Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: CDMQ who wrote (50509)	11/16/1999 11:02:00 PM
From: CDMQ	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

Wireless Knowledge CEO leaves abruptly Qualcomm joint venture with Microsoft troubled By Mike Drummond STAFF WRITER November 16, 1999 John Major has stepped down as chief executive officer of Wireless Knowledge, the joint venture between Microsoft and Qualcomm and a company under pressure to deliver a service plagued with delays. Major departed to "pursue personal interests," according to a news release. Although scheduled to deliver a keynote address at a major wireless conference in San Francisco next month, a company spokeswoman said, "He left on his own volition." Major's abrupt departure follows the unexpected exodus of marketing vice president Thomas Clarkson and several other key people earlier this year. Eric Schultz, former director of wireless strategy and sales at Microsoft, has taken Major's place effective immediately. Executives at Qualcomm and Microsoft put the best face on the situation, but mentioned nothing about Major. "Eric's . . . recent experience leading wireless data initiatives at Microsoft make him an outstanding choice to head the company," Jeff Jacobs, senior vice president of corporate business development, said in a prepared statement. "Wireless data and Wireless Knowledge are important to Microsoft's strategy of anytime, anywhere access to information," Paul Gross, Microsoft's vice president of server applications, said in the same release. "We are certain Eric will lead the company to tap the enormous corporate wireless data opportunity." Major, a former executive at Motorola, left his executive position at Qualcomm's old infrastructure division to take the reins of Wireless Knowledge, founded last year. Qualcomm sold that division to Ericsson in March. Wireless Knowledge has struggled to roll out its flagship service Revolv, which promises to deliver corporate e-mail, calendar and contact information to all types of wireless devices. A variety of elements have conspired against Wireless Knowledge, including wireless phone service carriers have yet to fully develop networks capable of delivering data; equipment manufacturers are just now rolling out mobile phones and other devices capable of capturing tailored Web content and other types of data; and the company is having trouble getting wireless data through various types of corporate "firewalls" used to keep unauthorized users out. Moreover, many information technology officials at corporations are focused on making sure their systems can handle the Y2K computer bug, rather than accommodating wireless access to their networks. Major could not be reached for comment yesterday. Some insiders say Wireless Knowledge "lost its vision" when Clarkson and other key founders from Qualcomm left the company. Some former Wireless Knowledge employees say Major's temperament and Microsoft's sometimes unpredictable forays into wireless ventures, including investments in wireless companies such as Nextel, created problems. "There were challenges around what space Wireless Knowledge could and could not play in according to the Microsoft rules of engagement," said one former Wireless Knowledge employee, who requested anonymity. "Microsoft was off developing a lot of different things and we were held off from going in." In addition, the source said Major, coming from a large corporate background, had challenges fitting in with a start-up company -- even one backed by two corporate behemoths. Yet if anyone can get Wireless Knowledge aloft, it's Schultz, say those who know him. "Eric's a very, very sharp guy," said a former Wireless Knowledge employee. "He knows where Microsoft is going and can really take (Wireless Knowledge) somewhere." Copyright 1999 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.