The most accurate predictive letter in computing and telecommunications,
read by industry leaders worldwide.

 

 

 

 

In This Issue     Feature: The Impact of Shared Devices   Quotes of the Week   Takeout Window    FiRe 2011 Invitation to Members  The Largest Barrier to IPTV?   Ethermail   Upgrades    Apple Numbers  The HP Board   Upcoming SNS Events & Media Links   In Other House News…   New Members’ Welcome SNS Positions Open How to Subscribe May I Share This Newsletter? About SNS About the Publisher Where’s Mark?

SNS MEMBERS: We will be raising the price for attending our Ninth Annual Future in Review (FiRe) Conference, on January 31st; you can save yourself $800 by signing on now.

 

This year’s FiRe theme is Technology Driving Global Economics, and within it we are looking at

 

Economic Cyberwar,

Data Privacy,

Cloud Infrastructure,

the New CarryAlong Pads,

Holographic Entertainment,

IP and 3D TV,

Car Computing,

Investing in China

The EU’s Business Model

--- and lots more.

 

Join us May 24th–27th, at the beautiful Montage Laguna Beach Hotel, and see why FiRe remains “the best technology conference in the world.” (The Economist)

 

Register today at www.futureinreview.com

 

And see the invitation below in our Takeout Window.

 

 

 

Survey Comments on the SNS Predictions Dinner in New York:

 

“The conversation before the appetizer even arrived was more valuable than most full-day events.” – Adrian Bowles, President and Founder, SIG411 LLC

 

“Absolutely Fantastic!” – Constantine Spathis, Founder, Xogito

 

“I’ve been reading the SNS newsletter for several years. The power of coming together in person finally and meeting members and Mark and Sam completes the picture SNS leaves on my world!” – Debbie Phillips, Author and Founder, Women on Fire

 

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[We are currently seeking member nominations for FiReStar companies for FiRe 2011 – companies that are making a positive impact on the world, and which need and deserve notice. Please contact Sharon Anderson-Morris at sam@stratnews.com if you wish to nominate your, or another, company.]

 

 

» The Impact of Shared Devices

 

A friend of mine gave the gift of a new Kindle for Christmas. Being the thoughtful type, he told the recipient he would leave it on his own Amazon account, and that she could buy as many books as she wished for the next couple of weeks.

 

Amazon lets account holders manage as many Kindles as they wish: it isn’t unusual for a household to have several, just as the family may have several cellphones running off one family account.

 

Another friend, who is quite well-to-do and equally generous, gave a Kindle to her friend, and told her just to leave it on her account – forever. This immediately accomplished two things: first, the new Kindle owner was able to download and/or access – for free – ALL of the books in the gift giver’s current Amazon library. Second, she could also have, free, any new books bought by the gift giver, or anyone else on her account.

 

And, of course, finally, the recipient could buy, at no cost to her, any new book, and charge it to the giver’s Amazon account. The latter usually requires a password, which was happily given.

 

Now think about the economics of these transactions.