The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia wants the Microsoft case (wire report) even though the judge and the government want to see it taken straight to the Supreme Court, which will ultimately decide the matter. It’s one more surprise in a case that’s rarely been predictable.
UPDATE
In yesterday’s eJournal I mentioned a non-reply I’d received to a request for information from Microsoft. The company had complained that a government assertion quoting from an internal e-mail was taken out of context, and I asked for the complete memo so I could see for myself, but got no reply.Jim Cullinan, a Microsoft spokesman, points out that the e-mail became an exhibit in the remedies phase of the antitrust trial and has been publicly posted on the Department of Justice Web site (PDF document; requires software reader). Read it and decide for yourself what it suggests about the company’s intentions.
Customer Service Still a Communications Oxymoron
Wireless communications companies and Internet providers want your money, and they’ll attempt to provide the services you’re paying for. But they make few promises. That’s life, they say.
I call it something else in my Tuesday column.
UPDATE
Michael Greenberg writes: Before you generalize about Bay Area mobile providers,ask around about Cellular One. The coverage isimmense, and in my experience their customer servicehas been impeccable. They may not be the sexychoicethese days, but you can hold a call from San Jose toSan Francisco and not drop once.
Microsoft Not Preparing for Breakup
Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s CEO, says the company is making no contingency plans (PBS Online NewsHour) for a possible breakup despite the federal court’s ruling. That’s confidence. Or something.
Content May Not Be King
NBC Internet plunged after it warned Wall Street about not-so-hot revenues and earnings (Reuters).