Apple’s iPad and AT&T’s ‘Breakthrough’ 3G Deal

The super-hyped debut of Apple’s iPad tablet computer on April 3 will carry with it what the computer giant calls a “breakthrough” offer from AT&T — a non-binding, month-to-month option on 3G data service. The more expensive iPad with both Wi-Fi and 3G capability will enable users to choose a 3G data plan – 250MB for $14.99 or unlimited Internet and email access for $29.99 – at anytime without a contract.

A 40% Sales Surge May Spur Toyota to Extend 0% Financing

After seeing a 40 percent sales surge in the first 10 days of March compared to a year earlier, Toyota will likely continue its first extensive zero-percent financing offers beyond this month. The automobile giant’s troubles have not abated following the recall of millions of top-selling vehicles for unintended acceleration issues, and yesterday a lawsuit filed by Orange County, Calif. prosecutors accused Toyota of unfair business practices.

Coco-Crazed Fans: NBC’s Loss is a Gain for American Express

The American Express-sponsored U.S. comedy tour featuring former Tonight Show host Conan O’Brien was announced just two days ago and it’s already seeing sold-out shows and calls for adding more stops to the nearly 30-city road trip. O’Brien, or “Coco,” as his devoted fans call him, has become a social media sensation, with the “Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour” propelling his new online rock-star status.

Bank of America’s Non-HAMP Foreclosure Rescues at 500,000

Bank of America today released a tally of its own, non-government foreclosure rescue efforts since January 2008: More than 500,000 loan customers have had their mortgages reduced. In addition, the bank has the most active trials under the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program, HAMP, with more than 240,000.

Mega-Game FarmVille Now Takes Facebook Credits

It was inevitable that Facebook’s cross-application currency – which is primed to become a source of substantial revenue – would be provided on the social media giant’s mega -game FarmVille, with 84 million users. Facebook Credits is now the default payment method for purchasing “farm cash” or “farm coins” for the social simulation game that is turning city slickers into crop-savvy farmers in droves. The other two options are charging by credit card or through PayPal, a new Facebook partner.

Discover Card Issuer Expects 1Q Loss, Boosts Credit Reserves

Although its credit delinquency rate may have leveled off, Discover Financial Services is boosting its reserves to cover loans deemed uncollectible by $305 million, and it expects to report a first-quarter loss of 22 cents to 23 cents per share. Discover said the rate of borrowers becoming 30-days delinquent is estimated to be about 5 percent, a reduction of 25 basis points from the fourth quarter 2009.

Despite Recall Crisis, Toyota Sales Boosted by 0% Financing

Toyota’s widest zero-percent financing incentives are paying off with the troubled car company seeing its retail market share at 16.8 percent so far this month, up 10 percent from last March’s 15.2 percent — and up 31 percent from 12.8 percent last month when its massive recall for unintended acceleration was initiated. Toyota’s daily retail sales rate is running at about 47 percent higher than the same period last year, and about 71 percent higher than last month, according to Edmunds.com, the automotive resource site which tracks purchase intent and sales activity.

Twitter-Like Blippy has New Per-Item Credit Privacy Option

Blippy, the Twitter-like social media site that went live in January and displays users’ credit card transactions, has revamped the look of its site and added a new privacy option. Users now can “manually review each purchase before it appears” on the site, Blippy’s administrators announced through their Twitter account. And they can prevent the specific purchase information from being posted.

American Express Sponsors Conan O’Brien’s Comedy Tour

American Express knows a hot trend, and it’s sponsoring former Tonight Show host and new Twitter user Conan O’Brien on his just-announced comedy tour across the country. You don’t become the most used credit card for purchases unless you can spot the hottest ticket. At TeamCoco.com you can see the American Express logo right underneath Conan’s mostly gray and white poster portrait — except for the orange hair and the orange title: “Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour.”

Rates Below 5% as Homebuyer Tax Credit Deadline Looms

The rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage stayed under 5 percent for another week, but most economists see rates moving upward later in the year as the economic recovery takes a stronger foothold and the Federal Reserve unwinds it purchases of mortgage-backed securities. The 30-year fixed rate averaged 4.95 percent for the week ending today, down slightly from 4.97 percent the previous week, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly report.

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