Xero -- Engadget Mobile

xero posts

ROK's acquisition of Xero officially now a vapor-acquisition

by Chris Ziegler posted Feb 28th 2008 @ 11:28PM

We certainly can't give Xero Mobile credit for launching any actual product -- because they haven't -- but we're all about giving credit where credit is due, and in Xero's case, we've gotta hand it to 'em for continuing the magnificent vaporware parade for as long as they have. It's now been nearly 14 months since the ad revenue-supported MVNO had originally claimed to be targeting a launch, and as far as we can tell, they're still doing something behind the scenes; that "something" may have absolutely nothing to do with actually launching, but hey, announcing partnerships and potential acquisitions must pay the bills, we suppose. Speaking of potential acquisitions, suitor ROK Entertainment has unceremoniously dropped its bid this week without giving any rhyme or reason, leading us to wonder where this leaves Xero's liquidity -- do they have enough money to continue trying to sell themselves, let alone launch an MVNO?

Xero Mobile in yet another round of acquisition talks

by Chris Ziegler posted Oct 1st 2007 @ 10:06AM

The fact that former Gizmondo peeps are still associated with the vaporware artists at Xero Mobile would send most would-be investors sprinting in the opposite direction, we'd think, but what do we know? After announcing a series of stock swaps, partnerships with companies we've never heard of (whose execs just happen to be on Xero's management team), and failed buyouts, ROK Entertainment Group -- which offers video downloads to phones, apparently -- has inexplicably announced an interest in acquiring the perpetual hype machine. If we had to guess, we'd figure that there's some sort of shady business deal going on behind the scenes that lets parties involved make yet another obscene profit without actually launching any actual product, but we've gotta ask: just how many times can the same team of scam artists run the same con and continue to pad their wallets without getting busted? All we need to see, Xero, is a functional website where we can sign up for one of your ad revenue-subsidized plans you've been touting for ages, and we'll start to believe. Honest!

Blyk: another MVNO enters the ads-for-minutes fold

by Chris Ziegler posted Nov 3rd 2006 @ 6:59PM

We're not entirely sure what chemical they've put in the water in the past couple years to make everyone suddenly think that cellphone users want to get blasted with ads in exchange for airtime -- but alas, please welcome Blyk (not to be confused with "bilk") to the party. The upstart Finnish MVNO, put together by an ex-Nokia exec, looks to target young Europeans aged 16 to 24 as soon as next summer by hooking them up with questionnaires that will allow advertisers to send ultra-targeted ads based on lifestyle, hobbies, and preferences. Blyk claims that most handsets already on the market will be compatible with its service -- even those without graphical displays -- suggesting that most ads will initially fly over SMS. The company is making a big stink over the fact that they're the first to suggest that this is a good idea; we think Xero Mobile would beg to differ, but that's one chicken we won't be counting 'til it hatches.

[Via Smart Mobs]

Xero allegedly in talks to sell company

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 21st 2006 @ 12:55PM

In an announcement that (as far as we can tell) brings them no closer to having an actual -- what's the word we're looking for? -- product, would-be MVNO Xero Mobile is saying that they've "entered into discussions" to be bought out by a management company. To refresh everyone's memory, Xero is that fabulous group of ex-Gizmondo employees looking to adapt the oh-so-successful Gizmondo business model to mobile phones, apparently with the goal of providing free phone service to college students. Xero CEO du jour Roger Davis says "We're excited about the opportunity to work with the new team," which we think is execu-speak for "We're excited to watch this press release marginally boost our share price, dump our holdings, and forget this whole thing ever happened," but we suppose we can't really be sure until that magic January 2007 date when Xero claims they'll be launching.

[Via Techdirt]

Update: RCR News indicates that the sale is now a done deal. A new operation going by "Advanced Mobile" has apparently completed a stock swap with Xero, though exact terms of the deal weren't disclosed. What's not immediately clear is whether Xero's existing executive team of ex-Gizmondo whiz kids will find their way to Advanced Mobile or whether the January '07 launch is still on, but we imagine we'll get hit up with some press releases from these folks before too long.

Watch out: Xero merges, now a publicly traded company

by Ryan Block posted Apr 11th 2006 @ 10:31PM

Well wouldn't you know it, the same people behind Gizmondo who're now behind Xero Mobile (those that aren't in jail, anyway) have found a way to bypass an IPO in getting Xero as a publicly traded company. Basically they merged with Desi TV, a publicly traded company (that couldn't dig up even a little info on), swapped the ticker symbol to XRMB, and started trading on the Over-The-Counter Bulletin Board securities market. Oh, did we mention the first thing they did with their stock was split it 25-to-1? 25 to freaking 1, man! Peter Lilley, CEO of Xero Mobile (and former head of Gizmondo's Smart Adds division) seemed pretty stoked about "implementing [their] ground-breaking business plan." Uh, would that be the same business plan that sunk his former game company and lost a half a billion dollars? Right, dude. Investors beware; remember those who learned a hard lesson about that fateful UK-based game company that seemed eager to cash in on VCs and work a pump n' dump stock scam on all y'all.