entrepreneurs
Latest
Wal-Mart cracks the whip on prepaid phone purchases
There's plenty of us who aren't exactly fond of commitments, especially those multi-year types that wireless providers try to rope you into whenever they drop a snazzy new phone. But if you're looking to snag a prepaid GoPhone / TracFone for the entire family, you may have to take your business somewhere other than Wally World. The world's largest retailer is cracking down on "entrepreneurs" (read: notorious phone hackers) who are buying the subsidized handsets "by the hundreds to resell for profit," by reducing the amount of prepaid mobiles one can purchase from three to two. While "two national carriers" voiced support for Wal-Mart's decision, the only confirmed provider was said to be Cingular, who certainly doesn't stand to profit from selling prepaid devices sans (pricey) prepaid air time. While the company hasn't exactly figured out how to stop tricksters from circumventing the system by purchasing multiple units at varying registers, at least the restrictions give parents with teenage triplets (or quadruplets) a valid excuse to delay their gratification.
The tech entrepreneurs' new golf?
1up has an interesting piece examining how tech entrepreneurs are using WoW to schmooze, specificially looking at Joi Ito's guild "We Know". It certainly backs up the idea that WoW has "something for everyone":"Taking care of a guild, administering to members' needs, looking after newbs and pleasing the veterans is a delicate balancing act that challenges even a guy who is used to being the CEO of fast-growing companies."The sheer number of players means that it's becoming increasingly fashionable to play WoW; being well-connected in-game might eventually pay off in real life. Like any other collaborative activity, proving your worth as a team member in a MC run is a great way to make an impression -- but finding the people you wish to impress might be a little harder.
