Wolf Tracking

As the widely hyped and attended 2007 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) comes to an end, I, like just about every other PR guy, sifted through the week’s tech press to read about the exciting new gizmos and gadgets I can add to my wish list of toys. I was surprised to find that the highlight of this year’s show wasn’t at the show at all – it was at Macworld!

After years of widespread rumors, Steve Jobs finally unveiled Apple’s iPhone on Tuesday – a device he touts as 3-in-1.

“Today, we’re introducing three revolutionary products,” Jobs said. “The first one is a widescreen iPod with touch controls. The second is a revolutionary mobile phone. The third is a breakthrough Internet communications device. These are not three separate devices. This is one device and we are calling it iPhone.”

iPhone introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and new software, enabling users to control everything with their fingers.

“Today Apple is reinventing the phone,” Jobs added.

According to CES attendees, “iPhone-mania” rocked the show as the implications of a mobile device, combining portable internet access, an iPod and a ground-breaking phone, were digested by industry players and quickly realized as a cause for concern.

According to traditionally conservative TIME, the industry’s fear is well founded. “Apple’s new iPhone could do to the cellphone market what the iPod did to the portable music player market: crush it pitilessly beneath the weight of its own superiority.”

Two versions of the iPhone will be released in June, a 4GB version priced at $499 and an 8GB version priced at $599, available exclusively from Cingular.

My wish list is short this year, but boy am I excited for June.

Twenty-three years after the Justice Department broke up AT&T into seven regional bell operating companies, Ma Bell is back. Thanks to the FCC’s approval of AT&T’s $85.5 billion takeover of BellSouth, the largest ever in U.S. telecommunications history, AT&T is once again the world’s largest telecom company. This approval coupled with Forbes naming AT&T Company of the Year was a tremendous way to end an extraordinary year for AT&T.

The Commission got it right when they concluded that the merger most likely will not result in any anti-competitive effects. Thanks to the power of social media consumers have the ability to voice their displeasure with corporate policies. Any company that attempts to block access to desired services and content will experience a very harsh backlash. Need proof? Ask Cox Communications.

A lot has been written about the concessions AT&T made to gain approval with Net-Neutrality topping the list. Some reports speculate that Congress may take up Net-Neutrality as an issue this year. While this issue may gain some traction with the Democratic leadership, we should not expect any legislation for two main reasons. First, the new Congressional leadership will be focused on the following priorities in the first 100 hours of their leadership – minimum wage, affordable school loans, Medicare and protecting social security.

Second, there is no need for draconian regulation since there is no evidence of problems. Market competition is working, providing more and exciting choices to consumers. Putting the reins on risk-taking is not only shortsighted but also wildly out of sync with our collective identity. Entrepreneurship and innovation have not only driven the technology and business advances, but they also define our national character. If we regulate emerging competitive markets such as VoIP and IPTV, we risk reduced capital investments, delayed or canceled deployment of new convenient services, limited choice and increased costs for consumers.

So don’t fear Ma Bell, welcome her back!