Sep 07 - Sunday Shopping Watch.
Best Sunday Deals - See our Best Sunday
Ad Deals Table below for specific system prices.
Weekly Comparison. While there are not as many
advertised systems as last week, it is still a good weekend to go
out and buy a new desktop or laptop computer.
This Sunday's Special Discounts and Financing.
In addition to sales on specific items, the following store-wide sales
are advertised this week. (Note that these
ads are for the Dayton, Ohio area. Prices or offerings may be different
where you live.)
Best Buy is offering 12 month no-interest financing on all desktop
and laptop purchases, and $100 mail-in rebates on advertised desktop
packages and laptops.
Circuit City is offering
$150 mail-in rebates on advertised desktop packages and notebooks
plus 12 months no interest.
Office
Depot
has no store-wide promotions this Sunday.
CompUSA has no ad today.
Staples has no store-wide promotions
this Sunday.
Compare
to Online Prices - Compare the Sunday ad prices to
those being offered at DealTime, it searches over 160 online computer
stores.
InfoHQ Related Shopping Pages
Shopping Alerts
- Our latest shopping advisories on buying digital cameras and camcorders,
desktop computers, laptops, and other computer items.
Windows XP
Upgrade Guide - All about upgrading to Windows XP.
What You Need to Know
About Dial-up Internet Service Rebates - The pros and cons of
'free' Internet service deals. Also see our latest InfoHQ Tech Watch
Newsletter; Free
PC and Free Internet Deals.
Definitions. A complete desktop system/package/complete
package is defined as a computer with monitor and printer
or scanner.
A build-to-order system is customized at the retailer
and then ordered from a computer manufacturer. In addition to the
computer's stated price, you still pay sales tax and shipping charges
(if you order direct from the vendor without going through the chain
store, you may not have to pay sales tax and you could get a better
warranty).
Caution about advertised prices.
When reading advertisements, read the fine print of the ad to make
sure you know what is being advertised and what it cost. For example,
many advertisers will show a complete system with computer, monitor,
and printer but advertise a price for the computer only.
* Prices discussed in this article. We report
prices after rebates and discounts are subtracted.
Items highlighted in Black are good deals.
Items highlighted in Red means prices have
gone up and the system is not a good buy this week.
Items in normal text means prices are about the same as the previous
weeks.
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Best Sunday Ad Deals
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Category
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Product Description
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Price* (see above)
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Prices up or Down this Week
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Store
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1. Best Celeron Deal
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Compaq 2.4 GHz system with 17" monitor
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$399
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-
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Best Buy
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2. Best Celeron Deal
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HP 2.4 GHz complete system with 17"
monitor
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$519
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-
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Circuit City
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1. Best Pentium 4 System
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HP 2.4 GHz system with 17" monitor
, DVD/CD-R/W, and HT Technology
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$849
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-
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Staples
|
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2. Best Pentium 4 System
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HP 2.6 GHz complete system with 15"
flat panel, DVD-R/W, and HT Technology
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$1099
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-
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Best Buy
|
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3. Best Pentium 4 System
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HP 2.4 GHz Media Center complete system
with 17" flat panel, DVD-R/W, and HT Technology
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$1549
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-
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Best Buy
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Best AMD Athlon XP System
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HP 2800+ complete system with 15"
flat panel
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$1059
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-
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Best Buy
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1. Best Low-cost Laptop
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Toshiba 2 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
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$699
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Circuit City
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2. Best Low-cost Laptop
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HP AMD Athlon XP-M 2200+ with DVD/CD-RW
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$899
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Best Buy, Staples
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3. Best Low-cost Laptop
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HP AMD Athlon XP-M 2400+ with DVD/CD-RW
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$1099
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Best Buy
|
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1. Best High-end Notebook
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Compaq 2.4 GHz Pentium 4 with DVD/CD-RW
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$1249
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-
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Circuit City
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2. Best High-end Notebook
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Toshiba 3.06 GHz Pentium 4 with DVD
- RW
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$1599
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-
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Best Buy
|
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3. Best High-end Notebook
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Avertec 1.3 GHz Centrino with DVD -
RW
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$1349
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-
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Staples
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Peripherals and Software
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Best Sunday Deal
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Western Digital 7200 RPM 120 GB hard
drive with 8 MB buffer
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$79
(after rebates)
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-
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Circuit City
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
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Maxtor 7200 RPM 160 GB hard drive with
8 MB buffer
|
$99
(after rebates)
|
-
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Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
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ATI Radeon 9600 Pro 128 MB DDR
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$169
(after rebates)
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-
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Best Buy
|
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Best Sunday Deal
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Sandisk USB 2.0 128 MB Flash Drive
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$29
(after rebates)
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-
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Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
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Sony 4X multiformat DVD-RW
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$249
(after rebates)
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-
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Best Buy, Staples
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Additional Information. For additional technical
information, advice on how to buy a laptop or desktop, and vendor
and manufacturer links, please see our Computer
Buying Advice page.
About Sunday Shopping Watch. Sunday Shopping
Watch appears every Sunday (except some holidays like Easter and Christmas)
in our News and Rumors column. It is a review of local (Dayton, Ohio)
computer chain store advertisements. While we can not guarantee your
local chain store has the same items, this article can help you make
informed buying decisions.
Sep 05 - Just Add Water to
Enjoy Latest PENTAX Digital Camera. Just add water. That's the
best way to enjoy the latest digital camera from PENTAX U.S.A., Inc.
The Optio 33WR is a robust and durable 3.2 megapixel, 2.8X zoom lens
digital camera. With a JIS Class 7 water resistance rating, the Optio
33WR remains watertight even when the camera is rinsed, splashed or
immersed in water. The Optio 33WR is the perfect companion for outdoor
photography in rain, snow or a day at the beach.
PENTAX U.S.A., Inc. will preview the digital camera
submersed in a fish bowl at the Digital Focus media event on Monday,
September 15 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City during
the PC EXPO trade show. Photographers will never have to sacrifice
size or features for the water resistant capability of the Optio 33WR.
The compact digital camera measures 3.2 x 3.0 x 1.2
inches and weighs 7.3 ounces loaded with battery and memory card.
The camera hosts a variety of impressive features also found on other
PENTAX Optio digital products including: movie mode with sound and
voice memo, built-in flash, a high-precision 1.6 inch LCD monitor,
an optical viewfinder, and a diverse range of shooting modes. The
Optio 33WR operates with an SD memory card or MultiMediaCard (MMC)
and power sources include two AA alkaline batteries or optional CR-V3
lithium batteries and AC adapter.
The Optio 33WR, along with all PENTAX Optio digital
cameras, includes the latest version of ACDSee(TM) 5.0 software. With
a $150 value, ACDSee(TM) digital camera software makes it easy to
retrieve, view, manage, print, enhance and share your digital photos.
The Optio 33WR will ship along with the software to major camera retailers
around the end of October in plenty of time for the Holiday 2003 buying
season.
For more information, visit www.pentaxusa.com.
Sep 05 - EZQuest Ships Boa
Slim DVD-RW Drive for Macs and PCs. EZQuest's new external Boa
Slim DVD-RW drive for Macs and PCs is available now.
The super-small drive weighs less than a pound and
measures 6-inches, by 5.5-inches, by .75 inch -- just big enough to
accommodate a DVD or CD disc. It features both a FireWire and a USB
2.0 port, and Mac and PC software. In addition, it is FireWire bus-powered,
making it even more portable.
This drive is perfect for backing up large data files, transferring
data from one computer to another, making DVD movies and audio CDs,
copying CDs, and rewriting CDs or DVDs. It operates at 2x DVD-R, 2x
DVD-RW, 8x DVD-Rom, 16x CD-R, 8x CD-RW and 24x CD-Rom speeds.
"The Boa Slim DVD-RW drive is great for storing
video and audio files," said Ebrahim Zmehrir, EZQuest president.
"It's very small and lightweight, and fits easily into a laptop
case or briefcase, but it's also very rugged."
"The drive comes with top-of-the-line, easy-to-use
Mac and PC authoring and backup software," continued Zmehrir.
"This gives it a huge range of powerful features and capabilities.
And, it gives people who own both a Mac and a PC the ability to author
DVDs and CDs, and do backups, with just one drive."
Mac authoring software includes Pixela IMX for encoding
iMovies to MPEG 2 and burning DVDs, and Charismac for burning CDs
and DVDs. PC authoring software includes Sonic MyDVD Video & CD
Burning Suite for authoring DVD movies, and burning DVDs and CDs.
Mac and PC versions of Retrospect Express for scheduling automatic
backups is also included.
The sleek Boa Slim DVD-RW drive comes ready to use
with all necessary software, a carrying case and a cable. It is compatible
with Mac OS 8.6, Mac OSX and WIN 98SE, as well as later Mac and WIN
versions. The drive has a one-year warranty and an MSRP of $359. A
USB-only version is also available at an MSRP of $339. Spec sheets
and a list of dealers are available at www.ezq.com.
Sep 05 - Toshiba Announces
IK-WB01A Wireless Network Camera. Toshiba Imaging Systems, a division
of Toshiba American Information Systems, Inc., today introduced the
IK-WB01A wireless network camera.
Designed to offer consumers an affordable gateway to
applications such as participation in video chat, home surveillance,
or the uploading of live video streams to websites, the new camera
boasts a 350,000 pixel progressive scan CCD that delivers high-resolution
JPEG video images (640x480) with audio at frame rates as high as 15
fps.
Using a standard web browser, broadcasted video can be remotely viewed
anywhere in the world on an Internet-ready personal computer (Windows,
Mac) or PDA. In addition, users can remotely control the camera's
Pan, Tilt and Zoom operations.
WWW.CAMERAWEBPAGE.COM
As an added value, anyone purchasing an IK-WB01A will be given a
free 90-day trial homepage at www.camerawebpage.com,
where they can watch their camera plus get to know other users in
the on-line community. User web pages can include features such as
chat, guest books, counter, calendar, time-lapse recording and archiving,
a photo album, blog, buddy lists, web page skins and more.
SUPERIOR FEATURES
Key to the success of the IK-WB01A is its built-in web server, a
feature that eliminates that need for an on-site PC; only a wireless
access point and a power source are required. In addition to the wireless
802.11b connection, the IK-WB01A can be connected to a LAN, cable
modem or DSL modem for 10/100 Ethernet connectivity.
The Toshiba IK-WB01A is expected to ship in late September 2003.
MSRP is $599 (U.S.). Accessories include AC adapter, power cord, users
manual, wall bracket and screw set.
For information, visit www.netcam.toshiba.com.
Sep 05 - Mad Catz Now Shipping GameShark
Media Player for PS2. Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSE: MCZ),
the world's leading third party video game enhancement and accessories
manufacturer, today announced that it has begun shipping the GameShark(TM)
Media Player, enhancement software enabling users to stream music,
video, and digital images from the computer to the television or home
entertainment system through a PlayStation(R)2 (PS2) with a network
adapter. Available in early September 2003, the GameShark Media Player
will retail for an MSRP of $49.99.
The GameShark Media Player provides consumers with easy to install,
"plug and play" software that leverages the powerful PS2
game console to stream digital media from a networked computer to
the television or home entertainment system. Functional with Windows,
Mac OSX and Linux with a wired or wireless home network connection,
users enjoy virtually all the popular media formats including MPEG,
DivX, MP3, JPEG and more. Complete with parental controls, the software
enables users to create and save unlimited playlists while navigating
with a remote control or game console controller.
"The video game industry is seeing a convergence with home entertainment
and computer entertainment. The Mad Catz product lineup is reflective
of this trend," commented Darren Richardson, President and Chief
Operating Officer of Mad Catz, Inc. "The GameShark Media Player
shows the breadth of our product line, furthering Mad Catz into a
"one-stop-shop" for video game and home entertainment enhancement
products."
The GameShark Media Player, which incorporates advanced technology
developed by BroadQ, LLC, an independent software developer, features
dynamic, automatic updates to owners of the software. Mad Catz and
BroadQ announced the exclusive distribution agreement between the
two companies in May, 2003.
Mad Catz Interactive, can be found online at www.madcatz.com.
Sep 05 - EA Ships Highly Anticipated PC
Expansion Pack for Battlefield 1942. Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS)
announced that Battlefield 1942(TM): Secret Weapons of WWII, the latest
expansion pack for the award-winning Battlefield 1942 PC game series
under the EA GAMES(TM) brand, is available in stores today. From cutting
edge weapons to secret forces and clandestine locations, Secret Weapons
of WWII will add a new level of drama and excitement to the Battlefield
1942 experience.
The expansion pack features powerful new vehicles and weapons rooted
in World War II history and many never saw actual combat -- until
now. Players can put these weapons to use in eight massive World War
II combat campaigns including Peenemuende, the V2 rocket research
facility, and The Eagle's Nest, Hitler's hideaway. All new battlefields
offer unique settings ranging from nightfall during the summer in
Prague to a winter battle in Norway.
Developed by Swedish based Digital Illusions' Canadian office, Battlefield
1942: Secret Weapons of WWII for the PC is rated "T" (Teen)
by the ESRB and has an MSRP of $29.99. The original Battlefield 1942
game is required to play Secret Weapons of WWII. More information
can be found on the game's web site at www.battlefield1942.ea.com.
Sep 04 - Dell Extends
Leading Growth Momentum in Key Product Categories. Dell (Nasdaq:DELL)
continued to exceed industry growth worldwide for personal computer
systems, made up of x86 servers, notebook and desktop computers, as
well as in all regional markets from the year-ago quarter, according
to second-quarter 2003 data released by industry analyst firm IDC.
A commitment to high customer satisfaction and providing
customers with the greatest value has enabled Dell to extend its lead
as the world's No. 1 provider of personal computer systems, which
includes x86 servers, desktop and notebook computers. Dell ended the
quarter with 17.5 percent of the total worldwide market, an increase
of 2.6 percentage points from the year-ago quarter. (NOTE: All subsequent
growth rates are year over year.)
In addition to retaining its No. 1 position for x86
servers in the United States for the 10th consecutive quarter, Dell
took the lead in servers for the first time in China with 22.6 percent
market share.
"We continue to provide our customers with the
highest-quality products and services at the best value," Kevin
Rollins, Dell president and chief operating officer, said. "Our
business continues to expand rapidly in key markets around the world,
including China. This profitable growth reflects how our direct approach
meets the computing needs of customers and transcends all cultures
and borders."
The data also show that Dell has recorded 30 straight
quarters of growth in shipments of personal computer systems worldwide,
including double-digit gains for the past seven quarters. The next
closest vendor has seen its shipments decline in nine of the last
10 quarters. Other regional results include:
-- In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Dell has posted
30 consecutive quarters of unit growth in personal
computer systems, with double-digit growth in each of
the last four quarters.
-- In Japan, Dell ranks second in x86 servers with 19.6
percent market share and is the No. 3 supplier of
personal computer systems overall.
-- In the United States, Dell has led in x86 servers for
10 consecutive quarters and in notebook and desktop
computers for 17 consecutive quarters.
-- In Latin America, Dell achieved the No. 1 position for
desktop computers in Brazil for the first time. The
company is No. 2 in x86 servers in Brazil, and
accounts for nearly one of every five servers sold.
Information on Dell and its products can be obtained at www.dell.com.
Sep 04 - HP Commands No.
1 Position in Worldwide Notebook PC Market. HP (NYSE:HPQ) retained
its leadership in worldwide notebook PC sales for the third consecutive
quarter, according to the IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker released
Monday. The company increased its market leadership over rivals and
accounted for 17.3 percent of the unit market share in the second
calendar quarter of 2003.
The report states that HP increased its notebook unit
sales at a solid 48.1 percent rate year-over-year. HP's unit growth
more than doubled a strong overall market for notebook PCs, which
experienced 22.4 percent unit growth year-over-year.
"HP has gained significant share -- easily outperforming
the rate of the overall market -- by offering customers the convenience
of purchasing through HP partners or direct," said Alex Gruzen,
senior vice president and general manager, mobile computing global
business unit, HP Personal Systems Group. "Our gains are especially
noteworthy since notebooks represent the fastest growing, highest-margin
piece of the PC business."
As mentioned recently in the company's third fiscal
quarter earnings report, HP's notebook division remained profitable
for the quarter, growing revenue 27 percent year-over-year. HP's sequential
quarter-over-quarter unit growth of 10.3 percent was two points greater
than the nearest competitor and seven times the notebook PC industry.
"Our profitable growth validates HP's strategy
to design easy-to-use, high- quality, affordable notebooks that feature
the latest technology," said Gruzen. "With unmatched value
and innovation, such as our thin, 15.4-inch and 17-inch widescreen
notebooks, we continue to win awards from prestigious publications
and we earn the trust of more new customers every day than any of
our competitors."
In the regions of Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) and
Europe, the Middle East and Africa, HP experienced dramatic growth
of 57.1 percent and 63.1 percent year-over-year, respectively. In
the United States, HP holds the No. 2 position with 20.3 percent of
the market and 35 percent growth year-over-year and has consistently
narrowed the gap to No. 1 in each of the last two quarters.
HP offers a broad portfolio of notebook PCs designed
to meet the sophisticated demands of consumers, small- and medium-sized
businesses and enterprise customers. The company recently introduced
the HP Compaq Business Notebook nc4000, an ultra-portable notebook
compatible with the 802.11 a/b/g wireless standards. Also, HP continued
its leadership in innovation with the introduction of 15.4-inch and
17-inch widescreen notebooks, including the HP Compaq nx7000, the
HP Compaq Pavilion zd7000 series and Compaq Presario x1000 widescreen
notebooks.
More information regarding HP notebook PC products
is available at http://welcome.hp.com.
Sep 04 - Coalition Forming
to Crack Down on Online Identity Theft. A group of leading financial
services, information technology and electronic commerce companies
and organizations today said they are working together to form an
industry coalition to fight online identity theft.
"Last June, ITAA called for a group focused on
the many facets of online fraud today. I am proud to announce that
several leading organizations have agreed to work together to build
such a group, to stop criminals from interfering with online commerce
and services, and to ensure a safe and secure online environment,"
said Harris N. Miller, Information Technology Association of America
(ITAA) President. ITAA has been asked to serve as Secretariat for
the coalition.
Miller said the emerging Coalition on Online Identity
Theft will work to address four primary areas:
-- Expand public education campaigns against online identity theft
to protect consumers;
-- Help promote technology and self-help approaches for preventing
and dealing with online identity theft;
-- Document and share non-personal information about emerging online
fraudulent activity to stay ahead of criminals and new forms of online
fraud;
-- Work with government to cultivate an environment that protects
consumers and businesses, and ensures effective enforcement and criminal
penalties against cyber thieves.
The Coalition is reaching out to other companies and organizations
interested in seeking educational, legal and technical solutions to
protect consumers and companies from online fraud and safeguard the
future of e-business. Miller added that, to be effective, such a coalition
must also coordinate its efforts with the Federal Trade Commission,
the Department of Justice and other federal, state and local law enforcement
agencies.
Founding coalition members include: Amazon.com, Business Software
Alliance, eBay, Information Technology Association of America, McAfee
Security, Microsoft, RSA Security Inc., TechNet, Verisign, Visa U.S.A.,
WholeSecurity, Inc., and Zone Labs, Inc.
"Most identity theft comes from offline sources, such as personal
information and documents thrown away by the trusting consumer in
their usual trash disposal. While a small percentage of the problems
come from online sources, recent email frauds have involved notifying
a consumer about a fictitious account problem and asking the individual
to supply a user-id and password, social security number, credit card
information or other sensitive data. Scam artists then use the information
to operate phony auctions, purchase merchandise under an assumed name,
apply for loans, or conduct other illegal activity.
" Ultimately, the solution is a shared responsibility among
industry, government and consumers to advance education and awareness,
stronger penalties, cooperation within industry and law enforcement,
and work together to prevent the spread of this problem into e-commerce,"
Miller said.
For more information, visit www.itaa.org.
Sep 04 - F-Secure Ships Total Defense
Against Network Worms Viruses and Hackers. F-Secure Corporation
(HEX:FSC), a leading provider of data security solutions, today announced
the immediate availability of F-Secure Anti-Virus Client Security
to protect companies from viruses, network worms and hackers.
By combining antivirus, distributed firewall, intrusion prevention
and application control seamlessly into one product, F-Secure customers
can cost-effectively deploy software and monitor security levels across
the entire enterprise network.
The recent rash of worms, viruses and other security threats highlight
urgent need for companies to upgrade protection of their desktops
and laptops against the new breed of "network worms," such
as Blaster/Lovsan. F-Secure Anti-Virus Client Security is the first
antivirus solution to fully satisfy the new requirements.
"The past few weeks have been the busiest in virus history.
In the case of Blaster a traditional antivirus, even with the most
recent update, allowed the worm to enter the computer. This proves
that the era of traditional antivirus products is over. Antivirus
with an integrated firewall is the only protection against these attacks,"
says Kimmo Alkio, Chief Operating Officer of F-Secure's Anti-Virus
Business.
F-Secure Anti-Virus Client Security is designed to protect company
desktops and laptops against today's complex threats. The product
offers unique protection against viruses, hackers, network worms as
well as the use of networking software that violates corporate security
policies. The centralized management system, F-Secure Policy Manager,
provides an easy and cost efficient way to deploy the product and
to monitor the security level of the whole network.
F-Secure Anti-Virus Client Security also features virus news delivery,
location based security levels and centrally managed application control.
The virus news feature delivers instant notification messages of serious
security events around the globe and informs the user when the computer
is protected against the new threat. The product is also able to raise
its security level based on the location, e.g. the security level
is higher when the laptop is connected to the network outside office
premises. With the application control the network administrator can
prevent the use of networking software that violates company security,
such as spy ware, peer-to-peer and internet relay chat (IRC) software.
Availability
F-Secure Anti-Virus Client Security is immediately available through
F-Secure's worldwide network of value-added resellers, distributors
and systems integrators. For more information contact F-Secure at
www.f-secure.com/products/.
Sep 04 - New Diskeeper Software Speeds
up Slow Home PCs. Executive Software(R) International today announced
the release of Diskeeper(R) 8.0 Home Edition, its hugely popular automatic
disk defragmentation software for the Windows(R) operating systems,
and the PC Magazine's Editor's Choice for 2003. Diskeeper 8.0 sports
an all-new intuitive user interface, simplified "Set It and Forget
It(R)" scheduling and fast defragmentation to restore PC performance
lost due to disk fragmentation.
"Fragmentation" refers to the process of "breaking
up" a file into fragments so it can be stored on a hard drive.
The operating system intentionally fragments a file when it cannot
find a single space large enough to save the entire file in one chunk.
Fragmentation occurs in routine computer usage such as installing
software, saving electronic photographs, graphics and documents and
virtually any action requiring storing information on a hard disk.
A necessary evil, fragmentation cripples a computer's speed as file
retrieval time greatly increases with the degree of fragmentation.
"Defragmentation" is the process of consolidating files
back into continuous pieces thereby speeding up file access and PC
performance. In independent tests, National Software Testing Laboratories
found up to 200% increase in performance after defragmenting with
Diskeeper.
John Quinn, Diskeeper 8.0 field tester in Florida, states, "I
am a fanatic about the performance of my machines and rely on Diskeeper
to reach my goal. The new version 8.0 has a remarkably easy interface
that is not only intuitive but provides the details of each drive
that allows me to monitor the system incredibly easily. My hat is
off to the team of engineers that developed an outstanding tool out
of an already great utility. I have considered Executive Software's
Diskeeper the very best utility for nearly 6 years running and the
new version has actually gotten me excited all over again!"
Diskeeper 8.0 Home Edition also monitors a hard disk for reliability
issues related to fragmentation and low free space. The software's
Smart Scheduling(TM) option automatically monitors fragmentation levels
and schedules defragmentation runs based on the condition of the disk
using minimal system resources. Simple two-click scheduling adds to
the product's much-loved "Set It and Forget It" functionality.
For PCs running WindowsXP Home Edition or earlier versions of the
Windows desktop operating systems, Diskeeper 8.0 Home Edition is available
for immediate purchase and electronic delivery for $29.95 at: http://consumer.execsoft.com/diskeeper/.
Sep 03 - eMachines Named No.
3 Top-Selling Desktop PC Vendor in U.S. eMachines, Inc. was named
the No. 3 vendor of desktop PC units in the U.S. for Q2 2003 in a
report released by IDC today -- a jump from the research firm's previous
quarterly report, which ranked eMachines No. 4.
According to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker September
2003, eMachines is ranked behind Dell and Hewlett-Packard, but in
front of Gateway, Apple and Sony in overall U.S. desktop PC sales
last quarter. Unlike its industry competition, eMachines sells virtually
all of its PCs through the retail channel with less than one percent
sold online.
eMachines sold more than 356,000 desktop PCs from April
to June of this year. The research firm also reports that eMachines'
U.S. desktop PC retail market share has risen by more than 11.5 percentage
points to 27 percent from 2001 to Q2 2003.
"The latest IDC numbers validate our strategy within
an ultra-competitive PC retail environment and slow economy,"
said Wayne Inouye, president and CEO of the Irvine, Calif.-based company.
"eMachines continues to strictly maintain one of the lowest cost
structures in the industry while providing consumers with 'best-in-value'
products and premier customer service."
This past spring, eMachines delivered the first widescreen
format notebook -- for DVD playback optimization -- to the retail
market. The company enters the LCD monitor arena this fall with the
introduction of dual models.
With the arrival of a new management team in the spring
of 2001, led by veteran retail executive Inouye, eMachines has maintained
profitability for seven consecutive quarters, beginning in the fourth
quarter his first year as chief executive. Based on the strength of
eMachines' recent success and current business model, Inouye expects
the company to attain one billion dollars in revenue by fiscal year-end.
More information on eMachines is available at www.emachines.com.
Sep 03 - Leading Market
Research Firm Names IBM Number One Server Vendor. International
Data Corporation (IDC) reported today that IBM is the number one server
vendor in the world for the second quarter of 2003, with 30.4 percent
share based on factory revenue.
IDC data shows that IBM gained world wide revenue share
year to year in key server segments in the second quarter of 2003,
as compared to the same quarter last year.
In overall servers, IBM gained 2.7 points of worldwide
revenue share year to year in the second quarter and gained nearly
5 points quarter to quarter, significantly outperforming competitors
in both measures.
In UNIX(R) servers, IBM gained 5.2 points of worldwide
share in the second quarter year to year and grew revenue 20.4 percent.
In x86 servers, IBM gained 2.1 points of worldwide
share year to year and grew revenue 23.7 percent significantly outpacing
Dell and HP in terms of revenue growth.
In Linux servers, IBM grew its revenue share by nearly
1.6 points of share year to year, while HP and Dell both lost points
of share year to year. IBM grew revenue year to year by 51.8 percent
in Linux servers year over year.
Visit IBM online at www.ibm.com.
Sep 03 - New SanDisk 8-in-1,
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Reader Accepts All Media Cards. SanDisk Corporation
(NASDAQ:SNDK) today introduced the SanDisk Hi-Speed USB 2.0 ImageMate(TM)
8-in-1 card reader. Designed for consumers who rely on a variety of
flash memory cards for their digital cameras, PDAs, MP3 players or
other electronics gadgets, the new ImageMate is targeted at consumers
who want a single device to transfer pictures, digital video or any
type of data at very fast speeds.
The new SanDisk 8-in-1 reader was introduced at the IFA Consumer Electronics
trade show where SanDisk is demonstrating products in Hall 3.2, Booth
201.
The new multi-card reader has four slots that accept
all industry-standard storage cards including CompactFlash(R) Type
I and II cards, SmartMedia(TM), SD(TM) card, MultiMediaCard, Memory
Stick(R), Memory Stick PRO and the xD-Picture Card(TM). The four slots
can be used simultaneously to transfer data between individual cards
and/or the computer.
SanDisk's new ImageMate 8-in-1 card uses Hi-Speed USB
2.0, a technology that is capable of data transfer rates of up to
480 megabits a second (Mbps) compared with a maximum transfer rate
of 12Mbps with USB 1.1. The new reader is backward compatible and
works with computers that have a USB 1.1 port.
Matthijs Hutten, SanDisk retail product marketing manager,
said, "A growing number of consumers own several different types
of memory cards and prefer the convenience and flexibility of a single
reader/writer to handle all of their cards. In addition, the USB 2.0
connection offers the ability to transfer large amounts of data very
quickly, an important feature for large capacity cards. The ImageMate
8-in-1 reader provides the flexibility, speed and convenience needed
to readily handle present and future reader needs."
SanDisk's web site/home page address: www.sandisk.com.
Sep 03 - Olympus Unveils
C-5000 Zoom Digital Camera. Olympus America introduces the C-5000
Zoom digital camera with an innovative, bold design offering advanced
functionality, 5.0 Megapixels, and a world-class Olympus 3x Optical
Zoom lens (38mm - 114mm equivalent, f2.8/f4.8 - f8.0), for outstanding
picture quality.
This camera is the ideal photographic tool for digital
enthusiasts looking for a compact, stylish camera with enough functionality
to match their growing skills. With a unique ergonomic design, and
a hot shoe for more flash options, the C-5000 Zoom provides great
value in a compact form.
"The C-5000 Zoom is the successor to the best-selling camera
in it's class during the 2002 holiday season, the C-4000 Zoom,"
said T. J. Dickson, Product Manager of Digital, Olympus America Inc.
"The C-5000 Zoom has significant enhancements such as a 5.0 Megapixel
CCD sensor for producing images of great size and clarity, a body
that's more than 20% smaller, and a hot shoe for adding more flash
capability - something new for a camera of this caliber."
Innovative
The essence of the C-5000 Zoom is its versatility. With a hot shoe
for adding an optional Olympus FL-50 or FL-20 Flash, an included Lithium-Ion
battery and charger, and a wide range of other optional accessories
such as an assortment of lenses, it is the perfect choice for the
photographer who wants a complete camera system at a price that won't
break the bank. Developing photographers will appreciate the ease
of use provided by Automatic and Scene Program modes, while the C-5000
Zoom's full manual control offers advanced photographers a highly
precise photographic tool.
Stylish
The newest addition to the Olympus C-Series, the C-5000 Zoom has
a striking look unlike any previous Olympus digital camera. Both elegant
and ergonomically designed, its smooth, contoured body with an attractive
silver finish is comfortable, lightweight and easy to work with, even
during extensive shooting sessions.
Intelligent
Olympus photos are known worldwide for their exceptionally vibrant,
sharp and super-realistic photo image quality. This quality comes
from the latest optical technologies such as the C-5000 Zoom's precision
Olympus all-glass 38mm - 114mm equivalent lens, which is matched to
a 5.0 Megapixel CCD. The C-5000Z's Noise Reduction mode facilitates
noise-free photos during long exposures. All together, these features
allow users to produce consistently crisp, high-quality prints up
to 11" x 14".
Availability
The C-5000 Zoom will be available October 2003 for an estimated
street price of $499. It comes supplied with a 32MB xD-Picture Card(TM),
Li-10B Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger, USB Computer Connection
Cable, Video Cable, Carrying Strap / Lens Cap, RM-2 Wireless Remote
Control, QuickStart Guide and Printed Basic Manual, and Limited Warranty
Card. The included CD ROM contains CAMEDIA Master Editing software
and User "Reference" manual.
Visit the Olympus Web Site at www.olympusamerica.com.
Sep 03 - DISH Network Surpasses 9 Million
Customer Milestone. EchoStar Communications Corporation (Nasdaq:DISH)
announced that its DISH Network(TM), America's fastest growing satellite
subscription television service, passed the 9 million customer milestone.
DISH Network's low-price, all-digital product continues to attract
growing numbers of customers at a rate unmatched by any other satellite
or cable company in the nation.
"The American viewing public demands a low price, great customer
service, and a quality product along with a variety of programming
options, and that is what we deliver to them," said Charles Ergen,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EchoStar. "There's no
mystery why thousands of people every day drop their cable service
to sign up with DISH Network."
DISH Network reached 1 million subscribers in December 1997 and
passed the 8 million milestone less than 10 months ago.
DISH Network's innovative engineering has attracted industry attention,
especially in the world of DVRs. The state-of-the-art DISH Player-DVR
510 allows viewers to record up to 100 hours of programming, with
rewind, pause, slow-motion, fast-forward and other features.
"DISH Network customers who sign up for our DVR service discover
quickly that it is the only way to watch TV," said John Scarborough,
Senior Vice President of Marketing. "They can schedule their
DISH Player-DVR to record their favorite shows, movies and sporting
events; and they can conduct computerized searches of the on-screen
programming guide to record what they want to watch when they want
to watch it."
A 30-second fast-forward button on the remote control also allows
customers to skip commercials to watch more TV in less time.
Continuing to separate itself from the cable industry, DISH Network
plans to begin offering a high-definition TV system this fall, complete
with HD monitor and HD receiver. The next-generation DVR due for release
this fall will be the first to accommodate customers who want to record
their HD shows.
For more information on DISH Network, visit www.dishnetwork.com.
Sep 02 - Dell Introduces
Powerful Multimedia Notebook Computer. With the most powerful
mobile graphics solution ever offered in its Inspiron notebook line,
Dell (Nasdaq:DELL) announced its newest multimedia notebook, the Inspiron
8600.
The Inspiron 8600, available today in the United States,
offers features for those who play video games, enjoy digital entertainment
and edit video. Starting at $1,699, the new notebook includes wide
screen UltraSharp(tm) displays, NVIDIA(R) graphics with up to 128MB
of video memory and Intel(R) Centrino(tm) Mobile Technology, built
for mobile computing with integrated Wi-Fi(R) 802.11b.
"The Inspiron 8600 is a dream machine for multimedia
enthusiasts," said Jay Parker, director of notebook marketing,
Dell product group. "This notebook is packed with enough power
to handle demanding tasks previously relegated to desktop computers
such as video editing and playing graphics-intensive games."
The notebook features a 1.4-inch slim design and a
Moonlight Silver and Venice Blue color scheme. It includes Intel's
latest Pentium M processors up to 1.7 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce(tm) FX
Go5650 graphics capability, which provide the same lifelike characters
and game environments that enthusiasts expect from the most advanced
desktop.
The Inspiron 8600's UltraSharp wide aspect (15.4-inch)
screen allows viewing of wide screen movies and enables increased
productivity with side-by-side display of documents and Web content.
Larger hard drives, up to 80GB, provide enough storage for plenty
of large digital media files. All systems include two USB 2.0 ports
and one IEEE 1394 port for fast data transfer.
Systems can be configured with optional integrated
Wi-Fi(R) 802.11b/g and 802.11a/b/g, as well as Bluetooth. The Inspiron
8600 also comes with QuickSet, a customizable software application
that takes the guesswork out of power management settings, system
status monitoring, enlarging icons for high-resolution displays and
more.
The new notebook comes with Microsoft's Windows(R)
XP Home Edition operating system, WordPerfect(tm) Productivity Pack,
Dell Juke Box powered by MUSICMATCH(tm) for listening to digital music,
Dell Picture Studio(tm) for managing, sharing and printing digital
photos, and RealOne(tm) Player for watching streaming video. Six months
of America Online or EarthLink membership (new members only) also
is included.
Dell's SecurityCenter, powered by leading security vendors, is a collection
of applications included with purchase designed to provide customers
access to anti-virus, firewall and privacy protection such as parental
controls, ad blocking and personal information control.
Additional technical information for the Inspiron 8600
For more information about Inspiron products, go to www.dell.com/inspiron.
Sep 02 - SanDisk Introduces Industry's
Fastest Flash Memory Cards. SanDisk Corporation (Nasdaq:SNDK)
today introduced the SanDisk Extreme(TM) CompactFlash(R) and SD line
of high performance, high durability digital film cards designed for
professional photographers who demand the highest levels of reliability
and performance under extreme conditions.
The SanDisk Extreme cards deliver a minimum write speed of 9 megabytes
per second (MB/sec.) and a minimum read speed of 10MB/sec. throughout
their extended operating temperature range, making these the fastest
flash memory cards in the world. These exceptionally fast write and
read speeds are critical when shooting large numbers of high resolution
images and transferring the images to a computer. SanDisk Extreme
cards are exclusive to photo retailers in the North American market.
SanDisk Extreme cards are ideally suited for high performance digital
cameras from Canon, Kodak, Nikon, Olympus and other companies, when
operating in regions of extreme hot or cold weather conditions. The
fast read speeds also allow very fast downloading of images from card
to PC when connected to a SanDisk high-speed USB 2.0 compliant reader.
Josef Fogel, digital camera sales manager at B&H Photo, said,
"The SanDisk Extreme CompactFlash and SD cards offer the highest
level of reliability for our customers who are typically professional
and advanced photographers. They expect the highest quality and performance
and we are confident that the SanDisk Extreme cards, with their wide
temperature range, rugged construction and high performance, will
surpass their expectations."
The SanDisk Extreme CF cards are available at retailers now in capacities
of 256 and 512MB and 1 gigabyte, with suggested retail prices of $109.99,
$229.99 and $439.99 respectively.
The 256MB SanDisk Extreme SD card is expected to ship in October with
a suggested retail price of $134.99. The 512MB is expected to ship
in November with a price of $299.99.
SanDisk's Web site/home page address: www.sandisk.com.
Sep 02 - Logitech Xbox Controllers Now
Available. Logitech (Nasdaq:LOGI) (Switzerland:LOGN), a market
leader in gaming controllers for PCs and consoles, today announced
that Xbox(R) gamers can now step up the action with two new quality
controllers.
The Logitech Precision Controller offers gamers a high-end experience
at an affordable price point. Its design reflects the eye-catching
look of the company's top-selling 2.4GHz Xbox-compatible cordless
controller. Soft, form-fitting rubber grips provide comfort for typical
marathon gaming sessions, while two proportional analog thumbsticks
ensure a textbook accuracy for 360-degrees of control. Two powerful
tandem vibration motors bring the gamepad to life, enabling gamers
to feel every bump, bruise and bashing.
The Logitech Precision Controller is equipped with eight easy-to-use
analog buttons arranged in a familiar controller layout, plus an eight-way
D-pad and two triggers. It includes an extra-long cable for greater
mobility. Interface is via a standard controller-port.
The Logitech ThunderPad for Xbox has a completely new shape and a
distinguishing feature: Turbo/AutoFire.
Like fighter pilots with a round of ammunition ready to fire off
a barrage of bullets, gamers armed with Turbo/AutoFire can fire any
action button automatically without having to press the button repeatedly.
Not only does this function, with its four pre-programmed speeds,
help to eliminate tired fingers -- it provides such an impressive
rate of firing power that the competition is left running for cover.
Eight easy-to-use analog action buttons, an eight-way D-pad and two
triggers provide enough firepower to cripple any vicious villain.
Like the Logitech Precision Controller, the Logitech ThunderPad features
comfortable rubber grips, dual-analog thumbsticks and vibration feedback
that sends a pulse into any game for even more action.
Announced earlier this year at the E3 trade show in Los Angeles,
the Logitech(R) Precision(TM) Controller and Logitech ThunderPad(TM)
are now available online at www.logitech.com
and retail outlets in the U.S. for U.S. $24.99 and U.S. $19.99, respectively.
European prices and availability will be announced separately.
Sep 02 - Wireless Phone Customers Want
to Switch from Lackluster Providers. The percentage of wireless
users who say they will switch service providers nearly quadruples
among those who rate their carrier below average in customer care,
according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Wireless Customer
Care Performance Study(SM) released today.
The inaugural study provides a detailed report card of wireless
customer care performance, based on customer experiences with both
the service representative and automated response system (ARS).
The study indicates that among those whose satisfaction with the
most recent customer care transaction is below average, 26 percent
report they are "definitely" or "probably" likely
to switch from their current carrier in the next year -- almost four
times higher than for those who rate their customer care experience
above average (7%).
Minimizing the number of contacts needed to resolve an issue and
reducing the amount of time on hold prior to speaking with a service
representative are keys to a successful customer care transaction.
About one-third of those who said they waited 20 minutes or more on
hold indicate they will "definitely" or "probably"
switch providers. Switching probability drops to 12 percent for those
who waited less than 2 minutes.
"It currently costs wireless providers between $300 and $425
to acquire each new customer, so the ability to retain existing subscribers
is increasingly crucial in this industry," said Kirk Parsons,
senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates.
"Wireless providers shouldn't underestimate the influence the
customer care experience can have on retaining customers. In most
cases, this is the only time carriers have an opportunity for personal
contact with customers, and a good customer care experience can actually
raise satisfaction levels and increase future loyalty above the level
it was before the call to customer service."
The study utilizes a customer care index based on four key areas
that impact overall carrier performance. These are (in order of importance):
service representative interaction (44%); resolution contact frequency
(31%); ARS processing/navigation (13%); and hold time duration (12%).
Nextel and Verizon Wireless rank highest in a tie in customer care
performance among the seven largest wireless service providers. Nextel
performs particularly well in the ARS area, specifically in navigation
as it relates to instructions/prompts, while Verizon Wireless consistently
performs above the industry average in all areas, particularly in
having service representatives who understand customer issues and
in shorter hold times.
T-Mobile, Cingular and AT&T Wireless also perform above the
industry average.
The study finds several key wireless customer care patterns:
-- More than one-half (55%) of wireless users have contacted customer
care within the past year.
-- Among those who contact their carrier, 76 percent do so via phone;
21 percent through the carrier's retail store; and 3 percent by e-mail/Internet.
-- The average reported hold time before customers are able to reach
speak with a service representative is 5:36 minutes.
No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information
in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D.
Power and Associates. www.jdpower.com.
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