Verizon Adds iPhone Lookalike In Challenge To Apple -- Mobile Phones -- InformationWeek

Verizon has announced a new line of phones that includes one that is intended rival the iPhone. Verizon's new Voyager phone not only has a touch screen like the Apple iPhone, but it also has a QWERTY keyboard that slides out from underneath. The phones were announced in time to take advantage of Christmas shoppers.



Read more...

Link -- InformationWeek

At Starbucks, Songs of Instant Gratification - NY Times

The age of convenience just got more convenient, with Apple and Starbucks joining forces to provide for instantaneous downloads of songs playing over the speakers at Starbucks stores. So now you can not only get your caffeine fix at Starbucks, but you can also take even more of the Starbucks experience with you by being able to capture many of the cools tunes that they play at Starbucks, and you're also maximizing your iPod/iPhone/iTunes experience by being able to do cool things with it while you're sipping a latte.

Starbucks customers can download any song they hear in the store by using their iPhone, their wireless touchscreen iPod, or a laptop computer that has iTunes installed on it. Cost per song is the same as iTunes' regular price--99 cents. So not only is the age of convenience getting more convenient, but the price is incredibly tempting--just like that crumb top coffee cake at Starbucks.

Can you possibly say no?

It's not clear yet what effect caffeine has on impulse purchasing.

Read more...

Link - New York Times