AT&T & Cingular merge; users screwed, again

I've been meaning to rant about this one for quite a while, but whatever happened to corporate regulation in the United States?

It's amazing in the last 10 years how corporate America has seemingly been deregulated when it comes to monopolies, and cellular companies are a great example of this. Think back to 2000, how many more cell companies there were, and fast forward to now.

Basically, we are down to the choice of three major companies:

AT&T Wireless
Verizon Wireless
Sprint Nextell

There are also some other bit players, most notably T-Mobile, but I wouldn't be surprised to see that company absorbed by one of the top three.

In the end, the consumer loses, because less companies means less competition, which translates into higher prices.

Bottom line...

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There are many, many other examples that are equally as instructive as the cell phone industry. Ever since the cable television was deregulated, our bills have gone down, not up; our choices have not increased; and cable company consolidation (and alliteration) have dramatically increased.

Radio and television stations are yet another example - the Republican-controlled Congress and President Bush approved relaxing FCC limits on ownership of both. And this is good for America? No, it's good for corporate America, and the politicians that benefit from the corporate largess during their reelection campaigns.

I certainly hope the DemocratIC-controlled Congress addresses this important issue.

Apple & Jobs have done it again

Apple and Steve Jobs have done it again.

What a wild ride it's been for Apple since Jobs returned as CEO in 1997. First, the iMac, then the iPod, and now the iPhone.

I was in college when the iMac was introduced, and I used them extensively. It was a groundbreaking computer which probably saved the company. I actually only used a Macintosh for the first 10 years that I used a computer.

Through good and bad, I've always been a fan of Apple. And there was some bad, to be sure -- we used to call Adobe PageMaker RageMaker when we'd do layout for the newspaper at Kutztown University. Apple made my four semesters as editor in chief both a joy and a curse, but in the end of I love Apple, and the Macintosh.

But, after graduation, I tilted toward the "PC" world - I used a PC at work, and it really didn't make much sense to buy an Apple. So, I bought a PC with an AMD processor, and we recently purchased a new Dell Computer.

However, when the iPod was introduced in 2001, I instantly fell in love with it, but couldn't own it, because I didn't own a Mac. But, since Mac had about three percent of the U.S. computer market at the time, I knew it would only be a matter of time before the iPod went PC, and mainstream.

It did in '02, and I bought one as a layoff present to myself. (Yea, you read that right.) Five iPods later, my love for the iPod is as strong as ever; besides my digital cameras, if I were on a deserted island, it would be the tech gadget I'd have to have.

So, naturally I took notice when the iPhone was introduced last week, for about two seconds, until I found out that Cingular is the exclusive cell phone service provider, and will be until 2009. (Above, Jobs shakes hands with Cingular CEO Stan Sigman) I will never, EVER be a customer of Cingular Wireless ever again. They are on my permanent boycott list.

Just like Apple limited itself when the first iPod was rolled out in a "Mac only" version, the company is making the same mistake with the iPhone. Oh well.

Not that I'd be rushing to get one anyway. Vandra may not believe me, but I wouldn't have been in a hurry to get one anyway - I'm a self-confessed tech whore, but not with cell phones. I flat out drop them too much.

Knock on wood, I've never have a cell phone last me very long, because I drop them much too often. My current Razr holds the record - almost two years! I still can't believe it.

Anyway, I have some doubts that this one will succeed for Apple (which renamed itself at MacWorld "Apple Inc." and dropped the "Apple Computer" name). The cell phone segment is a whole new ballgame. Are people going to pay $500 for a phone?

No way in hell would I pay that kind of scratch for a phone. Especially when I have an iPod I love, and a digital camera that's much nicer than the one on this overpriced phone.

Here's a scenario where I'd buy one - they are down to $99, Verizon carries them, and I happen to need a cell phone. Not 'til then.

The iPhone could be another winner for Apple, but I don't think Jobs thought this one through. Even the name might be problematic - Cisco Systems has already announced that it's suing Apple over the name "iPhone." But then again, people have underestimated Jobs for over 30 years, so I wouldn't be surprised if the iPhone is the next big thing for the company, and Jobs.

Apple is great, but Cingular ain't. C'mon, Steve - don't limit this product, or your company. Until the price comes down and another cell carrier offers iPhones, color me iDon'tcare.

It's a baby girl for TomKat!*

* - Who gives a shit.

Am I the only one nauseated by all of the media coverage of the Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes love child? Puleeze. This guy has gone from hero (okay, not exactly hero, but for rhyming purposes, go with me) to zero in just a few years. It used to be that I never missed a Tom Cruise blockbuster movie. Now, not even under threat of taser shock or decapitation would I go see any of his movies or contribute to his success.

His ill-conceived (pun intended), misogynistic comments on postpartum depression and psychiatry are mostly the reason. But how about this - I just flat out don't like the guy. I'm sick of Scientology, and I'm flat out bored with all of the press coverage on this... this... "religion." I'm simply placing Cruise in the category he so richly deserves: with all of the other religious zealots who deserve zero attention and even less credibility. Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Tom Cruise. Yes, he fits in there nicely. The best thing the press could do would be to just ignore this egomaniac. Okay, I know that's not going to happen, but I can dream, can't I?

Top Gun, The Firm and A Few Good Men seem like a million years ago, when he was my favorite actor.

One more word on the TomKat baby - don't people have anything better to do? People can blame the media all they want, and many do, but the sad truth is that magazines, newspapers and TV shows clamor for news on these celeb babies because it's what their audiences want. I've got two words - pathetic and sad. With so many more important things going on in the world around us - this is what the media spends its time on? I think we've finally settled back into the pre-September 11, idiotic mindset, brought to you by the same people who gave us endless coverage (and even perpetuated some of the stories) of JonBenet Ramsey, Chandra Levy and Gary Condit and, oh yea - Monica Lewinsky. People, the planet is warming at a dangerous rate, a gallon of gas will soon cost more than a drink in the city, Iran is on the verge of becoming a nuclear power, and our young men and women are being struck down in the prime of their lives over in Iraq and Afghanistan every single day. That's what's important - not this rubbish. But, I digress.

Anyway, back to my friend Tom for just a second. Instead of a rant, I'm just boycotting him. He's now on my list which includes AOL, Cingular Wireless and Circuit City. (I won't get into the those now, other than to say their customer service stinks to high heaven.) I'm putting my money where my mouth is - no Mission Impossible 3 for me, or any other movie starring Cruise for that matter, until he changes his tune. Yea, I'm just one person, but at least I can do something about it - I'll spend my money elsewhere.

Empowering.