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Hipcricket grows its mobile advertising network growth tenfold
http://www.gomonews.com/hipcricket-claims-tenfold-its-mobile-advertising-network-growth/
Published on Thursday, October 28th by Tony Dennis
Rating: particularly good at promoting fast food brands
A tenfold increase in just one year [2010] is an impressive achievement in anybody’s book. So Hipcricket – which has grown its mobile advertising network tenfold – should be congratulated. How has this growth been achieved? “Brands and agencies trust Hipcricket for their mobile advertising because of our unmatched breadth of our capabilities across strategic, creative and technical disciplines,” claims a somewhat modest Eric Harber, Hipcricket’s COO. The company has also focused its campaigns on 15 specific sectors. One of these has been fast food which the company insists on calling quick service restaurants (QSR). That’s probably because – unlike ScreenTicket which we covered here, it can’t name McDonald’s as a client.At least QSRs are intelligible but what are consumer packaged goods (CPG) ? Isn’t everything packaged these days? Never mind because Hipcricket is also into retail, travel, and technology (which hopefully includes gadgets).
Significantly, good old SMS/text still features heavily in Hipcricket’s portfolio.
The company “still meets varying client needs by delivering ads via SMS (up 55 per cent to date this year) and display through both mobile web sites and mobile application banners (up 45 per cent).
Here’s a statistic which will make its rivals green with envy. Over 50 per cent of its ad campaigns come from repeat business thanks to proven results and to proven ROI.
Indeed the company recent that by celebrating its 75,000th mobile-marketing campaign, it is in pole position in this particular market.
As Eric Harber says, “We are truly a full service shop that can work within each of our clients’ marketing objectives.”
Hipcricket enables marketers to build mobile ad campaigns that can range in execution from display ads, rich media options, mobile video ads, to SMS ads and e-mail.
And the company can provide real-time key-performance indicators enable marketers to test, measure and optimise their campaigns on the fly to achieve optimal performance objectives.
Obviously, it’ll be interesting to see whether Hipcricket manages to keep up this phenomenal growth in 2011.
No mention of it this Q, but they seem to have had a pretty good quarter.
Just wish a 3rd party would publish something like this somewhere, instead of Neustar in the confines of Neustar media.
reminder, Neustar webcast today at 4:30 to review Q3 results
http://www.foretec.com/about-neustar/investor-relations/
The Promise – and the Problem – with 2D Barcodes
Mobile Next Big Thing Blog
http://mobilenextbigthing.biz/2010/10/28/the-promise-and-the-problem-%E2%80%93-with-2d-barcodes/
What do Oprah Winfrey, Microsoft, Ford and Google all have in common? They all believe in the future of 2D barcodes, and all are using them in their traditional marketing and advertising.
However, they also have a big problem in common. All are using different technology to make their 2D barcodes function. Oprah is using ScanLife, Ford is using ShopSavvy, and Microsoft and Google are going their own way with Microsoft Tag and Google Googles.
If all these barcode technologies work, why should a consumer care? Well, the problem is they might work, and they might not. That’s what is leading to the major problem with 2D barcodes — market fragmentation.
Certain tags work with certain readers, and not with others. It’s like selling people a new Internet browser with amazing capabilities, but it only works on certain web sites, not all of them.
Consumers are not going to tolerate that lack of interoperability. They want to simply point their phone camera at a barcode and it works. This is a huge obstacle that can thwart all the excitement around barcodes, and prevent wide-spread consumer acceptance. Neustar is working with many in the mobile ecosystem to promote open standards and interoperability.
Neustar has seen this situation before – in fact, it was the reason the company was founded. Back in the 1990s, you didn’t own your phone number, the phone company did. If you changed providers, you lost your number – a big hassle. Neustar was created to solve this, and make local number portability (LNP) possible.
Another example is SMS and short codes campaigns. Both used to be carrier specific – meaning if your friend used another provider, you couldn’t text him or her. And brand advertisers needed to have multiple, carrier specific versions of every mobile campaign. Hence the creation of the U.S. Common Short Code Registry, which Neustar developed and operates on behalf of CTIA — The Wireless Carrier Association
Consumers and brands deserve better experience when it comes to 2D barcodes. Neustar has solved this problem before, and the Neustar clearinghouse approach can be the catalyst to universal adoption of this exciting new mobile channel, as interoperability will be the key for this market to grow.
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ok, thanks
Didn't Neom gain access to Scanbuy's patents (redirect) and get to use it for free as part of the settlement terms?
In turn, Scanbuy has granted NeoMedia a fully paid, irrevocable, non-exclusive license of Scanbuy patents and a fully paid, non-exclusive sublicense to all of the patents licensed by MFR to Scanbuy within the U.S.
http://www.scanbuy.com/web/press-kit/103-neomedia-and-scanbuy-reach-settlement-and-license-agreement
gotcha, then that is interesting as to why the campaign was direct and why they are tooting their horn as it being a success.
The campaign is over isn't it? So, can the code be re-encoded to become direct after it was once indirect?
Isn't that b/c they got a 10 mil infusion from a non-toxic investor? I think we need some of that juice....wishful thinking of course...
WHAT DOES THE GROWTH IN MOBILE TECHNOLOGY MEAN FOR BARS
http://www.barkeeper.co.uk/3page.asp?menu=105&page=705&subpage=673
Ask yourself, where is your customer these days? For most, it’s mobile on their phones (and it’s only growing). Fortune says it’s like a drug. Advertising Age says it's set to become a $1 billion business. On Facebook? Facebook has over $150 million mobile users. Morgan Stanley says more people will be accessing the Internet from mobile devices than desktop PCs by 2014.
So, what does this mean for bars and nightclubs?
This is an opportunity to differentiate yourself. To build customer loyalty. To enhance one more experience for your guests. To be ahead of the game.
What are the options, you ask? There are several different ways to take advantage of mobile technology. Here's a few...
Text messaging. Text message marketing allows you to reach guests wherever they are. This type of communication would be opt-in only. An example of this is a loyalty program where people subscribe to your text messaging list (like an e-mail list), and then you can message them discounts or upcoming events. This works well for slow hours when you want to draw in crowds with a special or update your list about an event. Text messaging has the largest reach across most devices.
Mobile websites. Apple sold 1.7 million iPhone 4 phones the first weekend it was available. But don't forget about the Android platform, it's taking over. The pervasive nature of these smartphones (or superphones?) equates to more people searching the Internet... with the touch of their finger. If you're online, people will be coming to you from their smartphones. Why? Because they're searching locally. Or because your business is listed on Yelp, or Google Places, which has gone mobile and links to you. By making a mobile-friendly website, you are allowing this exploding wave of mobile consumers to find you easily. Content should be concise, images should be optimized, and it should be easy to navigate. The mobile consumer has less patience than the desktop user. Learn about how many people are accessing your site from their mobile device.
QR codes. A Quick Response code is a two-dimension barcode. It works just like a barcode, except smartphones can scan them with their smartphones and be taken to a special landing page. All an end-user needs is a QR code reader and the education to know what to do with it (which is rising). A popular free QR code reader for the iPhone is QR Reader, or Barcode Scanner on Android. So, what can you do with this? The possibilities are endless. Think about a QR code in your menu, or on a flyer, which links someone to a special page that shows them a video of how a certain dish is made. Think about a QR code that links to a promotional mobile flyer that someone can share via Twitter/Facebook, right from their phone. Think about a QR code that links to a page with an event calendar. Think about a QR code that links to a mobile feedback form so you can gain insights into the service you're providing. QR codes are trackable and the landing pages are sharable. These experiences that you can create will differentiate you and create buzz.
The above are a few different ways you can enhance the experience for your customer. It's the same reason you keep your business clean and have the atmosphere you have. You want others to have good experiences. By adapting some form of mobile technology, you are separating yourself from the competition and positioning yourself for the future.
I don't know what technology AT&T is actually using from MobileTag, and I'm not sure what the license fee structure is for MobileTag to pay us...it was Neom's first license so I would be safe in saying they got a bargain. Anyone know details for this?
Although what's interesting to me is that, even Poptech says this, AT&T codes ARE indirect.
AT&T will use technology from Mobile Tag Inc., a provider of universal bar code reader technology.
William J. Hoffman, CEO of Mobile Tag, Inc. “We are pleased to license with NeoMedia and believe it will spur innovation and adaptation of this technology on par with the explosion witnessed by SMS services earlier in this decade. Mobile machine readable codes will be mainstream in the U.S. just as they are in Japan, France and Poland where they are found on nearly 210 million phones. It is time to get on with it!”
We do a mixture of upfront license fees and ongoing fees.
http://www.gomonews.com/neomedia-ceo-iain-mccready-on-mobile-barcode-licensing-competitors-and-lawsuits/
SO I guess a big question is did Mobile Tag sign as a recurring fee structure or a flat upfront fee?? Anyone know?
Way easier asked then done, you're going to get views from all over the place each countering someone else's view of potential. Best to read through prior post, look on Neom's website PR's and connect all the dots about what is possible with all the players involved.
But I do think this sums up everyone's viewpoint, no matter which side of the fence everyone is on:
HUGE technology potential that's financially supported by a HUGE cancerous leech.
Q3 2010 Neustar, Inc. Earnings Conference Call
Thursday, October 28, 2010 4:30 p.m. ET
http://www.neustar.biz/about-neustar/investor-relations/
For those of you interested to see if the pilot gets any mention
Lifetime Television Selects JAGTAG to Power First Mobile 2D Barcode Campaign for 'The Fairy Jobmother' Premiere
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lifetime-television-selects-jagtag-to-power-first-mobile-2d-barcode-campaign-for-the-fairy-jobmother-premiere-105764698.html
JAGTAGs Offer Fans Tune-In Reminders and Exclusive Videos with Job-Hunting Tips
NEW YORK, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- JAGTAG (www.jagtag.com), the U.S. leader in mobile 2D barcode advertising, and Lifetime Television today announced an expansive mobile marketing campaign to promote the launch of the new unscripted series "The Fairy Jobmother." Lifetime is the first company to use JAGTAGs in a television commercial, and will also incorporate JAGTAGs in online, out-of-home and print materials.
Conceived and executed in conjunction with Horizon Media, Lifetime's "The Fairy Jobmother" campaign uses JAGTAGs to help fans attain the latest job-hunting tips directly from career specialist Hayley Taylor and receive tune-in reminders ahead of the October 28th premiere. JAGTAGs will be featured in television ads on Lifetime as well as print ads in publications, such as US Weekly, People and Metro NY, and online on various website skins including NYPost.com. Out-of-home promotional materials with JAGTAGs will appear in New York City subways and bus shelters, as well as mall dioramas in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Atlanta. Fans that take and send a photo the JAGTAGs will automatically receive videos from Taylor, such as how-to tips for using social networking during the job search, and can easily opt-in for tune-in reminders. JAGTAG delivers optimized content specific to each user's mobile device, and will offer iPhone and Android users extended video clips for "The Fairy Jobmother" campaign.
"By partnering with JAGTAG, we've created an exciting, multichannel campaign that enables us to introduce viewers to Hayley Taylor and 'The Fairy Jobmother' through exclusive video content sent directly to users' phones," said Alex Ignon, Vice President, Media and Consumer Promotions at Lifetime Television. "This technology also provides a platform to reinforce the October 28th premiere through tune-in reminders."
JAGTAG works on all camera phones and across all major wireless carriers in the United States without requiring users to download an application. The Lifetime campaign with JAGTAG will run from October 18, 2010, through November 2010.
"The first to leverage JAGTAGs in a television ad, Lifetime has created a truly integrated mobile campaign by activating multiple channels for the launch of 'The Fairy Jobmother,'" said Ed Jordan, Chief Executive Officer of JAGTAG. "With JAGTAG, Lifetime can instantly deliver exclusive video content to 90 percent of mobile users, and establish a new way to encourage fans to tune in for their favorite shows."
The Fairy Jobmother will follow international career specialist Hayley Taylor each week as she assists severely job-challenged families with her no-nonsense and tough love tactics to motivate them to get back on the payroll. Recognized for her no holds barred approach, Taylor will help and motivate those who have struggled with unemployment to realize new career opportunities. A sneak peek at the first episode of The Fairy Jobmother will air Thursday, October 28th, at 11PM ET/PT on Lifetime, following the season eight finale of Project Runway. The series will then move to its regular time slot on Thursdays at 9PM ET/PT, beginning November 4th. To learn more about "The Fairy Jobmother," visit www.mylifetime.com.
About JAGTAG
JAGTAG is the only mobile 2D barcode solution that does not require the consumer to download an application prior to use and the only mobile medium that can successfully deliver optimized multimedia to both standard phones and smart phones. Anywhere a mobile consumer encounters a JAGTAG, they can use their phone to request and receive multimedia content (video, audio, pictures, text) sent immediately to their phone. To learn more, visit www.JAGTAG.com.
About Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, the number one rated women's network, is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Lifetime Television®, Lifetime Movie Network®, Lifetime Real Women® and Lifetime Digital™ (which includes myLifetime.com, LMN.tv, Lifetime Games, Roiworld.com, DressUpChallenge.com, MothersClick.com and LifetimeMoms.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A&E Television Networks, LLC. A&E Television Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group, Hearst Corporation and NBC Universal.
About Horizon Media
Horizon Media, Inc. is the largest independent media services company in the world. The company was founded in 1989, it is headquartered in New York and has offices in Los Angeles, San Diego and Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The company's mission is "To create the most meaningful brand connections within the lives of people everywhere." By delivering on this mission through a holistic approach to brand marketing, Horizon Media grown to become the fastest growing media agency in the industry, with estimated billings of $2.5 billion and approximately 600 employees.
The company is also a founding member of Columbus Media International, an international network of leading independent media agencies. For more information, please visit www.horizonmedia.com.
Phish, that link is dead :(
Mobile advertising will be worth $3.5 billion in 2010
Published on Wednesday, October 27th by Tony Dennis
Rating: Informa says Apple & Google to blame for growth
http://www.gomonews.com/mobile-advertising-will-be-worth-3-5-billion-in-2010/
The latest research from Informa Telecoms & Media says that revenues from mobile advertising in 2010 will be worth $3.5 billion globally. It attributes the strong growth over the past 12 months to initiatives from the big players – chiefly Apple and Google. In particular Informa reckons that the launch of Apple’s iAd advertising platform has forced its rivals to speed up their own mobile advertising strategies. By 2015 revenues should have grown around eightfold to circa $ 24 billion, the company estimates. The biggest losers will be the mobile network operators whose share of the pie will have shrunk.According to Informa, operators’ share of mobile advertising revenues will fall from around 26 per cent this year [2010] to around 20 per cent by 2015.
Shailendra Pandey, a senior analyst with Informa, comments, “Google has responded by acquiring AdMob and has announced it is on track to generate US$1 billion in revenues from mobile in 2010 – a significant portion of which will be mobile advertising revenues.”
The last time GoMo News wrote about that AdMob acquisition somebody complained it hadn’t gone through yet. So let’s hope it has now.
Anyway, Informa also reports that Google has seen a 500 per cent growth in mobile search queries between 2008 and 2010.
In theory those searches can be translated into ad revenues, if mobile surfers click in the right places.
To counter the threat from the likes of Google and Apple, a number of mobile operators have launched services or trials to encourage their subscribers to opt in to mobile advertising.
In return subscribers receive reward points in exchange for viewing ads on their mobile phones.
The list of operators testing the waters in this way include Orange, O2 UK, Movistar Spain, VimpelCom Russia, Maxis Malaysia and Claro Argentina.
Pandey reckons that the mobile advertising industry has moved ahead from the trial and experimental phase. Now many brands are spending significant sums on mobile campaigns on a regular basis.
” It is becoming quite clear to the operators that close partnerships with other value chain players is essential and is a better strategy than attempting to build an in-house mobile advertising solution and their own creative and sales teams,” the report observes.
The company’s overall conclusion is that the mobile advertising market will go through a sustained period of consolidation over the next 12 to18 months.
The big value chain players who have been on the acquisition trail for companies, will now attempt to seamlessly integrate mobile with their own platforms. The objective being to have an end-to-end mobile ad-serving capability.
So mobile advertising is def the place to be, then.
Scanlife also updated iPhone app today
And the stars keep aligning for better days ahead...
http://www.neustar.biz/prfiles/Diane_Strahan_MMA_Board_Announcement10262010.pdf
Very true...
but remember Matt Vallesky answered us on here so maybe they do care what we think!!!! (hopeful and sarcastic tone).
I still stand by that Ian was canned b/c of his immense YA ties, and I very much believe the new board will find someone credible enough to move us away from YA, or they (LM) will get us out, or they are structuring something to make us self sufficient. YA is a cancer and Ian was just a placebo to treat it.
JP, always appreciate your thought and input...nothing was directed towards you or anyone here during my arguments.
And do you think a credible NYSE company wants to be associated directly with YA in anyway - in this case via license?
YA is a cancer to anything it touches, whether directly or indirectly. YA assuming control means Neustar is a direct client of YA.
I was assuming chap 7 - thus making the Neustar YA connection. Chap 11 I think is out of the question b/c well, what exactly is there to restructure in Neom...it's a mess!!
But, I also agree YA won't let it get to this point, but if it were to, Neustar has an interest not to let YA control IP. Therefore, Neustar has an interest in making sure Neom IP survives out of YA control...whether it's Neom surviving self-sufficiently or by some other entity.
I'm trying to say that I believe the Neom board is going to try and move away from YA for numerous reasons, and the biggest bridge between the 2 was Ian. As long as YA is here, there is always a possibility that YA will control IP, the IP Neustar needs...heck, the IP the market needs for indirect to succeed!
I'm sure YA's presence is tainting alot of would-be deals because of this reason...
A respectful counter: Having been a YA consultant, then being brought onto run the company, then agreeing to rape and pilage us shareholders to YA's benefit, and then all of a sudden having a change of heart and not want to keep partaking in these games (whether noble or not) is not likely.
Wasn't there some sort of legal thing with Claw's suit the first week of October? And then Ian is kicked out the 2nd week? I'm thinking a stone has been turned over and the stinkbug just got out...and now the parties are looking to keep face.
Edit: found what was happening 1st week of Oct:
Post 218977
Pacer - Doc #29 is pretty interesting.(joint discovery plan)
10/04/2010 29 Joint Discovery Plan by WILLIAM KLAWONN.(GRAIFMAN, GARY) (Entered: 10/04/2010)
10/05/2010 Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Michael A. Shipp: Initial Scheduling Conference held on 10/5/2010. (NR ) (Entered: 10/06/2010)
10/06/2010 30 TEXT ORDER - The scheduling conference held on 10/5/10 is scheduled to continue on 11/5/10 at 11:30 a.m. in Newark - Courtroom 2C before the Hon. Michael A. Shipp, U.S.M.J. ORDERED by Magistrate Judge Michael A. Shipp on 10/6/10. (NR ) (Entered: 10/06/2010)
Sounds like one of the issues has been removed out of the equation by getting fired.
Or the board didn't want to play with YA anymore and canned Ian b/c he was the go to link between the 2. Neom unable to be self sufficient doesn't look good on Neustar's behalf, if Neom would go down then YA gets control of the IP. Call me crazy but I think the people running Neustar are a bit more business savvy then Neom's regime...which just so happens to be losing their jobs. You think Neustar wants any YA affiliation?
I remain confident this is for the better good of the company!
Amazing how it dips below the bid, I'm guessing we'll be seeing this until the 10q come out.
I guess Neom, YA, the courts and Claw are the only ones with those answers right now.
MMA should become a cheerleader and sub-license it out to it's members. Think we're connected now to achieve this???
Also, it's people like you currently that are questioning what's going on and whether or not to stay which is currently causing the PPS to drop...shares can only be sold at bid by people currently holding the shares, it's a spiral effect.
note: not saying you are causing it, just that pissed or scared investors are causing it.
My 3 biggest reasons:
1) if I were to sell now I'd lose a ton of money, it's smarter for me to stay on board, hope for the best and try to recover at least 50% as opposed to losing over 80% as I would do by selling today.
2) Ian seemed to be forced out, so I'm intrigued to stay on and find out as to why that is...I personally believe there is a strategic reason as to why he's out and LM is acting CEO (Poptech...commence castration of me now)... see this string as to what I personally think (http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=55837940). Regardless of what I think or what is occurring, something is or has happened to trigger this departure. Also, people like Ian will forever have the stain of YA and Neom on their resume, LM is young and eager to maintain her credibility she earned at MMA...so logically do you think she will lead us down the same road as Ian, whether it's by herself or through the appointment of another CEO? She obviously saw the potential of Neom by coming on board, and since her arrival the leadership team is being cleaned out...is it not?
3) YA needs to recover it's investments, and at these pps levels they will take a loss...so it's in their best interest and ours that something positive happens with the company. Also, because of this YA obviously sees something tangible occurring as it has continued to provide month to month financing.
In a luxury suite with a 'do not disturb' sign....wink wink nudge nudge...know what i mean....
ScreenTicket lands McDonald’s with web based coupons
Published on Tuesday, October 26th by Tony Dennis
Rating: No extras required to redeem them unlike 2D barcodes
http://www.gomonews.com/screenticket-lands-mcdonalds-with-web-based-coupons/
A Danish company, ScreenTicket, claims to have landed leading brand, McDonald’s, with its intelligent mobile coupon technology. The company argues that these graphical coupons – which are redeemed over the mobile web – are an easy upgrade for those operating raw text based SMS vouchering systems. A big advantage over rival systems such as 2D barcodes is that the company’s ‘On Device Verification’ technology makes it possible to redeem coupons and tickets without the use of external hardware, such as scanners.McDonald’s picked ScreenTicket specifically for its Student Club promotion. The campaign has been running since October 1st and the results have been an impressive 36 per cent redemption rate.
This follows on from a high redemption rate of 28 per cent for an earlier Sprite promotion.
Visually, ScreenTicket claims its products are a massive improvement on raw text providing elements such as a customer logo; dynamically updated text; and a configurable link to more content that can be either static or dynamic.
The McDonald’s campaign is running over the next three years with 69 of the 84 restaurants in Denmark participating.
The only extra requirement is that all participants need a handset with a data connexion.
Tickets, vouchers and coupons can be sent out, managed and controlled by brand customers using ScreenTickets’s API and web client.
The company claims that because ScreenTicket’s technology can be plugged into existing systems performing the exact same function of delivering tickets, vouchers or coupons, so the transition over from text based SMS is easy.
According to ScreenTicket, there is no “pain of a big bang technology upgrade again.”
Better still, clients can setup campaigns to send, revoke and check the status and statistics on tickets, vouchers and coupons.
Plus they can keep complete control of all issued items live. As each coupon or ticket can be redeemed directly on the device, the system can provide real-time statistics about conversion rates and usage.
ScreenTicket is currently operating in the US, Canada, Sweden, Australia and Denmark.
Credit Cards Soon to Get a Makeover
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/your-money/credit-and-debit-cards/22cards.html
Even with the innovations, no one knows how long plastic cards will reign. They may eventually be rendered obsolete by technologies that will transform consumers’ cellphones into virtual wallets, and a large number of companies, including Visa, MasterCard and Apple, are developing these.
Pretty cool idea to keep the card alive and popular, a slight obsticle for mobile payments I assume.
ah, the little things that's forgotten...thanks Easy, I stand corrected.
Ms. Marriott did not work on the Inception campaign. She is simply a third-party analyst for the article.
-before anyone gets their hopes up, Neom is not with Warner Bros.
T minus 16 business days until 10Q deadline
Wonder if our interm CEO will step up and talk to us before it comes out???
Pop:
Who was the strategic investor that cut the check?
Also, my theory is not necessarily out of the question. You said youself in this reply, (http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=55853063) YA is in a high-risk investment medium and they were hit hard by 2008. I have no doubt that NeoMedia is, or has been, on their a short-list to be divested for cash. and "Eventually, I believe they (YA) may have to take a hit and sell off at a discount. Heck, if NeoMedia doesn't generate revenue, we will all have to sell off at a discount."
In comes a VC or private investor, pays YA slightly more than what they can currently get...YA is out-making more than having to divest, new investors are in at a lower cost with less outstanding shares which would occur under your scenario. A merge between 2 companies is ushered in by the new majority shareholder(s) of Neom and by vote of SB board members (influenced by stategic investors and/or other VC's), because both companies complement each other which will permit a larger, stronger competing company to yield higher returns for those serious investors. Obviously that strategic investor saw something in Neom, if they cut a check to gain access to its IP.
Your scenario is probable as well, but with the way things are going in Neom and YA(leadership changes, stronger deals being made, forseeable revenue, license rev increases last quarter (hopefully this Q too), YA derivitive suit, and other YA investigations), I'm opptimistic things will change for the better. To me, too many coincidences are occuring between all the players...something has got to give.
Reviewing the termination agreement and noticed this...
Essentially, Ian's non-compete clause was reduced to 3 months, and Neom just so happens to keep paying him during that non-compete window??? Doesn't that pretty much reaffirm he was forced out? Meaning had Ian left voluntarily Neom would have much more control over the exit negotiation. When you force someone out under contract, then that's when the employee can earn negotiating power...thus indicating why he's still earning a paycheck during a reduced noncompete window.
7.1 Subject to the Solicitor providing the Certificate and to the Employee complying in full with his obligations under this Agreement, the Company will, without any admission of liability and in reliance and conditional upon the matters referred to in clauses 5, 6 and 11 pay to the Employee £33,333.33 as compensation for termination of the Employment (the “Compensation Sum” ).
(a) £ 11,111.11 to be paid on 31 October 2010;
(b) £ 11,111.11 to be paid on 31 November 2010; and
(c) £ 11,111.11 to be paid on 31 December 2010.
13.1 The Employee reaffirms that he remains bound by and will comply with the express and implied terms of the Employment Contract which are expressed to take effect on or after the Termination Date, including but not limited to clause 4 save that the Non-Compete Period referred to in clause 4(a)(iv) of the Employment Contract shall be reduced to 3 months (the “Reduced Non-Compete Period” ).
So I beg to differ he voluntarily left to pursue other interest or because he didn't see anything valuable in Neom in the future, I'm confident in saying Neom and Ian didn't see eye to eye anymore. Thoughts? Am I reading the termination agreement correctly here?
A merger is very much possible, not saying it will be easy by any means.
Scanbuy does not have the resources but the VC's which invest into scanbuy do have the resources. The VC's come in first to pay down YA debt - takes board approval not shareholder approval to do that (yes I know the board is tainted by YA, but you never know-one of its biggest minions is now gone). Ya debt gone, no Ya calling shots.
Scanbuy VC's gets a chunck of authorized shares (issued by board, not majority of shareholders), more than half outstanding to become a majority - knocking Ya out, sure YA still has shares and will dilute into the news...but the time it takes to merge both Neom and SB together the repercutions of YA dilution is mostly gone (assuming they dilute as soon as possible). That's why I said it will take time for the company to become attractive.
Neom does not have cash, but it does have IP worth cash, very good deals in place and a stronger international presence (who knows how much that's worth)...therefore that's why VC's acquire shares of Neom at a low cost.
Then at that point VC's control both Scanbuy and Neom thus permitting a merger by majority shareholder approval, converting Neom shares into New Company stock. Ya's only a minority shareholder so they can't vote against that.
It will suck for us because of how many shares can be authorized, but long term you're looking at one heck of a powerful company...as both complement each other's weaknesses.
Long shot but plausible
I predict a merger with Scanbuy
Reason being because Neom will permit Scanbuy to go public, Scanbuy will permit Neom to raise capital via SB VC's...we have an awful lot of authorized shares ready to be authorized to someone.
As for a price I'm sure it will be low, but with both companies coming together the attractivness on the market will increase over time, slowly I'm sure....and the market competitiveness and share significantly increases.
Additionally, we have alot of Interm positions (CEO, COO, CTO), a lack luster sales department and a missing sales director and marketing officer. Scanbuy has 1 interm position (CEO), a solid sales force, a VP of sales, a VP of marketing and a non-interm CTO.
Neom also has a stronger European presence which seems to be holding Neom together and it has a strong positioning in the US with Neustar. Scanbuy has more exposure in the US and 'ok' exposure in Europe.
To me, it just seems obvious this is the direction in which the 2 are heading because both complements each others weaknesses.