Why Apple, AT&T, and consumers are at odds

Why Apple, AT&T and consumers are at oddsIn tech circles, Apple’s been making some decisions that have concerned many consumers (not to mention Google’s CEO, who resigned from Apple’s board Monday). They have potentially caused serious damage to their relationship with Google, and undermined much of the promise of leading the charge in bringing unparalleled functionality to the mobile phone.

So what happened? The first recent rumblings of discontent came around the time of the 3.0 software launch and the release of the iPhone 3GS. While the iPhone now had sanctioned video capabilities, some of the very neat live broadcasting solutions like Qik or Flixwagon weren’t being allowed into the AppStore, despite already having software functioning flawlessly for months on jailbroken versions of the iPhone.

Then the trouble with Google started. Continue reading “Why Apple, AT&T, and consumers are at odds”

FamilyMap is an opportunity for brands

AT&T Family MapFor those of following the IPGLAB on Twitter, you likely saw the Tweet announcing AT&T and their child locater offering.  Called FamilyMap, this new tool offers to locate a family member’s phone via web browser on a PC or mobile device. The service enables users to see details such as location on a map and surrounding landmarks like schools and parks. Users can also toggle between satellite and interactive street maps for an option that best fits their viewing needs. Families can customize their mapping experience by assigning a name and photo to each device within their account, and can also label places they visit frequently, like “Home” or “Soccer Field.” Continue reading “FamilyMap is an opportunity for brands”