"Phillip M. Jones, C.E.T." wrote:
>
> Chuck Simmons wrote:
> >
> > 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
>
> I understand that it was a 50-50 split down the middle buyout by SUN
> Micro Systems and AOL.
No. Netscape server revenue was lower than Netcenter revenue. Sun paid a
much smaller price than did AOL.
Chuck
--
... The times have been,
That, when the brains were out,
the man would die. ... Macbeth
Chuck Simmons [EMAIL PROTECTED]
