[Brian]

The calendar approach allows customers with an iPod Touch, who may not have consistent network access, to reliably get notifications.

With the calendar approach, network access is required during the sync process that updates the calendar, but once the calendar app on the phone grabs the updated calendar, the alarms go off regardless of whether there's an active network connection.

The push approach depends on constant access to the network; a server sends a message to the phone at the appointed time. That won't reach someone with an iPod touch in a timely manner unless they happen to be near a free WiFi network.

(According to Apple, about 40% of the devices out there running iPhoneOS are iPod Touches.)

We're definitely excited about the local notifications, by the way. I don't have any specifics for you yet, but having to rely on an external server for these notifications was always a last resort.