Italy Will Have Two iPhone Carriers
Yesterday, Vodafone announced that it will be carrying the iPhone in Italy. The press release was short and to the point. Soon afterwards, Telecom Italia issued an even shorter press release announcing the exact same thing: Telecom Italia announced today…

Yesterday, Vodafone announced that it will be carrying the iPhone in Italy. The press release was short and to the point. Soon afterwards, Telecom Italia issued an even shorter press release announcing the exact same thing:

Telecom Italia announced this day it has signed a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Italy later this year.

This means that Italy is the first country to have two telcos offering the iPhone, which looks like the beginning of the end for exclusivity deals, and further advocates that the iPhone will be sold with a subsidy. Italy has two more operators, Wind and 3, and Wind at least thinks that it might also offer the iPhone. When contacted by Italian website Setteb, Wind stated that “we are evaluating this market opportunity”.

Some numbers: Italy has the highest penetration of 3G in Europe, at 36.3% of users. The country is also decidedly anti-contract, with a staggering 90% of customers choosing pre-pay. This curious combination could point to an unlocked iPhone, but whether it will have its price jacked up to over $1000 like the phantom unlocked French iPhone we’ve no idea.

Press release [Telecom Italia. Thanks, Fabio!]

The iPhone Italian: Apple is happy. Wind and 3 reflect [Sette]

Italy, the only country with double-carrier for iPhone [Sette]

Pizza Pic [ZeroOne/Flickr]

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JVC, the group behind the scenes of popular projectors and thin LCDs, and Kenwood, known for their vehicle stereo equipment, will merge in October. The new company, JVC Kenwood Holdings, has been discussed for almost a year, when the two first collaborated on automobile electronics. So what happens when you merge TVs and car equipment? Lots of unsightly rides. And, hopefully new, great gadgets. [Forbes]

Via [gizmodo]

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Luigi Licciardi, a vice president at Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) told tech journalist David Manners that the company will be selling a 3G iPhone next month. The quote is unambiguous: We’ll be selling an iPhone with 3G capability next…

Luigi Licciardi, a vice president at Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) told tech journalist David Manners that the company will be selling a 3G iPhone next month. The quote is unambiguous:

We will be selling an iPhone with 3G ability next month.

Manners spoke to Licciardi on a bus taking the men into the Dubai desert for dinner. To be honest, we’re more interested what they’d for dinner. If a new iPhone isn’t announced on June 9th at the Wordwide Developers Conference, I know exactly what I will be eating for dinner that night. My hat.

Yes, It Is The 3G iPhone In Europe Next Month [Electronics Weekly]

Via [wired.com]

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HD Content Confirmed For Amazon Unbox! [Rumor Confirmed]

TiVo has officially confirmed that Amazon Unbox will get HD content in the near future, but execs at the company say a few kinks need to be ironed out first. The current version of Unbox can’t process HD content, and availability is limited by bandwidth constraints—something cable companies are in the process of solving. If a previous customer survey is to be trusted, an HD motion picture rental will cost $4.99, the same as iTunes. [Zatz Not Funny! - Thanks Dave]

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How many concept products have we shown featuring some form of curved or oddly shaped E-Ink display? A pillion?* Thankfully, the good people at E-Ink have seen fit to make these dreams come true: New “ultra-moldable” E-Ink cells are 40% thinner, can be cut into one-of-a-kind shapes, and even curved. This doesn’t mean they’re bendy, but it does mean you will be one step closer to achieving that bionic soldier-of-fortune look you’d like to cultivate to woo the ladies. The first product to be demonstrated is this humble but high functioning Delphi keychain. In the world of novelty keychains alone, the possibilities seem limitless. [Electronista]
*I am not entirely sure there’s such a quantity as a “pillion,” but there should be.

Via [gizmodo]

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Emergency Telecoms Team Forced to Wait in Thailand by Burmese Junta [Burma]

Emergency communications kits destined to help the clear-up of the Burmese cyclone have been held up by the Asian country’s military junta. A five-man team from NGO Telecoms Sans Frontieres has been waiting all week for its entry visas from the turds powers that be of the brutal regime. And, until the visas are issued, over 175 pounds of vital equipment will stay right where it is, in a Thai warehouse.

As well as printers, Personal computers, scanners, cellphones and laptops, the kits contain a big VSAT satellite dish, two satellite phones, including a mobile device, routers and access points, wireless relays, GPS, power packs that include automobile batteries and solar panels. Primary connection is provided by an AsBGan satellite link, with a Gan M4 giving back-up.

The gear will be used by both aid workers and any locals affected by the disaster who need to get in touch with friends or family. However, despite continuing diplomatic efforts, the generals are refusing to grant foreign aid workers into the country to help the estimated 1.5 million Burmese caught up in the tragedy. “There is a lot of frustration among aid workers,” says a TSF spokesman. “We want to help the people of Burma but the authorities aren’t letting us do our job.” [BBC News and NY Times]

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AT&T to Employees: No Vacations Between 6/15 and 7/12
Check it out: According to a memo obtained by the Boy Genius Report, AT&T has some sort of big “promotional launch” planned for this summer. As such, the company is asking its employees not to schedule any holidays from mid-June…

Check it out: According to a memo obtained by the Boy Genius Report, AT&T has some sort of big “promotional launch” planned for this summer. As such, the company is asking its employees not to schedule any holidays from mid-June to mid-July so as to ensure adequate staffing. Me, I’m banking on that highly anticipated 3-G Blackberry 9000, but there are others in the blogosphere that seem to think it could be related to another launch.

Peep the full memo below.

AT&T Mobility

Vacation Schedules

To: All Employees

Last year at this time we asked that all vacations be scheduled before June 15 or after July 15, to ensure adequate store staffing and to give everyone an equal opportunity to benefit from an exciting product launch. Thanks to your hard work, we experienced excellent sales during the mid-summer period. This year, the numbers you produced in 2007 will be hard to beat; but as a business, we must rise to the challenge, and make every effort to exceed last year’s sales results. Your management team is counting on you!

We’ll meet the challenge “head-on” by providing an exciting Summer Promotional Launch to enable your sales to soar. We again anticipate heavier than normal customer traffic in our stores, providing an excellent earning opportunity for every front line retail sales consultant (RSC) in company owned retail stores.

To ensure proper staffing during this period, Sales personnel planning to take approved time off are encouraged to schedule their vacations before June 15 or after July 12 to participate in the heavy selling period.

Previously approved vacation will be allowed where voluntary rescheduling is not feasible.

No additional vacation will be approved for 6/15 -€“ 7/12

If customer traffic is manageable, there may be an opportunity to approve vacation toward the end of the period. Managers will communicate updates as they become available.

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