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Motorola's Zander slams Nokia/Navteq deal
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Speaking Monday before faculty and students at the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business, Motorola CEO Ed Zander expressed his dismay at rival handset maker Nokia's $8.1 billion acquisition of navigation software developer Navteq, calling the price tag "stunning." According to Zander, Motorola previously explored a Navteq deal of its own, but determined the firm wasn't a good strategic fit: "We looked at it and went on our way," Zander said Monday. "We didn't even think about it."
Zander also criticized Nokia's recent moves into mobile multimedia services, including the launches of a digital music download platform as well as mobile social network Mosh. "That's not our strategy," Zander said. "We are not in the applications business." He added that "getting into the business of your customers" can be dangerous.
For more on Zander's comments:
- read this Associated Press article
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Comments
Posted by Anonymous | October 10, 2007 - 4:06pm
The only thing "stunning" is how Zander can face the public. Motorola isn't in the applications business because they have neither the strategy nor leadership to get innovative applications onto their decks. Go to any phone store. Look at them side-by-side. Motorola is the 1980s GM of the phone industry - large, lifeless and archaic. Hanging vines have keener direction and more urgency than Motorola.
Nokia clearly sees the obvious: that these things in our pockets are already becoming more than just chatter gadgets. Nokia, owning now the world's top digital map company, has headed off the other hardware makers - phone and GPS companies alike. Now all of them have to license from Nokia - or TomTom, who bought TeleAtlas. Meanwhile, Moto's biggest move? The RAZR 2.
Zander should go on his way. What does it take to get a brain transplant over there?
Posted by Sooth Sayer | October 10, 2007 - 10:01pm
Zander is a frightened kitten. Give him some warm milk and neuter him. Not necessarily in that order.
What you DON"T DO is give the frightened kitten a leadership position at Motorola.
Remove Zander immediately.
Posted by Jason Ankeny | October 11, 2007 - 9:05am
In the unlikely event Comedy Central ever roasts Zander, you guys need to be on the dais.
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