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Message Digest
Volume 28 : Issue 260 : "text" Format
Messages in this Issue:
Re: What could/would cause a SIM card to belly-up?
What if People Don't Take the Bait to Go Paperless?
New Perspective On BlackBerrys And iPhones
Whoops! Students 'Going Google' Get to Read Each Other's Emails
T-Mobile's Effective and Quietly Disruptive Wi-Fi Phone
Finding purpose through the iPhone
These Apps Help Users of iPhones Find Their Way
====== 28 years of TELECOM Digest -- Founded August 21, 1981 ======
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against crime. Geoffrey Welsh
===========================
See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details
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Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:35:18 -0400
From: tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net>
To: redacted@invalid.telecom.csail.mit.edu
Subject: Re: What could/would cause a SIM card to belly-up?
Message-ID: <op.u0kw44bso63xbg@acer250.gateway.2wire.net>
On Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:17:38 -0400, Thad Floryan <thad@thadlabs.com> wrote:
> On 9/19/2009 8:59 AM, John Levine wrote:
>> SIM cards sometimes just fail.
>>
>> If you take your phone into an AT&T store, they should give you
>> a new SIM at no charge. Before you leave, be sure the SIM and
>> phone work, and also be sure that they didn't also change your
>> service plan or its expiration date.
>
> Thank you for the excellent advice!
>
> For the curious, the local AT&T Store had a queued service line,
> and after I reached the front it took only seconds to receive a new
> free SIM card and test call my phone. All info in the phone, even
> the list of incoming calling numbers, was preserved. Amazing.
>
> The service rep returned the original SIM card to me, but it's
> probably not worth trying to open it and see what's in there given
> it's hardly more than a thumbnail-sized sliver of cardboard.
You're lucky, Thad: some phones' "internal" phone books are actually
written to the SIM, ensuring that the entries aren't "lost" when
transferring the SIM to a new handset. Same for their SMS messages.
Cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP
Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:17:35 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
To: redacted@invalid.telecom.csail.mit.edu
Subject: What if People Don't Take the Bait to Go Paperless?
Message-ID: <p06240884c6dc237e9fe5@[10.0.1.3]>
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/business/20digi.html
Digital Domain
What if People Don't Take the Bait to Go Paperless?
By RANDALL STROSS
The New York Times
September 20, 2009
IN August, T-Mobile got serious about paperless billing. It started
charging a $1.50 monthly fee on all accounts that continued to
receive a paper bill.
Large companies would love to use paperless billing rather than the
mail: it reduces their costs and at the same time allows chest
thumping about being green. But offering their customers positive
sweeteners hasn't been very effective. T-Mobile tried another tack: a
stick instead of a carrot. What woe it brought upon itself, however,
when it told customers it was time to switch or pay up.
Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company
Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:17:35 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
To: redacted@invalid.telecom.csail.mit.edu
Subject: New Perspective On BlackBerrys And iPhones
Message-ID: <p0624088ac6dc3fc640a9@[10.0.1.3]>
The Mossberg Solution
New Perspective On BlackBerrys And iPhones
August 25, 2009
by Katherine Boehret
The old adage that the grass is always greener on the other side of
the fence can be extended to our technology cravings. Even the person
holding the shiniest new gadget can't help but eye a neighbor who has
a different device and wonder, "What does that do that mine doesn't?"
Thoughts like these are especially prevalent when it comes to the
devoted owners of BlackBerrys and iPhones. All too often, the people
carrying these smart phones are curious about what one device has
that the other lacks. This week, I'm going to save you the trouble
and outline some of the personal usage ups and downs to each device.
Because I regularly use both gadgets and am accustomed to their
different features, I have included fresh observations from five
people who recently switched from BlackBerrys to iPhones. At my
request, these people kept track of their impressions, noting the
things they missed on their BlackBerrys along with things they
preferred on the iPhones. This column isn't meant to promote one
device over the other; rather, it is a summary of some people's
sentiments, combined with my own observations in hopes of
enlightening readers. I inevitably left out some differences.
...
http://solution.allthingsd.com/20090825/new-perspectiveon-blackberrysand-iphones/
Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:17:35 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
To: redacted@invalid.telecom.csail.mit.edu
Subject: Whoops! Students 'Going Google' Get to Read Each Other's Emails
Message-ID: <p0624088bc6dc41078c06@[10.0.1.3]>
Whoops! Students 'Going Google' Get to Read Each Other's Emails
By SARAH PEREZ of ReadWriteWeb
The New York Times
September 18, 2009
A recent bug in Google Apps allowed students at several colleges to
read each other's email messages and some were even able to see
another student's entire inbox. The issue occurred at a small handful
of colleges, admitted Rajen Sheth, senior product manager for Google
Apps, but he declined to say how many other institutions were
affected. However, according to Donald Tom, director of IT for
support services at Brown University, one of the institutions
undergoing the transition, he got the impression that a total of 10
schools faced the problem.
While the glitch itself was minor and was fixed in a few days, the
real concern - at least at Brown - was with how Google handled the
situation. Without communicating to the internal IT department,
Google shut down the affected accounts, a decision which led to a
heated conversation between school officials and the Google account
representative.
Details of the Glitch
...
http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2009/09/18/18readwriteweb-whoops-students-going-google-get-to-read-ea-12995.html
Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:17:35 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
To: redacted@invalid.telecom.csail.mit.edu
Subject: T-Mobile's Effective and Quietly Disruptive Wi-Fi Phone
Message-ID: <p0624088cc6dc43ae2b06@[10.0.1.3]>
T-Mobile's Effective and Quietly Disruptive Wi-Fi Phone
Written by Bernard Lunn
September 18, 2009 1:00 PM
There are those old-fashioned folks who still prefer to talk by
phone, believing that "synchronous audio communication" is sometimes
better than email or even - gasp - Twitter. The problem is cost,
particularly for those not tethered to a land line or a laptop with
Skype. Paying for 1,000 cell phone minutes per month is not exactly
recession-friendly. So, is there an alternative to jail-breaking your
iPhone or waiting for Apple and AT&T to file for divorce? Yes, there
is, and I have been using it for a couple of months now in three
different countries, and it works a treat. Here is my user report.
What T-Mobile Offers
* Limited choice of mobile phones. I chose the BlackBerry, because
I'm used to it. No, T-Mobile doesn't offer the iPhone!
* Wi-Fi phone and data on your mobile. This is the interesting bit.
Basically, wherever you have Wi-Fi, you will have free minutes.
* GPRS, which is what you would use if you don't have access to Wi-Fi.
* Wi-Fi land line. This looks like an ordinary phone but connects to
your high-speed line as a VoIP phone. Other companies offer this, but
getting the whole bundle from your cell phone provider is pretty cool.
...
http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/t-mobiles_effective_quietly_disruptive_wi-fi_phone.php
Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:17:35 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
To: redacted@invalid.telecom.csail.mit.edu
Subject: Finding purpose through the iPhone
Message-ID: <p06240859c6dae3acf43f@[10.0.1.3]>
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x434962088/Finding-purpose-through-the-iPhone
Finding purpose through the iPhone
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Sep 19, 2009 @ 12:06 AM
HOPKINTON -
After struggling with personal issues and leaving college midway
through, Samuel Sennott turned to volunteerism in his hometown and
discovered the Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center.
A dozen years later, the former Hopkinton High School football
captain credits that fateful moment with giving his life purpose and
providing inspiration for an Apple iPhone application aiding
communication for people with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy
and other conditions.
"It really changed my life," Sennott said this week.
Upon graduating from Hopkinton High in 1996, Sennott enrolled at
Gordon College in Wenham, but left after his freshman year for
reasons he declined to elaborate on, calling it a challenging time.
"I was searching for something meaningful in my life," he said.
With an assist from his church, Sennott landed at the respite center,
working at its crafts table and getting his first exposure to
children with mental and physical disabilities.
"He just found his niche," said Sharon Lisnow, who co-founded the
center in memory of her son. "He just has an unbelievable knack with
people with disabilities."
Eventually, Sennott's volunteer post turned to a job, one that he
continued when he took classes at MassBay Community College and
Framingham State College.
"It's just a place filled with love and true compassion," he said.
"That experience really changed my heart and my mind."
Returning to Gordon, Sennott earned an elementary special education
degree and embarked on a series of jobs working with children with
disabilities. Since many could not communicate with their own voices,
he sought answers, entering a technology-related program at Simmons
College and turning over possible solutions in his mind.
"I think all the time about how I can do this better or how I can
serve more," he said.
Upon the iPhone's debut, Sennott immediately saw similarities to
existing communication aids and realized the new product's potential.
Working with a coder met over the Internet, he disabled the device's
proprietary protection and designed an application for those with
speech barriers.
When he showed it to companies already in the market, however, some
told him that families would not buy an unsanctioned device, while
others did not understand why an iPhone would be more desirable than
existing, rugged, hand-held devices with touch screens.
Knowing they had missed the iPhone's "cool" appeal, Sennott
approached a smaller firm, developing the software anew and waiting
until Apple finally opened an online store for outside applications.
It took a month, but the computer giant eventually approved the new
application for its iPhone and iPod Touch.
Named Proloquo2Go proloquo means "speak out loud" in Latin the
application debuted in April for $189.99, with the first major update
released this week.
The program takes on-screen text and reads it electronically, either
through Apple's built-in sound system or add-on speakers. Clicking on
stick-figure icons, users can type in messages or tap into programmed
shortcuts.
Clicking on "Hi, Bye" gives several greeting options, for example,
while "I want" can then get filled in by choosing a category like
drinks followed by a specific beverage listing.
"I think it's been a great add-on tool," said Jessica Gosnell, a
speech language pathologist at the Center for Communication
Enhancement, part of the Waltham campus of Children's Hospital
Boston. "This device has a cool factor that a lot of parents and
patients like."
Since iPhones and iPods have additional uses, however, the
application is not typically covered by insurance, unlike
competitors' specialized and more expensive devices.
Still, sales have been brisk, said Sennott, who is now pursuing a
Ph.D in special education and alternative and augmented communication
at Penn State University. He attributes that achievement to his
experiences at the Hopkinton respite center.
"I just owe them a lot," he said.
(Michael Morton can be reached at mmorton@cnc.com or 508-626-4338.)
Copyright (C) GateHouse Media, Inc. Some Rights Reserved.
Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative
Commons license, except where noted.
Date: Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:17:35 -0400
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
To: redacted@invalid.telecom.csail.mit.edu
Subject: These Apps Help Users of iPhones Find Their Way
Message-ID: <p06240879c6db5e874b66@[10.0.1.3]>
All Things Digital
Personal Technology
These Apps Help Users of iPhones Find Their Way
September 9, 2009
by Walter S. Mossberg
(See Corrections & Amplifications item below.)
Among its many features, Apple's iPhone is equipped with GPS and
includes manual, written driving directions built into its standard
Maps application. But that function doesn't automatically bring up
each turn sequentially, and it lacks voice prompts.
Now, a number of companies have launched, or will soon launch, iPhone
apps that do offer voice-prompted, automated, turn-by-turn
navigation. Of course, many other cellphones have long offered such
services. But the iPhone's large screen, decent mono speaker and
large selection of car mounting kits make it a tempting navigation
device.
I've been testing four such apps: from TomTom, Navigon, AT&T (T) and
Fullpower. The last, called MotionX GPS Drive, isn't available in
Apple's app store as I write this. In the case of the Navigon
MobileNavigator, which is already available, I tested an updated
version expected to hit the store shortly.
...
http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20090909/these-apps-help-users-of-iphones-find-their-way/
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End of The Telecom digest (7 messages)
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