MWC 2015 – A Year of Substance
It feels like the last few years, Mobile World Congress (MWC) has been filled with vague concepts and more marketing than substance. I think there is a change in this, […]
Category Archives: Strategy
The Global Handset Industry is set for Self-Destruct
If a person does the same thing over and over again, each time expecting a different outcome, we call that insanity. If dozens of companies in a multi-billion dollar market […]
If Apple Built a Car in the Forest, Would We Hear It?
I have no idea if Apple is going to build a car, but if they were, I think we would see signs of preparation in the supply chain two years ahead of a launch.
What Should We Be Looking For?
The biggest winners from today’s announcement are likely to be China’s handset OEMs and its mobile operators. And Qualcomm itself did not do so badly.
A close-read of Qualcomm’s China press release
Qualcomm announced a settlement of the NDRC China investigation. The very dense press release raises as many questions as it answers. Bad news: a 46% reduction in royalty rates. Good news: lots of friends in China, audit rights and the ability to charge royalties for TD phones. Hard to fully gauge, but seems like a net positive.
China VIE trouble for BABA?
That didn’t take long. Over the past few months I have been writing (also here and here) about Alibaba (Ticker: BABA). I mentioned one of the key risks with buying BABA […]
Don’t Talk to VCs – A Reply to Paul Graham
Last week Paul Graham posted a note titled “Don’t Talk to Corp Dev”. I have nothing against Paul Graham. It is hard to argue with his track record, and most everything […]
Semiconductor Consolidation is Coming
The semiconductor industry is not really a growth industry anymore, and resembles the steel industry as much as anything. That means scale matters, leaving M&A as the most likely path to growth, and possibly survival.
CES without the Selfie Sticks: The Affiliate Summit
I spent the day at the affiliate marketing summit in Las Vegas. This industry was once known as the center of spam. It still draws people pitching nutritional supplements and payday loans, but there are some clear signs of maturity, and is firmly established as part of the marketing stack.
Qualcomm in China – Some Signs of Progress
I recently had the chance to catch up with a few contacts from China who think the end is in sight for Qualcomm’s troubles with the government, but timing is uncertain and will likely result in a reduction in royalty rates.