BizJournals Portfolio
Home >   Business Views, Opinions and Blogs >   Business Blogs >   Tech Observer >  

Helio Scooped Up By Virgin For Not Very Much

Tech Observer

by Kevin Maney
Main
Last Bytes: Yahoo, CBS/CNET, Facebook, more....   Will Cloud Computing Upend The Consulting Business?

Recent Blog Posts

Links

Jun 30 2008 12:00am EDT

Helio: Scooped Up by Virgin for Not Very Much

Kevin Maney recalls: Not long ago, I talked to Sky Dayton about reported troubles at his company, Helio. His answer was that he loves it when people think he's in a crummy business -- it keeps competitors at bay. But in this case, the competitors didn't stay away -- they ate Helio's lunch. Reports say Helio lost 30,000 subscribers this year, now at 170,000.

Helio tried to push the wireless envelope and came up with a lot of cool stuff, like my fave, the Buddy Beacon. But it couldn't find a solid place in the market, and wound up selling out to Virgin Mobile for a mere $39 million -- i.e. relatively nothing. Virgin Mobile, at least, seems to want to continue offering some of the best stuff Helio has come up with.

 

Comments

If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.


Connect With Portfolio.com
Like Portfolio on Facebook

Come on, like us—you know you want to.

Follow Portfolio on Twitter

Follow us and if you're an innovative entrepreneur, we'll return the favor.

The Mix

Today's top stories, conversation starters, and the back nine business bites.

spotlight on

Slideshows

500 Startups Hits New York

Dave McClure's brainchild makes its way to New York and introduces East Coast money folks to some intriguing new companies. View Slideshow