Margins Check: Comcast, Chrysler and the Super Bowl

Editor’s Note: Welcome to On the Margins, a feature for RCR Wireless News’ weekly e-mail service, Mobile Content and Culture. Every week, the RCR Wireless News staff considers events in the wider business world and how they could affect the wireless industry.
–Cable giant Comcast Corp. said it has received letters of inquiry from the Federal Communications Commission regarding the company’s control over consumer Internet usage. The complaints center on Comcast reportedly restricting bandwidth usage to certain customers. While the topic of bandwidth metering has been on the radar screens of mobile operators for some time, the FCC appears to be taking a harder look at the practice.
–Chrysler L.L.C. reported it was looking to develop in-vehicle wireless communications systems to provide increased security and convenience for customers. The company noted that the possible wireless technologies include cellular, Wi-Fi and possible WiMAX. Chrysler is already offering its Bluetooth-enabled UConnect service in some models, with the latest move paving the way for even greater wireless enablement.
–The non-iTunes digital music space is set for a kick next month as Pepsi and Amazon.com are preparing to launch a yearlong, $1 billion giveaway of MP3s, CDs, videos and consumer electronics with a commercial during the Super Bowl. The contest is expected to shed light on Amazon.com’s recently launched download music service that offers non-DRM protected music at prices similar to Apple’s iTunes service. With mobile carriers still struggling to attract consumers to their own branded music offerings, the Super Bowl push by Amazon.com could further squeeze out their efforts.