Digital Trends
YouTube might be the kind of online video, but it’s not exactly known as a bastion of quality online video: instead, people are likely to find videos of amateur singers or camcordered grade school graduation ceremonies than professionally-produced offerings. But in a move to prove it can compete with the big boys—and no doubt attract major audiences and advertising dollars—YouTube will be premiering the environmentally-themed film Home tomorrow at the same time the film debuts in theaters.
Computer maker Dell has agreed to pay some $3.35 million to settle 34 states’ allegations that the company’s warranty, financing, and rebate offers were deceptive and misled consumers. The agreement has Dell paying $1.5 million into a restitution account; impacted consumers will be able to submit claims for compensation. The other $1.85 million will go towards the states’ legal costs.
“More than the money, this agreement provides profoundly important business practice reforms,” said Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal, in a statement. “No more bait-and-switch financing—offers touting zero-interest that become surprise high-interest charges or astounding late penalties. Our strong coalition of states will closely monitor and enforce this agreement, which has been reached with Dell’s cooperation.”
Following immediately on its settlements with Texas and California, music label Sony BMG has agreed to pay some $4.25 million as part of settlement agreements with 39 U.S. states and the District of Columbia regarding copy protection software included on some of the labels music CDs which caused computers to malfunction and exposed users to security threats.
Microsoft yesterday filed eight lawsuits against various eBay sellers the software giant alleges are selling counterfeit versions of its software. These lawsuits were filed in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York and Washington.
In the lawsuits, Microsoft said, they are seeking to “protect its legitimate business partners and customers from dishonest business practices and the risks associated with pirated and counterfeit softwareâ€. Seven of the defendants were reportedly identified through customer submissions to the company’s WindowsGenuine Advantage (WGA) program. WGA is an online validation tool for customers to determine whether their software is genuine and gives them the option of submitting counterfeit reports on their suppliers if they did not receive genuine software. Complaints were also made about some of the defendants to the company’s anti-piracy hotline.
Satellite television provider DirecTV has agreed to pay $5 million and restitution to thousands of customers to settle a 21-state investigation into complaints about the company’s advertising and marketing practices, undisclosed fees, channel availability, and cancellation policies.
The settlement was announced by the office of New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. The investigation began in early 2003 in response to consumer complaints regarding DirecTV satellite service; customers reported that advertised shows and local programming weren’t always available, specific sports programming was sporadically blacked out, reception was poor, and cancellation fees were both unfair and not disclosed upon entering into a DirecTV subscription contracts.
As noted in a new iSuppli Corporation TV market report published by DigiTimes, Syntax gained a 7.15% market share in Q4 2004 LCD TV shipments in North America to attain the third rank position, up from its previous position as number four in Q3 2004. Similarly, in a recent report by IDC(b), Syntax achieved the number three USA market position for LCD TV shipments in Q4 2004, plus Syntax scored a “top 10″ worldwide LCD TV position in Q4 2004 according to both IDC and DisplaySearch. As a result of the company’s first three quarters of sales in 2004, Syntax has achieved increasing market share gains for shipments of its flagship 20″, 27″ and 30″ Olevia LCD TVs.
From Sprint’s press release:
Sprint offers customers a single source for local and long-distance calling, wireless, high-speed Internet and now DISH Network Satellite TV services.
“Bringing satellite TV services to our customers gives us the final element to offer our customers a total suite of communication and entertainment products and services,†said Steve Carter, vice president of consumer marketing for Sprint Local Telecommunications Division. “Sprint continues to lead the way, providing our customers with the savings, simplicity and choice that comes from receiving multiple services from one company.â€
Also today, T-Mobile USA and Cingular Wireless agreed to expand the roaming arrangement reached by the companies last year, and to extend it until 2006.
For T-Mobile’s customers, the roaming agreement with Western Wireless expands advanced GSM/GPRS 1900 voice and data service along more than 5,500 highway miles and across much of the Western UnitedStates including Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas; New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Iowa. With these and T-Mobile’s otherexisting agreements, T-Mobile’s GSM/GPRS 1900 network will reach approximately 253 million people.
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