UltraBB New Verizon

Verizon starts deploying G-PON technology to implement its FTTH plans, having as major provider Alcatel-Lucent. This company is seriously back after the restructuring, winning major deals in the US but also in other markets such as the deal with Australia's Telstra. FiOs services are now improved, since the end-user has over 1Gbps (2.4Gbps) network capacity. It might not be a bad idea to reserve some ALU stock, the stock is not doing great righ now, but it might pay off some attractive marginal profits in the future. I have the feeling that very soon they will get back in demand threatening Cisco's throne.

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MasterCard the frontier

Although MasterCard lost major market share and deals against Visa, now is trying to bounce back in new markets, trying Mobile Commerce, expected soon to take off after the current trial phase.
Discussing about a high-tech trend that in Japan is already adapted from 19 million users.
Currently Finland-based Nokia, the world's largest cell phone maker, is partnering with MasterCard to offer two cell phone payment
services. One of them will be tested at
7-Eleven stores, the other, at Cingular Wireless and Citigroup. Currently, another cell phone maker, Motorola, has three
trials underway, one involving Discover. Still security and theft could hold back the serious penetration in the USA.
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Google's rumor

Google is breaking the news again with a rumor about a new cell phone that will enter the market soon and certainly it will be the 'smart' one that will compete against Blackberry and iphone and there is no doubt that there is market for another phone. I am in the same position probably like other mobile wireless users to find the ideal handset that will satisfy my needs and the more Internet applications if from Google the more the convenience, especially if it is about VoIP applis and low marginal costs per call.
The same rumor that was posted on the today's WSJ reports that the potential manufacturer could be Samsusng Electronics Co.

Final comment, Google proves one more time that 'reinventing the wheel' could be a very profitable business, supported with the right capital and business models.
Google reinvented the Internet, applis, online entertainment and now perhaps a new smart phone converging different services and functions.

US recession on the road

There is no doubt that we enter the recession, hard to believe, but certainly its not the first time for the US economy the last decade, November 2001, making it not a surprise.

The Fed will certainly play a significant role, triggering the interest rates upwards, if needed, bringing them in smoke again after the last summer's super-record. Oil and gas prices are actually with oil prices once again topping $60 a barrel.


Some oil analysts at Barclays Bank are forecasting worries of $65 in the near future due to the increased petroleum demand compared to the last years' pressing OPEC's efforts to stabilize the prices.
The CPI showed nationwide fruit and vegetable prices increased 4.7% in February. This is partly because of the government's push to develop the ethanol-fuel market. This has raised the price of corn, which trickles down to everything from livestock feed to candy bars. Also, a deep freeze in California led to lower crop yields. However, following the government's new strategy on the energy, and in order to satisfy ethanol goals, food prices will keep rising modestly for the foreseeable future, causing inflationary worries.
Finally the consumers confidence is not the best due to the housing slump, high gasoline prices and the volatile stock market.

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big and sad news..at work

George - my friend - is leaving Queens College and joins Accenture as a consulting analyst, all the best. For me, no more Greek happy hour at work now..:(
Ping us at LinkedIn.com

My favorite coffee-place

...the other days I met with my new friend, another Dr.Panos, 2nd Panos CIS with a PhD of my friends. He works for Mckinsey (big hit), when the other Panos is hanging out in conferences somewhere in UK, Newcastle, I think. We had an amazing discussion about strategies and high-level consulting, but it is a big trade-off working 80hrs/week. Funny thing, we graduated the same year from Patras Polytechnic, he is CIS, I am EE.
But enough with the PR, the cafe we went upper East side was the best, amazing people and atmosphere, nice sofas and the best cappuccino. Highly recommended alternative place, really cool..on the process to discover more places in the big Apple.
Little work last night on France Telecom issues, as my Columbia boss, Eli, travels to France. Ended up creating a nice report delving into the Ultrabroadband described with Gigabit Passive Optical Networks, still under standardization but a hot topic! France Telecom is the first incumbent that is using that, when BT cant even think of that. Wrote up a nice deliverable backing up Eli, maybe some more funding for the CITI and its affiliates!
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Hot wire

Dear ARPU, why are you declining?Where is the pricing, product innovation to boost the revenues? Sprint-Nextel is lagging behind in the game, losing money over the last year. Is that the market structure or the preferences that drive the ARPU down?

Its time for new markets and go after consumers preferences and unmet needs. Verizon ahead in the game teams up with Fujifilm. Fujifilm’s Get the Picture Online Service Network is now available to Verizon Wireless subscribers. Users of Verizon Wireless’ Pix Place service can take advantage of the more than 10,000 retail locations for printing their pictures. What an idea!

On the hot wire, a new home networking standard is introduced, HomePNA3.1. The new data rates go up to 320Mbps, aiming to help service providers to simultaneously distribute triple-play IPTV, voice and Internet data services as well as other networked entertainment data throughout the home. Turns out that we are getting there, into the Ultra-broadband generation, visioning data rates beyond 1Gbps, but all these standards struggles and specs definitions are really a headache for the ICT world.