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.

 

blog comments powered by Disqus
Real Business, Real Results
Out of the 'Family'

Did anyone at Microsoft ever watch the (gasp!) offensively funny show Family Guy?

Cruz Missile Lands

Ex-Morgan Stanley exec Zoe Cruz is now heading her own hedge fund. Are Wall Street's leaders done?

Scandal Chic

Martha, Bernie and Skilling know that what you wear for court can go a long way in public perception.

spotlight on

Health Care

Bad to the Bone No More

Companies such as General Mills say they're stepping up efforts to change employees' bad behavior and promote healthier lifestyles. Read More