Look for Many New Developments in Cell Phones, Service

Free cell phone service? That’s one of many ideas that will be kicked around in coming months, says Dr. Michael Hardin, associate dean for research at the Culverhouse College of Commerce and professor of statistics at The University of Alabama.

“Cell service will be an interesting industry to watch,” Hardin said. “Just this month, AT&T will allow other phones to use their network for little or no cost. Further, the strong relationship between the IPHONE and AT&T is creating an interesting brand as well. Other cell service providers are going to be forced to counter, and probably the first shots will be fired in the first quarter of 2008.”

Hardin predicts that Apple will continue to develop its IPOD line.

“I predict the IPhone will eventually replace the IPOD,” Hardin says. “No one wants to carry around a pocket full of devices, so having your phone, calendar, music and video player in one device will be appealing.

“With the cost of digital storage continuing to decrease, these devices are going to be true multia-media devices, allowing users to store a library of their favorite movies, music, books, photos, contracts and maps. GPS will also be standard.

“I see Apple and Google forming a strong partnership to allow users ready access to Google maps and Google search capabilities on their IPhones, but I do not believe Apple will be willing to be acquired by Google.

“The folks at Google may become so flush with money in their bank accounts, however, that their egos need even greater challenges, and they attempt some type of hostile buyout of IPOD. Such a merged company would be a power house. Google’s Web domination already has Bill Gates and Microsoft scared. Couple that with a niche hardware provider, and a very unique brand could be created that would have great appeal, especially to those who already see Microsoft as the Darth Vader and the dark side of the Force.

Hardin also predicted that the official date for all television signals to be digital, February, 2009, will not create much of an uproar.

“I doubt if many people are aware of this, but it will mean that you have to have a converter box if you have an older TV. However, if Wal-Mart stores are any indication, you can’t find anything but digital, flat screens anyway. I think this conversion is going to come and go and few people will even realize it since they will already have converted.”