A few possible names are percolating to the surface of Microsoft's opposition slate as the software giant gears up for a potential proxy fight with Yahoo over its mega-billions buyout bid.
John Chapple, former Nextel Partners chief executive who now operates investment firm Hawkeye Investments in Washington state; Edward Meyer, former CEO of advertising powerhouse Grey Global Group; and Jaynie Studenmund, former chief operating officer of Yahoo-acquired Overture Services and former board member of Microsoft-acquired Aquantive, are some of the names mentioned in a Wall Street Journal article Wednesday and a previous TechCrunch post from mid-March.
Ironically, Studenmund may be one busy gal on the proxy front. She not only is reportedly a contender for Microsoft's opposition slate, but is currently on the opposition slate for the Jana Group, which is running a slate against CNET Networks, publisher of News.com.
Studenmund, when contacted by News.com Tuesday, declined to discuss her Microsoft gig and referred calls back to the software giant. She did confirm, however, that she worked at First Interstate Bank of California during the time it too faced a hostile bid from cross-town rival Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo ultimately succeeded in acquiring First Interstate in what later became a "friendly deal."
Chapple and Meyer, meanwhile, did not return phone calls.
In addition to the names mentioned above, the Journal listed Vanessa Wittman, former Adelphia Communications chief financial officer, as a contender for the Microsoft dissident board of 10 members and 3 alternatives. TechCrunch lists Tom Freston, former Viacom president.
Should Microsoft ultimately run an opposition slate against Yahoo's board of directors, don't expect only a cadre of big brand-name executives, a source familiar with the efforts told News.com in March.
The source noted at the time that the software giant already had its slate set and it was comprised of a "pool of candidates spanning from seasoned executives from brand-name companies to folks with a financial background."
Now, the only question that remains is whether this group will get the call.
четверг, 24 апреля 2008 г.
Microsoft's Tellme launches its best app ever...for BlackBerry
OK, Mike McCue, CEO of recently-acquired-by-Microsoft Tellme: Tell me again why your brand new mobile phone app--the cool one that lets you speak a business name or category into the phone and then gives you nearest matches on your screen--is out first for the BlackBerry, and not Windows Mobile?
As McCue explained it to me, Tellme had the BlackBerry app well into development when Microsoft acquired his company. But why BlackBerry at all? Because it's a better platform for Java, which the app is built on, than is Windows Mobile.
Of course, Tellme will build a Windows Mobile version of the new app eventually. And in fact, McCue hopes that Tellme's functionality is embedded deeply into the next major release of Windows Mobile (version 7). But that's not coming too soon since Microsoft only just shipped Windows Mobile 6.
As to this new BlackBerry app: It is very strong. You can assign a button on your smartphone to it, and then just it hold it down, speak a directory lookup, like "coffee" or "Nordstrom," and the phone's screen displays the closest matches to you, based on your GPS location. Then you can select an option to call the location, map it, get directions, or share the link with someone else.
You can also speak a movie title or ask for a weather forecast. Sports scores are coming soon. So is the capability to look up names and numbers from your phone's directory, or your Outlook contacts list.
All the processing and rendering, including the voice recognition itself, happens on Tellme's servers, not on your phone. So you get fast and accurate responses--assuming you have a fast connection.
The interface is miles ahead of Microsoft's current smartphone app, Live Search Mobile. Tellme technology also powers the voice recognition in that app, but the interface is confusing and involved. Tellme, meanwhile, is moving towards simplifying its UI even further, aiming for what McCue calls the "60 mile-per-hour interface," the mobile phone lookup user experience that's safe to use while driving. For all our sakes, I hope Tellme gets that right.
As McCue explained it to me, Tellme had the BlackBerry app well into development when Microsoft acquired his company. But why BlackBerry at all? Because it's a better platform for Java, which the app is built on, than is Windows Mobile.
Of course, Tellme will build a Windows Mobile version of the new app eventually. And in fact, McCue hopes that Tellme's functionality is embedded deeply into the next major release of Windows Mobile (version 7). But that's not coming too soon since Microsoft only just shipped Windows Mobile 6.
As to this new BlackBerry app: It is very strong. You can assign a button on your smartphone to it, and then just it hold it down, speak a directory lookup, like "coffee" or "Nordstrom," and the phone's screen displays the closest matches to you, based on your GPS location. Then you can select an option to call the location, map it, get directions, or share the link with someone else.
You can also speak a movie title or ask for a weather forecast. Sports scores are coming soon. So is the capability to look up names and numbers from your phone's directory, or your Outlook contacts list.
All the processing and rendering, including the voice recognition itself, happens on Tellme's servers, not on your phone. So you get fast and accurate responses--assuming you have a fast connection.
The interface is miles ahead of Microsoft's current smartphone app, Live Search Mobile. Tellme technology also powers the voice recognition in that app, but the interface is confusing and involved. Tellme, meanwhile, is moving towards simplifying its UI even further, aiming for what McCue calls the "60 mile-per-hour interface," the mobile phone lookup user experience that's safe to use while driving. For all our sakes, I hope Tellme gets that right.
Weak phone sales hurt Motorola earnings
Motorola on Thursday reported a first-quarter loss of $194 million, or 9 cents per share, up from a year-ago a loss of $181 million, or 8 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter.
The report comes as the company is struggling to reorganize its mobile-phone business before it separates into two companies.
Net sales for the quarter were $7.45 billion, down from $9.43 billion a year ago.
Sales at the Mobile Devices division were $3.3 billion, down 39 percent compared to a year ago. That division reported an operating loss of $418 million, up from $233 million in the year-ago quarter. During the quarter, the company shipped 27.4 million handsets.
The report comes as the company is struggling to reorganize its mobile-phone business before it separates into two companies.
Net sales for the quarter were $7.45 billion, down from $9.43 billion a year ago.
Sales at the Mobile Devices division were $3.3 billion, down 39 percent compared to a year ago. That division reported an operating loss of $418 million, up from $233 million in the year-ago quarter. During the quarter, the company shipped 27.4 million handsets.
Big Belly Solar compactor now squeezes recycling
It was only a question of time. Big Belly Solar has expanded its product line with a solar-powered compactor for recyclables.
The Needham, Mass.-based company first started selling trash cans with a small 30-watt solar panel on the top that powers a compactor a couple of years ago.
Municipalities have been buying them to cut down on the number of trips that garbage handlers need to make. That cuts down on fuel costs (garbage trucks get about 2.5 mpg) and reduces street congestion and pollution.
There's also the "green PR" when people see the solar panel on the top of a trash can.
Now the company has developed a compactor for recycled goods. It comes in a few configurations, but the recycling units (for paper or bottles and cans) have their own panels and are placed next to solar trash cans.
The product design is meant to be green all the way through by using recycled plastic and nontoxic paint.
Ultimately, Big Belly Solar plans on equipping its units with communications capabilities so that they can tell garbage collectors when they are full or broken.
But for now, cities and towns just need to hope consumers know how to sort their trash.
The Needham, Mass.-based company first started selling trash cans with a small 30-watt solar panel on the top that powers a compactor a couple of years ago.
Municipalities have been buying them to cut down on the number of trips that garbage handlers need to make. That cuts down on fuel costs (garbage trucks get about 2.5 mpg) and reduces street congestion and pollution.
There's also the "green PR" when people see the solar panel on the top of a trash can.
Now the company has developed a compactor for recycled goods. It comes in a few configurations, but the recycling units (for paper or bottles and cans) have their own panels and are placed next to solar trash cans.
The product design is meant to be green all the way through by using recycled plastic and nontoxic paint.
Ultimately, Big Belly Solar plans on equipping its units with communications capabilities so that they can tell garbage collectors when they are full or broken.
But for now, cities and towns just need to hope consumers know how to sort their trash.
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