Tim Bresien

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 mobile Internet service companies would like to believe that this axiom is true. But how do new entrants distance themselves from recently deceased providers who've blown through billions of dollar... (more)

The 'End of the Beginning' at E3

As a platform for games and entertainment, the mobile phone seems to have ascended to a position that now demands serious attention. At the E3 convention in Los Angeles this past May, it seemed that an entire generation of growth and development had occurred in less than 12 months. E3 (Electronic Enter-tainment Expo) is the video gaming industry's largest gathering, and it is now clear th... (more)

A Few Questions for Philippe Kahn, CEO of LightSurf Technologies

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 a... (more)

2004 Is Likely to be Symbian's Year

More than 6 million handsets featuring the Symbian OS shipped last year. WBT's Tim Bresien takes a look at the company's prospects for 2004, a critical year for the smartphone market. If London-based Symbian Ltd. was a traditional venture-funded startup, this would be the time that investors would demand to extract a return on their dollars, pounds, and Euros. You see, many private ventur... (more)

A Fine Mesh at Idealab

Utilizing unlicensed, near-infrared wireless spectrum, Idealab's Omnilux is about to make a run at the Free Space Optics (FSO) market with its mesh networking vision. Is it possible that Idealab, the accidental icon for all that was exaggerated about the early Internet Era, is overseeing the growth of a fundamentally sound wireless company? Yes it is! In fact, there are several Idealab ... (more)