Sun Boss Rips Microsoft .Net
Sun CEO Scott McNealy is never shy when talking about archrival Microsoft, particularly when talking to developers, such as at last weeks JavaOne show.
In his keynote, McNealy urged developers to unite against Microsoft. At one point, he spoke of retiring, but he refuses to leave behind a world run by Microsoft.
“I want people to be aware of the potential for standards to be hijacked by predatory monopolists,” he said. “The most important issue is that Microsoft wants to be the service provider for .Net; everyone can be a service provider for Java. … I cant leave my kids to a world of Control-Alt-Delete and MSN.”
FCC to Return $2.8 Million
The Federal Communications Commission will give back $2.8 million to wireless carriers that made down payments on wireless licenses that the government tried to wrangle from bankrupt carriers NextWave and UrbanComm-North Carolina.
After 13 carriers, including Verizon, plunked down $3.3 million in down payments, the courts ruled that the FCC could not seize the licenses from NextWave.
The case is still in the courts, but the carriers said they have lost millions in interest on the money and want it back.
The FCC said last week it will return $2.8 million—about 85 percent of the money.
EarthLink Founder Guilty
Over 15 years, reed Slatkin swindled more than 800 investors out of $593 million by portraying himself as a successful financial adviser, according to federal prosecutors.
Instead, Slatkin, who co-founded ISP EarthLink, created a giant Ponzi scheme, paying investors with money raised from other investors. He no longer has ties to EarthLink.
Prosecutors last week said Slatkin will plead guilty to 15 felony charges and accept responsibility for $254 million in losses. He faces up to 105 years in prison and is scheduled to appear in court next month.