Perhaps the comment spam deluge that hit Blogware last week may have a
silver lining. I noticed today an authentication box to make a comment.
On another positive note, I actually had a Blogware tech guy ask for
suggestions on how to improve the service. Light at the end of the blog
rainbow?
Hello, Mr. Gates?
Looks like Palm CEO Ed Colligan may have inadvertently given away Bill Gates cell number while showing off the new Windows-powered Treo 700w
earlier this week. While demonstrating the ease in finding contact
information, Colligan used Gates as an example. A quick off the mark
colleague noticed Gates' number and jotted it down. To see if it
actually was the real number, he sent Gates a short text-message.
Within minutes, a P.R. person from Microsoft Canada called back. I
wonder how long it's going to take Gates to change his number?
Vonage IPO on the Way
After raising more than $400-million in private equity, Vonage's IPO (is its still much-anticipated??) is on the way after Light Reading reported yesterday the lead underwriters have been selected – Citibank, UBS AG, and Deutsche Bank AG. The big question is how much Vonage is worth. The figure $1.5-billion has been frequently cited (the methodology, however, has never been spelled out), while Charlie Lax, managing general partner with GrandBanks Captial, was bubbling about a $10-billion valuation at Fall VON last week. If anything, the Vonage IPO should set a pretty good valuation benchmarket for the VOIP industry. If the IPO is well-received, the rising tide could lift all ships and make it easeier for other VOIP companies to follow in Vonage's wake. If, for whatever reason, investors are less than enthusiastic about the offering, it could put a dark cloud over the industry while making Skype's investors look like geniuses for getting out while the going was good.
Tivo Finally Coming to Canada
Hat tip to Rick Segal for passing along a Gizmodo post on how Tivo will finally be made available to Canadians.
The only problem is Canadians have to buy/import Tivo units in the U.S.
and then follow special instructions to set it up.If your Tivo breaks, warranty replacement units will only be
shipped to the U.S. You can buy a box for as low as $49.99, while
monthly service is $12.99 or $299 for a life-time deal. So what is Tivo?
In simple terms, it's a really smart set-top box much like what Rogers
is selling now only better. Among Tivo's issues is its growth is being
challenged by cablecos who would rather the develop their own in-house
PVR than enter into a partnership with Tivo. As of the end of the second-quarter, Tivo had 3.6 million subscribers uet only generated $240,000 in profits on $40.7-million of sales.
Google Wi-Fi in NYC
Google's semi-secret
WiFi network has established a foothold in New York City. Someone who
recently visited saw a plaque (left) and took a photograph. As most people know, Google dipped a toe in the
WiFi market in April by sponsoring a free hotspot in San
Francisco's Union Square. So how long is it going to take before Google
unveils its WiFi plans? I mean, you can't have Om Malik and IP Media Monitor
do all of Google's PR work, right? For some good insight into Google's Secure Access service, check out AugustJackson. Robert Scoble
thinks Google's WiFi plans may be focused on building a better search
engine. The idea is that Google will have another way track Web traffic.
Saskatchewan Gets Some Love
For the first time since the Proclaimers' “500 Miles” (my mistake: it was actually “Cap in Hand”), Saskatchewan is getting some serious attention as Russell Shaw has a post on how the province's carrier, SaskTel, has refused to launch VOIP service.
