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Street, How did you learn of the information in the first 8 paragraphs of your post. Did a senior exec at neom share this with you, or somebody outside the company?
BTW, Yorkville did exactly the right thing in funding Hoffman. They needed to keep the reins tight and ensure nothing was wasted or misspent.
As for a skeleton crew..."all" the code companies including Scanbuy are operating with/near skeleton crews. NeoMedia appears to be functioning primarily through Gavitec. However, they have MANY MANY feet on the street through companies they've partnered with (that's why they need collaboration...this thing is simply too big for ANY single company). I feel certain that all of their former subsids (12Snap, Mobot, etc.) are still collaborating with them. However, I feel certain that Mobiqa, Upcode, etc. are collaborating as well. Frankly, I feel certain they all are! This is my opinion, however, not too long ago I viewed something that appeared to me to have NeoMedia written all over it. Can anyone spell "white-label?" http://www.upc.fi/en/upcode/comingsoon/
In my opinion NeoMedia "should" be sold. It should be treated as a start-up. Let a big boy acquire it and accelerate the business model. I feel it would be more valuable to the shareholders if the company moved the ball forward itself (simply due to the process of how the market will react once the world knows about this technology). However, from a corporate perspective, this really needs a big boy to drive it (although with all the recent activity one could be effective at arguing this point). I also can't help but feel this is part of the reason NeoMedia has been so quiet (I certainly hope so). If shareholders heard that a company such as Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, or perhaps more than one company (ie; the collective members of MC2) was interested in acqiring Neom once they develop the market...the pps could potentially soar and create problems for any acquisition.
Regarding the job post. I don't know if they hired anyone, however, the post was removed within about 6 weeks. I presume they made a hire...I feel quite confident they "had" to make that hire.
Thanks for the info on the data matrix codes. I think we'll see all of the open source codes used pervasively. The most important item I needed to see was JP's post regarding Pepsi. I needed to see that happen.
Cheers
James, I may be wrong...but I believe I know precisely when. Not to worry. I'll perk your ears when the time comes
JP, You may be aware that Google has been beta testing a health care application with a base 10,000 people from a university. I firmly believe that what is in beta is merely the engine. But in fact the intent is to utilize it in the mobile world through the use of barcodes and RFID (ie; pharmacy app to avoid prescription errors, or medical records/prescriptions access to ambulance drivers at the scene of an accident to avoid lethal drug combinations). This type of app would require a google or Ebay size company to create that engine.
JP you bring tears to my eyes. Finally, someone who gets it! Just for that...I'll share a bit more.
Any techy knows the best place to scout for a job is on Dice.com. The job post below was made on April 2nd while Chip Hoffman was still CEO (I believe Chip was brought in for a very specific role, and it is my belief that Iain took his place because the field of expertise he carries is different and has now become more relevant). Below is the job post:
"Find more jobs with Neomedia Technologies
Save Job Printer-Friendly
Rate this Job Positive Neutral Negative
Click Here to Apply
Email to a friend
Title: Systems Administrator/DBA Skills: Java, Tomcat, MYSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, LAN/WAN, Unix/Linux Date: 4-2-2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Area code: 678 Tax term: FULLTIME Pay rate: 70+Incentive Pay Length: Position ID: 198309 Dice ID: 10289852 Job description: Job Summary:
This role is focused on planning, managing and developing NeoMedia**s global data centers, which will evolve significantly over time. A secondary focus is to provide internal helpdesk support and running NeoMedia**s internal systems, but this responsibility may transition to another person over time.
Duties and Responsibilities:
** Plans and documents NeoMedia**s global data center architecture, which consists of firewalls, load balancers, web servers, databases and storage devices
** Works with vendors and evaluates, recommends and purchases equipment
** Plans and documents security and backup policies and procedures
** Plans and leads periodic software upgrades to the data center infrastructure
** Receives, documents and coordinates requests for technical assistance from users on computers and other peripheral equipment, local and wide area networks, Internet and Intranet services and secure VPN access
** Diagnoses hardware malfunctions; replaces components and performs other maintenance and repair; installs and configures replacement equipment; coordinates major repair of hardware with customers and outside vendors
** Monitors and maintains corporate WAN security, including firewall configuration and monitoring, operating system updates, and updates and patches for all application software used by the company
** Manages a mixed Windows, Macintosh and Linux environment with Exchange Server and SQL Server
** Controls the deployment of software releases to the production environment and maintains a run book.
** Proactive monitoring of corporate IT systems, including email servers, disk space utilization, daily backups, error/event logs, phone and Internet utilization
Requirements:
** Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or related experience
** Experience with both Windows and Unix/Linux environments.
** Experience with Java and Tomcat application server a plus
** Experience with MySQL and replication (or similar on Oracle, SQL Server or PostgreSQL)
** Experience in clustered setups, high performance, and high-availability solutions
** Experience with distributed database and database replication a big plus
** Collaborative work style with strong communication and documentation skills
** Strong communications skills ** comfortable with dealing with customers from all over the world
** Proactive and detail-oriented personality
** High degree of initiative
** Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced team environment
** Team player, must be comfortable working with support, sales and technical staff Travel required: none Telecommute: no Click Here to Apply
Email to a friend
Rakhi Patel
Neomedia Technologies
Atlanta, GA 30328
Web: http://www.neom.com/"
BTW, has anyone spoken lately about 12Snap? How about Mobot? How about the other companies that were bought and sold? I hope nobody thinks they just went away. The intent was to do business. They remain key partners even out of wedlock. And if I recall correctly, NeoMedia still holds an 18% interest in Mobot. Some might call that strategic.
Did you notice in the .ppt I sent, that NeoMedia had a slide explicitly indicating an interest in adopting QR Code? I'm sure you've all noticed that a good deal of ads they've announced lately are using QR codes and not Aztec? Perhaps QR is intended to become the global standard?
Personally, I would love to see them use certain codes for specific functions or applications (ie; one type of code for ads, another for business applications, another for embedded documents that launch directly on the handset w/o connecting through the web. This would help users since they would learn to know what to expect when they click on a particular code. It will serve to clarify before they click. I'm also wondering if NeoMedia intends to add "glyphs" to their platform.
JP, thanks for taking time to understand the "beginning" of the bigger picture. This is just surface level. There is much more.
Fyi, the day before they posted that job they posted a job for... Title: Mobile Application Developer Skills: J2ME, SYMBIAN, BREW.
These guys were gearing up. NeoMedia has now reached its pinnacle. The information I shared in my other 3 posts hopefully shed some extra light for you. Get ready folks, if I told you when I feel this is launching you wouldn't get any sleep ;o)
This crowd is tough to please. So I thought I’d better address a few things due to the timing of the press release that came out yesterday. It served to create some doubt about the convenient timing of my post relative to the announcement. Let me assure you, it was not timed and I do not work for NeoMedia…and I do not work for any of their alliances or competitors. Let me just advise that everything I stated can be found online. It’s how you connect the dots that matters, and this is the way I’ve chosen to connect them…and I believe in what I’ve said. I believe this because, like the World Trade Center, it’s good to remember but not good to dwell, particularly when the activity levels within the entire industry including NeoMedia and all of it’s competitors have turned 180 degrees. I’ve already said this is my “opinion” and you all have yours. Those who feel the same as me…terrific! Those who do not…that’s fine also. But I believe you are missing the bigger picture.
The timing of the press release was such that it might appear someone from NEOM was watching this site yesterday. I didn’t even know they had a specific date planned; I simply knew they’d planned it for December. As I say, I don’t believe in coincidences in business, and there’s always at least one in every company who watches these boards. (That said, I suppose the timing of my post was a coincidence and I can absolutely understand some of the sentiment that was displayed yesterday. I won’t try to quell the noise; probably wouldn’t do any good).
If in fact the news was in response to my post, to me it would indicate they read my reply to Personalizit and are not yet ready to answer some of the drill down questions I posed (frankly, those were the easy questions. I’m sure many of you are aware of the heavy strategic questions you can ask where no answer, redirection, or avoidance, becomes an answer). Apparently they are unable to disclose certain details. OK, now your conspiracy theory: Could there be another reason?..yes. Could they simply have NOTHING and are doing NOTHING…yes. However, I tend to feel they just can’t divulge much detail yet. Could you imagine a shareholder meeting where challenging questions are asked and they can’t answer any of them due to confidentiality. The loss of credibility could be greater than what you folks are already displaying. It would be just as bad as rescheduling the meeting, and probably worse. That said, I know you folks are going to feast on this paragraph and have a page-full for me to chew on….go easy on me guys. I assure you I will not stay on this board. Just keep in mind everything from this point on is based upon “activity.” JP, can you please help me here, because you seem to get it. Please explain to these guys that it is now about ACTIVITY… and right now there’s plenty of it!
Btw, it doesn’t take 6 months to plan a shareholder meeting. If I was planning today for a shareholder meeting in May or June, I would think there would be a reason I would need to plan now. My thoughts are that they may be intending to invite attendees from other companies. But we can find out I’m wrong in May or June.
Also, I rediscovered several blogs about Mobile Discovery and NeoMedia, one being from Bena Roberts (I’d saved it). If she removed it from her site she removed it for a reason, and I wouldn’t want to betray the confidences NeoMedia has placed in any of their partners. Therefore I won’t post the excerpt here. But as I read it, there was one particular sentence from Iain that caught my attention and helped solidify my thoughts. That along with the intrinsic discussion.
Streetstylz, I know about the GSMA and OMA backing Aztec and that CTIA is the problem child that doesn’t appear to be playing well in the sandbox, and doesn’t appear to understand the limitations it will be placing on the technology if it embraces EZ Code over non-proprietary codes…HUGE blunder. Certainly seems like a hidden agenda. I would love to understand their reasoning but unless MC2 can arrange to meet with them I don’t expect this to change. Apparently Scanbuy did a great job of positioning themselves (in my experience these things often happen because the company helped write the specification, but we’ll never know if they did). Streetstylz, I am not the enemy, but I am still asking you to understand the implications of what you are doing each time you post that companies are infringing. Let them infringe…NeoMedia stands to make a great deal of money if they do. And if Neom loses the patent, you will have wasted an exorbitant amount of time on something so fruitless that…well, I hope you get the point. It is extra feet on the street for Neom. But I still think promoting NeoReader the way you have has been quite valuable. Thank you for that.
I suppose all of you have already seen this but let me provide the link anyway, since it seems to spell out the sudden change in NeoMedia’s strategy a couple of years ago. I told you everything I’ve discussed is out there…everything. http://www.neom.com/fileadmin/pdf/investor_relations/2006NeoMedia_Mobile.pdf
Tell me I’m wrong guys but pages 23-27 specifically speak to a new strategy to create a Universal Reader for BOTH Open Source “AND” Proprietary codes. EZ Code is in there, BeeTag is in there, Sem@code, etc. This would automatically imply that Scanbuy is working collaboratively with NeoMedia, presuming of course that they agreed to the strategy. But folks, the strategy is spot on! It makes sense for everybody.
So now I need your help. I’m being serious. If you feel I’m wrong about what I see in this .ppt, I need you to advise me WHY I’m interpreting this the wrong way. Just so you know, my conclusions about Neom working in collaboration with Scanbuy were only partially influenced by this. It’s more the incredible coincidences I keep seeing that lead me to my conclusions. Guys, there are too many coincidences as it relates to Scanbuy. Streetstylz, you mentioned the Mexico event used an Aztec code. Yes, I recall that. However, Case Western also started out with Aztec…but they’re using EZ! And I recall viewing a video online where the CEO of Mobile Discovery addressed an audience at Case Western to report on the results of the project. He sat on stage with a panel of students. He spoke about Scanbuy’s codes, but then, towards the end, a particular individual asked a question from the audience. He was out of the line of the camera so you couldn’t see him, but I swore I recognized that voice. It sounded just like…Paul Strzelecki. And I do mean just like him. And he asked something to the effect of, ‘When this launches, will we see other codes out there?’ It sounded like a setup question if ever I’d heard one. I was certain Paul was there to ensure everything went well and that David (Mobile Discovery) protected NeoMedia’s interests. Again, I did not see Paul in the video so I can’t say with absolute certainty, but it sounded just like him. By the way, David’s response was that there would probably be two types of codes used. Certainly seemed like a setup question…. But again, all of this is such a minute piece of the whole puzzle. After assembling all the pieces, which still raise questions, it is undoubtedly ACTION and my experience with senior execs that has shaped my overall view. And it does not mean I’m right. All of you feel “you” are right. But I differ in two respects. I remember but will not dwell, and I recognize the difference between inaction and activity levels.
Again let me stress, you folks argue and complain that you’ve lost so much value and that management lied, cheated, and manipulated the shareholders with false promises. I AGREE. Let me say this again…I AGREE. I am on your side. I am in your position. I empathize with you. But now you have two successive CEOs who have issued little in the way of press releases which “I” believe indicates they are managing to NDA clauses as well as a particular end result that they don’t wish to comment on, other than to say their focus is on the platform. Even Iain recently mentioned something to the effect that NeoMedia would not be in a position to compete against EZ Code for another year (undoubtedly due to their immediate task of deploying infrastructure. Guys, do servers and software install themselves? Does testing mean anything? Does testing take time? On a global initiative it may). While I agree that they should find a way to be more forthcoming with something tangible, it remains that most of you would complain about ANY status in the company. I’ve lost money too. If you can’t handle it you should sell “everything” and walk away as soon as this stock gets to $.02. I would bet with near certainty that almost all of you loaded up recently…quite a contrary action for doubters and haters. So sell everything. Leave the rest of us here to ride what has FINALLY turned to “action.” Jensen was a pumper because he couldn’t get product to market. The speeds weren’t fast enough and the smart phone market wasn’t where it needed to be, and in my opinion he was not CEO material. But the apple has ripened fellas. There’s no mistaking it.
Also, I saw the UPDATE 3-US ruling last night and also saw the Big In Japan blog regarding the status on Neom’s patent, however, I’m not prepared to discuss it because the information did not carry detail and contained only a link that pointed to UPDATE 3-US. It was not credible enough to risk commenting on. However, as I mentioned yesterday, if they win the ruling, great; if they don’t, it just means they are equal to Scanbuy and all the others. That’s hardly a terrible event, but it would be unfortunate. I don’t believe the folks at YA would invest an extra $8M based only upon a patent that had just lost the first round of a dispute. At best they would have funded only the next 3 months rather than a year to see how the dispute resolved itself. However, I hope Iain is thinking strategically here…depending upon the outcome, if it’s negative, there’s a powerful action item that should be pursued immediately, if it hasn’t been prior to the announcement. I believe this could be the true test of him as a CEO.
After seeing everyone’s replies to my original post I think it best to bow out stumbling. You’re a tough crowd…and could turn anyone into Rodney. However, if you feel that any of the above carries any merit you may want to reconsider what I’ve presented. Sorry for the long posts but I do not want to spend my time on here…would rather get it all out there and be on my way.
Yellowjacket…as for a pps…NOT ON THIS BOARD…that would be suicidal…But let me answer it this way: Remember, this is global and it’s never been done before. That’s a lot of money for a handful of companies in this space to divvy up. But first we need to see revenues, and as I see it they should begin, to a modest degree, in January. As far as I’m concerned, the numbers I’ve seen people discuss on this site are ridiculous. They don’t apply in the slightest “if” NeoMedia is successful. …and I still believe the word is “when.” If the company were to do a reverse split now they would be making a mistake. Do the job and the rest will follow. Just the general public alone will drive the price when they find out about NeoMedia and that this is widely anticipated to be bigger than Google. Then at various levels the institutions begin buying. Guys, don’t forget the process. There is a process in which buying takes place. But now look at the converse. If Neom does a reverse split they will still have a target price that should make everyone happy; even long term holders. But in my estimation, knowing that Neom needs cash, I would hope they would wait for the former of my discussion and THEN, after the institutions came in, do the RS and subsequently issue more shares to obtain their needed capital. That, or sell the company to a large suitor “after” they’ve developed the market. Oh, I know you people are going to have a lot of fun with your posts on this one. My eyes are vibrating already. Just remember…ACTIVITY. If activity stops…sell. But I don’t think you will find that at this point.
Iain, if you are reading this I would ask if you could consider providing something a bit more concrete on the November call. These guys have earned the right to hear something more tangible. I personally would enjoy hearing about the company’s activity levels, how many partnerships you currently have in place (not necessarily names, but elaborating on quantity and possibly a big boy or two…if you are able), an indication of when you anticipate some form of revenue from clicks as opposed to licensing fees, and/or anything else you can share. Can you reassure shareholders with a bit more detail.
Streetstylz, I’ve lost more than you have.
JP, Nice post. I’ve been waiting for Pepsi. Fyi, I do not plan on attending the MobileBarCode Camp, although I may ask someone else to go. If I attend they may never get through their agenda ;o) Thanks for sharing.
Oh, btw, I’m not TS, nor was I trying to quote him. The words I used were mine (but I must have looked a lot like one of his rants). I’m a shareholder like all of you; but I expect my background is a bit different. Well, it’s been…sobering
Ahhh, good points that I missed...and the only reason I will reply this one time:
I do recall seeing information that NeoMedia has partnered with Mobile Discovery. Just don't have it at my fingertips. But don't take my word, do the research. From what I recall, public companies are not required to make a formal press release on Yahoo Finance, they are simply required to post information in a "public forum." I believe that is why you will find info on their websites that has not been released through press.
As for the law suits. C'mon guys, stop being so rediculous. It is quite common for companies to be partnered and work harmoniously while ironing out other issues. Nobody knows what the future holds and therefore NeoMedia needs to act in the best interest of shareholders to protect it's Intellectual Property. It doesn't make them adversaries and is not personal...it's simply good business.
Forget about dilution. Move on. You are living in the past.
One thought I'd like to add. I do not plan to engage in questions on the December shareholder call. However, for those who do plan to take up time, can I please suggest you stay off the repetitive "surface-level" questions about dilution and ask more strategic second and third level questions targeted at performance. You've made me ill on every call. WHO CARES about old discussion. If you ask the 2nd & 3rd level questions that "drill down to the core" of how many campaigns they forsee, in what period of time, yielding how much revenue in what period of time, and how are Publicis, Ogilvey, and the other ad agencies they've partnered with progressing with launching new campaigns with their clients? What about the status of AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon...what is happening with them?
...and what other significant partners do they see offering the greatest value at getting this party started, and why do they feel that way. Ask them where they see the value. Ask them if the Key Word Registry is still being pursued and then dig into that one big time (as people seem to have completely lost track of it, and it carries SO much value). Have they had discussions with Google? What types of discussions? Don't expect answers to these last two about Google, but "listen closely to how they are answered." Remember, you are speaking with high-level guys. They have a way of saying things without saying them ;o) And there are planty more questions you can drill down to.
If you ask when they expect to become cash flow positive, BE PREPARED to ask second and third level questions to drill down to how and why they envision that timeframe. There is a lot of secrecy here but don't be afraid to step up the game. See how much they will offer up. The fact that they wouldn'tn take questions on the last call but have said they would have another call in December and WILL take questions, to me appears to be indicative of some type of change in status...perhaps a major event (JMHO). But with the airlines across the globe launching this application, and other apps launching, I personally would anticipate cash flow fairly rapidly.
Come on guys, step it up. Don't dwell on the same old questions. If you drill down to the core the answers you receive will tell you the answers to the surface level questions.
Be Confident...I am...very :o)
Folks, I am making a one-time appearance on this Board and then I’m gone.
I would like to suggest to all of you that you place some additional confidence in NeoMedia at this time. Having watched this Board for a while it is frustrating to me to see people conjecturing on something while missing what I feel is the bigger picture. What I am about to say will no doubt entice a few of you to post some disparaging comments. However, I suggest you pay close attention to the opinions I express here, and the way I attempt to tie some of this together.
I would not suggest you run out and gobble up NeoMedia stock based upon the opinions I share, or the way I tie together some facts. However, I think you want to reconsider the way you view things at this particular point in time.
The simple and glaring fact that suddenly there are numerous exciting announcements, gaining in frequency, that speak to ad campaigns and business solutions (ie; mass transit in the Philippines; expansion of barcode initiatives at airports, McDonald’s, Papa John’s, Ralph Lauren, wireless carriers, etc.) are strong current indicators of a growing trend. Surprisingly, one company, Scanbuy, often releases information within a couple of days of NeoMedia (or vise versa), and sometimes these announcements are similar in nature…almost too similar. Ie; the following:
• Neom initiated the test with Case Western, yet Scanbuy won the business…and then suddenly Mobile Discovery is part of it…and suddenly Mobile Discovery partners with NeoMedia?! Come on fellas, I was born many years ago, not yesterday. In business there are no coincidences. Have you heard the word “collaboration?”
• Scanbuy recently announced a major business deal with Mexico only a couple of days before NeoMedia’s announcement of another significant deal with Mexico. Guys, NeoMedia and Scanbuy often seem to be in the same place at the same time.
• Last year NeoMedia stated it strengthened its ties to VH1, yet this year Scanbuy announces a deal with VH1 France.
• NeoMedia announced they’d updated their reader to support the iPhone but that it was in “beta” and would be released soon. Within a couple of weeks Scanbuy had announced their iPhone app would be ready in the “near future.” Both became available for download at about the same time. This iPhone point can be argued, but if you include it in context with everything else I mention here, I think you may find value in what I say. Oh, did I mention anything about “collaboration?”
• Have you ever flown to another country to inquire about how mobile barcodes may be in use and what the codes look like? “I have.” You would be astonished at what I have found. NeoMedia had announced a barcode implementation at a major sports event in Mexico several years ago. Upon showing Scanbuy’s barcode on my phone (sorry, Neoreader doesn’t support my handset…yet) to the general public, they jumped (literally jumped) out of their seats and said that was the code being used. I deliberately asked if it could have looked differently and described both the Aztec and QR codes, and they abruptly said NO, and that EZ Code (not mentioning it by name, but pointing to my phone) was the code being used. So why Scanbuy’s code and not NeoMedia’s if NeoMedia engaged the event (similar to Case Western)?? Typically companies are loyal to the initiating vendor, particularly when they own so many patents and are partnered with so many big boys (ie; HP, Publicis, Ogilvy, etc.). Either the public was mistaken and misinformed me (plausible), or NeoMedia perhaps has realized that this is far too big for any one company to manage and be successful with a global launch. That there needs to be collaboration!
• Stay with me now…
There’s more that I can list but I think the above is good for now.
Have you ever really listened to Chip Hoffman or Iain McCready very closely? I mean CLOSELY. Do you hear what they are saying at a high level, and how they are saying it? Can you notice the difference between what they say and how it is said, vs Chuck Jensen and Chas?
There has been little hype, but a great deal of secrecy! A great deal. Hoffman had even made specific mention of secrecy last year. Why? Because EVERYTHING is at stake here.
Have you ever heard the word “collaboration?” By now I think you have. It’s a term most companies only talked about 10 years ago, but none of them really implemented. Companies kept to themselves for the most part. Today it is being implemented a little more. However, COLLABORATION is what is needed in order to ensure the success of this technology. I believe you will find this word of significant value as you reevaluate what is evolving. I urge you to keep an open mind and see both sides of the coin.
Ogilvy is real…I would caution against minimizing the value associated with the NeoOgilvy press release. Why do I say this with such conviction? Do you recall what companies founded MC2?..Publicis is a co-founder! Both Publicis and Ogilvy are large companies that I believe you would probably find do not place their names on things arbitrarily...and they are big enough to move mountains. Also, NeoMedia and a certain senior consultant of Ogilvy seem to be joined at the hip lately.
Think folks, think hard. It’s coming. You’ve got two of the world’s largest advertising powerhouses at the table, and they are not idle; they are actively participating… JMHO.
Do you recall Hoffman saying they were working with with several large companies that wanted to remain secret?
Do you recall that Publicis, about a year after it began MC2, announced in its own press release that it had been working in secret with Google for a year and that it pertained to digital media…to the extent that they were exchanging each other’s employees to help in developing something unique. Could this mean something other than barcodes, absolutely. But I feel that digital media includes the word barcode and I believe this particularly because of Publicis and their timing in engaging Google.
• “The two disclosed a confidential partnership already underway for more than a year in which they have melded Google technology and Publicis creativity in an effort to boost digital advertising.” 1/22/08 Businessweek, Google and Publicis Make Nice, by Jennifer Fishbein
Did you ever consider that it was the broadband speed and the relatively low distribution of smart phones that held back this technology, and that it might have delayed the willingness of both NeoMedia and Scanbuy to launch (don’t forget…NEITHER of them supported many handsets until now, and neither of them announced many applications until now. Why would BOTH companies appear to mimic each other’s minimal activity?). If they had spent money certifying the application for all phones 2 years ago, those devices would now be in the process of being replaced (what is the useful life of a handset) and all that money would have been wasted!
But now, with the development of the iPhone which has enjoyed unyielding penetration into the market, increased broadband speed, and the GSMA’s mission to convince carriers to decrease the cost of their data plans, the landscape has changed…drastically. We are at “the” turning point and all the stars are aligning.
This heads-down attitude that Hoffman and McCready have is completely unlike the company in prior years. In my opinion we are very close. I would not underestimate what is coming. I think you will find that McCready’s recent comments (ie; “Huge”) will play to your advantage quite soon.
As for the patents, without them NeoMedia becomes the equal of Scanbuy; “no less.” And they both have an unbelievable opportunity to become the Googles in this space; EVERYBODY stands to make inordinate sums of money when this takes off. Of course, if NeoMedia retains the rights to the patent, or even a portion of the claims therein, you will be looking at a company that stands to eventually dwarf the majority of companies in the world. Either way, NeoMedia stands to do this and make you a great deal of money, even if you bought in years ago. So please knock off the “small talk” and bickering about patents.
Would anyone question Google’s need to stay very very VERY close to both of these companies? Microsoft, Yahoo!, and others need to as well. AND I would not assume that conversations haven’t taken place. Digital is the future, but digital mobile advertising has already been depicted by Google as the focus that could be bigger than they are. I don’t believe for a minute that they wouldn’t be willing to meet with NeoMedia. I believe they had no choice but to meet. What came out of such a meeting (if it took place) might prove interesting since Publicis is a main driver of MC2 and has a partnership with Google for digital advertising.
And if Google is so set on open architecture and has engaged independent developers all over the world to build applications, why wouldn’t they want NeoMedia to build the standard platform it’s been touting…particularly given Gavitec’s award winning technology (that Neomedia felt was worth an exorbitant cash-burn rate at a time that they couldn’t afford one)? Very strategic folks (JMHO).
Also, do you recall Chip Hoffman stating last year that NeoMedia is focused on the “platform” and was not concerned with what their competitors were doing; that whatever their competitors do could only serve to help NeoMedia. I listened closely to that one, and I believe it says it all. Doesn’t that help you paint a picture? Shouldn’t you, the shareholder, be looking at this through a special set of eyes? Doesn’t it raise a question that perhaps the big boy companies in MC2 took NeoMedia by the hand and helped arrange a collaboration across the industry and between competitors in order to make this a success? Somebody needed to take the reins and put the wheels in motion. When the big boys come to the table the landscape changes for everybody.
I would think Publicis and Ogilvy would have the definitive reason for ensuring a vastly successful launch…they NEED this technology to take off…quickly. And I’m confident that patience was growing thin. This technology is simply too big for any single company (including Google) to launch in a vacuum. Doesn’t this make you feel that Hoffman’s statement combined with NeoMedia’s silence over the last 15 months may signify that the end result may be preordained to some extent? Don’t you think it surprising that Neomedia should sell off 4 of the 5 companies it just acquired due to excessive cash-burn, yet KEEP the one company with the greatest burn rate? Gavitec is a huge part of the equation. To me Gavitec signifies the development of infrastructure around an existing and successful platform.
Think folks, think hard. I’m only posting this today and then I’m done. I just wanted to inject my perspective.
Stay close. While I am hardly a fortune teller, I believe the end result you’ve been looking for is not far away. Frankly, you’d be surprised at the timeline I’m thinking of. Remember, nobody funds over $8 mil to a company that is at rope’s end after such a long track record of mismanagement and apparent aimlessness, unless substantial progress has been made and something very promising awaits…in my opinion, NOBODY.
If you are a long term investor who lost money based upon the likes of Chuck Jensen…that’s too bad. Did you ever speak with him on the phone or in person…if not, shame on you. Had you done so you might have felt as I do…I never considered Chuck as any type of C-Level. And how does NeoMedia hire a COO named Martin Copus who can’t add up a simple cash-flow number when acquiring 5 companies simultaneously…I’m sure he felt the $100 mil in backing they had was enough to finance everything, but as a COO (I use that term loosely) he didn’t calculate a simple cash-flow?? Or, he hedged the future of the company on the ability of the stock price to remain above $.20?? Guys this appears to me as M&A 101. I’m sure when McCready thinks about this he immediately refocuses on the task at hand…Copus made such a moronic blunder and cost the company $100 mil of funding. Let me say it again so we can all understand how ridiculous the circumstances were that got us to sub penny status…in my opinion Copus cost NeoMedia $100 Mil in funding. I do, however, hold respect for Chas…good visionary (that’s a good part of what CEO’s are); just didn’t have the right management skills to effectively manage the company (sorry guys, just my “opinion.”).
I would also ask if any of you have contacted any of the companies that have launched campaigns and spoken to them at length. I have enjoyed some extensive conversation; not to extract confidential information, but rather to share feedback and clarify my understanding of a few things. However, it yielded what I consider valuable insight while providing them with feedback…and believe me folks, all of these companies are going to be seeking feedback!
There is one thing I feel I need to comment on. To those of you who call yourselves NEOM shareholders but yet go off on tirades, living in the past with old management that’s been replaced, and offering up negative press about NeoMedia. Do you realize how truly ignorant that is? You invest in a company and then disparage it as though doing so publicly on iHub will grab management’s attention. Instead, I might suggest calling the company directly instead of negatively impacting your own investment (how utterly ridiculous and self destructive). If you call and get vmail, leave a message…somebody will get it. If it is valuable it will get attention; if you are illogical or don’t understand the full scope of what is going on, it will be squashed…plain and simple. But stop being cowards and address your issues “directly” with NeoMedia…if your ideas are really that important. If not, DO NOT waste their time! They have a big job to do in short order. I assure you, based on what I’ve seen on this board, only one or two of you may know anything that might be worth calling them about. BTW, I’ll almost assure you that you are living in the past. Just as wireless carriers now offer up faster speeds and better coverage than they did 5 years ago, times have changed and so has NEOM management. NeoMedia literally has new doors with new employees, and even new advisers. Hmm, did anyone take the time to investigate Paul Strzelecki of Yorkville Advisors? Did anyone know that Paul is a member of MENSA? Does anyone know anything about MENSA? Does anyone care to elaborate on MENSA and how it may relate to NeoMedia’s future success? (Paul, if you’re out there reading this, you’ll need some ice to keep the swelling down).
And Streetstylz, I value all people who fight diligently for what they believe in, but at a certain point they lose value. You rocketed past this point months ago…because few people like activists! You have lowered your value by seeking out EVERY website that mentions Scanbuy and other competitors, and posting the same thing over and over and over. STOP already! As soon as I see your post I look away. If the patents are good they will remain NeoMedia’s; if not, they won’t. Simple. Let me ask you, What is the definition of crazy (I know we’ve all heard this but let me say it anyway)?..Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results! Do you think for one minute that everything you post will change the outcome of the patent dispute?? If all the companies use this technology and sell services and NeoMedia is found to hold the patents, NeoMedia will be entitled to LICENSING FEES. Let these other guys do the work for NeoMedia. Frankly, I’d promote it. Let me say it again so that it is clear…As for the patents, without them NeoMedia becomes the equal of Scanbuy; “no less.” And they both have an unbelievable opportunity to become the Googles in this space; EVERYBODY stands to make inordinate sums of money when this takes off. …So STOP trying to disparage other companies saying they are infringing. You have no control over that. You have single-handedly become annoying…and I used to like your posts…used to look forward to them. Please become your old self and I will once again value reading your blogs.
Let me leave you all with this: When I hear good things about a company, it is good news. When I hear bad things about a company, it is free publicity and I tend to watch closely. When there is zero news about a company, my interest is gone and it carries no value for me (at least short term). I also come from a background that reinforces that when you “generate high activity you will achieve powerful results.” Activity has been growing recently and companies are falling in line…LARGE, well known companies are falling in line. And this activity appears to be accelerating. Everything I see appears to revolve around the words “infrastructure” and “standards,” which are absolutely necessary in order for this technology to take off and never come down. Do you think you just launch a monetary application and ask the GSMA to support its global launch? Of course not. You beta test for at least 6-12 months, if not longer, so that if something fails it doesn’t cause a global issue. I believe NeoMedia is at its pinnacle. I tend to believe their competitors are collaborating with them to ensure a highly successful global launch that will make ALL of them highly successful…and I believe they all have their roles. I believe in a standard code reader and white labeling it (as is being done with Gavitec’s EXIO) and believe Neomedia will be the standard. However, I do not believe NeoMedia really cares if they are the standard reader as much as they care about being the standard PLATFORM for all 2D barcode transactions…two different things. As we know there’s a difference. If multiple code readers were available it stands to hurt global interoperability (which would not be efficient). However, if NeoMedia’s platform (clearinghouse) was the standard, they would still care who’s reader was used, however, if all independent readers were attached to them NeoMedia would bask in sunshine regardless.
I hope you will take what I’ve said here and give it some good thought. I do not expect you to take what I say as fact. You need to do your own research. However, my opinion is that NeoMedia has finally ripened on the vine and success is upon us…imminently…sooner than any of you may be thinking.
Oh, almost forgot…does anyone recall anything about a Key Word Registry? How could you all forget about the Icing on the cake…
Do I sound like one of Tobin Smith’s rants?
Thanks for reading. As promised, I’m gone.