JSI,
I agree that CMGI has a vested interest in seeing AV succeed, but that may not guarantee CPQ success. IMO, AV served as the cornerstone for Compaq's entry in to a variety of e-businesses. Now that asset was essentially sold off to CMGI. What will take its place? Will a strategic partnership with CMGI move a $40B company? How does this benefit CMGI?
Point is, Compaq is large hardware builder/provider. Many, many, many people look at a Compaq keyboard everyday, in fact I'm typing on one right now. If CMGI is able to get Compaq to create a direct link from a Compaq keyboard to any number of CMGI's Internet Ventures, I'd say that's enough of a vested interest in helping Compaq succeed.
How valuable is to have smart keys preprogrammed on Compaq's keyboard? If it is so valuable, then sell it to the highest bidder.
Do you agree that the excitement about this deal is the expectation that Compaq will leverage its relationship with CMGI to enter new ventures? That possibility requires lots of vision, strategy, and execution. Compaq has not demonstrated any of these qualities while holding AV. What makes it different this time? The answer is the yet to be named new management. So we are betting on the new CEO.
Joel |
