Digits: Gambits & Gadgets In the World of Technology

Now Hear This...

Dan Somers, chief executive of AT&T Broadband, has been noticeably quiet in the face of recent news that his boss, AT&T Corp. Chairman C. Michael Armstrong, is hankering to run Broadband once it is spun off as a separate company. Should Mr. Armstrong get his wish, Mr. Somers could be left without a job.

But Mr. Somers clearly has some strong sentiments on the subject. That was more than evident in Denver last week at a CableLabs luncheon, where Mr. Somers was the keynote speaker. When one reporter asked him how he felt about the idea of Mr. Armstrong taking over Broadband, a suddenly animated Mr. Somers was more than ready with an answer. "I was wondering when somebody would ask me that!" Mr. Somers boomed, spinning around to address his questioner face-on. "And I was hoping somebody would ask me, because I've been working on my answer all morning!"

If Mr. Somers was kidding, he didn't let on. "I'm thrilled that so many people want my job, because it's a great job." Mr. Somers continued, adding that, "I'm glad he [Mr. Armstrong] wants my job. And it's a great job so why wouldn't he? -- but so do about 400 other people." Mr. Somers also said he intends to stay on as long as he can.

Just Being Supportive

Apple Computer Inc. has often showcased its signature iMac computer against clean white backgrounds and with beautiful lighting. So it was unusual, to say the least, to suddenly see an advertisement featuring an iMac wearing, um, a gigantic jock strap.

The half-page ad, which appeared in an East Coast edition of Newsweek magazine, was placed there by J.u.m.p.! Inc., a New York company that provides technical support to Apple computer users. Jeff Graber, CEO of J.u.m.p., says he wanted to "really make a splash" with the five-year-old company's first national ad.

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