When I first heard this rumor a few days ago, I didn't credit it,
because I didn't think MapInfo could move so adroitly while
carrying that financial baggage known as stockholders. But after
considering it a bit more, I think it would be an amazingly smart
move for MapInfo to do so. This is right in line with what "The
Information Discovery" company ought to be doing, and building it
in Java is rather clever and shows some style.
In one stroke, they would open up the GIS market to many more
people that would otherwise never see MapInfo for months more,
become the darling of all the tech press (Java is an especially
cool idea just now), impress developers as being "on top of
things" because java will run well on anything from a PC, Mac or
worksation to a palmtop (and it's free too), get out from under
the heel of Microsoft without rejecting their world altogether,
and leave ESRI crying into their beer wondering why they didn't
think of it first.
Suddenly the USGS would be able (and encouraged) to distribute
this viewer with all their data; schools, libraries, non-profits,
data vendors, etc. would use it and the market would develop.
Helping the community by getting mapping into these places
doesn't cut into profits, anyway. In an information economy, it's
just the reverse. Go to places where there's lots of people, even
though they have little money now, win their hearts and minds,
and as their needs and abilities grow, their wallets will follow.
In an information economy, it's not the other way around.
Sales for the Professional tools and data would rise with the
increasing presence of the tools too. Now so many more people
would finally know why they need such a tool, that resellers will
find all sorts of new markets to work in. Developers would have
lots more work too. Stockholders would wonder, "How in the world
can we be making so much money when they're giving away
technology?" It's that they they're giving away technology, but
that it's *what* they give away. Give away the right tools and
you stimulate an economy. Anyway, I get into the why in my April
GeoWorld column, "Internet Turns Traditional Economics Models
Upside Down", but basically, a new economy is emerging and there
are new rules. If you're interested, see Kevin Kelly's article,
"New Rules for the New Economy" at
http://www.wired.com/wired/5.09/newrules.html. In particular,
check out the "Law of Plentitude" (sic).
Of course, what do I know? I'm just guessing. Interesting rumor
though, eh?
- Bill Thoen
Bedarf, Derek wrote:
> Check out Directions Magazine's Scoop section.
>
> http://www.directionsmag.com/Scoop.asp?ScoopID=2
>
> Anyone have any thoughts or additional info?
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