Monday October 01, 2007 How to sell your company for $8.1 billion: Use Java ME technology
|
Here's the lesson of the day. How do you sell your company for $8.1 billion? Step 1: Do something in the mobile market that's cool (like location-based stuff). Step 2: Write your SDK using Java ME technology (throw in a JSR, like JSR 179, Location-Based Services). Step 3: Sell your company to Nokia for $8.1 billion (that's billion, with a "B"). See that. Easy as pie... See: Easy as pie, sell your Java ME company for $8.1 billion Here's a quote: Navteq has been profitable every quarter since going public three years ago. In 2006, Navteq earned $110 million on sales of $582 million. The company, founded in California in 1985, has 2,000 employees and offers digital maps of 69 countries on six continentsSome programmers like messing with Ruby on Rails, AJAX, Javascript, blah, blah, blah... The real money is in Java ME technology. Youtube == $1.65 billion. Navteq == $8.1 billion. |
Hinkmond
Post a Comment:
Comments are closed for this entry.
Theme originally based on design by Bryan Bell
Navteq has no Java ME technology, they were acquired for their maps.
Posted by x on October 01, 2007 at 12:35 PM PDT #
Hi x,
Yes, it's true while Navteq does have extensive mapping data which is very valuable in the acquisition, they do have a JSR 179 implementation which is Java ME technology that ensures developers can access all that juicy data:
See:
http://developer.navteq.com/site/global/home/p_newsletter_july07.jsp#eurolbs
---
Understanding JSR-179 Location API
JSR 179 is a specification developed under the Java Community Process. It defines a J2ME optional package that enables developers to write mobile location-based applications for resource-limited devices. The API, at a minimum, works on the J2ME Connected, Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) v1.1. It is designed to provide a compact and generic API that produces information about the device's present physical location to Java applications. This developer guide intends to provide the user with a comprehensive overview of the JSR including sample code.
---
Hinkmond
Posted by Hinkmond Wong on October 01, 2007 at 12:47 PM PDT #
My point was that claiming that the company sold for $8.1b for its Java ME technology is disingenuous. Yes, they do have some Java code in their IP, but it's clearly not what has created this valuation.
We know you love Java ME, but please try to stay objective.
Posted by x on October 01, 2007 at 02:18 PM PDT #
Hi x,
Point taken. And, I'll point out I never said in my blog post that Java ME was the only reason (or even the main reason) why Nokia spent $8.1 billion on Navteq. I do believe it was part of the reason, since so many Java ME mobile phone developers can easily tap into their Navteq data. That's smart and where the real money is heading for wireless. Developers drive demand.
Is my blog an objective source of professional journalism? Uh... no. :-) CNET news or Yahoo! Technology News is what you want. Am I biased? You bet. Do I ever exaggerate or extend the truth? Maybe, about once in a million years. :-) But, that's what the subtitle of my blog implies and it's all in good fun, since my blog is meant for info-tainment purposes really, not cutting edge investigational journalism.
It does boil down to the valuation of Navteq being a matter of opinion. And you have a valid opinion that you believe they are valued mainly by their data, not their Java ME technology.
Hinkmond
Posted by Hinkmond Wong on October 01, 2007 at 02:54 PM PDT #