Paul Allen takes a beating, and the end of the wired world |
Connect with TechFlash on our Facebook page for all the latest technology news headlines and commentary, plus information and access to special events, photos from events, promotions and more.
Today On Techflash
Mass High Tech
Paul Allen takes a beating, and the end of the wired world
Paul Allen
Even billionaires can lose a lot of money. Cnet News investigates the lackluster investment track record of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, pointing out recent failures such as Charter Communications as well as some old doozies such as Metricom.
"For Allen, the Charter Communications, RCN, and Metricom bankruptcy filings speak volumes regarding his wired world strategy, one which he may increasingly want to disconnect," writes reporter Dawn Kawamoto. Contrast that with a 1999 Cnet story titled "Allen's 'wired world' starts to come together."
The fact is, Allen gave up on the wired world long ago. You rarely hear anyone associated with his private investment firm, Vulcan, talking about the strategy. And I couldn't find one mention of the phrase on the firm's Web site. It appears that Allen -- with holdings in real estate, oil and financial services (all non-wired stuff) -- has moved on for the most part.
Although the story notes that Paul Allen's ranking on the Forbes list of billionaires has fallen in recent years, it also points out some of his successes. What were those?
A few notable hits include Plains All American Pipelines, Oxygen Media and DreamWorks SKG -- none of which are pure technology companies.
Allen has had a tough 12 months. Charter, one of his largest investments, is melting down. The Seattle Seahawks, which he owns, were plain awful last season. And Allen -- who underwent an undisclosed medical procedure last October -- even had to cut back on staff at Vulcan last month.
Can't a billionaire catch a break these days? Well, at least he can sail away from his problems on the Octopus.
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
TechFlash Team
Recent Sponsor Posts
Who's creating today's energy efficient buildings? Find out at the BetterBricks Awards, Feb. 16
BetterBricks Awards salute the individuals leading the way for high performance commercial buildings with an emphasis on energy efficiency. Join us as we recognize these standout green building professionals.
Award categories include: Advocate; Architect/Designer; Facility Manager/Operator; and Owner/Developer.
Keynote Speaker: Kevin Kampschroer, Director of U.S. GSA's Office of Federal High Performance Buildings. Kevin leads the U.S. General Services Administration's efforts in building sustainability and accelerating industry adoption of sustainable principles across all aspects of a building's life.
Register here by February 10!
If you are interested in buying a table, email Monica Alquist or call her at 206-876-5404.
The Triple Door Presents: The Atomic Bombshells "J'ADORE!: A Burlesque Valentine"
Seattle's reigning Burlesque super-troupe delivers a gorgeous and glittering VALENTINE featuring some of the Bombshells' most exhilarating acts to date. J'Adore! promises to celebrate l'amour with good humor, style, and a healthy dose of dazzle! Bring a friend, a lover, a family member, or a secret crush, and celebrate with the Valentine's Burlesque spectacular that will leave you shouting: "J'ADORE......The Atomic Bombshells!" The incomparable Jasper McCann emcees with high style and charm.
Please visit www.thetripledoor.net for a full schedule of future performances.
The Triple Door Presents: Bob Mould – See A Little Light: An Evening of Reading and Music
"Bob Mould. Those two words are synonymous with integrity. From Husker Du in the last century to right at this moment, Bob is the real deal, writing and playing music for music's sake. He's a great songwriter and performer. I have been a fan of Bob's for thirty years now with no end in sight." -Henry Rollins
Please visit www.thetripledoor.net for a full schedule of future performances.
Why Choose BDO for your SOC (previously SAS 70) Reports?
BDO’s experience in providing attestation services (SAS 70/SSAE 16, AT 101, AT 201, AT 601, etc.) to a broad range of industries, and our team of skilled professionals distinctly qualifies us to serve as your company’s Service Auditor. By leveraging the BDO global network of control specialists, we are poised to provide global services in more than 1,000 offices and across 119 countries. Many organizations find that investing in reports on controls may result in benefits, including:
• Increased client confidence
• Improved competitive advantage
• Minimization of frequent audits
• Streamlined business processes and controls
• Enhanced risk management
For detailed information contact Paul Martini at pmartini@bdo.com.
