JTK wrote:
>
> Anonymous wrote:
> > Business 2.0's Erick Shonfeld (better known as "Future Boy") has
> > posted a story nailing AOL Time Warner - the parent company of his
> > employer - as only keeping Netscape alive so they could file a lawsuit
> > against Microsoft. Here is a link to check it out:
> > http://www.business2.com/articles/web/0,1653,37401,FF.html
> >
>
> HOLY MOTHER OF GOD:
>
> "If nothing else, AOL's suit only serves as an ugly reminder of the $10
> billion it poured down the drain when it bought Netscape back in 1999."
>
> TEN ***BILLION***!?!?!?!?!??!?! AMERICAN DOLLARS?!??!?!?! CAN THAT
> ***POSSIBLY*** BE CORRECT?!?!??!?!?!! GREAT CAESAR'S GHOST, TALK ABOUT
> BEING TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS!!
>
> Mr. Case: "Hello there shopkeep! I'd like to purchase this empty
> candybar wrapper from you. How much would you be willing to part with
> it for?"
> Shopkeep: "Price is on the wrapper there, $100,000."
> Mr. Case: "It's a deal! Can you break a $1,000,000?"
>
> Ooooof.
I don't remember the price but the revenue sources at Netscape,
Netcenter and what is now iPlanet, were indeed worth a lot and were the
prime goals of the purchase. The direct browser revenue was zero at the
time so it was probably not a major factor in the price. This was
particularly true since control of the open source browser project was,
by no means assured.
You're not at all good at identifying business motives and recognizing
business values. You also seem to lack all knowledge of the history of
the transaction.
Chuck
--
... The times have been,
That, when the brains were out,
the man would die. ... Macbeth
Chuck Simmons [EMAIL PROTECTED]
