Despite the tough times in telecom, one RTP venture is doing well in pricing, packaging, servicing and selling broadband, and an entrepreneur is starting a new venture to capitalize on a growing need for contract wireless communications workers — WirelessJobs.com
Bandwidth.com is determined to do for ordering of high-speed and advanced network services what LendingTree.com has done for home mortgages. And it’s introduced a new service that guarantees best prices plus support for installation and service.
“Yes, broadband deployment continues to increase, and the average business is using more bandwidth than ever before,” said Henry Kaestner, the company’s chief executive officer, “largely due to the applications (such as web conferencing) that are becoming commonplace in the market.”
Meanwhile, Kevin Flannery picked a “hot spot” to announce his latest venture last week.
Wireless-Jobs.com is a web site established to match companies wanting to jump on the hottest trends in wireless (Wi-Fi and next generation networks) and network engineers who have either lost jobs or are looking for new ones.
“Wireless and jobs ins a very popular search term,” said Flannery, who researched the idea of the niche web site for two years. This isn’t “Hot Jobs”. It has a specific focus — the wireless industry, which Flannery knows well.
Flannery, founder of Wireless Management Solutions which helps telephone and wireless companies install and maintain networks, trotted off to New Orleans for the annual Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association Show to announce Wireless-Jobs.com.
Here’s a look back at a busy week:
Four venture capital deals closed during the week, including three in North Carolina. The deals went to Taragecpt, Oculan and Stemco in North Carolina plus Brickstream in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, entrepreneurs from around Western North Carolina gathered to hear presentations from three companies as well as some advice and insight on the ins-and-outs of raising venture capital.
Cisco Systems had a busy week on the acquisition front in three stories. It agreed to pay $500 million in stock to acquire privately held Linksys Group, thus moving into the home networking market. Another $13.5 million in stock will go to purchase SignalWorks, a VoIP quality improvement firm. Cisco also said it would spend another $5 billion in a stock buyback program.
Meanwhile, days after Hugh McColl’s chief executive summit in Charlotte, the executive suite doors were revolving in the Southeast. Gary Forsee won an arbitration ruling to take over as CEO at Sprint, quitting BellSouth. And YellowBrick software in RTP ousted another CEO.
In biotech, Trimeris announced its new AIDS drug was moving fast toward approval for sale in Europe. Trimeris and partner Roche also announced the drug’s price – $20,000 a year.
VENTURE CAPITAL:
Atlanta Customer Intelligence Software Firm Closes on $6.2 Million – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3599
Targacept Closes on Additional $14 Million; Its Second Round Totals $60 Million –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3598
Oculan, With New CEO in Place, Lands $5 Million Investment – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3584
Durham Biotech Firm Closes on $9.8 Million Round – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3580
Look West: Entrepreneurs Start Putting Western NC on Business Radar Screen = www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3616
EXECUTIVE SUITE:
Exploring Complexities of Contract Negotiations — Southern Style –www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3607
The Accessible Human: Wireless and Our Need to be Connected, But Not Always – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3600
Leadership 101: Real Leaders Listen To Move Their Teams Forward – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3582
Nanotechnology Research: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, There’s No Need for Federal Regulation – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3566
Darleen Johns Did More Than Break Glass Ceiling. History Shows She Smashed It. – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3595
‘Gut Instinct’: Johns Founded Alphanumeric Committed to Service – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3583
Bubble Hangover: High-Tech Sector Has Shed 560,000 Jobs in 2 Years- www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3593
CEOs Troop To Charlotte To Hear a Call To Arms for Responsibility – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3570
TELECOM & NETWORKING:
Bandwidth.com Tries To Take the Pain Out of Broadband Ordering – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3614
Hatteras Networks Joins Elite Top 10 at Investment Conference – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3611
Cisco Moves into Home, Small-Business Networking Segment – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3608
Cisco Moves To Acquire VoIP-Related Firm, Authorizes $5 Billion Stock Buyback – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3597
RTP Entrepreneur Hopes To Capitalize on Wireless Growth With Wireless-Jobs.com Web Site – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3592
Judge Rules That BellSouth Exec Can Join Sprint — With Restrictions – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3591
SOFTWARE:
Red Hat, HP Expand Their Relationship; HP Says Red Hat Linux Is Its Preferred Choice – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3596
YellowBrick Ousts Yet Another CEO, Lays Off Half Its Staff –
www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3581
Atlanta CRM Firm Sells Interactive Marketing Arm for $43.5 Million – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3579
BIOWATCH:
Fuzeon Moves Closer to Approval for Sale in Europe; EU Acceptance Expected in 90 Days – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3613
Trimeris, Preparing for Fuzeon Launch, Reports Increase in Losses – www.localtechwire.com/article.cfm?u=3604
