industry structure

communications industry structure, including mass media, advertising, and telephone companies

print disintermediation

While independent newspapers and magazines are in deep distress, business-sponsored print publications seem to be flourishing.  Costco Connection, for example, is a monthly lifestyle magazine for Costco members. The Sept. 2010 issue offers 72 pages chock-full of advertisements.  Its masthead shows a large, traditional print organization (managing editor, associate editors, assistant editors, copy editor, production … Continue reading print disintermediation

the moment you need yellow pages

Yellowbook, a Yellow Pages telephone directory, is now being offered in Arlington, Virginia, through on-street print distribution boxes.   The boxes offer the 2010 yellowbook that was distributed to area apartments about nine months ago.  At least in one apartment complex, most of those books were not picked up.  The books in the boxes weigh … Continue reading the moment you need yellow pages

whither telephone companies?

Telephone companies face serious business problems. Broadband Internet connectivity can support telephone service as just one app among many apps. For example, Google voice is just one feature among the many that Gmail offers. Texting is already competing with telephoning, and video communicating is likely also to do so in the future.  Providing network connectivity … Continue reading whither telephone companies?

evolutionary origins of the iPhone

The evolutionary origin of the iPhone has recently been pushed back another million years. More specifically, scientists recently found evidence that hominini used tools about 3.4 million years ago.  Dr. Zeresenay Alemseged, Curator of Anthropology at the California Academy of Sciences, explains: Tool use fundamentally altered the way our early ancestors interacted with nature, allowing … Continue reading evolutionary origins of the iPhone