Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008

The Buzz On Business

'GOOGLE PHONE' READY TO ENTER MARKET? The wireless world has been patiently awaiting the so-called "Google phone" for more than a year, and reports this week suggest that such a device soon could find its way to the market. In November, Google Inc. announced the formation of a large consortium of players from the wireless industry. The group was formed to help commercialize Android -- a software platform developed by Google as part of an effort to open up the wireless handset market to more developers who could build on the platform. The group was dubbed the Open Handset Alliance. Since then, the world has been awaiting the debut of devices that will run on the platform. The Alliance included handset manufacturers such as Motorola Corp., LG, Samsung and High-Tech Computer Corp., or HTC, though none has formally announced the launch of a phone running Android. Earlier this week, a blog geared toward T-Mobile news reported that the first Android-based phone would go on sale in mid-September at the carrier. Later, a short video showed up on YouTube purporting to be of the "HTC Dream" Android phone, which bore a similar look to an earlier device shown by Google in a demonstration of the technology earlier this year. On Friday morning, a report in the New York Times -- citing unnamed sources -- also reported that the first Android phone would go on sale, by "early October" at T-Mobile. The sources cited by the report also confirmed that the first phone is an HTC device that matched the one seen on the YouTube clip.

NETFLIX UP AND RUNNING AFTER 3 DAYS OF GLITCHES: Online DVD rental leader Netflix Inc. resumed normal shipments Friday after its distribution centers were crippled by three days of severe technical problems, a spokesman said. The Los Gatos-based company offered a 15 percent credit to customers whose discs were delayed, the longest disruption in service since Netflix launched its subscription service nine years ago. The problems held up shipments for about a third of the company's 8.4 million subscribers, meaning the total value of the credits could run into the millions of dollars. The credits will automatically appear on customers' next billing statement, Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey said. The company has declined to say what caused the problems, which affected all 55 of Netflix's shipping centers. Netflix was able to ship some discs Wednesday and Thursday but none on Tuesday, when the problem first was disclosed.

MILITARY CATCHES BREAK ON BAGGAGE FEES: Many of the nation's largest airlines have begun giving military personnel on official travel a pass on expensive baggage fees when they carry heavy duffel bags stuffed with combat gear. Faced with criticism from veterans groups and others that the fees are a financial burden, several airlines have announced exceptions for service members. AirTran Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and United Airlines said Friday they were waiving all or most of their baggage fees for active members of the U.S. military on official travel. Earlier this week, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air began waiving their fee to check a third bag for active service members. Many airlines struggling with the high cost of jet fuel implemented or increased baggage fees this year. Some service members have said they've been asked to pay as much as $300 extra for overweight duffel bags that might include vital combat equipment.

BEE NEWS SERVICES

Figuratively Speaking

10,278: Number of laptops that are reported lost or stolen each week at the 36 largest U.S. airports, according to a survey conducted by the Ponemon Institute.

69: Percentage that are not reclaimed.

66: Percentage of business travelers who do not have trouble balancing work responsibilities with personal obligations and are using technology as a way to maintain their regular routines and stay in touch with loved ones, according to a survey by Expedia Corporate Travel.

67: Percentage of travelers who establish a nightly ritual of calling their family every evening before they go to bed.

1: Rank of lost productivity among the issues most impacted by employee turnover, according to a survey of U.S. executives conducted by TalentKeepers.

2, 3, 4, 5: Ranks of diminished service quality, decreased employee morale, lost organizational knowledge and higher recruiting costs.

JOHN MacINTYRE,

UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE