More Jobs?, iPad Debates and Google Answers the Call

Musings, musings.  Are there more jobs?  Is the economy up or down?  The second question no one knows but everyone has an opinion.  However on the first question there is an interesting new source of information.  Wavelength Market Analytics (http://www.wlanalytics.com/wordpress/) has produced The "Bay Area Tech Job Index".  I will save you from a rehash of their magic formula, the site explains it well.  However, they have cleverly analyzed the data to look for trends in the type of jobs one finds in high tech: product marketing, sales, etc.  They provide a more granular look at the High Tech job trends than one can find in your local newspaper, check it out.  The January index showed a glimmer of hope.

Google is such a wonderful success story that we all forget there are people behind the curtain and they make mistakes.  People who have questions about their phone might get a crazy idea that they could use such a device to get that question answered.  It is a wonder to think that they are surprised that consumer want to talk to humans rather than "googling" for answers.  Certainly they are not the only folks to be shy about providing effect customer support.  At least, Google is responding to the demands of the public.  Beyond Google there seems to be a niche of firms positioning themselves as the place where you can actually speak with humans. What a crazy idea.

Google (NSDQ:GOOG) has quietly added a support phone number for Nexus One, and although the search giant says the number is only for inquiries about phone shipments, it suggests Google is taking seriously the numerous customer support complaints that have dogged Nexus One since its early January debut.

Walt Mossberg, Charlie Rose, et all debate virtues of the iPad.  Interesting stuff, but enough already until there is a product to actually review.