Comments on: R.I.P. Orange Labs Cambridge (2002-2009): A Story of Opportunities Missed http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/10/29/r-i-p-orange-labs-cambridge-2002-2009-a-story-of-opportunities-missed/ Business + Technology in the Exponential Economy Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:54:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: peHUB » peHUB First Read http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/10/29/r-i-p-orange-labs-cambridge-2002-2009-a-story-of-opportunities-missed/comment-page-1/#comment-101411 peHUB » peHUB First Read Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:46:09 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=48202#comment-101411 [...] Xconomy tries to understand why European wireless company Orange shut its labs in Cambridge, Massachusetts: “It was [...] [...] Xconomy tries to understand why European wireless company Orange shut its labs in Cambridge, Massachusetts: “It was [...]

]]> By: Dave http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/10/29/r-i-p-orange-labs-cambridge-2002-2009-a-story-of-opportunities-missed/comment-page-1/#comment-89481 Dave Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:43:20 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=48202#comment-89481 If you tell how Wildfire began, you should also tell how it ended. From 2000 to 2002, Orange invested heavily in Wildfire. Dozens of new people were hired at generous salaries, and the company moved from one cramped floor into a spacious, custom-renovated three-story building. In May 2003, Orange closed this office, effectively ending Wildfire development. A few employees followed Rich Miner to Cambridge, and the rest (about 140) were let go. Did the people interviewed for the article give any reasons for this reversal? If you tell how Wildfire began, you should also tell how it ended.

From 2000 to 2002, Orange invested heavily in Wildfire. Dozens of new people were hired at generous salaries, and the company moved from one cramped floor into a spacious, custom-renovated three-story building.

In May 2003, Orange closed this office, effectively ending Wildfire development. A few employees followed Rich Miner to Cambridge, and the rest (about 140) were let go.

Did the people interviewed for the article give any reasons for this reversal?

]]> By: Surj http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2009/10/29/r-i-p-orange-labs-cambridge-2002-2009-a-story-of-opportunities-missed/comment-page-1/#comment-89183 Surj Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:44:42 +0000 http://www.xconomy.com/?p=48202#comment-89183 It's a shame. I worked there and Ilya was right. The cultural (French, UK,US) differences killed any reasonable chance of ideas working. Sad part is that we prototyped services similar to twitter in 2003 and ideas that we see others succeeding with now. Truly brilliant crew there. It's rather like Orange created their Xerox PARC story. Amazing. ( Xerox PARC created many of the things we see now in computing - ethernet, the PC, the Laser printer, the Desktop Interface - they made zero dollars from it, as talent just walked out the door frustrated) It’s a shame. I worked there and Ilya was right. The cultural (French, UK,US) differences killed any reasonable chance of ideas working. Sad part is that we prototyped services similar to twitter in 2003 and ideas that we see others succeeding with now. Truly brilliant crew there. It’s rather like Orange created their Xerox PARC story. Amazing. ( Xerox PARC created many of the things we see now in computing – ethernet, the PC, the Laser printer, the Desktop Interface – they made zero dollars from it, as talent just walked out the door frustrated)

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