To: LastShadow who wrote (6773 ) 1/20/1999 3:54:00 PM From: Alex Engelgardt Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 43080
GMGC General Magic made a name for itself a very long time ago in the field of distributed computing by almost singlehandedly putting the concept of an 'agent' (a mobile autonomous thingie that roams the network and does many a Good Thing (tm)) into production. Since then, they've tried to parlay that technology into more palatable consumer offerings and failed, albeit not miserably. I think MSFT is eyeing them for two reasons: 1) agent technology, undersold and undermarketed in the hands of General Magic 2) Products for wireless markets using the agent technology. The latter (wireless market) is infinitely more important and profitable than the former but MSFT's marketing machine could use some fuel as well and agent technology is very easy to hype. It would also make sense for MSFT to buy GMGC as part of a series of countermeasures against Sun and its Java-based Jini technology that allows consumer devices to communicate with each other via a network. While I know a thing or two about General Magic, wireless market is going to be the next BIG thing. I am willing to bet a small fortune on this. Specifically, the intersection of palm computing and consumer services/Internet comes to mind as the most profitable sector of wireless market, at least as far as NASDAQ is concerned. In the Silicon Valley and places 'round here, VCs are VERY eager to fund startups who target the wireless/mobile market. The startups are also very eager to put out -- I know a number of talented engineers who (as I suddenly found out) are working on projects that involve mobile/wireless devices. Right now, I would estimate that in 1-2 years, the technology will mature enough to be cheap and accessable, prompting the paradigm shift in the service arena, portals in particular. Alex.