Old soldiers - or U.S. Admirals - don't die or fade away, they just join corporate boards. Fresh off his "retirement" from Nortel, Bill Owens has become a director with Polycom Inc., the "world's leading provider of unified collaborative communications solutions" - whatever that means. You may recall that Owens was given millions of dollars by Nortel in "compensation" for resigning from several boards following his appointment as CEO in April 2004. As we now know, Owens was handsomely rewarded for his 18 months as Nortel's CEO with a super-sweet severance and retirement package. Mind you, Owens' package could pale in comparison to what Nortel could pay Mike Zafirovski, whose package includes a life-long $500,000 a year retirement deal - without getting into options, bonuses and the $11.5-million Nortel had to give Motorola set Mike Z. free.

 

 

Is there a limit to Google's search agenda? Just before the crucial holiday CD sales buying bonanza, we have the launch of Google Music search. Type in an artist - e.g. Lyle Lovett - and you get their CDs and quick access to news, photographs, Web sites and, of course, places to buy the music. Is Google late to the music game as Don Dodge implies? Maybe, but what makes Google Music so compelling is the clean interface without a lot of distracting bells and whistles, and the simple fact it works quickly. Om Malik has already fallen in love with it while Fred Wilson has little time for it. Google Music search is no allmusic.com, which provides extensive information (some of it user-driven), but Google Music doesn't have to be all-things-to-all-people to become widely used. With an army of PhDs, it never ceases to amaze me how Google's is working to extend its reach into new services and markets. But like many people, I'm curious about whether there are bigger strategic plans in place. With $7-billion of cash on the balance sheet, does Google want or need to do anything more dramatic. Or do Larry Page and Sergey Brin content to constantly and methodically press forward without feeling the need to make a big bang? If that's the case, why do you need $7-billion? Is it just-in-case money - sort of like a pre-approved mortgage for house-buyers? This is just one element that makes Google such a fascinating company to watch. You have to wonder what 2006 will bring for Google. Any thoughts?
Update: The Social Customer Manifesto offers up a nice Google Music how-to guide complete with screen shots.

 

 

Why is it that Research in Motion seems intent on taking its patent dispute with NTP all the way the Supreme Court when rivals such as Nokia, Good and Visto sign licensing deals with NTP? Visto became the latest NPT licensee when it signed a deal involving eight patents, including five that RIM has allegedly infringed. What does Visto's legal team see that RIM's doesn't? Terms of the Visto agreement weren't released but it looks like it didn't come cheap given Visto gave NTP an equity stake in the company. That said, Visto is just a small fish compared with RIM, which could cough up as much as $1.5-billion to NTP if a settlement is reached. If RIM rolls over or a court rules in NTP's favour, the licensing floodgates for open and you can look for NTP to pursue deals with just about any company involved in wireless e-mail software and hardware makers. Perhaps Nokia, Good and Visto have decided to strike early before NTP decides to raise its prices, or perhaps they see the writing on the wall and figure it's easier to work with NTP now. Frankly, it looks increasingly troubling for RIM given the U.S. courts are losing patient, a leading IT consultant firm (Gartner) is suggesting clients look at mobile e-mail alternatives, and rivals are playing nice with NTP.
Update: In a strange twist, Visto has launched a lawsuit against Microsoft for allegedly infringing patents used by Microsoft to access e-mail from phones and other devices. You wonder if Visto's settlement with NTP and this legal battle with Microsoft are just part of a marketing campaign to attract more cusotmers and/or attract a buyer in the wake of Nokia's acquisition of Intellisync.