Alan Weinkrantz PR Web Log

My 3Screens Blog Scoops All National Media to Report on the First Starbucks in the U.S. with AT&T WiFi

In my other life, I have a blog called 3Screens.net.

It's a consumer facing blog about what it's like to be an AT&T three screens customer. 

In producing this blog, it makes me be my own client, having to stay on message, think about communications strategy, with an end game of  building authority and brand.

By three screens, it refers to the TV, the PC and my wireless device (and iPhone) -- all of which I have service from AT&T.

While my focus has been on IPTV, I am starting to write and cover stories about wireless.  I happened to be driving in between my home and my office, stopped at the Starbucks in my neighborhood, got a cup of Java and saw the AT&T crew there. 

I knew that AT&T and Starbucks had announced the switch from T-Mobile to AT&T, so putting 1 + 1 together, I ran to my office, got my computer, logged on, got on the AT&T (and not the T-Mobile network), blogged, sent some pitches out via email, and.....it just struck a chord.

I am going to start melding AT&T / Starbucks / Apple into my editorial mix.  Oh- yes, still do IPTV.  Once whole home DVR is real its yet another ball game.  And once I get U-verse Voice, then I have an all IP home.  There is plenty to do and more fun to come.

Breaking coverage included sites such as:

Engadget

Gizmodo

Gizmonews

Houston Chronicle (thanks, Dwight;)

InformationWeek

MacWorld (Glen Fleishman's syndicated story)

PC World (Glen Fleishman's syndicated story)

RV Internet (a news site for people who live in RVs, or are always on the road and need Internet access)

San Antonio Express News  (where AT&T is headquartered)

Seattle Post Intelligencer (where Starbucks is headquartered)

TMCNet

Washington Post (Glen Fleishman's syndicated story)

WiFiNetNews (Glen Fleishman's source story)

ZDNet

"Gotta Be Mobile" Innovates With With Its "InkShow" Review Series - And This Just In.... Bob Bushway Strips The Machine Down to Its Bare Bones...

Bob Bushway, over at GottaBeMobile, has an innovative approach to reviewing mobile related devices such as notebooks and tablet PC.s

In this episode, he reviews the pen and touch technology on the Dell Latitude Xt which is based on client, N-trig's Capacitive Touch technology, which he says has the best touch + pen experience on the market. "It is smooth, soft, and accurate, allowing for a more intuitive user experience than currently available in passive or other dual-mode offerings," says Bob.

Check this post, where he tears the unit down to see what's under the hood.  Well done!

Tower Semiconductor Ramps-Up Production of Client, N-trig's Digitizer Chips

Tower Semiconductor, Ltd. (NASDAQ: TSEM; TASE: TSEM), an independent specialty wafer foundry, and client, N-trig, the provider of DuoSense(TM) technology, combining pen and zero-pressure touch for mobile computers into a single device, today announced ramp-up of production of N-trig's A-trig and D-trig - the newest digitizer chipset to be integrated in OEMs computer systems.

N-trig’s DuoSense digitizers are thinner and more integrated solution, providing the ultimate human interface experience.  Its zero-pressure touch enables the best touch and pen experience on the market and is based on capacitive touch instead of traditional resistive touch. It is the only digitizer currently available that fully enables all the capabilities of the latest mobile platforms. DuoSense digitizers are implemented using Tower’s Fab2 0.18-micron advanced process. Tower is the leading provider of the A-trig and D-trig products’ silicon wafers.

Download the press release here.

Free White Paper: Welcome to the World of Social Media. Have You Shown Up?

If your company doesn’t have a social media strategy in place, you’re getting left behind.

Just as websites were the new thing in the early 90s, social media platforms can be an effective communications medium for companies to get the word out about their products, services, the marketplace, and more.  And it’s working – journalists, analysts, and customers are taking notice.

Download the rest of the story here:

Download social_media_white_paper.doc

Photo shot on location at Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi by Alan Weinkrantz (c) 2008

MaxxAudio Establishes New Sound Standards for

Today at the International CES, client, Waves Audio Ltd. (booth 20126D), demonstrated new MaxxAudio technologies which are being implemented by leading Japanese CE firms to improve sound in consumer electronic products.

Manufacturers such as Sanyo, JVC, and Toshiba use Waves patented psycho-acoustic algorithms to compensate for the limitations of small, low power speaker systems in mobile phones, LCD TVs, and notebook PCs.

Each of these industry leaders relies on Waves technologies to dramatically improve the audio quality of their products and the user audio experience, providing an important competitive advantage.

To schedule interviews:

Contact: Daniel Weizmann
Email: danielw@waves.com
Tel: 1-865-909-9263

Download the press release here:
Download maxxaudio_establishes_new_audio_standards.doc

Gizmodo Sums It Up With Their Take on Client, N-trig's DuoSense Technology....

"N-Trig's DuoSense tech takes every other tablet down a couple of pegs"

You can buy the Dell Latitude XT here.

Media Coverage on N-trig Continues....Now in the Israeli Business Press

I can't take credit for this one.....but it's important to point out the role of local media coverage to our Israeli clients -- when they get business coverage in Israel.

Case in point is the story in Ha'aretz, the English edition of one of the leading business publications in Israel. 

I find that like Ha'aretz, the Jerusalem Post and Globes, have very good local business coverage, and a good place to see first round stories of emerging companies like N-trig.

What's A Blog? Common Craft Explains in Plain....Video

So, just what is a blog - as in this one you are on and my other blog- 3Screens.net?
I found this via Chris Brogan's blog.  The video from Common Craft tells it best.

N-trig Expands With Opening of North American Operations

Our client, N-trig, a leading  provider of dual mode  technology combining pen and zero-pressure touch for mobile computers into a single device, announced today its expansion into North America with the opening of its U.S. sales and technical support office in Austin, Texas.

You may download the news release here.

Download ntrig_n_america_expansion_final_rev3.pdf

We've spent summer working on messaging, positioning, advance work with analysts and now bringing our client forward with this announcement and others into the future.

Stay tuned...

Scheduled to Brief an Analyst? Here Are Some Helpful Hints....

So it's taken you several weeks, or even months to get to the analyst you want to sit down with (in person or on the phone) to give your pitch.

Now that you are set and ready to make your pitch, here are some helpful tips:

1.  Send your presentation 3 - 5 days in advance of the briefing.

2.  Send an email confirming days and time (correct time zone too) with the analyst or the person who is coordinating the briefing. 

3.  Do an articles search and see where the analyst has been recently quoted and what's on their mind.

4. Think like they do and ask yourself hard questions like why do you matter, how will you lead, what customers do you have that are using your technology or application?

5.  Be armed and ready with something to send right after the call.  An upcoming news release.  A customer story.  Something of substance that you can offer right then and there that will lend credibility and show that your company is very and forward thinking.

6.  Prepare your own questions for the analyst you are going to brief.  What are their pain points?  What do they see on the horizon?  Is your message resonating?  Don't be afraid to ask for feedback.  Make a list of things you want to learn from them.

7. Make a list of your media targets and ask the analyst what media targets (print, online, blogs) they respect and actually read.

8 . Let the analyst know what industry shows and events you plan to attend and see if he / she will be attending as well.  (Maybe you'll be speaking at one of these events?).  Some analyst firms (like IDC or Gartner) have their own conferences and events, so make sure you know this in advance.

9.  Make sure you dial in 3 - 5 minutes before the scheduled time.  It's like showing up to an appointment early.  You don't want to get caught in a telephone traffic jam. Allow for conference call screw-ups, wrong access codes, and make sure you have an alternate number in case of phone problems.

10. Prepare and rehearse your pitch with someone in your office other than your direct co-workers.  That way, someone fresh and new can hear your pitch -- and maybe even learn something new about the company!

Got other suggestions?  Email them to me:  alan at weinkrantz dot com

Photo by Alan Weinkrantz shot on location at Central Park in NYC (c) 2007