The virus curing the mobile industry's chronic addiction... and sparking an impressive algorithmic price experiment

One of the biggest experiments in algorithmic price management is currently underway, as the GSMA, the mobile industry's lobby body, has scrapped this year’s Mobile World Congress gabfest. MWC Barcelona was due to start in ten days. But the GSMA crumbled after a week when the likes of Cisco, Sony, Intel, AT&T and Facebook …

[ARGO]

Algorithms....

"100,000 aircraft seats are suddenly empty. 100,000 hotel beds slumber undisturbed."

They might go unused, but typical terms for that week are "no refunds", so it's the overbooking algorithm that will be getting a workout.

[Warm Braw]

Expect the biggest fire sale ever

Currently, the Fira Travelodge is offering rooms on Monday, 24th February for €823.99. Yes, a Travelodge.

Hard to feel sorry for their loss of business, though I suspect they'll in fact get paid twice.

[davenewman]

Re: Expect the biggest fire sale ever

Fira Travelodge has gone down to €259.99 in 2 hours.

[phuzz]

Re: Expect the biggest fire sale ever

Now down to ~€60

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Expect the biggest fire sale ever

See, guys, UNTETHERED CAPITALISM JUST WORKS!

</anarcho-capitalist>

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Expect the biggest fire sale ever

I remember being in reception at a hotel in Milan during an exhibition where we had paid rather a lot in an advance booking. An Italian woman came in and asked if they had a room.

-Unfortunately we are full.

-I'm sorry, I don't believe it.

(some argument, pouting, cleavage display)

-Well, maybe we have a room but it is {eye-watering amount} per night.

-Ridiculous.

(more argument, more pouting, more cleavage display)

Eventually she got him down to about a quarter of the original amount. I realised it was just a game that they both got pleasure from, though we did speculate afterwards in our sexist way as to what might comprise room service.

[stiine]

Re: Expect the biggest fire sale ever

The next time you're in a hotel in a large city, read the notice on the inside of the door. It will explain to you why, for example, a TraveLodge costs €600+ per night. You'll see that the city/county/state/etc apply a convention tax for +-convention dates. I'm not saying that TraveLodge doesn't add %10 during conferences, but most of the upcharge is tax.

[MudFever]

COVID-19

Bet that wasn't the name the Wuhan Institute of Virology gave the virus when ...

[Andy Mac]

Re: COVID-19

Did they really have to pick a name that sounds like it comes from a cheap disaster novel?

[phuzz]

Re: COVID-19

The name came from the WHO.

[macjules]

Re: COVID-19

Bloody Timelords. Would have thought they had some imagination.

[RegGuy1]

Re: COVID-19

Well he/she is/was/will be a doctor.

[Anonymous Coward]

Spot on.

I always find that there's an uncomfortable trend in 'company only' conferences where people who are supposedly customers have to pay to see what the roadmap .. and are effectively brainwashed for 3 days... I blame AWS for starting that trend!

[James Turner]

Pah, AWS are newbies at this conference lark. Cisco have been doing Cisco Live for 30 years now.

Though they just had to cancel the one scheduled for Melbourne next month due to Covid-19.

[Isn't it obvious?]

Re: Having Oracle tell you how fantastic Oracle is.

If they don't tell you, who will?

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

Re: Having Oracle tell you how fantastic Oracle is.

Delighted customers ?

Except I think O**cle now sues anyone using the word O**cle, even in a positive review

[stiine]

Re: Having Oracle tell you how fantastic Oracle is.

Are you going to answer that question?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Having Oracle tell you how fantastic Oracle is.

It was retOracle

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Having Oracle tell you how fantastic Oracle is.

Thank you stiine, btw, for the perfect feedline.

[The Axe]

Wasn't the 100,000 hotel places and flight seats nicked from Tim Worstall? Or did Worstall nick it from you?

[John Sager]

Tim picked up on this item.

[oiseau]

Yes!

...the more marketing runs it, the less useful it is.

... they only have solutions. Expensive solutions.

Marketing and the droids running it, are an abortion of nature and will usually ruin anything just to put their paws on it towards getting more of a bonus at the end of the year.

O.

[Anonymous Coward]

I have to say you're right about the peer-run conferences. I always thoroughly enjoy the 'hacker' conferences in the Netherlands and the presentations from Chaos Computer Club Congress etc. I learn so much from them. It's so great to see how knowledge flows so much better without the suits in attendance. Everyone you speak to is open and collaborative, nobody is trying to sell anything but free knowledge. In those cases I think there is real added value to meeting up in person.

I visit some major company-sponsored events as well but I don't find them nearly as useful. You only get a carefully crafted spin on the real story which doesn't tell you the pitfalls of a 'solution' and even when you meet peers they're afraid to say anything critical as nobody paid for their own ticket.

And I think it's partially counterproductive too. I'd be much more inclined to choose a solution from a company that's actually honest about their product, and easy to work with (rather than being stuck in ticket queues at an outsourced support desk because nobody really cares about support after the contract is signed).

[Gustavo Fring]

just like Razors

Folding is the new must have ... but thats only a single fold, soon there'll be a double and treble fold , as the one-upmanship takes hold. AS mentioned elsewhere keeping your phone for ten or more years is a btter idea ,

128Mp camera on a phone with 120x zoom LOL just for selfies?

[Conundrum1885]

So is this

Like the biological equivalent of Wannacry? Or would the closer analogy be the Melissa worm?

[Blackjack]

Re: So is this

Is basically Pig Flu 2.0

[Conundrum1885]

I confidently predict

That the next iPhone will have:

FLIR through-the-screen cameras

E-nose

One gigantic screen, both front and back

Dual batteries

Multi standard wireless charging

FaceID, touchID, RetID

[amanfromMars 1]

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Are your Systems AI Receptive or Firewalled against Progressive Elements/SMARTR Crack Code Hatters?

*Augmented Virtual Reality Operating Missions.

For all such is easily readily made instantly available. Do you need it Proven?

[amanfromMars 1]

Re: Augmented Virtual Reality Operating Missions.

We believe this resolves all remaining questions on this topic ..... :-)

Thanks, xkcd. And so very Spookily APT* and timely too.

* Advanced Persistent Threat and/or Treat.