Very doubtful. I have it on good authority that it's not for sale and if it were, the price wouldn't even be close to being reasonable.
Personally, I think Naveen Jain would much rather see it fail than to sell it to someone who could potentially turn it back into a money-maker and prove him wrong or incompetent.
I'd love to buy it. I really would. And feel I could get the backing to do so if it could be bought for a reasonable enough price, but I don't expect that to be in the realm of possibility.
Here's the formula I like best:
1. Buy SI's database. No software. Just the accounts and messages on a few DVD-ROM's or tapes.
2. Plug it into a site like iHub, whose software, while still very undeveloped, is relatively functional and stable.
3. Grandfather all of SI's active members in via their accounts you got in Step 1.
4. Have enough in the bank to keep it rolling while you wait for SI's members to get active about posting.
5. Open the doors to new users, possibly charging for posting privileges, possibly not, but definitely charging them for enhanced features (multi-message view, no ads, etc)
6. Develop the software and when it's ready, deploy it elsewhere.
Ahhhh.... Pipe dreams can be fun at times, can't they. <g> |
