Microsoft's Greatest Visionary? (No, It's Not Gates)
URL: chkpt.zdnet.com
Berst Alert
Jesse Berst, Editorial Director<BR>ZDNet AnchorDesk
Tuesday, October 05, 1999
Who is the greatest visionary to come out of Microsoft?
Bill Gates? Rob Glaser? Nathan Myhrvold?
My vote goes to Paul Allen. He's the one who first saw
the real possibilities of the microprocessor. He was among
the first to see the implications of the wired world.
And one of the first to see what America Online was up
to and go after it.
You could almost argue Allen's vision was too far ahead.
Some ridiculed his early investments because they couldn't
see the future Allen envisioned. Others accused him of
dabbling; indulging whims.
Wrong. The billionaire Microsoft co-founder is methodically
building a wired empire one mega-deal at a time. Yesterday
his Vulcan Ventures dumped $1.65 billion into RCN Corp.,
which sells bundled communications services to residential
customers. It was one of his biggest investments yet.
And very strategic. The RCN deal gives Allen the independent
fiber network he needs to take his vision nationwide.
So what's he up to? And what's in it for us? Plenty. Whether
you want to see him succeed to hasten the arrival of a
truly wired world. Or you want to follow his investment
coattails all the way to the bank. Go to Page 2 for a
look at key investments. And consider the most recent
developments:
RCN investment. The money will accelerate expansion of
RCN's high-speed fiber-optic network. Which means Allen
has a way to extend his portfolio of interactive services
-- broadband, entertainment, new media and technology
-- across the country. Click for more.
Broadband Partners. In a related venture that demonstrates
the potential synergies in Allen's holdings, RCN will
join with other Allen companies (Go2Net, Charter Communications
and High Speed Access) to provide broadband portal services
over digital set-top boxes.
Charter IPO. Allen's Charter Communications -- the nation's
fourth largest cable company -- is slated to go public
next month. A boggling 170 million shares will be offered
in what many expect to be one of the largest IPOs to date.
Click for more.
Here in Seattle -- which Allen calls home -- the man's
vision is changing the landscape of the city. From the
new stadium he's building for his football team. To the
interactive museum he's creating as a tribute to Jimi
Hendrix. But can Paul Allen change the world with his
vision of broadband connections and interactive services
in living rooms everywhere? Use the TalkBack button and
tell me what you think, or jump to my Berst Alerts forum
and talk it over with other readers. And please take today's
Quick Poll.
Disclosure: Paul Allen is an investor in AnchorDesk parent
Ziff-Davis.
Who is the greatest visionary to come out of Microsoft?
Nathan Myhrvold
Rob Glaser
Paul Allen
Bill Gates
-- Page 2 --
Paul Allen's deep pockets have allowed him to buy early
and buy often. A look at key investments this year alone
shows the synergies he's created as he puts together a
wired empire:
January: Allen invests in TiVo, which has a consumer electronics
technology that allows consumers to customize their television
viewing.
February: Vulcan Ventures backs Stamps.com, which provides
ways consumers and businesses can purchase postage stamps.
March: Allen's company makes a major investment in Go2Net,
a network of Web sites focused on business, finance, games
and search.
April: Vulcan joins a round of financing for 800.com,
which sells consumer electronics and home entertainment
products online.
May: In separate deals, Charter Communications buys up
several cable companies.
June: Vulcan makes another investment in Metricom, which
provides wireless data services for mobile users.
July: Go2Net and Vulcan Ventures invest in CommTouch Software,
a provider of Web-based email services.
September: Vulcan Ventures purchases 1.5 million shares
of Allegiance common stock. Allegiance is a Dallas-based
provider of telecommunications services to businesses.
More on Paul Allen's investments and wired world strategy
can be found on his Web site. Click for more.
READ MORE:
How Microsoft's Brain Drain is Bleeding the Company - ZDNet AnchorDesk
zdnet.com
Paul Allen's Cable Empire - ZDTV
zdnet.com
Paul Allen
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