yet

Until now, free WiFi targets people wanting to use their laptop during their lunch/coffee-break, but with the rise of the iPhone generation (including Blackberries and other competitors), WiFi hotspots will celebrate their second youth

edit: maybe we can dedicate a new thread to the whole WiFi topic

Apple to hit $225?

Always trust Tommo’s crystal ball

[quote author=“MaCroissant”]Universal WiFi access has practically failed when you consider the efforts made by cities who’ve invested a lot of money with very little returns ( Link ), but I agree with SNIPUS that free WiFi access will be made ubiquitous by fastfood-restaurants/coffeeshops and alike, though I do not necessarily see it as an “iPhone driven phenomenon”...yet

Until now, free WiFi targets people wanting to use their laptop during their lunch/coffee-break, but with the rise of the iPhone generation (including Blackberries and other competitors), WiFi hotspots will celebrate their second youth

edit: maybe we can dedicate a new thread to the whole WiFi topic

OK
http://www.macobserver.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=363033#363033

Good article. No FUD and accurate as far as I could see.

[quote author=“sstenner”] Apple to hit $225?

Always trust Tommo’s crystal ball

More glorious FUD from the media whores now trying to paint Apple as the new Microsoft:

08:56   AAPL Apple is losing some of its shine? - LA Times (161.45 )

LA Times reports why can’t the co stop ticking off the people who love it? Some of the loyalists who have made Apple so successful lately have turned on the tech star. Even as Apple posts record financial results, they complain that the revolutionary co they supported has changed, showing signs of being wrong-headed, shortsighted, even greedy. One week there’s hue and cry over Apple’s decision to slash the iPhone’s price only two months after it went on sale. The next, it’s sputtering anger over a software security update that wiped out programs iPhone owners installed so they could do such things as send instant messages or play games. When they get really mad, they lob an M-bomb—they say Apple is starting to remind them of historical rival Microsoft, which in their world is the prototypical soulless, monopolistic machine. “There is a rise in complaints about Apple’s policies and strategic decisions this year, and it seems to be accelerating,” said John Gruber, writer of the popular technology blog Daring Fireball. Apple’s continued push into the mainstream mkt has come at the cost of goodwill from some of its biggest fans.

Incredibly one sided slanted reporting for a major city daily. All about the whining from Darwin award nominees who apparently cannot read. NO THIRD PARTY APPS. AT&T ONLY. These complainers are the same people who never take any responsibility for their own stupid actions. I would think there is a backlash against the constant harping on what Apple is not doing. To hell with these people and screw the LA Times for currying to the ‘‘bad news sells’’ crowd

[quote author=“SNIPUS”]Incredibly one sided slanted reporting for a major city daily. All about the whining from Darwin award nominees who apparently cannot read. NO THIRD PARTY APPS. AT&T ONLY. [...]

Actually, I am quite concerned that Apple enforcing it’s policy of no third party applications can be damaging. I for one do not want a smartphone that can not run 3rd party apps natively. Like me there are bound to be others, and this will decrease the appeal of the iPhone and consequently sales and EPS. An article on BusinessWeek sums my feelings quite well.

I keep clinging to the hope that this is all a deft PR move that will culminate with Stephen Colbert announcing that Apple has let the iPhone free.

Apple is considering 3rd party iPhone apps after Leopard comes out. There will be a submission process and those with Apple’s approval will be available for download from iTunes in the same manner that Widgets are available from Apple.com. I would assume there will be both free and commercial products,since many of the more professional ones have already introduced themselves as commercial. I would also expect Apple to be enriching their own apps line up with Leopard.

[quote author=“willrob”]Apple is considering 3rd party iPhone apps after Leopard comes out. There will be a submission process and those with Apple’s approval will be available for download from iTunes in the same manner that Widgets are available from Apple.com. I would assume there will be both free and commercial products,since many of the more professional ones have already introduced themselves as commercial. I would also expect Apple to be enriching their own apps line up with Leopard.

Nice that the media are finally catching on. I’ve only been saying this would happen since, oh, May/June

RBC Advises Buying Apple On Volatility From Verizon Competition
posted on: October 07, 2007 | about stocks: VZ / AAPL  

Verizon (VZ) Wireless has announced four new phones for the holiday shopping season, one of which is being called a potential iPhone killer. The Voyager, which is made by LG and goes on sale Nov. 18, will have a touch screen and full-sized QWERTY keyboard when it is flipped open.

Despite its two screens and positioning as both cheaper and faster than Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) iPhone, the Voyager looks unlikely to pose a major threat, says RBC Capital Markets’ Mike Abramsky. However, he does think it may slow defections from Verizon.

Verizon will also be selling a new BlackBerry Pearl, the Venus from LG, and Samsung’s Juke, a music phone that opens like a switchblade.

The analyst points to early reviews that suggest Voyager’s browser may offer less than the iPhone’s, the design is not as stylish, it is bulkier, and it doesn’t have iTunes, of course.

Volatility related to this competition is a buying opportunity for Apple shares, Mr. Abramsky wrote in a note to clients. He continues to rate the shares at “outperform.”

[quote author=“willrob”]RBC Advises Buying Apple On Volatility From Verizon Competition
posted on: October 07, 2007 | about stocks: VZ / AAPL  

What volatility? AAPL is up about $15 since Verizon announced the Voyager

What competition for that matter

[quote author=“Tommo_UK”][quote author=“willrob”]RBC Advises Buying Apple On Volatility From Verizon Competition
posted on: October 07, 2007 | about stocks: VZ / AAPL  

What volatility? AAPL is up about $15 since Verizon announced the Voyager

What competition for that matter

i think he is talking about a future pull back when he tells his hedge fund friends to dump the stock.

CNBC is talking about google phone.

The funny part is they keep showing the iPHone.

The iPhone is the standard everyone is trying to meet.  The funny part is that Apple is already working 2 years ahead of them.

Can you imagine what would happen if Apple lowered their prices another $100 in six months.