For their innovation, association with telephone development, their Dow slot and perhaps creative destruction, Apple and AT&T have followed parallel paths.
Can the Supreme Court Change How We Watch TV?
At the Supreme Court this week, broadcasters sought to stop a small firm from competing against them. Saying it was violating copyright law, ABC led a group challenging Aereo’s business model. Aereo uses tiny antennas to send programming to viewers…
Creative Destruction: Solar Wars
Can we compare the original AT&T and the electric power industry? Until 1982, AT&T had a phone system monopoly. Not even imagined, cell phones did not exist. Instead almost everyone received phone service from one company. Called a natural monopoly, AT&T…
iPhone 5 Economics
Explaining the probable impact of the new Apple iPhone, one UPS employee recalled the impact of the last new iPad launch. At its internal hubs, UPS created more work hours for part timers and enjoyed more revenue because of the volume…
What Can You Learn From the Phone Book?
Among all of the innovations that changed our lives, have you ever thought about the phone book? The first phone book dates back to 1878. Compiled by the the District Telephone Company of New Haven, soon to become SNET, the…
Getting More Power
After Hurricane Irene last August, I lost my electricity for 8 days. Then, only weeks later, after a surprise snow storm, all over again, 8 days without power. Facing a similar plight last week, economist Arnold Kling asked why the…
