People Lose Paid TV
SNL Kagan reported that for the first time in history, paid TV subscriptions are down in the U.S. Across cable, satellite and phone companies the total loss amounted to 216,000 subscribers, with cable taking the biggest hit. SNL Kagan attributes economic factors like unemployment as the biggest reason for the loss, and not people ditching cable for over-the-top video, as many might have suspected.
Virgin Mobile Offers Unlimited Data Plan
Virgin Mobile USA announced plans to offer an unlimited mobile-broadband package for $40 a month, which will replace their metered plans. In contrast, AT&T recently discontinued their unlimited data plans for metered plans. Which plan will consumers prefer? The competition is heating up.
Schools Plan to Track Students
Schools in New Canaan, Connecticut are thinking about tracking students with Radio Frequency Identification Devices. The RFID tags would allow schools to keep track of students during situations like an emergency evacuation, and also let schools see who’s skipping class. Don’t want to be tracked? Participation for the initial experiment is not mandatory and will require consent from students and parents.
First Dell Smartphone in U.S.
Dell’s first U.S. smartphone, The Aero, debuted on Tuesday. The phone has a 3.5 inch screen, supports flash and runs Google’s Android O.S. The phone is available from AT&T for $100 with a two-year contract and $300 without a contract.
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