Last week Steve Jobs, in that special way he has of tossing out little random nuggets of chaos into the industry, basically said that Apple already had a netbook out there called the iPhone. As a rabid iPhone and netbook user, I called Shenanigans.

Then a series of articles at What's On iPhone made me stop and give it some more thought. The lines between smartphones, iPhone, netbooks, and all the rest grow increasingly fuzzy, so maybe I jumped the gun on my assessment. I spent some time really thinking about how I used each, and decided that the three features of my netbooks that I value the most are:

Portable: I can grab my netbook as I head out the door and don't need a backpack or messenger bag. Sometimes I'll even take it "just in case" I may need it, where I'll only grab my Macbook if I know for a fact I will need it along the way. Here the iPhone meets the criteria just fine. Even better, since I can't fit my Eee PC in my pant's pocket. Passed.

Powerful: I used to have a Windows Mobile phone and used it for basic phone calls, email, and in a pinch maybe getting some information off the internet (which is NOT the same as just web surfing). As I've noted before, I barely use my iPhone for the "phone" part of it at all. I use it for email, games, notes, information, and nearly normal web surfing on occasion. It's a very powerful little device. Passed.

Functional: Here's where the wheels come off. For all the power in my iPhone, I just can't get at like I need to for many things. For example, I type more on my iPhone than I did on my smartphone, but I'm still not writing a big blog post. Nor am I preparing a presentation, reviewing lots of data, or building anything complex. It's both an input (no keyboard) and output (screen size) issue. It's not a bad thing by itself, but it just limits the use cases for which the iPhone is a solution. I can't put typed data in at a reasonable speed, and the zoom and pan of the iPhone just isn't enough for even mildly complicated work I do on a netbook. Significant Fail.

So I stand by my calling of Shenanigans. The iPhone has a lot going for it, but it is not and never will satisfy the needs of netbook users. Personally, I'm hoping Mr. Jobs was just stalling because judging by the number of people out there attempting to get OSX running on existing netbooks, if Apple ever came out with their own netbook (Macbooklette? Macnetbook? Netmac?) I wouldn't be standing in line to buy one all by myself.

HP is mulling the idea of offering their latest netbooks, the Mini 1000 bundled with various mobile data plans in the hope of sparking more interests and eventually sales to their netbooks. According to are report by the Wall Street Journal, HP is sort of overwhelmed by the growing popularity of the netbooks that they are looking into the possibility of selling off their Mini Note netbooks together with various data plans. This fits well with the idea of internet mobility in the true sense of the word.

The plan is hot on the heels of the just announced new models of the HP netbook - the HP Mini 1000, HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition and the Mini 700.

If you're not in the loop, some countries in Europe and Asia are fond of doing this kind of marketing strategy to gain market leverage for their netbook. And with the rising cost of prices, it is but natural for consumers to look into great buys and deals before they proceed with the transaction.

So, HP's plans of bundling up their HP Mini Note netbook with mobile carriers' data plans seem to be a logical strategy.

Via WSJ

A post from the Asus Eee PC blog.

HP Plans to Offer its Netbook via US Mobile Data Plan Bundle

Sam Gustin writes: After a year of skirmishes with major broadband providers, Free Press, the D.C.-based advocacy group, has asked the Federal Communications Commission to institute new rules requiring greater transparency on the part of internet service providers.

Free Press wants the agency to ensure that broadband providers disclose their network management practices, as well as the minimum speeds offered on their networks. The group says the new rules are needed in the wake of two controversial cases in which broadband companies failed to disclose their practices to consumers.

The first case, in which cable giant Comcast was found by the F.C.C. to have blocked peer-to-peer internet traffic, generated widespread criticism of the company, and became a cause celebre for advocates of network neutrality, the principle that all internet traffic should be treated equally. The second case involved a company called NebuAd, which secretly partnered with several broadband providers to monitor users' traffic as part a new data-mining technique called behavioral targeting.

Free Press wants the F.C.C. to require broadband companies to be more forthcoming with their customers about such practices.

"The pervasive lack of transparency in the broadband industry has opened the door to rampant abuse," said Ben Scott, Free Press policy director. "After recent episodes of secret spying and secret blocking, consumers have good reason to question whether cable and phone companies will respect their privacy and their right to free speech."

"Moving forward," Scott said, "we propose that any service provider that wants to manipulate the connection between Internet users and Internet content has an obligation to disclose what it is doing. Without industry-wide transparency, Internet users are likely to blame service disruptions on their computers or themselves rather than where it belongs -- on their ISP."

These rules are a good idea. As GigaOm's Stacey Higginbotham writes, "When it comes to traffic shaping and network speeds, there's no such thing as too much information."

Customers should have the right to know how broadband companies manage their networks, and what data they are collecting about them. And if the broadband companies have nothing to hide, surely they won't object to greater transparency.

Kevin Maney writes: Who knew a stinkin' cloud could get get so crowded. But here comes Microsoft stomping into cloud computing, instantly taking up space like a 300-pound guy in a middle seat.

A company called Celiocorp has launched a completely different take on the netbook phenomenon. Instead of offering a lightweight computer running either Linux or XP like today's netbooks do, this notebook PC is entirely powered by a device you already own: your smartphone. Dubbed a mobile companion, the Redfly device has an 8-inch screen, a full-sized keyboard and touch pad, and is connected to your smartphone via a USB cable or Bluetooth.

To use the Redfly notebook, all you need to do is install the Redfly driver on your phone (see supported phones here). You can then use the netbook like any computer. Its bigger screen makes it easier to read documents, write emails, or surf the web. Redfly supports remote desktop, virtualization and other cloud-based environments like Citrix, GoToMyPC, LogMeIn, Microsoft's Remote Desktop protocol, stoneware, inc., and others. The netbook also features a VGA connector so you can connect your Redfly netbook to a projector for presentations.

As you use the Redfly device, you can be charging your smartphone too, assuming it's plugged in via the USB cable. The Redfly battery works for up to 8 hours, according to the company.

Because Redfly has no OS, no CPU, no hard drive, and requires no software licenses, its cost is lower than a laptop PC (an Amazon search shows that price to be around $199). That's also slightly more affordable than today's crop of OS-powered netbooks, but not by much.

The benefit to using a mobile companion instead of a PC is that the device can get lost or stolen without any threat of losing important data. Of course, a lot of companies have already started doing this now via the use of virtualized business apps running on top of the OS installed on regular company laptops all the important data is in the cloud so laptop loss or theft isn't as big a concern as before. However, given the price ($199) of Redfly vs. that of a laptop, the replacement cost would be minimal.

A company called Celiocorp has launched a completely different take on the netbook phenomenon. Instead of offering a lightweight computer running either Linux or XP like today's netbooks do, this notebook PC is entirely powered by a device you already own: your smartphone. Dubbed a mobile companion, the Redfly device has an 8-inch screen, a full-sized keyboard and touch pad, and is connected to your smartphone via a USB cable or Bluetooth.

To use the Redfly notebook, all you need to do is install the Redfly driver on your phone (see supported phones here). You can then use the netbook like any computer. Its bigger screen makes it easier to read documents, write emails, or surf the web. Redfly supports remote desktop, virtualization and other cloud-based environments like Citrix, GoToMyPC, LogMeIn, Microsoft's Remote Desktop protocol, stoneware, inc., and others. The netbook also features a VGA connector so you can connect your Redfly netbook to a projector for presentations.

As you use the Redfly device, you can be charging your smartphone too, assuming it's plugged in via the USB cable. The Redfly battery works for up to 8 hours, according to the company.

Because Redfly has no OS, no CPU, no hard drive, and requires no software licenses, its cost is lower than a laptop PC (an Amazon search shows that price to be around $199). That's also slightly more affordable than today's crop of OS-powered netbooks, but not by much.

The benefit to using a mobile companion instead of a PC is that the device can get lost or stolen without any threat of losing important data. Of course, a lot of companies have already started doing this now via the use of virtualized business apps running on top of the OS installed on regular company laptops all the important data is in the cloud so laptop loss or theft isn't as big a concern as before. However, given the price ($199) of Redfly vs. that of a laptop, the replacement cost would be minimal.

in reply to Redfly: A Netbook Entirely Powered By Your Windows Mobile Phone

No one can avoid all the noise these days regarding partial, full or potential bank nationalizations (depending upon what country you're in), CDO swaps, the edict of venture capitalists in their Ivory towers to their start up investments: drastically reduce burn rates, as well as the general pessimistic view that the sky is falling in all segments across all economies which is constantly perpetuated by the cable media to sound the alarmany alarmto capture audience.

Somewhat ironic for me personally since in my past career as a legislative policy pusher, I was once responsible for the George Herbert Walker Bush administration's legislative docet for the now infamous Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac. [Note: Don't believe that this is a problem of the last eight or sixteen years, it has been a systemic threat for the last 30 years. But I digress from why you visited MOBILE Messaging today, not FINANCIAL Mess today.]

As the crises has continued to build I've started thinking about slumping tech caused by ripple effects of the impending uber recession'. Yet, in more contemplative moments I've asked myself,and others repeatedly, whether anyone thinks this cataclsym is going to hit mobile as hard as it hits everything else? The collective opinion by more than a few wireless influencers' is: NO.

Last week I spent a morning with a group of Angel investors in Washington DC reviewing potential companiestwo which had mobile components to their value proposition. At the breakfast before there was some grousing that individually the attending angels had experienced some contraction but as a group they were not running to liquidate all holdings and defending cash positions, which we should not forget is where fledgling companies get their funding from. As a groupextremely experienced as both technologists and investorsthey were still looking for investments to make, especially now with time to build out companies which can rebound higher later. No angels were running for the exits.

The same day in the afternoon, I was talking to a senior IT exec at a public company. On mobile his perspective was straightforward: All this talk from the financial pundacracy that tech is going to contract so radically is BS. Bottom line is guys like me already have 90% of our budget mandated, required, by core functionality. If we cut back on that, we cut back on core services. That isn't likely to happen. It is the 10% variance which we play with that may get affected. But even there, where do you capture efficiencies best? Automation and mobilization. There's that mobile component that can't be ignored. Depending upon how highly leveraged a tech company is, the bottom line is we are not falling back into a pre-industrialized economy, he said smartly.

The following day I reached out to a few VCs and asked them about their proclivity to invest now. As one put it, I've been successfully raising money for my next fund for over year. I'm not going to pull back on making the investments, let alone the pressure from my LPs will not subside to get the money to work. Um, guess the focus continues to be on the future. Not surprising given that VCs examine risk and opportunity all the time, at least the good ones do. Those that were pushing the alarm last week, one has to ask how many of these guys have ever really had to make payroll? That's a post for the future. Net net, full speed ahead, just look out for some adjacent storms.

Last point. Just look at the continuing trend of mobile penetration around the world, especially in developing countries. There may be lesser growth rates in the mature markets of Europe and the US, but where mobile is being fueled in China, India, Africa and South America, consumers will substitute or do without in order to get a mobile phone and benefit from it's conveniences. ARPU is already low in many of these regions, but operators there are capturing value even in these bottom of the pyramid playsdon't believe me?

Did you know that when Reliance was looking to acquire MTN in South Africa, they were willing to pay more than Microsoft had priced Yahoo? Really. If three data points constitute a trend, don't bet against mobile. Alternatively during these times, consider the consider the following.

In 1923, some of the most successful and richest men consisted of:

president of largest steel company in the US
president of largest gas company in the US
president of the NYSE
greatest wheat speculator in the US
president of the bank of international settlement

What became of these men and their fortunes?

Carol Schwabb, of the largest steel company, died as a pauper
Edward Hobson, of the largest gas company, went insane
Richard Whitney, president of the NYSE, eventually released from prison and died at home
Arthur Cougar, the wheat speculator, died abroadpenniless
C.B. Livermore, lion of wall street, committed suicide.

Yet that same year, 1923, Gene Sarazin, a professional golfer, won both the US Open and the PGA Championship. He died in 1999 at 95 years old. Played golf until he was 92, and was solvent at the time of his death.
CONCLUSION: Stop worrying about business and spend more time playing golf.

No one can avoid all the noise these days regarding partial, full or potential bank nationalizations (depending upon what country you're in), CDO swaps, the edict of venture capitalists in their Ivory towers to their start up investments: drastically reduce burn rates, as well as the general pessimistic view that the sky is falling in all segments across all economies which is constantly perpetuated by the cable media to sound the alarmany alarmto capture audience.

Somewhat ironic for me personally since in my past career as a legislative policy pusher, I was once responsible for the George Herbert Walker Bush administration's legislative docet for the now infamous Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac. [Note: Don't believe that this is a problem of the last eight or sixteen years, it has been a systemic threat for the last 30 years. But I digress from why you visited MOBILE Messaging today, not FINANCIAL Mess today.]

As the crises has continued to build I've started thinking about slumping tech caused by ripple effects of the impending uber recession'. Yet, in more contemplative moments I've asked myself,and others repeatedly, whether anyone thinks this cataclsym is going to hit mobile as hard as it hits everything else? The collective opinion by more than a few wireless influencers' is: NO.

Last week I spent a morning with a group of Angel investors in Washington DC reviewing potential companiestwo which had mobile components to their value proposition. At the breakfast before there was some grousing that individually the attending angels had experienced some contraction but as a group they were not running to liquidate all holdings and defending cash positions, which we should not forget is where fledgling companies get their funding from. As a groupextremely experienced as both technologists and investorsthey were still looking for investments to make, especially now with time to build out companies which can rebound higher later. No angels were running for the exits.

The same day in the afternoon, I was talking to a senior IT exec at a public company. On mobile his perspective was straightforward: All this talk from the financial pundacracy that tech is going to contract so radically is BS. Bottom line is guys like me already have 90% of our budget mandated, required, by core functionality. If we cut back on that, we cut back on core services. That isn't likely to happen. It is the 10% variance which we play with that may get affected. But even there, where do you capture efficiencies best? Automation and mobilization. There's that mobile component that can't be ignored. Depending upon how highly leveraged a tech company is, the bottom line is we are not falling back into a pre-industrialized economy, he said smartly.

The following day I reached out to a few VCs and asked them about their proclivity to invest now. As one put it, I've been successfully raising money for my next fund for over year. I'm not going to pull back on making the investments, let alone the pressure from my LPs will not subside to get the money to work. Um, guess the focus continues to be on the future. Not surprising given that VCs examine risk and opportunity all the time, at least the good ones do. Those that were pushing the alarm last week, one has to ask how many of these guys have ever really had to make payroll? That's a post for the future. Net net, full speed ahead, just look out for some adjacent storms.

Last point. Just look at the continuing trend of mobile penetration around the world, especially in developing countries. There may be lesser growth rates in the mature markets of Europe and the US, but where mobile is being fueled in China, India, Africa and South America, consumers will substitute or do without in order to get a mobile phone and benefit from it's conveniences. ARPU is already low in many of these regions, but operators there are capturing value even in these bottom of the pyramid playsdon't believe me?

Did you know that when Reliance was looking to acquire MTN in South Africa, they were willing to pay more than Microsoft had priced Yahoo? Really. If three data points constitute a trend, don't bet against mobile. Alternatively during these times, consider the consider the following.

In 1923, some of the most successful and richest men consisted of:

president of largest steel company in the US
president of largest gas company in the US
president of the NYSE
greatest wheat speculator in the US
president of the bank of international settlement

What became of these men and their fortunes?

Carol Schwabb, of the largest steel company, died as a pauper
Edward Hobson, of the largest gas company, went insane
Richard Whitney, president of the NYSE, eventually released from prison and died at home
Arthur Cougar, the wheat speculator, died abroadpenniless
C.B. Livermore, lion of wall street, committed suicide.

Yet that same year, 1923, Gene Sarazin, a professional golfer, won both the US Open and the PGA Championship. He died in 1999 at 95 years old. Played golf until he was 92, and was solvent at the time of his death.
CONCLUSION: Stop worrying about business and spend more time playing golf.

Among the hundreds of companies and social platforms debuting at Web 2.0 Expo NY was Xignite, a new financial web service. Xignite's platform lets financial sites show global delayed stock data in their applications and satisfies the growing demand for reliable stock quotes from emerging countries.

MP4 / Subscribe for Free

Xignite uses an on-demand model to serve clients like ING, Goodyear, and McDonald's and provide market quotes, news, corporate data, industry information, analytics, tools and more. Until recently, much of the data that Xignite collects and organizes was otherwise scattered, raw or only available in bulk form. With their services, Xignite is leading the way for service-oriented business applications.

I had the opportunity to meet with Stephane Dubois, the CEO and Founder of Xignite, and discuss Xignite's goals, special features and Splice, their new platform for creating web services mashups. (And, I don't need to remind you how excited I get about mashups). Using the Splice visual designer, developers can create a mashup in just 60 seconds by dragging and dropping objects without ever having to write code.

A special thanks to Sony for letting me use their amazing TG1 HD camcorder, without which none of the Web 2.0 Expo videos would have been possible. You can watch the video via the embed below or download the MP4 directly.