Archives for 2006

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Why I am Not Switching to Google Calendar (Yet)

Posted on April 15, 2006 ·

I had to wait for the huge echo to die off a bit, my voice would   have  been  lost  in  the  mandatory  praise  for Google Calendar.

I agree, it is nice, full of features, yet I can’t move until it really allows to have my data anywhere, on any device.  SMS notification of events?  Thank you very much, but I want my entire calendar on my mobile device, and it better be always up-to-date.  With zillions of devices on the market, it will take a while to support all of them  – in the meantime there is an intermediary: Outlook. 

Outlook is in the anchor position that most mobile devices, CRM software ..etc synchronize to.  It plays middleware between my phone and Plaxo.  It’s clunky, bogs down our computers, crashes a lot, yet we need it: like it or not, we’re in Outlook-prison and can’t break out … just yet.  Which means, Google Calendar should have full Outlook synchronization for it to really be useful  business.  One-way import simply does not cut it.

Obviously Google wants us migrate to their platform, and I’ll be happy to – when they are ready.  Ironically enough, we need full synchronization to enable us to use both calendars in parallel first, then use Google Calendar more and more, why rely on the synchronized Outlook copy to play middleware, eventually to phase it out when Google and the entire ecosystem nicely play together. 

I am (im)patiently waiting. Apparently not alone:

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Filed Under: Personal Productivity, Software ·
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Missing my Morning (tech)Crunch

Posted on April 15, 2006 ·

Missing my crunchy  breakfast today:

Techcrunch down

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Filed Under: Blogging, Humor ·
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Socializr to Launchr Soonr or Latr

Posted on April 14, 2006 ·

(Updated)
After all the rumors, Socializr may launch any day, reports the SiliconBeat.  After the tremendous success  of Friendster, Founder Jonathan Abrams is launching another social network.

Dear Reader, remember, you read it here first (wow, is this the first time in my life I am first in something?). Back then I somehow found a job search, in which Socializr was trying to fill the most strategic post in any startup: Executive Assistant to the CEO.  

A little later I reported that the position got filled (after all, what’s a social network without hot babes?) They also picked up funding, according to some rumors to the tune of $500K.

There we go: Friendster is Dead!  Long Live Socializr!  See also the Walleywag.

Update (4/28):  A bit more validation: Socializr mentioned at TechCrunch.

Related posts:

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Filed Under: Humor ·
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Bill Gates on LinkedIn – I’m the Deal Maker :-)

Posted on April 14, 2006 ·

You don’t need Scoble to get hooked up with Bill Gates – just send me a LinkedIn Inmail, like this one I received: (sender’s name and other data removed):

On April 13, 2006, xxxxxxxx wrote:

  Dear Zoli, Please forward this to Bill.xxxx
xxxx xxxxx wants to reach Bill Gates and asks you to forward an Introduction to one of your trusted connections who can put xxxxx in touch with Bill. And the actual business proposal to Bill:

 

Message: Joint-Venture

Dear Bill,

I am xxxx xxxxx, CEO of xxxxx Corporation. We provide Software design services for .NET and Windows. Recently, We are losing our engineers to Microsoft, Redmond, WA office. Our Design centers are located in xxxxx.

I have a business proposal to setup joint-venture to establish a Microsoft Software design center with xxxxx. This will save you over 60% cost what you are paying in Redmond per engineer. Instead hiring engineers and moving them to WA. You have more engineers at less cost if you can employ them in xxxxx. xxxxx will provide all the Operation and design management.

As you know xxxxx has qualified .NET and Windows experienced engineers.

If you are interested. I would be happy to come to meet with you at your convinient time to discuss the details of the joint-venture deal.

I am looking forward to do business with you.

xxxxxx
CEO
xxxxx Corporation.

Update (8/4/07): Bill Gates just face-slammed Robert 😉

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Filed Under: Humor, Social Networking ·
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This is Pathetic – Millionaires24.com

Posted on April 12, 2006 ·

Mill24Millionaires24: the “World’s Upper Class eMail Account” – yes, upper-class, my *ss.  (pardon my French, I’m obviously not Upper Class )

Seriously though, people who are willing to cough up $399 a month (will ANYbody sign up?) just to show off their status are definitely NOT the real millionaires, just the desparate wannabies. 
(Discovered by TechCrunch.)

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Filed Under: Misc ·
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Enterprise SaaS Startups from an Investor’s Point of View

Posted on April 12, 2006 ·

(Updated)
“It takes 70% to 100% more capital to fund a SaaS company to break-even than a traditional perpetual license company. It also takes 2 to 3 times longer to get there.” said Michael Skok of North Bridge Venture Partners at a Mass Technology Leadership Council session yesterday.  Don Dodge reports  in a detailed post, which is well worth reading in full.

  • SaaS companies need an average of $35M in VC capital, versus $20M for a similar perpetual license company.
  • It takes 6 to 7 years to get to break even
  • Public equity markets pay a 10% to 20% premium for predictable revenue streams
  • SaaS companies move faster than big companies. They can introduce new features instantly versus waiting for the next major release. Think years.
  • SaaS requires an architecture that supports end user customization
  • Industry standards are critical for interoperability
  • Steady state business models require 15-18% for engineering and 30-35% for Sales and Marketing.

Obviously this comparison is about Enterprise Software, Consumer applications are faster to develop, startups often don’t even take VC investment and get to market or get acquired after limited Angel investment – if any at all.

The above points are fact-based, learned from NBVP’s investment in 8 SaaS companies.  Yet I feel comparing enterprise software startups with the SaaS (Software as a Service) model vs.  the traditional perpetual license model is an academic exercise, since it does not represent a real choice.  I’m meeting VC Partners weekly at various SVASE and other events, and I’m hearing a consensus: no software VC in the Valley invest in the traditional enterprise license model.  
There are estimates that about 10% of all software sold is SaaS today, but investors have look out years ahead, and the writing is clearly on the wall: only SaaS gets funded today.

Related posts:

Update (5/23):  Hello “On Demand” hype machine by SiliconBeat’s Matt Marshall list some of the lates On-demand investments, at ever-increasing valuations.

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Filed Under: Bay Area, Business, Enterprise Software, ERP / CRM, SaaS, Software, Startups ·
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37Signals Lost the Signal (for a Moment)

Posted on April 12, 2006 ·

(Updated)
Signal vs. Noise is all noise today, as the good 37Signal folks decided to make fun of their customers, posting  their email inquiries they disliked.  “Useless, absurd, appalled, infuriating”  are words from actual customer emails but apparently this is what 37Signals think of those inquiries – or the customers themselves?

They may be onto something… after all, as long as you have great products, who needs customers?  This must be the new way, I’m just too “old school” to understand.  Time for me to read Getting Real – perhaps that will help me catch up with this great new world. (how funny that their PR agency just asked me to review it…)

Thanks Espen for finding this “gem”.

Update (4/12):  I guess the best defense is offense, just check out Matt’s response to a reader comment: “And while you call it whining, others might call it offering the other side of things in order to give some perspective. Perhaps you need to stop looking for occasions to be offended?”  

Hint to Matt:  you may want to read this post by Robert.

This will not hurt either:  The Art of Customer Service, Part II

Update (4/12):  I don’t even know what’s worse, the original post or the rather defiant attitude they show defending their stance against 140+ comments (on a blog where the average is 8–10 comments per post).  I certainly hope Jason and Matt will have a good night’s sleep, wake up fresh, and make amends.  Like Scoble did (see above).

Update (4/13):  So much for hoping for some humility.  They woke up, but they did not wake up.  This response to comments from Jason shows he simply does not get it:   “I don’t believe quoting someone directly is mocking them. And I never called these comments stupid.”

Related posts:

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Filed Under: Blogging, Business, Customer Service, Misc ·
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Online Backup and Desktop Search

Posted on April 12, 2006 ·

Friends Don’t Let Friends Lose Data says Chris, and I agree, so I followed his recommendation and signed up for the Mozy online backup service – now I can sleep at night.  Previously I used FolderShare to sync data between my multiple PC’s, but now I am left with one laptop, so the free 2G storage and automated backup is now a real(data) life-saver.

However, I noticed it makes  full backup every day, instead of doing it incrementally, as it’s supposed to, after the initial backup.  Other users don’t seem to have this problem, which makes me look for the culprit elsewhere.  I could not imagine (digital) life without Desktop Search anymore, and I tend to believe Copernic is by far better than any of the GoogleYahooMicrosoft products.  

I wonder if Copernic Desktop Search causes files look “changed” during the reindex process – that would explain while they get backed up again.  I am an early beta tester of their 2.0 release, so end up reindexing quite often.

This post is also an experiment in effectively using the “edge” – sure, I could go to Mozy’s site, register, describe the problem there, then go to Copernic and do the same, and probably play messenger-boy for a few rounds between the two companies – let’s see if they pick this up and find a resolution.

In the meantime I am patiently impatiently waiting for Box.net to add their long-awaited synchronization feature. 

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Filed Under: Blogging, Customer Service, Personal Productivity, Software, Technology ·
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Using AdWords to “Badmouth” the Competition

Posted on April 11, 2006 ·

Espen talks about how Google’s AdWords is used against 24SevenOffice. Here’s one of the ads displayed for the keyword “24SevenOffice” :

24SevenOffice – Great system for doctors, quick service, low costs!

The only problem is, 24SevenOffice does not do any of it. It’s a CRM+ERP+Communication+ .. + SaaS provider.

Whoever put up the ad, will likely pay very little, as few who specifically search for the company will click through. They manage, however, to clobber their competitor’s image, confuse and drive away potential customers, or disappoint the few who actually might be looking for a doctors’s solution, click through and feel “bait and switched”.

(somewhat) related post:


Filed Under: Business, ERP / CRM, Marketing / PR · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,
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Has The Donald Lost His Mind? – The $140 Sandwich

Posted on April 11, 2006 ·

For firing a Project Manager who “overpriced” a sandwich at $7.99.

Little does he know what real sandwich prices are.  Like this mouthwatering (?) Wagyu beef sandwich. It “represents great value for money” says Ewan Venters, Catering Director at Selfridges on Oxford Street.

Sure it does, at a cool  £85 (about $140).  
(full story on BBC News)

Update (7/4):  If you don’t want to spend $140, you can get Ham Sandwich 2.0.

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Filed Under: Humor, Misc ·
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