My daughter is becoming quite proficient at putting together puzzles. She doesn’t do it the way I would, matching the red of the mermaid Ariel’s hair with another piece that also shows red hair. Instead, I think she actually memorizes how the puzzle pieces fit together. She picks up the puzzle piece, stares at it a few seconds, and then lines it up in its proper spot. When it works, I just stand back in awe at how brilliant she is.
Every now and then she gets frustrated because a piece doesn’t fit. Then I get to jump in and explain my time-honored strategy about looking for a red puzzle piece to match another red puzzle piece that already has been laid down.
Our different strategies to puzzle-building remind me more and more of today’s consolidating telecommunications landscape.
I’m still confused about why MCI WorldCom bought SkyTel. Yes, yes, I think SkyTel is a great company. John Stupka is a recognized leader in this industry, as is Jai Bhagat. The paging carrier makes money, is well-respected among business users and is at the forefront of the two-way messaging business.
This just isn’t the wireless play I would have imagined. MCI WorldCom, it seems, is putting a puzzle together much like my daughter does. The company sees the bigger picture in a way that conventional wisdom hasn’t.
MCI WorldCom is excited about SkyTel’s fixed wireless possibilities as well as SkyTel’s expertise in wireless data. Opportunities in the fixed wireless arena are making more than one telecom company salivate-and buy, buy, buy. In recent months, MCI WorldCom picked up CAI Wireless and Prime One, two fixed wireless companies, as has rival Sprint Corp., which bought the wireless cable assets of People’s Choice TV.
Last week, Qwest Communications Inc. took a $90 million equity stake in Advanced Radio Telecom Corp., a move to help ART speed up the construction of its fixed wireless networks. Also, Liberty Media Group, headed by cable TV veteran John Malone, announced plans to purchase Associated Group Inc., largely for its interest in Teligent Inc.
I suspect MCI WorldCom’s puzzle-putting-together process will become clearer once another piece or two are added. Then, we’ll either stand back in awe or rush in to explain how sometimes the more traditional ways make sense.
