Re: Bait and Switch?

On Fri, Oct 05, 2007 at 10:06:02AM -0700, Michael Weinberg wrote:
> It would appear that MetroFi is now refusing to build networks  
> without anchor tenant agreements, regardless of prior contracts.   

Sounds like a good idea that they should've had years ago.  It's amazing
how much money MBAs are allowed to waste in the process of learning
basic business sense.[1]  (I'm told that an exec with a string of failures
behind him is valued more because he's "seasoned"--as opposed to "bad".)

IIRC, Unwire PDX started as a City scheme to save connection charges on
the electronic parking meters.  The idea was to switch them from using
(overpriced) cellular connections to WiFi, since the manufacturer had
said they supported that.  So, at that time, the City was an anchor
tenant.  (There was also some wittering about fire and police use.)

Then, then city learned that the parking-meter manufacturer had changed
their mind and no longer supported WiFi.[2]  Unwire PDX and MetroFi decided
to press on nonetheless.

Thanks for the heads-up,
  Aaron


[1] "I put 8 years of my life into ArsDigita Community System.  Jin put
in 4 years.  We would be unhappy to see the company spend through its
accumulated profits plus $38 million in capital merely so that three
guys in suits could learn a little something about what it is like to
run a software products company."
  -- Philip Greenspun on venture-capital management-teams

[2] I've no idea why Portland did not pursue other options like getting
a better cell plan, having a third party design WiFi boards for the
parking meters, or even just making a contractural fuss.  I guess
Schlumberger sold off its parking-meter division in 2003, maybe that's
why it fell apart.  That, and the usual habit of, "I'll just say it's
impossible 'cos it might be a hassle or I might get in trouble."


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