T-Mobile has started beta test sign ups for its Starlink satellite cell service. Engadget.com reports that the companies got FCC approval for the project last month. The first beta test is planned for 2025, and it will focus on text messaging initially. Voice and data are planned at a later date. Availability is limited, and T-Mobile is prioritizing first responder agencies and individuals for the program. 

The Federal Trade Commission announced a new rule yesterday that will prohibit ticket sellers, hotels, and vacation rental services from hiding total prices and burying junk fees during the checkout process. The Junk Fees Rule helps ensure that consumers know exactly what the full price will be before they buy event tickets or book short-term lodging. According to bgr.com, the rule has been in development since 2022. Businesses will now have to disclose the true price including all mandatory fees, AND will have to display the total price more prominently than most other pricing information. This may not get rid of ‘resort fees’ from hotels that aren’t even close to a resort, and are for amenities that may be dubious, but at least you will know you are being hosed upfront. A favorite of mine was at a motel that just had a small workout room and indoor pool…and the pool was out of service!

Threads, the social net offshoot of Meta’s Instagram, is road testing a post scheduling feature. Techcrunch.com says user who get to test the feature won’t be able to schedule replies, however. You can check the 3 dot menus in the composer to see if you have the beta feature. Posts show up in the drafts folder, and from there you can edit or delete them, as well as change the time when they will be posted. Instagram has already started letting people schedule their direct messages. IG has let users schedule posts for the main feed for some time now. 

A study from researchers at several universities, including University of Pittsburgh and Baylor has found that return to office mandates cause companies to lose some of their best workers. Arstechnica.com notes that the study tracked over 3 million workers at 54 ‘high tech and financial’ firms from the S&P 500 index. The researchers only looked at companies with data available for at least 2 quarters before and after they issued RTO mandates. They did conclude that the average turnover rates at firms that instituted RTO mandates increased by 14%. Potentially alarming for employers is the study finding that senior and skilled employees were more likely to leave following RTO mandates. This aligns with a study from University of Chicago and University of Michigan researchers published in May that found that Apple and Microsoft saw senior-level employee bases decrease by 5 percentage points and SpaceX a decrease of 5 percentage points.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.