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Software Companies - Merge or Die?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the skate-or-die dept.

pillageplunder writes "This article in Businessweek points out that large software companies like Siebel, BMC and Veritas are all warning that 2nd quarter results would be lower, and predicts a shakeout. According to the article, 'Investment bankers say half of the sector's 600 publicly traded companies are likely to be eliminated.' Ouch!"

3 of 278 comments (clear)

  1. Half? by Neil+Blender · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Once that happens, won't that mean about 75% of publicly traded companies will be gone since the dot com bust? A second round, I guess.

    I hope the company I work for never goes public. I'd rather stay small and slightly profitable than get a whole bunch of money and blow it.

  2. Why don't some companys just change their values? by Cyberhwk · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why don't companys just change their values instead of trying to screw people? There was an article about bad customers on slashdot earlier and I think a bigger problem is poor treatment of customers. Seriously look at all the marketing where there are large rebates instead of just marking the product down to a more reasonable rate. All the rebates done hoping the people won't be able to collect on them later. This isn't exactly friendly business. Large companies who's values are supposed to be integrity and people are firing their workers and trying to cut every corner just to raise their own stock options. Wouldn't it be better business to make better products and hire people from the countries that you are selling to instead of making products that break and sending your money to other countries. Aren't large companies in effect draining the economy that they are trying to tap with their current business plans? I think business should just try to do a few things to improve their products. 1)Make things right the first time. I can't tell you how many companies I've stopped buying from cause their products are flawed. 2) Value people. Give friendly customer support and stop trying to give every excuse in the book not to work. If you offer a warrenty you should honor it for everyone and not just big business.

  3. Evolution in action... by Gordonjcp · · Score: 5, Interesting
    The way we use software is changing, so the companies that produce software must change. It's like the British motorcycle industry. Right up until the 1960s, you could buy one of a broad range of British bikes, or little scooters from Italy. When the Japanese motorcycles started to be imported, people realised that they could own a motorbike that was fun, cheap, went round corners, stopped, didn't piss oil everywhere and didn't need near-continuous maintenance.


    Open-source is the Japanese motorcycle industry. At the moment, we're about where motorcycles were in the late 1970s - they're pretty good, and they work and work well. But we haven't reached the Honda CG125 (a million pizza-delivery boys can't be wrong), or the mighty mighty Fireblade, yet...