AT&T Takes Revenge On Apple

Everyone knows AT&T exclusively sold the iPhone and bet quite a lot of money on the iPhone. Infact, AT&T shares quite a large percentage of revenue earned from the iPhone users with Apple. So, you must come to think of Apple & AT&T being best friends...??

That's not quite the inside story. When AT&T sold the first iPhone bundled with its service exclusively, it meant that iPhone could be used only on AT&T networks. But you know, the hackers didn't want that to happen. They unlocked the iPhone and we know what happened after that. But one thing not many people understood is why Apple sold the iPhone from it's stores as well, when it was only meant to be running on AT&T's network. It should have been available only at AT&T's shops and not the iTunes activation. Atleast some gaurantee that you have taken the AT&T's plans!! Forget it though since that's history...

Apple releases the firmware slowly after everyone in the world has unlocked the iPhone and newer firmware is cracked even before Apple puts its on its servers. AT&T must be totally pissed off at these leaks and so, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson leaked the info that consumers could expect a new iPhone next year that offered HSDPA wireless broadband support. This means the 3G missing from iPhone currently would be available early next year... After this information leaked, obviously people wanting to buy iPhones will hold their horses and wait for the 3G one. That's how you take revenge on Apple!!

AT&T obviously has plans and other phones for its revenue, but for Apple the iPhone sales will surely slow down. PBS's Bob Cringely, also agrees to this view, but seems to suggest that Apple will bid on the 700Mhz spectrum that Google, Intel, Verizon and others are fighting for. We'll know that on Monday, but I'm quite certain Apple will stay away from the fight which has already got quite noisy!!

Another Ad Program To Monetize Your Blog

As much as I hate, blogging about blogging, this post is very much going to be that. I have a few friends who also have blogs and they monetize their blogs in different ways. This post may be useful to them, since I haven't heard much info around, about this new Ad Publisher Network called "ShoppingAds".

ShoppingAds comes from the same team thats behind AuctionAds. But the vital difference between the two products is that ShoppingAds is based on CPC and CTR, which means as a publisher you get paid for clicks and impressions. AuctionAds is basically an eBay Affiliate and it helps show auctions as ads onm your website.

Just recently I read here, how CPC ads earn 50 times more than Affiliate (CPA). So may be the guys at AuctionAds have understood what the publishers are looking for and they are testing this new CPC & CTR ad programme. ShoppingAds.com is currently undergoing a private beta, which shows that they are still trying to understand where the money can come from. Patrick Gavin, president of AuctionAds recently mentioned that the click-through rates for CPC ads have double in the last few days and this means they are beginning to realize the success in this kindof advertising.

ShoppingAds is currently showing ads from Amazon, Dealtime and other big online retailers. It should be interesting to see if after the not-so-successful AuctionAds, will the guys at MediaWhiz make a winner!!

Only time will tell, but the business of ads is as much technical as its marketing. Along with marketing you require good technology to monitor users, calculate revenue and target ads!!