Entrepreneurial interest in wireless was strong at this year's TiEcon
conference in Santa Clara, CA. After all, there's more money under management
at VC firms now than at any time in history. It's just not being handed out
as freely to seed and first-round investments.
Falling stock valuations, bankruptcies, frigid IPO markets, restructurings,
and layoffs by the thousands have overwhelmed our technology industries
throughout the first half of 2001. As Guy Kawasaki of venture capital
investment bank, Garage Technology Ventures, puts it, many companies have
seemingly gone from "Gulfstream to Airstream" in record time. In the new
world order of telecommunications, Chapter 11 conversations are the order of
the day. Evidence of private and public market pessimism isn't hard to find.
Just look on less-congested Silicon Valley freeways, at halted office
construction, at ... (more)
The slow death of Metricom threw their customers for a loop. Here was a
company that provided a unique service, yet burned through a billion dollars,
and is now seemingly missed by all. Denver-based Aerie Networks recently
bought most of the key Ricochet assets for a mere $8.25 million during
bankrupcy court proceedings. What went wrong? Here, leading voices from the
industry give their take on why a great product wasn't enough... and what the
future holds for investments in the mobile Internet space.
When one door closes, another door opens. Or does it? Those who are building
m... (more)
"Empowering people through great software anytime, anyplace, and on any
device" is Microsoft's vision. Literally. Long accused of using its dominant
position in the desktop software market to repel innovative competitors, some
are wary of Microsoft's ventures in the mobile industry perhaps suggesting
that the company's true vision is to be "everywhere on every device." To the
contrary, Microsoft's newest mobility platforms are going to kick-start a new
era of risk-taking and innovation among product design partners, customers,
and competitors. Surprised?
Inspiration. Innovat... (more)
Apparently for Siemens Mobile Acceleration, the time to jumpstart the U.S.
market for innovative mobile solutions is now. Contrary to the regressive
trends in Silicon Valley, Siemens sees an opportunity to stimulate the
environment for innovative new products serving network operators,
enterprises, and individuals.
Based upon recent activities, the only company that shares Siemens' level of
enthusiasm for seeding wireless startups in this economy may be Intel
Corporation. The Santa Clara, CA, chip kingpin has been funding new wireless
companies at a frenetic pace over the last 1... (more)
In a sea of seemingly incompatible MMS strategies, divergent mobile operator
schemes, and innumerable advertising campaigns aimed at would-be U.S. camera
phone users, Philippe Kahn navigates enviably.
Philippe Kahn is the CEO of LightSurf Technologies, his third successful
startup in as many tries (and the second founded with his wife Sonia Lee).
Well known for his pioneering leadership at Borland, which resulted in the
mass adoption of many of the company's personal productivity software and
development tools, he is becoming equally well-thought-of for his vision.
Following his... (more)
Tim Bresien is WBT's VC editor, the principal consultant with infraStar, Inc., and a freelance writer covering investments in the wireless communications sector. He is a former research analyst with the telecommunications consulting firm of Bond & Pecaro, Inc., Washington, DC, and a cofounder of the Telecom Investor Forum, held annually at SUPERCOMM.
David Lucas
Shaul Efraim
Terence Martin Breslin
Cory Marchand
David Hughes
James Carlini
John Iffert
Dan Stolts
Joe Zeto
