AT&T vs. Google: Round 4 — Send in the Nuns

Sound of Music

The war between AT&T and Google regarding Google Voice is getting pretty funny. GigaOm has revealed AT&T’s latest (lame) tactic:

AT&T today countered Google’s claims that it’s blocking Google Voice calls to rural areas because they’re directed to free conference call lines and sex hotlines engaged in the dubious practice of so-called traffic pumping by trotting out a convent of Benedictine Nuns who apparently can’t receive, or make, Google Voice calls, either.

Google’s point about certain rural areas exploiting high-cost termination fees for sex hotlines is legitimate. AT&T trotting out a group of nuns that can’t  receive Google Voice calls is not quite as legitimate (in terms of net neutrality), but it’s definitely underhanded. The company is obviously trying to garner pity from religious people, as in, “Oh my God. These poor nuns can’t receive calls from Google Voice. Google must hate Jesus!!!”

It’s pretty low and more than a little silly. That’s my take on it anyway. What are your thoughts? And also, if you could use Google Voice to call nuns, would you serenade them with “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria”? I certainly would. Ha!

Source

Rumor: Next Nintendo Handheld to Use Nvidia Tegra Chip

Continuing today’s console chip rumor-fest (a technical term) it looks like Nintendo’s successor to the DS will be using an Nvidia Tegra chip. According to Develop:

Anonymous sources said to be close to the matter insist that the new Nintendo handheld — apparently set to be revealed late in 2010 — will be powered by Nvidia’s system-on-a-chip device, known as Tegra.

Tegra is an ARM-based processor with integrated Geforce graphics, and has been developed by Nvidia for use in smartphones and other mobile devices such as Microsoft’s Zune HD.

Tegra devices are starting to pop up in the personal music player (PMP) space and phones using the chip will be out shortly. While Nvidia is struggling in several other areas, it has a great chance at succeeding in the mobile market. Getting Tegra into a Nintendo handheld would be a tremendous win for Nvidia.

The move could also put Sony in a tough position. Tegra is a capable chip with a fairly low cost. Judging from Nintendo’s history, its next handheld system should have an accessible price. While I doubt (or at least hope) the PSPgo will not cost $249 next year, a new Nintendo portable will put the Go in a tough spot.

Incidentally, what features do you want to see in Nintendo’s next handheld system?

Source

T-Mobile Sidekick Data Vaporization Update!

T-Mobile Sidekick Tony Hawk edition

On Sunday, I wrote about a service disruption that zapped the data of T-Mobile Sidekick users. To make amends for the loss, T-Mobile is offering its users a free month of data service and a $100 gift certificate. The company updated its forum post with the following:

In the event certain customers have experienced a significant and permanent loss of personal content, T-Mobile will be sending these customers a $100 customer appreciation card. This will be in addition to the free month of data service that already went to Sidekick data customers. This card can be used towards T-Mobile products and services, or a customer’s T-Mobile bill. For those who fall into this category, details will be sent out in the next 14 days – there is no action needed on the part of these customers. We however remain hopeful that for the majority of our customers, personal content can be recovered.

A free month of service and $100 gift card? I’d still be pissed off. So much of my personal and business data is stored on my phone and in a Google cloud. If that were to suddenly vanish…well, like I said before, I’d probably break down and cry (whoa-oh-oh Sweet Child O’Mine). Then again, the Sidekick demographic is pretty young and I’m sure the percentage of those using one for work is pretty low. So maybe a high-school stud that lost the numbers of all his girlies would be perfectly satisfied with T-Mobile’s payout.

To all the “data disruption” victims and friends of said victims, is T-Mobile giving enough back to its customers?

Source

T-Mobile Sidekick Owners’ Data Vaporized

T-Mobile Sidekick Tony Hawk edition

T-Mobile Sidekick owners are screwed (it’s a technical term). According to the company, a recent “data service disruption” means that user data has gone bye bye. T-Mobile issued a statement that said:

“Regrettably, based on Microsoft/Danger’s latest recovery assessment of their systems, we must now inform you that personal information stored on your device – such as contacts, calendar entries, to-do lists or photos — that is no longer on your Sidekick almost certainly has been lost as a result of a server failure at Microsoft/Danger. That said, our teams continue to work around-the-clock in hopes of discovering some way to recover this information. However, the likelihood of a successful outcome is extremely low.”

That…has got to suck. While storing information on the cloud is the way many mobile operating systems are going, this little mishap might make people wary of the process.

I rely on various Google services to store personal and business information and rarely make local backups. I’m pretty sure I’d curl up in a ball and cry if my info suddenly got zapped.

Any Sidekick owners out there? How are you dealing with this situation?

Source