What is Facebook really worth? We know it's not worth $15 billion -- earlier this week a federal court, ruling on the ConnectU case, confirmed that the company has already placed a different value on its shares than the one they publicly announced as part of last fall's Microsoft deal.
Now Mike Arrington reports that Bill Dagley, a California money manager, is repping a seller with a block a stock they're willing to part with at a "value far less than $15 billion." He then cites a source that says the valuation Dagley's client is looking for is in the $3 billion to $4 billion range.
Sound plausible? It does to other sources. We've heard a different but similar version of the story from "Stone", a prolific and anonymous SAI commenter, for a while. The last time that Stone threw this one out -- this week -- he asserted that the valuation was "less than $4 billion for sure."
And now, prompted by Arrington's report, we've heard from a different source -- this one we know, but have agreed not to identify -- who says that in April, he was offered a 0.25% stake for $12.5 million -- a $5 billion valuation. Our source, who didn't move forward with the deal, says they weren't approached by Bill Dagley but by a Facebook employee, inquiring on behalf of another Facebook employee.
So either said Facebook employee is now working with Dagley, or there are multiple Facebook shareholders looking to unload shares for 2/3rds or less of the $15 billion number the company boasted about last fall. We'd bet on the latter.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Chemistry.com Scams - are they for real?!
Website is a scam based on complaints from various members!
They are all saying: DO NOT use this company! Their ads promise you the 'first five matches are free'. However, after you fill out a twenty minute compatibility test and your personal information sheet, they claim to have found five matches for you. Here is the catch: YOU CAN'T ACCESS OR CONTACT THEM WITHOUT SIGNING UP FOR THEIR SERVICE. You can't even verify if these are real people or whether they're just shills to get you to sign up. This website is a SCAM... if you jump through their hoops, you will just be WASTING YOUR TIME!
For more information, please visit: http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/chemistrycom-c13969.html
They are all saying: DO NOT use this company! Their ads promise you the 'first five matches are free'. However, after you fill out a twenty minute compatibility test and your personal information sheet, they claim to have found five matches for you. Here is the catch: YOU CAN'T ACCESS OR CONTACT THEM WITHOUT SIGNING UP FOR THEIR SERVICE. You can't even verify if these are real people or whether they're just shills to get you to sign up. This website is a SCAM... if you jump through their hoops, you will just be WASTING YOUR TIME!
For more information, please visit: http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/chemistrycom-c13969.html
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
eHarmony is a SCAM
Based on what I have heard so far, eHarmony is a big SCAM! Numerous complaints have been filed, yet they continue advertising on TV and luring people into their 'net'.
Here are some of the complaints we have found:
'I joined E-Harmony and have met one or two really nice people so I don't totally hate the site...but I have now learned to be very careful. Ladies, beware of Green Cowser. I don't have proof he's a scammer but there were so many red flags: widower, international job, by the second or third email his spelling and grammar had totally disintegrated, signed up as from Illinois but couldn't altogether explain why he was now living in Ireland. The last was particularly funny in light of the fact he regularly told me he loved "honesty to the core" and I must always tell the truth with him... Then, the kicker, he said I was his ideal woman after only a couple emails...(on what continent does THAT really happen). I went searching on the net...didn't find his name but hmmmm...there was a Green Scott listed on a scammer's website with his same phone number in the same city...and this guy too signed off by saying "Cheers" or "regards" all the time. You'd think they'd kinda learn to vary small details like that.'
'I was sent a match named CHARLES RYDER from Tucson. When he began communicating, his name came up as CHARLES SHULTHEIS. He is using a stolen identity! He is actually in Nigeria and after saying all the "right" things, he will ask you for money to fly home since he can't cash his check from an American Bank. According to the man whose identity he has stolen, at least 30 women have called him to check the identity. This man is very smooth and has an answer for everything.Beware!'
Read more of them here: http://www.bikermatchmaking.com/Internet_Dating_Stories/eHarmony_Consumer_Complaints.htm
It's a FRAUD!!! Here are some of the common things that happen:
Here are some of the complaints we have found:
'I joined E-Harmony and have met one or two really nice people so I don't totally hate the site...but I have now learned to be very careful. Ladies, beware of Green Cowser. I don't have proof he's a scammer but there were so many red flags: widower, international job, by the second or third email his spelling and grammar had totally disintegrated, signed up as from Illinois but couldn't altogether explain why he was now living in Ireland. The last was particularly funny in light of the fact he regularly told me he loved "honesty to the core" and I must always tell the truth with him... Then, the kicker, he said I was his ideal woman after only a couple emails...(on what continent does THAT really happen). I went searching on the net...didn't find his name but hmmmm...there was a Green Scott listed on a scammer's website with his same phone number in the same city...and this guy too signed off by saying "Cheers" or "regards" all the time. You'd think they'd kinda learn to vary small details like that.'
'I was sent a match named CHARLES RYDER from Tucson. When he began communicating, his name came up as CHARLES SHULTHEIS. He is using a stolen identity! He is actually in Nigeria and after saying all the "right" things, he will ask you for money to fly home since he can't cash his check from an American Bank. According to the man whose identity he has stolen, at least 30 women have called him to check the identity. This man is very smooth and has an answer for everything.Beware!'
Read more of them here: http://www.bikermatchmaking.com/Internet_Dating_Stories/eHarmony_Consumer_Complaints.htm
It's a FRAUD!!! Here are some of the common things that happen:
- They WILL renew your subscription without your authorization, so read the terms carefully!
- They will try to lure you in by sending you matches after you have cancelled. DO NOT FALL for the 7 Day trial period, because they will not refund your money. Their reason being that they only refund on the first time you subscribe.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Yahoo Dorectory Has NO Page Rank
Just a few weeks ago, people started noticing that the Yahoo Directory lost Google PageRank. Well, not the home page of the Yahoo Directory, but the inside directory listing pages. The pages that link to your site and, in the past, past PageRank and link juice.
I have browsed through the pages, even the pages closest to the top of the directory are showing nothing in terms of Google PageRank. For example, the arts section or the http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Business_to_Business/Communications_and_Networking/Internet_and_World_Wide_Web/Consulting
---
But that doesn't completely jive with me. I know I have personally linked to many of the non-redirected linked versions of the directory pages. Some of those pages should have PageRank, no? I am also a paying member on the directory, so could that be a reason why it was shut down?! Maybe Google started seeing Yahoo directory as paid links. But this is not just Yahoo who is experiencing this, other paid and non paid directories losing PageRank. Is ODP next?
So is the Yahoo Directory still passing value? I assume many would say yes. What is up with the zero PageRank score for all the internal pages? I don't think I will be renewing my membership there next year
I have browsed through the pages, even the pages closest to the top of the directory are showing nothing in terms of Google PageRank. For example, the arts section or the http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Business_to_Business/Communications_and_Networking/Internet_and_World_Wide_Web/Consulting
---
But that doesn't completely jive with me. I know I have personally linked to many of the non-redirected linked versions of the directory pages. Some of those pages should have PageRank, no? I am also a paying member on the directory, so could that be a reason why it was shut down?! Maybe Google started seeing Yahoo directory as paid links. But this is not just Yahoo who is experiencing this, other paid and non paid directories losing PageRank. Is ODP next?
So is the Yahoo Directory still passing value? I assume many would say yes. What is up with the zero PageRank score for all the internal pages? I don't think I will be renewing my membership there next year
Verizon Pulls Plug On Social Network, Reminds World It Had A Social Network
Breaking news: Verizon has a social network. You didn’t know about it? Neither did we.
That’s probably why they’re shutting it down and moving it to their Facebook page.
The moral? If you're not a social networking company, don't try to be a networking company. It's hard enough for the pros. This is good news for us. There is one less competitor to worry about
That’s probably why they’re shutting it down and moving it to their Facebook page.
The moral? If you're not a social networking company, don't try to be a networking company. It's hard enough for the pros. This is good news for us. There is one less competitor to worry about
Monday, June 2, 2008
Is Free Internet coming to U.S.?
It seems a lofty goal, but the FCC is exploring ways to bring free broadband to all Americans, according to a Reuters report.
The plan, which is the brainchild of FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, would allow regulators to auction off unused pieces of the 25 megahertz wireless spectrum. The winning bidder would be allowed to use the spectrum as they see fit, provided that access is free. The winning bidder would also be required to keep the network free of pornography.
"We're hoping there will be increased interest in the proposal; and because this will provide wireless broadband services to more Americans, it is certainly something we want to see," FCC spokesman Rob Kenny said.
But the CTIA, a trade group for U.S. wireless carriers, balked at the proposal, calling the free access requirement "too rigid."
Earlier this year, the FCC presided over a similar auction for wireless spectrum in the 700 MHz range. That process, which subjected carriers to open access rules, proved a difficult fight between traditional telecoms and Google. While Verizon Wireless won the bulk of the spectrum, many believe it was Google that won the war.
In the present battle, no company has emerged as a potential bidder. However, the winner of the spectrum -- should Martin's proposal be adopted -- would likely turn to advertising to monetize its investment.
The plan, which is the brainchild of FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, would allow regulators to auction off unused pieces of the 25 megahertz wireless spectrum. The winning bidder would be allowed to use the spectrum as they see fit, provided that access is free. The winning bidder would also be required to keep the network free of pornography.
"We're hoping there will be increased interest in the proposal; and because this will provide wireless broadband services to more Americans, it is certainly something we want to see," FCC spokesman Rob Kenny said.
But the CTIA, a trade group for U.S. wireless carriers, balked at the proposal, calling the free access requirement "too rigid."
Earlier this year, the FCC presided over a similar auction for wireless spectrum in the 700 MHz range. That process, which subjected carriers to open access rules, proved a difficult fight between traditional telecoms and Google. While Verizon Wireless won the bulk of the spectrum, many believe it was Google that won the war.
In the present battle, no company has emerged as a potential bidder. However, the winner of the spectrum -- should Martin's proposal be adopted -- would likely turn to advertising to monetize its investment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)