Wayne Mulligan_'s Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/163881/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/78068-could-earthlink-and-united-online-still-dial-up-big-profits?source=feed#comment-170631 170631
You're right, I misspoke, I was mainly directing that comment towards United but it certainly came out wrong (I think I was looking at ELNK's annual data as I wrote this blog entry). UNTD hasn't done much in reducing its SG&A, EarthLink clearly has over the last several quarters. My apologies for stating otherwise.

However, I still think that from a competitive perspective their moves have been fairly weak and haven't produced any meaningful results. It's clear both companies are trying to diversify their businesses...which one will successfully do so is the real question.

Do you think high-speed is enough to keep EarthLink in the black? Their bottom line has improved due to the cost reductions but their top-line has been getting weaker.

Thoughts?

-Wayne]]> Tue, 20 May 2008 13:55:51 -0400
You're right, I misspoke, I was mainly directing that comment towards United but it certainly came out wrong (I think I was looking at ELNK's annual data as I wrote this blog entry). UNTD hasn't done much in reducing its SG&A, EarthLink clearly has over the last several quarters. My apologies for stating otherwise.

However, I still think that from a competitive perspective their moves have been fairly weak and haven't produced any meaningful results. It's clear both companies are trying to diversify their businesses...which one will successfully do so is the real question.

Do you think high-speed is enough to keep EarthLink in the black? Their bottom line has improved due to the cost reductions but their top-line has been getting weaker.

Thoughts?

-Wayne]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/77026-what-s-better-blackberry-or-iphone?source=feed#comment-166856 166856
Would love to read your blog - what's the address?

-Wayne
]]> Tue, 13 May 2008 11:47:51 -0400
Would love to read your blog - what's the address?

-Wayne
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/77026-what-s-better-blackberry-or-iphone?source=feed#comment-166816 166816
Good job defending the brand you love guys...but truth be told, I used the iPhone for quite some time before writing this, and spoke to dozens of people who all, just like you, defended the iPhone but conceded that the keyboard on a BlackBerry is much more friendly for the email/text heavy user.

Does the iPhone have a better web browsing experience? Sure it does. But that's not what I, nor many business users, use their mobile phone for throughout the majority of the day. Most of the time we're checking messages and making calls. That's not to say the trend won't shift in the coming years, but that's where we are now due to this country's antiquated mobile networks. Thankfully companies like Apple and RIM are pushing for 3G and an enhanced mobile experience.

I think the most interesting thing I personally can take away from having written this article is the passion with which Apple customers will defend Apple products...very impressive Mr. Jobs.

-Wayne]]> Tue, 13 May 2008 11:06:46 -0400
Good job defending the brand you love guys...but truth be told, I used the iPhone for quite some time before writing this, and spoke to dozens of people who all, just like you, defended the iPhone but conceded that the keyboard on a BlackBerry is much more friendly for the email/text heavy user.

Does the iPhone have a better web browsing experience? Sure it does. But that's not what I, nor many business users, use their mobile phone for throughout the majority of the day. Most of the time we're checking messages and making calls. That's not to say the trend won't shift in the coming years, but that's where we are now due to this country's antiquated mobile networks. Thankfully companies like Apple and RIM are pushing for 3G and an enhanced mobile experience.

I think the most interesting thing I personally can take away from having written this article is the passion with which Apple customers will defend Apple products...very impressive Mr. Jobs.

-Wayne]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/72439-why-i-m-leery-of-monster?source=feed#comment-162361 162361 Mon, 05 May 2008 22:21:14 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/71648-google-s-new-app-engine-why-microsoft-should-be-shaking-in-its-boots?source=feed#comment-147628 147628 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:34:29 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/71648-google-s-new-app-engine-why-microsoft-should-be-shaking-in-its-boots?source=feed#comment-147505 147505
You both raise great points about Google not being an enterprise software provider and the inherent competition in the web. As for the enterprise software issue all I can say is that Amazon isn't an enterprise software provider, but yet their AWS services now get MORE traffic than all of Amazon.com. Google has already done them one better and it's my belief, when it comes to building scalable/developer friendly systems, they'll continue to do so.

As for the rapid adoption of new technologies on the web - you're right fxtrader, that's a HUGE risk to Google and I should've mentioned it in my analysis. It's my belief, however, (and speaking from a bit of experience) that once a company finds a vendor in the infrastructure space that they absolutely love, they don't move unless they absolutely have to. It's tough to build a web application that can scale -- it's even harder to take that off one platform and put it on another. So I think the best strategy for Google would be to LOVE their customers each and every day -- keep building new features, provide great service and support and get as many folks on the system as possible.

Great comments guys, thanks!

-Wayne]]> Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:21:22 -0400
You both raise great points about Google not being an enterprise software provider and the inherent competition in the web. As for the enterprise software issue all I can say is that Amazon isn't an enterprise software provider, but yet their AWS services now get MORE traffic than all of Amazon.com. Google has already done them one better and it's my belief, when it comes to building scalable/developer friendly systems, they'll continue to do so.

As for the rapid adoption of new technologies on the web - you're right fxtrader, that's a HUGE risk to Google and I should've mentioned it in my analysis. It's my belief, however, (and speaking from a bit of experience) that once a company finds a vendor in the infrastructure space that they absolutely love, they don't move unless they absolutely have to. It's tough to build a web application that can scale -- it's even harder to take that off one platform and put it on another. So I think the best strategy for Google would be to LOVE their customers each and every day -- keep building new features, provide great service and support and get as many folks on the system as possible.

Great comments guys, thanks!

-Wayne]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/70176-xmsr-and-sirius-bigger-problems-than-fcc-approval?source=feed#comment-133312 133312 Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:45:19 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/70176-xmsr-and-sirius-bigger-problems-than-fcc-approval?source=feed#comment-132869 132869
Never before - TV is a bad comparison - have we have access to such a vast amount of consumable content on our fingertips.

Forget WiFi - look at the Amazon Kindle: it uses the high-speed Edge network and it's FREE.

Me an idiot? Maybe, but definitely not for making a call like this :)]]> Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:42:41 -0400
Never before - TV is a bad comparison - have we have access to such a vast amount of consumable content on our fingertips.

Forget WiFi - look at the Amazon Kindle: it uses the high-speed Edge network and it's FREE.

Me an idiot? Maybe, but definitely not for making a call like this :)]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/70176-xmsr-and-sirius-bigger-problems-than-fcc-approval?source=feed#comment-132742 132742
Saw a question come up on my site (tickerhound.com) and decided to weigh in on it. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong...what I REALLY enjoyed out of this whole process was the discussion that this article prompted.

For me, it's about engaging a community of intelligent people and hearing what they have to say. So, with 43 comments and counting, I can proudly say, mission accomplished!

I love sites like SeekingAlpha for this reason - it brings multiple opinions to the forefront and makes it all available for regular, retail investors.

And that's why I write these articles...that's why I run TickerHound.com...it's NOT to make money off of the stocks I discuss. It's to engage a community of intelligent people and hopefully help some folks make better decisions as a result of the debate/discussion that occurs.]]> Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:02:12 -0400
Saw a question come up on my site (tickerhound.com) and decided to weigh in on it. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong...what I REALLY enjoyed out of this whole process was the discussion that this article prompted.

For me, it's about engaging a community of intelligent people and hearing what they have to say. So, with 43 comments and counting, I can proudly say, mission accomplished!

I love sites like SeekingAlpha for this reason - it brings multiple opinions to the forefront and makes it all available for regular, retail investors.

And that's why I write these articles...that's why I run TickerHound.com...it's NOT to make money off of the stocks I discuss. It's to engage a community of intelligent people and hopefully help some folks make better decisions as a result of the debate/discussion that occurs.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/70176-xmsr-and-sirius-bigger-problems-than-fcc-approval?source=feed#comment-132463 132463
We're seeing this in many industries, not just music - Amazon's kindle (while I think they should be discounting the price of the device and just making money off of the books they sell) is giving away the wireless internet access in order to increase book sales/downloads.

Only time will tell how this situation will play out, but I definitely respect the debate and arguments you put forth.

Do you have a blog or a site you publish on regularly?

-Wayne]]> Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:30:43 -0400
We're seeing this in many industries, not just music - Amazon's kindle (while I think they should be discounting the price of the device and just making money off of the books they sell) is giving away the wireless internet access in order to increase book sales/downloads.

Only time will tell how this situation will play out, but I definitely respect the debate and arguments you put forth.

Do you have a blog or a site you publish on regularly?

-Wayne]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/70176-xmsr-and-sirius-bigger-problems-than-fcc-approval?source=feed#comment-132425 132425
The thing to keep in mind however is that with a distribution channel already locked down (having 53 million+ iPods in people's hands) gives Apple a HUGE competitive advantage. Now let's throw in wireless connectivity (as we're seeing with the iPhone), the falling prices for storage, bandwidth, etc. and you could have the equivalent of radio-on-demand coming to your iPod whenever, wherever.

Your arguments are certainly valid, but for all you know about the coming technical innovations in satellite radio, you're certainly ignorant of the existing technologies available on the web and mobile devices.

-Wayne

P.S. After I go to school? Damn, I knew I forgot to do something :)]]> Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:30:14 -0400
The thing to keep in mind however is that with a distribution channel already locked down (having 53 million+ iPods in people's hands) gives Apple a HUGE competitive advantage. Now let's throw in wireless connectivity (as we're seeing with the iPhone), the falling prices for storage, bandwidth, etc. and you could have the equivalent of radio-on-demand coming to your iPod whenever, wherever.

Your arguments are certainly valid, but for all you know about the coming technical innovations in satellite radio, you're certainly ignorant of the existing technologies available on the web and mobile devices.

-Wayne

P.S. After I go to school? Damn, I knew I forgot to do something :)]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/69046-why-buffett-would-not-buy-google?source=feed#comment-128394 128394
I merely meant to "check off" the simple/understandable business part of "Buffett's checklist".

Thanks for the great comments though!

-Wayne]]> Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:50:53 -0400
I merely meant to "check off" the simple/understandable business part of "Buffett's checklist".

Thanks for the great comments though!

-Wayne]]>