REI?

I have a $13 credit at REI. There isn’t much I need there. If someone wants to buy the credit from me, let me know and I’ll buy an e-Card. (If you have paypal that’d be best)

WSJ on Google's plan for mobile phones

http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB119517445580795065.html

Some carriers have privately expressed skepticism about Google’s ambitions, saying it is vastly underestimating the challenges of operating a network, providing customer service and gaining traction as a new entrant in a crowded wireless market.

Difficult to run a cell network? THEY don’t know how difficult it is. Most carriers pay other companies to set up the cell towers, the hardware vendors design the cell towers and the entire networks, the software that handles customer care is purchased from third-party providers, the software that activates new customers, enables/disables phones and does billing are all bought by third-parties. The companies that claim it’s difficult don’t even know how difficult it is.

I’m not in a position to know anything about what Google is going to do. I don’t know what Google is going to do. However, if I had billions in the bank and wanted to start selling cell phone service I’m sure Fred’s House Of Cell Tower Installation would answer my phone calls just like they do for any other carrier.

When I worked at Lucent (who makes the 5ESS phone switch that drives the land-line carrier networks globally) I was amazed to find out that Lucent visited each and every one to do software upgrades, installations, etc. The companies like AT&T and others weren’t even running their own network. They just manage contracts, take TV adverts, and collect payments.

Come dancing, Nov 30th!

Hey New York area folks!

For my birthday I wanna go out and dance (well, a few nights before). C and I are going out dancing on Nov 30th and we’d love to go in a group (dancing is always more fun that way). (And it happens to be my birthday weekend.)

One Step Beyond is (believe it or not) an awesome dance held every 8 weeks at the American Museum of Natural History. We walked by the last time and peeped in... it seemed that people were having fun and the music was awesome.

http://www.amnh.org/rose/specials/
http://flavorpill.com/newyork/events/2007/11/30/flavorpill-presents-one-step-beyond-feat-the-juan-maclean-w-jdh-and-dave-p

When: Fri, Nov 30, 9pm
Where: American Museum of Natural History (W 79th St @ Central Park West, 212.769.5100)
Cost: $20/person

Interested in joining us?

Tom

P.S. Pictures of past events here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13867206@N05/sets/72157602086698396