June 27, 2008 Roundup

Analysts in the news for June 27:

• Carl Howe at Yankee Group about Apple’s three considerations for iPhone location apps: liability, liability, and liability
• Carl Howe at Yankee Group about I’ll see your billion PCs and raise you 3.4 billion PDs
• James Faucette at Pacific Crest Securities, Jack Gold at J. Gold Associates and Matt Thornton at Avian Securities via Investor's Business Daily about BlackBerry Maker RIM Misses Q1 Views
• Phil Kendall and Susan Welsh de Grimaldo at Strategy Analytics about Worldwide Mobile Subscriptions to Reach 5.6 Billion by 2013
• Gartner's Carolina Milanesi via Dow Jones Newswires about Sony Ericsson Profit Warning Hits Sector
• Phillip Redman at Gartner via Computerworld about Virgin Mobile USA to buy Helio for $39M
• Sal. Oppenheim Jr. & Cie analyst Nicolas von Stackelberg, Robert Jacobsen at Jyske Bank and Richard Windsor at Nomura via Bloomberg.com about Sony Ericsson Says Profit Will Drop as Sales Weaken
• Chris Jones at Canalys via BusinessWeek about Garmin Gets on the Phone
• Pali Research analyst Walter Piecyk via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about What's Up With Sprint?
• JoAnne Feeney at FTN Midwest via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Report Future iPhone To Be Powered By Intel's Atom Chip
• Friedman Billings Ramsey analyst Craig Berger via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Apple To Build 15M-Plus 3G iPhones In 2008, FBR Says
• JMP Securities analyst Samuel Wilson via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about AAPL, NOK, PALM Shares Tumble As RIMM Ups Marketing, Notes Higher Component Prices

June 10, 2008 Roundup

Analysts in the news for June 10:

• Carolina Milanesi at Gartner via NYTimes.com about Smartphones Now Ringing for Women
• Julie Ask at JupiterResearch about $199 iPhone - a real price point for consumers
• Julie Ask at JupiterResearch about Apple's MobileMe and 3G iPhone
• Ian Fogg at JupiterResearch about iPhone Release 2.0 - Notes from Europe
• David Card at JupiterResearch about Minimal Value-Add iPhone Post
• Thomas Husson at JupiterResearch about iPhone 2 - a new business model?
• Dean Bubley at Disruptive Analysis about iPhone 3G - what's Apple got against cameras?
• Carl Howe at Yankee Group about Seven Overlooked iPhone 3G Details
• Joshua Martin at Yankee Group about Is it July 11th yet?!
• Jack Gold at J. Gold Associates via Computerworld about 3G iPhone fast but lacks management tools mobile enterprises need
• Charles Golvin at Forrester and Mike McGuire at Gartner via chicagotribune.com about Software updates equip iPhone for corner office
• Bernstein Research’s Toni Sacconaghi and Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster via FORTUNE about Will the App Store be a cash cow for Apple?
• Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Apple: The Street Weighs In On The iPhone 3G
• Roger Entner at Nielsen IAG and Charles Golvin at Forrester Research via Kansas City Star about Sprint, Garmin face challenges from iPhone upgrade

April 22, 2008 Roundup

Analysts in the news for April 22:

• In-Stat about Fragmentation of Mobile TV Broadcasting Here to Stay
• Mark Mulligan at JupiterResearch about Comes With SonyBMG
• Dean Bubley at Disruptive Analysis about What's in a number? Is 3 billion irrelevant?
• Dean Bubley at Disruptive Analysis about It's all going Green in wireless
• Carrie MacGillivray at IDC and Jack Gold at J. Gold Associates via Data Monitor about RIM Tailors BlackBerry Service For SMBs
• Carolina Milanesi at Gartner via Dow Jones about Nokia Signs Sony BMG To Its Comes With Music Offering
• Phillip Redman at Gartner via Bloomberg.com about IBM Develops Voice-Controlled Web Browser for Phones
• Piper Jaffray analyst T. Michael Walkley via Forbes.com about Qualcomm to report 2Q results
• J.P. Morgan analyst Paul Costera via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Garmin: J.P. Morgan Launches Coverage With Neutral
• American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Apple: AmTech Downgrades To Neutral On Valuation
• Forrester Research's Charles Golvin via USATODAY.com about Full-length shows, even movies, growing on cellular

April 14, 2008 Roundup

Analysts in the news for April 14:

• Ross Rubin at NPD Group via Engadget about Switched On: Slacker in your slacks (Part 2)
• Dean Bubley at Disruptive Analysis about At last, a data-only tariff plan for handsets in the UK
• Thomas Husson at JupiterResearch about Grapevine
• Andreas Constantinou at VisionMobile about Making money on the last mile: Introducing Channel ARPU
• Robert Caunt at CCS Insight about N810 Internet Tablet Shows Nokia at Its Best and Worst
• Carl Howe at Yankee Group about Changing the world, one mobile phone at a time
• Peter Kim at Forrester about US Mobile Marketing: Easier Done Than Said
• Ross Rubin at NPD Group via RCR Wireless News about At AT&T, a richer retail experience comes to the Surface
• RBC Capital’s Mark Sue via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Motorola: RBC Cuts Target - "Cheap, But No Bargain"
• Ben Wood at CSS Insight, Neil Mawston at Strategy Analytics, Richard Windsor at Nomura International and Carolina Milanesi at Gartner via Dow Jones about Software Could Trip Up Nokia's iPhone Rival, Analysts Say
• Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Garmin Slides As Oppenheimer Downgrades, Chops Ests
• Roger Entner at IAG Research via CNET News.com about T-Mobile betting on 3G to close on high-speed competitors

April 9, 2008 Roundup

Analysts in the news for April 9:

• Ben Wood at CCS Insight and Richard Robinson at iSuppli via BusinessWeek about TomTom and Garmin Lose Their Way
• Thomas Husson at JupiterResearch about "Smart" pipes, "big fat" pipes & Citizen Kane
• Philip Solis at ABI Research about Service Providers - Provision Your Networks Correctly
• Philippe Winthrop at The Aberdeen Group about I survived CTIA
• Michael Gartenberg at JupiterResearch and Ken Dulaney at Gartner via Computerworld about iPhone 2.0 beta gets hands-on test at major financial firm
• André Malm at Berg Insight about More than 100 million users of mobile LBS in Europe by 2012
• Needham’s Charlie Wolf via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Research In Motion: Needham Launches With Hold Rating; Sees Consumer Blackberry Growth Slowed By iPhone
• Needham’s Charlie Wolf and Nomura’s Andrew Beswick via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Palm "May Not Be Long For This World," Nomura Says; Needham Launches Coverage With Under Perform Rating

March 24, 2008 Roundup

Analysts in the news for March 24:

• Thomas Husson at JupiterResearch about "State of the Telecom Union"
• Mark Mulligan at JupiterResearch about Comes With EMI
• Aloysius Choong and Melissa Chau at IDC about Mobile Phone Market in Asia/Pacific Excluding Japan Region to Surpass 400 Million Units in 2008
• Dean Bubley at Disruptive Analysis about EU stance on DVB-H: Inconsistency and irrelevance
• Dean Bubley at Disruptive Analysis about Will Qualcomm do something disruptive?
• Ross Rubin at NPD Group about Verizon Wireless’ open access must have accessible pricing
• Philippe Winthrop at Aberdeen Group about What am I missing regarding Verizon Wireless???
• Carolina Milanesi at Gartner, iSuppli analyst Tina Teng and Neil Mawston at Strategy Analytics via Forbes.com about Mobile Firms Fight For Third
• Rob Enderle at Enderle Group via RCR Wireless News about How to beat the iPhone and the Blackberry
• Ross Rubin at NPD Group and Avi Greengart at Current Analysis via RCR Wireless News about Samsung sees slower growth in U.S. volume this year
• Ed Snyder at Charter Equity Research via International Herald Tribune about Icahn steps up pressure on Motorola
• Lewis Ward at IDC via The Boston Globe about Roaming charges are hard to figure
• James Kelleher at Argus Research via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Icahn's Moto Struggle Not Much of a Tug-of-War
• Jeff Rath at Canaccord Adams via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Garmin: Something's Up, Maybe, Or Maybe Just Down With Navteq, Tele-Atlas
• John Jackson at Yankee Group, Bill Hughes at In-Stat, Rob Enderle at Enderle Group and Neil Strother at Jupiter via RCR Wireless News about New smartphone vendor to try — will it fly?

March 13, 2008 Roundup

Analysts in the news for March 13:

• Julie Ask at JupiterResearch about In a Land Where There is No Mobile Marketing
• Julie Ask at JupiterResearch about My Theory on Why Ringtones Were Created
• Julie Ask at JupiterResearch about iPhone in the High Atlas Mountains
• Dean Bubley at Disruptive Analysis about eComm day 2 - Android and others
• Carl Howe at Yankee Group about The Zen of the Anywhere Web
• Bob Egan at Tower Group via CIO.com about Experts Doubt Google Android's Write Once, Run Many Promise
• Mark McKechnie at American Technology Research, Richard Windsor at Nomura Securities, Amit Kapur at Piper Jaffray and Geoff Blaber at CCS Insight via BusinessWeek about Are Handset Sales Set for a Fall?
• Deutsche Bank’s Jonathan Goldberg via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Gloomy On The Consumer Electronics Outlook, Deutsche Bank Cuts Targets, Ests On GLUU, ATHR, NTGR, GRMN
• Bernstein Research analyst Craig Moffett via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Sprint: Bernstein Cuts Target; Says Buyout Unlikely
• Roger Entner at IAG Research via Dow Jones about AT&T Opens Guidelines For Wireless Apps Developers

February 20, 2008 Roundup

Analysts in the news for February 20:

• Thomas Husson at JupiterResearch about zaOza Vivendi Mobile Entertainment
• Bill Hughes at In-Stat about Current Converged Mobile Devices Fail to Compel Users
• Craig Moffett at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Charles Golvin at Forrester Research and Kenneth Dulaney at Gartner via the Los Angeles Times about Firms add unlimited call plans
• Rob Enderle at Enderle Group via internet.com about When Will Smart Phones Overtake Laptops?
• Yair Reiner at Oppenheimer & Co. and Chris Jones at Canalys via Bloomberg.com about Garmin Profit Jumps; Shares Drop as Margins Shrink
• Neil Strother and Julie Ask at JupiterResearch and Lewis Ward at IDC via St. Petersburg Times about Cell phone giants roll out deals for big-time talkers
• Credit Suisse analyst Christopher Larsen and UBS analyst John Hodulik via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Price War! Telcos Swoon As Analysts Chop Ests on Verizon, AT&T, Qwest, Sprint; How Low Can Prices Go?

February 4, 2008 Roundup

Analysts in the news for February 4:

• David Chamberlain at In-Stat about HSPA, New Data Plans Will Improve the Smartphone Market In Europe
• Keith Nissen at In-Stat about FMC and Femtocells Heading Toward Full Convergence of Services
• Julie Ask at JupiterResearch about SMS Ads ... What warrants an alert? and when?
• Dean Bubley at Disruptive Analysis about A new slant on VoIPo3G - Circuit voice over mobile HSPA IP tunnels
• Andreas Constantinou at VisionMobile about Nokia does Trolltech: preparing the ground for Ovi
• UBS Investment Bank analyst Maynard Um and Nomura Securities analyst Richard Windsor via Unstrung about Moto: Spin or Sale?
• Mark McKechnie at American Technology Research, Ed Snyder at Charter Equity Research and Brian Modoff at Deutsche Bank Securities via chicagotribune.com about Motorola chief grabs the phones
• David Chamberlain at In-Stat via Red Herring about Ringleader Reloads with $6M for Mobile Ads
• American Technology Research analyst Mark McKechnie via Barron's Online Tech Trader Daily about Motorola: AmTech Cuts Rating To Sell; Contends Market May Be Over-Valuing Handset Business
• UBS Securities analyst Ben Reitzes and Sanford Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi via Barron's Online Tech Trader Daily about UBS Says iPhone Inventory Issues Overblown, Sees Strong Demand; Sees 10.9 Million Sold In Fiscal '08
• Needham analyst Richard Valera via Barron's Online Tech Trader Daily about Needham Ups Garmin to Buy, Economy No Threat To GPS

January 31, 2008 Roundup

Analysts in the news for January 31:

• Ian Fogg at JupiterResearch about Skype on PSP - Initial Impression
• Ross Rubin at The NPD Group about Nuviphone is a GPS thriller, not an iPhone killer
• RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky and Info-Tech Research Group analyst Michelle Warren via Canada.com about RIM to unveil Blackberry music plugin
• NPD Group analyst Ross Rubin via RCR Wireless News about Garmin punches into cellphone market with iPhone-style navigation gadget
• Deutsche Bank’s Jonathan Goldberg and Morgan Stanley’s Aaron Husock via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Garmin: Welcome To Nuvifone
• Julien Blin at IDC via TechBewsWorld about Garmin's Ready to Rumble With New iPhone Killer

January 9, 2008 Roundup

Analysts in the news for January 9:

• Bena Roberts at BKI Media about Microsoft Buys FAST Search and Transfer
• Gartner analyst Sylvain Fabre, Alexandra Rehak at Analysys and Dr Windsor Holden at Juniper Research via silicon.com about Five mobile trends to watch in 2008
• Deutsche Bank analyst Jonathan Goldberg via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Deutsche Bank Drops Garmin to Hold, Sees Greater U.S. Competition
• RBC Capital analyst Mark Sue via Reuters about Nokia plans 6-12 phones for N. America in '08

My Must-Have Gadget for 2008 #1: The Garmin Forerunner 405

With CES 2008 just around the corner, news about the coolest and latest mobile gadgets are starting to hit the Internet. And it looks like I need to start saving up my money for Garmin’s new Forerunner 405 GPS running watch when it comes out later this year.

I can't wait to get my hands on this sleek device and do a comparison review versus my current Forerunner 305, which seems gigantic in comparison.

It was a whole lot of fun doing a similar review of the just released Forerunner 205 versus the even clunkier Forerunner 201 way back in February/March of 2006.

In the meantime, check out this video of the upcoming 405 from the Garmin blog:

November 26, 2007 Roundup

Analysts in the news for Cyber Monday:

• Ian Fogg at JupiterResearch about Kindle: Product Design Decisions and Localisation
• Michael Gartenberg at JupiterResearch about It's all in the details
• Michael Gartenberg at JupiterResearch about Thinking a little too different?
• David Card at JupiterResearch about Not a Fan of Overpriced, Under-Featured iPod Competitors
• Dean Bubley at Disruptive Analysis about Why are there no cool local applications for dual-mode WiFi phones?
• Andreas Constantinou at VisionMobile about The significance of Google’s Android
• Phil Solis at ABI Research about Amazon's Kindle - Part of the Mobile CE Picture, Serviced by Sprint
• Ross Rubin at The NPD Group about Failures to connect
• Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi via Reuters about Good Christmas sales ahead for cellphones
• Avi Greengart at Current Analysis via RCR Wireless News about LG Voyager Arrives Just In Time for Black Friday
• Deutsche Bank’s Jonathan Goldberg via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Black Friday Roundup: Garmin Shares Higher On Reports Of Strong Demand For GPS Devices

November 16, 2007 Roundup

Analysts in the news for November 16:

• Julie Ask at JupiterResearch about UGC on Cell Phones
• Dean Bubley at Disruptive Analysis about Drivers for cellular VoIP - why operators will catalyse VoIPo3G
• JupiterResearch analyst Michael Gartenberg via NewsFactor Network about Slacker Internet Radio Goes Portable
• Banc of America analyst Jairam Nathan, Canalys Analyst Chris Jones and Yankee Group analyst Josh Martin via E-Commerce Times about Garmin Leaves Tele Atlas on Road Not Taken

November 15, 2007 Roundup

Analysts in the news for November 15:

• Thomas Husson at JupiterResearch about ZaOza
• Ian Fogg at JupiterResearch about Palm OS Classic Available for Nokia - First Take
• Annie Turner at BKI Media about What is Mobile Advertising?
• Francis Sideco and David Carnevale at iSuppli about Can Google’s Foray into Mobile Phones Succeed?
• Samir Bhavnani at Current Analysis West via InformationWeek about Microsoft Pushes Mobile Phone Networks For Notebook PCs
• Carolina Milanesi at Gartner, Amit Nagpal at Analysys Consulting and Windsor Holden at Juniper Research via silicon.com about iPhone for business? Hang on...
• Canalys analyst Chris Jones, Jeff Rath at Canaccord Adams, iSuppli analyst Tina Teng and American Technology Research analyst Rob Sanderson via Bloomberg.com about Nokia Makes Losers of TomTom, Garmin in Bidding War
• Gartner analysts Ken Dulaney and John Girard via Infosecurity about iPhone unfit for corporate e-mail
• Michael McGuire at Gartner via CIO Today about Microsoft Unveils New Zune Lineup
• Shiv Bakhshi at IDC, Allyn Hall at In-Stat and Ira Brodsky at Datacomm Research via E-Commerce Times about Qualcomm Beefs Up Mobile Banking With $210M Firethorn Buy
• Tim Luke at Lehman Bros. via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Qualcomm Buying Firethorn For $210 Million; Dutch Court Dismisses Nokia Patent Suit; Analyst Meeting In NYC
• Jill Aldort at Yankee Group and Roger Entner at IAG Research via USATODAY.comSocial networkers reach out more with cellphones
• Canalys Principal Analyst Chris Jones and American Technology Research analyst Rob Sanderson via E-Commerce Times about Garmin, TomTom Settle Litigation as Bidding War for Tele Atlas Brews

October 31, 2007 Roundup

Happy Halloween! Analysts in the news for October 31:

• Avi Greengart at Current Analysis, Miro Kazakoff at Compete and Ross Rubin at NPD Group via Computerworld about What went wrong with the mobile Web?
• Farpoint Group analyst Craig Mathias via SearchMobileComputing.com about Mobile VoIP to dominate applications next year
• Robert Schwartz at Jefferies & Co. via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Navteq: Don't Expect A Higher Bid
• IAG Research's Roger Entner via thestreet.com about Garmin Turns the Tables
• Frits de Vries at Rabo Securities and Chris Jones at Canalys via Bloomberg.com about Garmin Plans to Offer EU2.3 Billion for Tele Atlas

October 8, 2007 Roundup

Analysts in the news for October 8:

• Dean Bubley at Disruptive Analysis about Redefining the mobility premium
• Brian Modoff at Deutsche Bank, Mike McGuire at Gartner and Neil Strother at JupiterResearch via Crain's about Moto building music service in India, China
• Niek Van Veen at Forrester Research and Stephanie Pittet at Gartner via International Herald Tribune about Start-ups aiming for cheaper text messaging
• American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu, Citi's Richard Gardner and Tavis McCourt at Morgan Keegan & Co. via chicagotribune.com about Investors find Apple items, stock worth price
• Rob Sanderson at American Technology Research via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Garmin: AmTech Ups Rating Following Swoon On Nokia's Deal For Navteq; Seeing Near-Term Strength, Ups Ests
• Ben Wood, at CCS Insight via Times Online about BlackBerry communicates growing rivalry with Apple iPhone

Is A Garmin Without GPS Just An Ordinary Device?

Obviously Garmin is doing something right as their stock is up roughly 50 points in the past three months. However their most recent product announcement in the personal fitness category has me a bit baffled.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big Garmin fan and own two of their products - the Garmin Nuvi 370 GPS Personal Navigator and the Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Personal Training Device with heart rate monitor (HRM). I use the Forerunner all the time when I run and did a detailed six-part review of the Garmin Forerunner 205, when it was first introduced over a year ago.

With that said, I've got to wonder why Garmin is extending the successful Forerunner product line by adding a new product that doesn't use GPS! They announced the Garmin Forerunner 50 slim sports watch, which substitutes GPS for a motion-activated foot pod sensor to measure distance. I'm not a big fan of foot pods. Some people swear by them but I've always found them to be less than accurate compared to GPS, but that's just me.

I'm guessing they are trying to tackle a bigger addressable market by offering a more diverse product line to take on Polar and Nike with their various fitness watches and the Nike+ iPod system, which turns a nano into a training device.

At $199 for a fully decked out system with HRM, the Forerunner 50 ain't cheap. So will the Garmin brand, product design and PC/web integration be enough to drive consumer sales for the Forerunner 50 when Garmin's differentiator has always been GPS?

It probably will have minimal impact on the company's overall business, but I have a hard time believing the Forerunner 50 will be a success. Now if they added a GPS chip to the slim form factor then they'd definitely have a winner....

August 2, 2007 Roundup

Analysts in the news for August 2:

• Julie Ask at JupiterResearch about Mobile Ad Networks Get Boost with CBS Signing
• Michael Gartenberg at JupiterResearch about The optimal mobile internet is not a stripped down version of the desktop or even the desktop itself
• Michael Gartenberg at JupiterResearch about Developers, Developers, Developers
• Thomas Husson at JupiterResearch about France Telecom S2 2007 results - key takeaways
• Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi via BusinessWeek about Nokia: Wired for Profits
• Iain Gillott at iGR via RCR Wireless News about Smartphone geeks in the U.S. and China
• Ken Dulaney at Gartner via Computerworld about Portrait of a Linux iPhone-killer wannabe
• Garmin Q2 2007 Earnings Call Transcript via Seeking Alpha
• Charles Golvin at Forrester Research and Craig Mathias at Farpoint Group via CNET News.com about Why cell phone networks are a weak link in a crisis
• Richard Windsor at Nomura Securities and American Technology Research’s Mark McKechnie via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Nokia: Great Phone Sales, But How Big a Drag is the Equipment Business?
• Michael Schroder at Kaupthing Bank and Agustin Alberti at Iber Securities via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Nokia: Still More Upside As the Company Rides Motorola's Collapse
• Bank of America’s Scott Craig via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Apple: Bank of America Starts Coverage With Buy Rating, $160 Target

July 30, 2007 Roundup

Analysts in the news for July 30:

• David Chamberlain at In-Stat about New Influences are Shaping User Expectations for Mobile Handsets
• Tim Bajarin at Creative Strategies via Technology Pundits about Why Apple Needs to Open Up the iPhone
• Elaine Chow at Ovum about MNP to shake up Malaysian mobile sector
• Dean Bubley at Disruptive Analysis about Fring VoIP being sold pre-loaded on some Nokia E65s
• Lance Wilson at ABI Research about My iPhone Odyssey – A Very Cool Phone But…….
• George Tubin at the Tower Group and Asaf Buchner at JupiterResearch via the San Francisco Chronicle about Banking on your phone to do much more than make calls? Now it can
• Clint Wheelock at ABI Research and Albert Lin at American Technology Research via IDG News Service about Amp'd is latest mobile niche casualty
• Julie Ask at JupiterResearch via BostonHerald.com about Co. wants phones to rock the web
• JMP Securities analyst Samuel Wilson via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Motorola: Trying To Pick The Bottom
• Jeff Evanson at Dougherty & Co. via Barron’s Online Tech Trader Daily about Garmin: Further Room To Run