A financial services firm is looking to obtain fresh Insights from alternative research. Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about Microsoft's unsolicited offer to acquire Yahoo. Now that Yahoo has formally rejected the offer, what are the ramifications on Yahoo and Microsoft? Insights that cover strengths/weaknesses/oppportunities/threats (SWOT) for both companies are a useful starting point for addressing this (ultimately approved or denied) merger. However, the Sponsor is also open to alternative forms of analysis that would enhance its existing quantitative assessment of the impact of this deal. If possible, provide anecdotal evidence from previous Yahoo (and/or Microsoft) acquisitions that might indicate where a Yahoo+Microsoft deal may be headed.

A financial services firm is looking to obtain fresh Insights from alternative research, and it is interested in a qualitative assessment of CNET Networks (NASDAQ:CNET). Insights that cover strengths/weaknesses/oppportunities/threats (SWOT) for this company are a useful starting point for describing CNET's future. Speculation that Google might acquire CNET has recently surfaced, so descriptions of how CNET may (or may not) fit into Google's culture might be particularly interesting.

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

Do you have a favorite Personal Information Manager (PIM) app for your phone? Have you tried PIM services from your service provider -- or the built-in apps on your phone? Have you found any extremely good 3rd party apps or PIM services? Which ones do you recommend, and which should be avoided at all costs? How do you transfer your contacts when you get a new phone (if your phone doesn't have a SIM card)? How do you back-up your information or sync with an online PIM or desktop application?

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

Switching to a new phone every couple years adds to everyone's gadget graveyard -- usually a closet or desk drawer. So how should consumers dispose of their old cell phones? Where can old phones be recycled or donated? Do you wipe the memory before you give it away? Describe some step-by-step best practices for phone recycling/disposal. Do you know of any creative (or charitable) projects that have re-purposed old cell phones? Or have you cleverly picked phones that retain their value on the used market? If so, how did you choose a phone based on its re-sale value?

A financial services firm is looking to obtain fresh Insights from alternative research. One of its potential interests is the online video market, and it is looking at Netflix and Apple as possible leaders in this arena. Given this background, Insights that cover strengths/weaknesses/oppportunities/threats (SWOT) are useful, but the Sponsor is also open to alternative forms of analysis that would enhance its existing quantitative assessment of the impact of downloadable video services on Netflix (NFLX) and Apple (AAPL). The Sponsor is particularly interested in gauging the initial growth rates of these competing services over the next year -- and how these services' adoption may impact each other.

A financial services firm is looking to obtain fresh Insights from alternative research. Recently, Apple introduced a new MacBook product, and the MacBook Air has met with some mixed reviews. Will the MacBook Air flop like other Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC) attempts? Or will the overall mini-laptop market get a second wind? Is the MacBook Air a niche product that appeals to a small number of consumers, or will it actually suit more widespread tastes and fill demand for more portable computing? Please support your assertions on the viability of the MacBook Air with market survey data, historical evidence or reasonable trends.

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

It's long been rumored that Dell will release a cell phone device, given its existing PDA product line, as well as Apple's entry into the phone market. Assuming that Dell is actually going to release a smartphone based on Windows Mobile, how will consumers react? Obviously, it's hard to predict the future of a device without knowing any of its actual specifications, but how do you think it will compare to Apple's iPhone? How will it compare to HTC's Touch (or pick your favorite handset)? Will the 'Dellphone' support Google's Open Handset Alliance? Where do you see Dell's role in the mobile phone market?

Now that CES has ended, what lessons from the show are there for Wall Street? What investment opportunities (either long or short) should Wall Street be paying attention to within or related to the consumer electronics space? While a few more obvious names are okay, we're really looking for something beyond the big, obvious names or the big, obvious trends. Think a few levels deep about how the events at CES will come to impact other (perhaps less obvious) markets.

While there's been plenty of talk about the move to software-as-a-service, an equally interesting one may be hardware-as-a-service. Certainly, Sun and IBM have pushed for utility computing offerings -- and Amazon has done quite well with its EC2 offering. There's been talk for years that Google could get into the space as well.

However, even with all the ROI support that marketing folks from Sun and IBM throw around, it still seems risky. We're trying to understand if it makes sense for large IT organizations to look seriously at moving over to "on-demand" computing systems, or if it pays to wait. Under what conditions would it make sense and what are the biggest risks involved? If you were a consultant, in charge of making the case for or against a utility computing move to a Fortune 500 company (recognizing that there are different issues involved with every individual company) what key points would you focus on?

Clarification: This is about making the case for the company to *using* utility computing, rather than offering it as a service.

LetsTalk's PhoneTalk blog wants to add new voices to its website, and they're posting regular Cases here for the Techdirt Insight Community to add interesting new content to their site. The winning submissions for each Challenge Case will be posted (perhaps with some editing) on the PhoneTalk blog -- with credits to the author. The following is LetsTalk's next assignment:

The question of allowing airline passengers to use phones on flights isn't exactly new, but there may be a growing number of airlines with useful services. Instead of providing phones in the seats of the plane, a few airlines are offering wireless networks for passengers to use their existing (dual mode?) phones to place calls. Given this, what should consumers and airline passengers look forward to? Will there be mandatory phone etiquette rules during the flights? How might in-flight calls be regulated? What role will the airlines play in developing the services? These are just a sample of the questions that may be addressed for this Case.