Media Tech Analyst

How Google Apps Could Cost Microsoft Up to $18 Billion in Value

Reading is fundamental! The point was that Google's free apps has forced Microsoft's hand towards offering a free option that will cannibalizing the paid version.


On Jul 20 10:20 AM LA Tech wrote:

> What a dumb ass dork this writer is. There is no mad rush from exchange
> users to Google Apps! There is a mad rush from Google make everyone
> believe that Google Apps is a Microsoft killer.
>
> Unless and until Google amasses at least 10M PAID USERS for GoogleApps
> (currently less than 100K users PAY for GoogleApps) there is no threat
> to MSFT revenues, period.
>
> And according to Google's latest 10Q report, GoogleApps is nowhere
> close to being 1% of Google Revenues, no matter what Google Enterprise
> claims.

Update on My 2009 Economic Predictions

You maybe right. Pride typically goes before a fall.


On Jul 05 10:50 AM Prudent Man CFA wrote:

> People who pat themsleves on the back break their arm sooner or later.

Update on My 2009 Economic Predictions

Thanks for the clarification.


On Jul 06 12:30 PM john mullinax wrote:

> For the record, Oracle bought Sun.... (the IBM deal fell apart).

Radio Finally Beats the Internet at Something

Never said I was a radio expert. Clear Channel radio was taken private by two pe firms.

Google: $30 EPS Possible for 2010

I am using a target capital structure which assumes that Google eventually levers the balance sheet.

eBay: Where It Stands, Where It Should Be Headed

I've known about HA for some time now and their bounce off eBay Live auctions in Dec. Thought they were doing something with WP auctions. Anyway, this supports my point that certain categories are suitable for auctions given the HA deals primarily with Collectibles and Art.


On Mar 10 04:45 PM Tony P. wrote:

> Tech A, I generally agree with your viewpoint & statements -
> just want to add a bit to them..
>
>
> "Advertising and classifieds are clearly strong businesses.. "<br/>
>
> Yes, and those Sponsored Ads that directly compete with ebay sellers'
> items are a wonderful form of cannibalism. Or would that be Predator-ism?
> No matter; they ultimately take away from both the seller and ebay.
>
>
>
> "The auction business accounts for half of gross merchandise volume
> but matured two years ago and appears to be in the decline phase
> of its product cycle."
>
> I realize that you go on to qualify this comment by making suggestions
> on how ebay might return some vitality to the auctions side of things
> - BUT -
>
> Do some research on Heritage Auctions. According to their website:
> "$704,176,431 sold at auction and in private treaty sales over the
> past 12 months."
>
> HA was one of the Live Auctions users that ebay cancelled as of Dec
> 2008. Still, just a casual view of their Jan 2009 auctions show sales
> at $65MM.
>
> They'll prolly end up making More off-ebay AND clear even more by
> not paying ebay fees!
>
> Auctions are far from dead. Hells-bells, ebay the 800 pound gorilla
> has been trying to kill 'em for years now and they STILL account
> for 50% of the marketplace.
>
> STILL.

eBay: Where It Stands, Where It Should Be Headed

eBay spent billions (>$5bn) on repurchasing shares and making acquisitions over the past few years. Most of the cash for those transactions came from the U.S. bank accounts. That is why the U.S. cash account is so low relative to the cash balance overseas. They raised debt to acquire Bill Me Later because they did not have sufficient cash in the U.S. bank accounts to pay for it.


On Mar 09 12:40 PM Bob C wrote:

> On Mar 09 11:42 AM Media Tech Analyst wrote:

eBay: Where It Stands, Where It Should Be Headed

Bob C - the cash is overseas because that is where it was generated, i.e., it was generated out of the U.K., Germany, France, etc. sites. Nothing nefarious there.

It's an Economic Reset, Not a Recession

Can't argue with that...


On Feb 27 11:00 AM Change is only constant wrote:

> Tomato, tomato....potato, potato, let's call the whole thing.......reset.
>
>
> So what should we call a system crash? An unplanned maintenance
> opportunity? I don't mean to be a jerk, but to take an economic
> term and apply a system metaphor....that doesn't map...... is the
> problem.
>
> I agree generally about oversupply, overconsumption and globalization.
> To imply however, that we are resetting implies a return. From Bank
> of America to General Motors, they will not be back in the way they
> used to work. We are in a brand new age. There is no way back.
>
>

It's an Economic Reset, Not a Recession

Some of you have missed the point of the graph entirely - the first set of responses - the last set of responses are spot on.

I am not implying that we are not in an economic downturn or using another word to placate it. I am in fact implying the far opposite and that we are in the worse downturn that some of us (depending on age) have ever experienced. Call it a Depression if you want and I won't argue with you, but point is, we will never get back to the lifestyle that we have known. It all changes from here on forward.

Some of my professor friends are getting a kick out of the graph and one has asked for permission to show it to his students.