iPhone News Updated

The country's largest grassroots medical marijuana advocacy group, Americans for Safe Access (ASA), launched a first-of-its-kind, free iPhone application today that will provide a vast array of tools for people new to the issue as well as for seasoned activists. ASA teamed up with iWeeds -- an application company that serves the medical marijuana community -- in order to make it easier for advocates to get educated and take political action. The ASA Advocate App gives users access to all of the organization's projects and programs.

"The ASA Advocate App is another way to empower grassroots action that is bringing change on medical marijuana policies to every corner of the country," said ASA Executive Director Steph Sherer. "We have to be innovative if we want the widespread public support that exists for medical marijuana to translate into concrete results," continued Sherer. "The ASA Advocate App will help put greater pressure on all levels of government to adopt sensible medical marijuana policies."

Specifically, the ASA Advocacy App will provide immediate updates on rapidly changing local, state, and federal issues across the country to keep users on top of the latest in medical marijuana politics, science, law and community action. In addition to ASA news feeds, users will also have easy access to political action alerts, video advocacy trainings, and ASA's printed publications, such as newsletters, condition-based booklets, and legal manuals, all from their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch devices. The ASA Advocate App even guides users to businesses in their community that support the work of ASA.

The ASA Advocate App will also allow users to become members of the organization's 50,000-strong grassroots network. And, because of the heightened concern over federal interference in medical marijuana states, the ASA Advocate App connects users to a legal hotline and enables them to sign up for raid alerts and activist phone trees. The ASA Advocate App is currently only accessible from Apple devices, but will be expanded to Android and other application markets over the next few months.

Since 2002, ASA has been educating patients, doctors, lawyers, scientists, key decision-makers, and the general public on issues concerning medical marijuana. The organization has also used lobbying and litigation over the years to help achieve the goals of protecting and expanding the rights of medical marijuana patients across the U.S.

[Thanks: http://www.opposingviews.com]

After media reports said Sprint Nextel would carry the Apple iPhone 5 this fall, Sprint would not comment, but its stock value rose sharply.

The Kansas City Star reported Wednesday Sprint stock jumped 10.12 percent or by 33 cents a share to $3.59 after The Wall Street Journal reported a deal with Apple was imminent and that Sprint would handle the iPhone 5 in mid-October at the same time Verizon Wireless and AT&T would have it.

"If you don't have it, for some customers you're not even in consideration" as a network carrier, Rick Franklin, an industry analyst at Edward Jones & Co., told the Star.

However, "Is it a cure-all for all of Sprint's woes? I doubt it," Franklin said.

A spokeswoman at Sprint said the company would not comment on "rumor and speculation." Apple is famously secretive until the last minute about products in development and deals being made.

Industry analyst Donna Jaegers at D.A. Davidson & Co. said, "If it's true that the iPhone is coming, it's definitely good news for Sprint. It might be good for Apple, too," UPI.com reported.

The iPhone was available through AT&T exclusively from 2007 until this year, when Verizon managed to secure a deal with Apple.

A deal with Sprint may affect the company's service program that makes it the last of the big network providers to offer an unlimited data plan, the newspaper said.

"Be careful what you ask for," said Will Power, a telecommunications specialist at Robert W. Baird & Co.

The implication is that data-heavy iPhone owners could tip the scales at Sprint regarding its unlimited data plan option.

[Thanks: http://www.thirdage.com]