Chris, the impact that Above is making is usually understated. I attribute this to the ethic which characterized their [very strong net-head persuasion, of the truest type] philosophy prior to being picked up by MFN. There was some initial reluctance on their part to acknowledge the commercial nature of their ways, and some forms of hystereses remain.
But MFNX is taking them to new territory, gradually but surely. They will be doing all the right things, IMO, despite some latent hesitency going into all-out commercial activity, if they continue to keep their fabric and principles intact the way they have until now. The biggest danger I see is if they rush into some competitive situation half baked, in order to go one up on the comp, who themselves may not be ready for it. I suspect that this is happening elsewhere with regularity these days. It gets simpler for users, as time goes by, but the providers' task at keeping it simple for the users is no cake walk, to be sure.
Religious conversions are sometimes painfully-long and drawn-out affairs, though. I suspect that their true impacts are being felt much faster than they are seeking credit for. But that is gradually changing.
Regards, Frank Coluccio |
