July 9, 2010
Hands On: Dell ‘Streak’ Tablet Feels Like Supersized Phone
Wired
Priya Ganapati shares a Dell product manager’s statement regarding who the target market is for the Dell Streak tablet.
“‘The 3.5-inch-to-4-inch screen devices are optimized primarily around the phone experience,’ says Kevin Andrew, product manager for Dell. ‘The Streak is for those who want something bigger than a phone but not something so big they have to carry it separately.’”
How many Kin handsets did Microsoft sell?
ZD Net
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes reveals why Microsoft may have pulled the plug on its costly Kin handset project.
“After several years in development, and a billion dollars spent on the project, Microsoft pulled the plug on the Kin handset project after only two months. But how many handsets did Microsoft sell in that time? Well, blogger John Gruber got word from a tipster that Microsoft had shifted only 503 handsets in that time. That’s a really low, and depressing number.”
Gartner: Customer Belt-Tightening Impacts Service Providers
MSPmentor
Charlene OHanlon provides some perspective around the managed services industry, with help from research firm, Gartner.
“According to research firm Gartner, customers like the idea of using managed services to ensure business continuity as well as reduce operating costs. However, because of the economy, they are not willing to spend a lot of money to make that happen. In its latest survey on the subject, Gartner noted that 60 per cent of the 200-plus survey respondents said they had renegotiated a services contract within the last two years. And many of those negotiations involved aggressive pricing demands from end-customers. So what’s the takeaway? … Listen to your customers, make sure they understand the value proposition your service provides, and be there after the sale. In short, make yourself worth the money and you’ll lessen the chance of being renegotiated.”