Alec Saunders SquawkBox

Hugh Macleod writes that Microsoft should buy Facebook because "all search begins and ends with people, not algorithms". I don't know where this diagram came from, but it expresses the evolution of search pretty perfectly — from portal to search engine to social network. 

One of Hugh's commentors took issue with his view, stating that search and recommendation are not  necessarily the same thing.  Surely they are similar.  Google's relevance algorithm is a voting algorithm based on how many other sites link.  It's a mathematical model of the meatspace recommendation algorithm that Facebook represents.

Andy Abramson's latest addition to VoIP Watch is a daily News and Notes column.  At the end of today's, he writes:

Dan York highlights the RebTel Facebook app. Big whoop. All the RebTel app is one more layer on top of a complicated way to make a cheap call yawn…I'm more excited about Pat from Roam4Free's list of FaceBook apps PSST… Alec Saunders tells me that the iotum team have something that will really be relevant for the Facebook crowd….Check his blog out next week….Obviously Alec knows that announcing after Labor Day is a smarter idea. I mean, the bulk of Facebook is still in college, and that starts next week. This week those at college are looking for a new face and hook up. Not an app that makes it hard to hook up. I think Alec has that figured out too.

Iotum's effort is still under wraps, but we're going to be doing some load testing over the weekend.  If you're interested in helping us out, drop me email at alec@iotum.com.  Otherwise, enjoy your Labour Day Weekend. 

From Cellular News:

As a result of one of the first population-wide deployments of text messaging services, GP surgeries across Lewisham Primary Care Trust in London, UK have reduced missed appointments by 27% over the last year. The reduction has been attributed to surgeries using iPLATO Patient Care Messaging, a platform for text appointment reminders and other mobile patient services in UK Primary Care.

Neat.  Sending a text reminder causes patients to be on time for appointments.  That's a big benefit for such a small feature.

It's obviously close to the end of the summer, and the news is slow.  How else to explain the rumour that Microsoft is planning to acquire RIM?  Wishful thinking, or too much BC Bud? Here are 4 reasons why it makes no sense.

1. Sales: Microsoft already has a strong mobile franchise in Windows mobile.  A year ago it had almost reached the North American run rate of BlackBerry.  Since then the Pearl and Curve have shipped, which have bolstered RIM's results, but nonetheless, the two companies are very competitive.  Besides, Microsoft doesn't typically buy companies to acquire customers.
2. Technology: Technically, they have very similar capabilities.  RIM does push email better.  Microsoft does media better.  But both have near identical platforms on the handheld and server.  RIM runs a large network operations center as well, which is one of the reasons their email is so good.  Microsoft has the ability to build a NOC if they want one. 
3. Price: With a market cap of $50 billion today, RIM would be expensive for Microsoft.  Sweeten the deal by offering RIM shareholders a 25% premium on their stock, and you have an acquisition price of $62.5 billion.  That's 24% of Microsoft's market cap.  Too rich, even for them.
4. Partnerships: RIM already has a strong relationship with Nokia… Microsoft's arch-rival in the mobile space. 

'nuff said. I'll donate $100 to the EFF if I'm wrong.

Yesterday's news that Microsoft had acquired Parlano wasn't all that unexpected.  If anything, Microsoft is a little late to the game adding persistent group chat to Office Communications Server.  It's been a hot feature of consumer IM / VoIP client Skype for some time now, variations continue to show up in tools like Twitter, and those of us with grey hair also remember the popularity of IRC.

By adding persistence to it's enterprise products, however, Microsoft gives enterprise managers the comfort of being able to manage these persistent chat sessions.  In the financial services market, where Parlano has had much success, this is an absolute must have.  In government, public relations, or sales these same features would also be welcome.  Imagine, for instance, a live FAQ — log into the persistent chat session, ask a question, get an answer… and leave that answer for the next person who needs it. 

Additional reading: Burton Group's Mike Gotta has some in-depth coverage.