In my blog entry on Rates Technology Inc I mentioned Alcatel as in default. Specifically:

After it became impossible to get them covered, RTI recently filed suit for willful patent infringement against Centrepoint Technologies, Inc. for much less money than Mitel and Alcatel (they certainly are a smaller company).

Mitel Networks was sued for $945 Million; Alcatel was sued for $1.155 Billion; and their default is pending in USDC EDNY. Hello Direct, GN Netcom and GN had been sued by RTI for patent infringement, and they recently settled with RTI; the terms are being kept confidential

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Since that time I have learned the court has vacated the default meaning it is now in the hands of California courts since Alcatel sued Rates Technology Inc. first in California.

Is it true that Microsoft workers don’t like the term podcast and are using blogcast instead? Seems like a tough battle to win as the ubiquity of the iPOD make the term podcast a no brainer. Apparently while Apple revels in the term and is incorporating Podcasting into their iTunes software the Redmond software titan is trying to come up with ways to combat Apple’s hold on the music/consumer electronics business.

An interesting New York Times article discusses how Apple is using Podcasting as a way to sell more iPods. In addition the article points out that it is turning the music business on its ear by giving away the razor blades (podcasts are to remain free according to Apple) and charging for the razors. The article makes a good read.

In my opinion Apple has inadvertently found a way to entrench their lead in the music business.

Is this indeed the end of cables as we know it? WiFi is great and all and I can’t live without it. In fact, every day I wonder how I lived without it. But WiFi  -- even in its 54 Mbps variant is not fast enough for the myriad applications we would all really like to throw at the standard.

A while back I switched to Verizon Wireless from T-Mobile as I often had dropped calls on the T-Mobile’s GSM network. One thing I missed from being on GSM was the great devices the GSM networks supported such as SonyEricsson phones that have e-mail clients built into them. I often used the voice recording function of the phone to then e-mail a WAV file to others. It was such a great productivity booster.

Alas, when I switched to Verizon I ended up with a phone that supports bluetooth but is so handicapped in features and has such a terrible user interface that I feel deprived when I use it.

Verizon Wireless I love you, I hate you, I love you, I hate you. Why must you have the best wireless service? Extremely fast EVDO access? Calls that rarely drop and then put me through hell daily?

I used to use a GSM network phone and the service was terrible.