Google, Sprint and Apple CEOs READ ME

I do everything I can not to work on Sundays. Saturdays either for that matter, but this doesn’t really feel like work, and I also wanted to jot this down in case Gary Forsee, the CEO of Sprint; Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple; or the guys who started Google get an earlier start than me tomorrow (I’ll be at the gym until 11 then doing a two-hour lunch with my brother, sister and mom).

Guys, can we talk?

I was just e-mailing Pam Brill (www.inthezoneinc.com) during the 60 Minutes segment on Google and was wondering about their problem of returning search information that was disproportionately negative or controversial—because so much of the activity on the net is low or un-conscious. Addicted people looking for drama—negativity, porn, youth culture, etc.. And a nuisance for more mature, more affluent users.

Why won’t anyone providing mass market goods put something decent out there? Put their values and vision—their inspiration—to the test?

What I’m talking about is a Google that skews Oprah, van Gogh, Home Makeover Extreme Edition, and the best independent coffeehouse you can feel in every city (Bauhaus in Seattle, Uncommon Grounds in Chicago). And Eminem, Sly and Robbie, Nas, Modest Mouse, The Butterfly and the Diving Bell, and Ammachi of course. Why isn’t anyone branding information? There are plenty of people willing to pay handsomely for it. There’s just too much garbage out there.

[Note: a longtime friend, Chris DeVore, is working on something like this called Judy’s Book (www.judysbook.com). But it will be more democratically demographic than designer. I’m talking about a dj for the web.]

Sprint: please make an additional $500 million next year by introducing a premium service like your business service with cultural information and vip customer service. Charge at least $20 a month extra. Your customer service sucks by the way. And I’m a loyal customer and have gotten probably 10 people onto Sprint. I have a great plan cheap because I’m willing to call repeatedly and fight with whoever is being unreasonable. I do this for my mother as well. But it is ridiculous. I’ve taken to just hanging up and calling back until I get someone who will work with me. One out of four or five of your customer service people are wonderful. Another one or two are pleasant and nice but of marginal competence. To get some decent action ask for customer retention (works better if you don’t have a contract). There probably one of two will work with you. A hell of a lot of work to keep you my favorite. (I’m hooking my step-sister up right now.)

Oh—and IM me when my damn minutes are up. Give up some love, yo! You can’t compete on minutes so let’s see some love.

For Apple, some up market movement would be nice and probably serve as some invaluable R&D. Why not a Prada Powerbook? Or—even better—White Gold? Double the price and throw on all the bells and whistles you can think of. And special support. Support, support, support. Such a huge proportion of your users are designers and covet your brand. It’s time to start capitalizing on that. There’s no one else who can touch you. Realize this and think XXXXLL. If you want to win we want to see you in videos. They already make the videos on your machine. You are close to a perfectly positioned brand.

Watch out for issues like iPod batteries, though. Make things interchangeable, upgradeable, etc. Your designers are also modular, environmental and love to upgrade (but some can’t often afford it). They’ll be with you forever if they can swap out the chip (or screen or drive). It seems like the box has settled into a great shape. Forget about selling boxes and think of the Apple line. An iPod phone seems obvious. Move with the materials, componentry, etc. It’s content not boxes. The how.


And congratulations to all these folks for getting this far. Truly superior imagination, management and execution. Now go in for the kill.


Love,

Eben


Ps: What’s up Pussycat, attractive women, red underwear, Santa, and Special K—what’s wrong with this picture?