Marketing Principles

Finally, though not an iPod

2006-12-07T12:00:00.000-08:00

I really want an iPod but I don't have $250 to spend. So I compared all the mp3 players within my budget and narrowed it down to two: Sansa e250 and iPod Nano.

Contrary to what you would think, I ended up with the Sansa. Why? Very simple reasons really.

Bigger screen (almost double)
iTunes crashes my PC every single time
It has a radio
I can record voice, radio and music
It looks sturdier - I thought the Nano would break just by looking at it.
Did I mention a bigger screen?

So you see, even though I long for the day I can have an iPod, the Nano just wasn't the same and there was actually a better product. So it seems that I will buy my Mac and my iPod once I graduate.

The Satellite "iPod"

2006-11-01T05:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it's not really and iPod but it looks like one. Sirius launches the Stiletto.

What do you think? Will it sell or not?

Nokia re-visited

2006-10-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

I know most of you don't like Nokia, but this is one cool phone. I only wish that, like the Sidekick or the Motorola Q, they would've found a way to put a QWERTY keyboard in it.

What do you guys think?

Facebook or MySpace?

2006-10-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

Facebook has recently opened its subscription to friends of members, which means pretty soon there will be people in Facebook that are not in college or that are not part of any previous network. Does that change anything for you? Who knows, maybe your future employer can now see your Facebook page.

On the other hand MySpace is thinking about developing a mobile phone application - a MySpace Web application to run on mobile phones that should be launched in three to four months with a major U.S. carrier. Do you think this is a good idea?

So Facebook or MySpace, which one do you use and why?

Zune Revisited

2006-10-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

Some people thing Zune can give iPod a run for its money. For example, with Zune you can purchase songs at $.99 or you can have a membership for $14.99 monthly and buy as many songs as you want.

Read the article and tell me what you think. How many of you even buy songs?

Yahoo Preloaded

2006-10-01T12:53:00.000-07:00

Does this even make a difference in your purchase decision? Or is it more of an awareness and trial campaign?

The Connected Generation - that's you

2006-09-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

Following the class discussion about market segmentation, you are today's hottest marketing segment. Were you aware of this? It is your generation, the connected generation, who is driving business today - and changing everything. Hence it is only logical someone would come up with the 10 Cravings of your generation in a two part article.

Read both parts, they are pretty short, and tell us what do you think? Is this really you? Are these really your expectations?

Let the War Begin...iPod versus Zune

2006-09-15T09:43:00.000-07:00

So, what do you think of Zune - Microsoft's answer to Apple's iPod?

It looks cool, has a big enough screen and you can apparently view it either horizontal or vertically - but what can it do?

Read the product launch here and here and compare to iPod. What's the verdict - success or failure? What do you like or dislike? Would you buy it? What do you think it represents?

Starbuck - Guilty or Innocent?

2006-09-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

Starbucks is currently in the middle of an unexpected lawsuit due to an internal promotion gone wrong.

The company sent an e-coupon to their employees for a free Grande coffee drink. The employees were allowed to send the coupon to friends and family and be valid until September 30th. But when a local Starbucks failed to accept the coupon, the disgruntled customer turn around and sued for fraud.

Read the article in the link above and evaluate the following: What are negative implications for Starbucks? What could the company have done differently? Is this a bad strategy or a bad implementation? Did Starbucks have a contingency plan for this "positive" deviation from the plan? How would you react as a customer if this had happened to you? Do you think it is a frivolous suit?

The Battle with iTunes

2006-09-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

Most of you said you own and iPod. If you do, you buy or load your music through iTunes. If you've been following some music news, you might be aware that Apple has been getting sued over "forcing" its customers to use iTunes software. In addition, new MP3 players pop up every day.

MySpace has now decided to compete with iTunes, and offer a music download service with no copy protection in an MP3 format compatible with iPods.

To launch its music store, MySpace is partnering with Snocap, a tech firm founded by Napster creator Shawn Fanning, reports the New York Times. The music, in MP3 format, will not be copy-protected and will be playable on the iPod.

"The goal is to be one of the biggest digital music stores out there," MySpace co-founder Chris DeWolfe told Reuters. "Everyone we've spoken to definitely wants an alternative to iTunes and the iPod. MySpace could be that alternative."

What are some of the benefits and challenges MySpace can face in this effort? As an iPod customer, and iTunes user, would you try MySpace out? If you don't own an iPod but own an MP3 player, would you give MySpace store a chance? Read the articles from Reuters and The New York Times by clicking on both links above and then post your comments.

What this is..

2006-09-01T15:25:00.000-07:00

I will post on the Blog after each class session and also comment on current events. I think it will be interesting reading. I will also place links meant to help you with the class material and with your final project on the sidebar, so be on the lookout for the info.

I expect you to visit the Blog; you can comment on it as often as you wish. However, plesae do not post anonymously and please remember this is a public space so both decency and civility are in order. You can register for a Blogger account here.

Again welcome and good luck this semester!

Welcome!

2006-09-01T15:15:00.000-07:00