Research Notes: Monday, April 26th
** In scanning today's New York Times, I note a little tidbit about a company called Sandpiper Networks. "This week, Sandpiper is expected to announce that America Online, the largest provider of Internet access, has made a small investment in the company and will incorporate Sandpiper's technology into its network." Sandpiper is a private company, that has been raising $21.5 million in a second round of venture capital. What I find interesting about this is that AOL's investment happens to coincide with incorporation of Sandpiper's technology. Not necessarily a model for the WAVX/AOL "relationship," but interesting.
** On the RB board somebody is speculating that an HP reference to "useage metering" is referring to WAVX. Wrong. That's part of an ISP, Web QoS initiative from HP. Nothing to do with WAVX.
** In Gilder's Life After Television, he spends a fair amount of time talking about how current publishing/film/TV mediaries have to aim for the lowest common denominator to acheive a sufficient mass of viewers/readers/subscribers. He laments, rightly so, the mean to which everything is pitched... a very mean mean if you're not a big DOOM fan. MyPublishing.com creates a direct outlet, in essence, circumventing the old, tired mediaries... and perhaps freeing up the creative spirit to go where it wants or needs to go... without reference to focus groups and demographics. This COULD be a very exciting development. With Anne Rice and Tom Clancy POSSIBLY on board--to one extent or another--who knows how popular this thing might become. Ma, it's time to put that there dewberry cobbler recipe out on the Web. Huey Lewis, it's time to hold a garage sale for your basement tapes. What would be REALLY interesting is if The Globe does some PR to announce celebrities as they, in essence, sign on for the SERVICE.
** I think there is a possibility of a secondary public offering on the horizon... right after re-listing which I consider done. Why? you ask. As with SEEK last year, the SPO became a vehicle for helping the SEEK story get out and achieve critical mass.
Numerous ML brokers and others were spreading the gospel. In my opinion, the SPO laid the groundwork for SEEK's run for the roses last year, though at the time all I could talk about was dilution, etc. THIS IS ONLY WILD-ASS SPECULATION on my part. And I'll not repeat it because it's just a theory.
Best Regards To The Long Wave,
c m |
