True gift of friendship:- What Salesforce, Apple and Star Trek have in common: Benioff’s gift to Jobs bears fruit

Image via CrunchBase

 

Upstart of the day—Three years before the death of Apple’s co-founder, Marc Benioff gave Steve Jobs a valuable gift by handing over the AppStore name and trademark. Now that app developers can create vanity URLs using the gifted domain, it’s worth acknowledging the legacy of the Salesforce founder’s gift.

 

Pay attention techies and Trekkies, flying under the media radar last week, Applelaunched custom short links (aka vanity URLs) under the AppStore.com domain. And Sunday, that domain—a gift from one billionaire chief executive to another—bore its first fruit, with what seems to be the first vanity app URL: appstore.com/StarTrekApp, for the upcomingStar Trek movie.

 

It turns out that when Steve Jobs announced the launch of the App Store back in 2008,Salesforce founder Marc Benioff was in the audience. Benioff, who owned both theAppStore domain and the trademark, committed one whopper of an act of kindness when he walked up to Jobs, right then and there, and gave him both.

 

“I have a gift for you,” Benioff told Jobs in aBloomberg interview. “I’m going to give you the trademark and the URL for AppStore because of all the help you gave me in 2003.”

 

That help went to the core of the business model for Salesforce (NYSE: CSM), which at the time Jobs described as an “enterprise application,” but which he told Benioff should be built into an entire ecosystem.

 

The application eventually launched as Salesforce’s AppExchange. Benioff also acquired the AppStore rights, which he handed to Jobs for free five years later.

 

For some perspective here, Sex.com (an app that is sort of like a Pinterest for porn) sold for a record-setting $13 million in 2010. Last year, the biggest domain sales were Investing.com ($2.45 million) and PersonalLoans.com ($1 million).

 

That the App Store is now a platform for more than 1,000,000 apps gives an idea of how valuable Benioff’s gift might actually be. In a time when Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has become a controversial”trademarker” of everything from rounded corners to the recessed lighting of its brick-and-mortar stores, the gift is a refreshing reminder of one act of intellectual generosity being rewarded by another.

 

Related articles

• AppExchange Seven Years On (enterpriseirregulars.com)
• CEO Marc Benioff Says Chatter Will Become Primary Interface For Salesforce, A Bold Yet Risky Move (techcrunch.com)
• Salesforce.com retools marketing message around ‘customer companies’ (techworld.com.au)
• Salesforce CEO Benioff Tries Out Some New Material (go.bloomberg.com)
• The Future of Business Is in Good Hands (domo.com)
• Salesforce unveils ‘customer company’ mantra: Can it deliver? (zdnet.com)
• Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff shows Boston how Obama won in 2012 (bizjournals.com)
• Marc Benioff Thanks IBM For Giving Him His Latest Marketing Spiel (CRM) (embargozone.com)
• Marc Benioff Talks Up Salesforce.com’s Strategy for the Mobile Arena (xconomy.com)
• The CEO Of SugarCRM Loves The Crazy Antics Of Archrival Marc Benioff (businessinsider.com)

 

Apple Products

Aperture

App Store

Apple TV

DigitalColor Meter

Final Cut Studio

Logic Studio

MacBook Air

Magic Mouse

MobileMe

OS X

OS X Lion

Ping

Safari

Siri

iAd

iCloud

iLife

iOS

iPad

iPad 2

iPad 2012

iPhone

iPhone 3G

iPhone 3GS

iPhone 4

iPhone 4S

iPhone 5

iPod

iTunes

iWork

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Apple

Started by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple has expanded from computers to consumer electronics over the last 30 years, officially changing their name from Apple Computer, Inc. to Apple, Inc. in January 2007.

Among the key offerings from Apple’s product line are: Pro line laptops (MacBook Pro) and desktops (Mac Pro), consumer line laptops (MacBook Air) and desktops (iMac), servers (Xserve), Apple TV, the Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server operating systems, the iPod, the iPhone (now available for sale in over 90 countries), and the iPad.

Recent Milestones

• 
  Apple acquired WiFiSLAM for $20M. (3/24/13)
  Posted 3/23/13 at 10:07pm via techcrunch.com
• 
  Apple acquired Particle. (10/18/12)
  Posted 10/17/12 at 9:20pm via techcrunch.com
• 
  Apple — Apple’s $707M, U.S. Sales Ban Filings Against Samsung Underscore One Of Apple’s Biggest Concerns (9/23/12) ³⁶
  Posted 9/23/12 at 6:35pm via techcrunch.com
• 
  Apple — Apple Stock Crosses $700 Per Share After Hours On The Strength Of iPhone 5 (9/17/12) ³⁷
  Posted 9/17/12 at 7:45pm via techcrunch.com
• 
  Apple — Apple Awarded $1.049 Billion In Damages As Jury Finds Samsung Infringed On Design And Software Patents (8/24/12) ³⁸
  Posted 8/24/12 at 10:05pm via techcrunch.com
• 
  Apple acquired AuthenTec for $356M. (7/27/12)
  Posted 7/27/12 at 5:03am via venturebeat.com
• 
  Apple — Apple Now Has 150 Million iCloud Users (7/24/12) ³⁹
  Posted 7/24/12 at 7:01pm via techcrunch.com
• 
  Apple added Hemanth Mantri as Summer Intern. (5/21/12)
  Posted 4/6/12 at 3:49pm
• 
  Apple added Michael Hintze as User Experience . (5/1/12)
  Posted 3/7/13 at 10:30pm
• 
  Apple added Angela Baxley as User Experience. (5/1/12)
  Posted 1/10/13 at 10:49pm
• 
  Apple added Karandeep Chawla as Specialist. (4/12/12)
  Posted 3/4/13 at 9:57am
• 
  Apple acquired Chomp. (2/23/12)
  Posted 2/23/12 at 6:14pm via techcrunch.com
• 
  Apple added Xande Macedo as Product Designer. (2/1/12)
  Posted 3/6/12 at 9:24pm
• 
  Apple invested in ELAN Microelectronics. (1/5/12)
  Posted 1/5/12 at 4:29am via techcrunch.com
• 
  Apple added Faisal Yaqub as Software Engineer. (1/1/12)
  Posted 12/2/12 at 6:33pm
• 
  Apple acquired Anobit Technologies for $450M. (12/13/11)

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Apple Shares Dip Below $400, Representing A 16-Month Low

WordPress.com Has Imported 15M Posts In The Last 30 Days, Remains A Top Safe Haven For Nomad Bloggers

Qatar Overview

Qatar, a former pearl-fishing centre and once one of the poorest Gulf states, is now one of the richest countries in the region, thanks to the exploitation of large oil and gas fields since the 1940s.

Dominated by the Al-Thani family for almost 150 years, the mainly barren country was a British protectorate until 1971, when it declared its independence after following suit with Bahrain and refusing to join the United Arab Emirates.

Overview

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media

In 1995 Crown Prince Hamad bin Khalifa deposed his father to become emir and since then he has introduced some liberal reforms.

AT-A-GLANCE Politics: Ruling monarch Sheikh Hamad – who became emir when he ousted his father – advocates greater political openness Economy: Qatar is one of the wealthiest countries in the region because of oil; the government has encouraged diversification International: Qatar owns the forthright satellite TV station al-Jazeera which has attracted a growing audience as well the displeasure of some neighbouring states Timeline

Press freedom has been extended and the Qatari satellite TV station Al Jazeera has become one of the most important broadcasters in the Arab world.

Elections in 1999 for a 29-member municipal council were the first in which Qatari women were allowed to vote and stand for office.

A constitution, providing for democratic reforms, came into force in 2005. On its heels, voting for a partially-elected parliament is expected to take place by 2007.

The population is small. Foreigners – including labourers attracted by a construction boom – outnumber natives. Oil money funds an all-embracing welfare state, with many services being free or heavily subsidised.

Possessing more than 15% of the world’s proven gas reserves, Qatar has ambitions to become a global energy giant.

 

Facts

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media

• Full name: The State of Qatar
• Population: 1.4 million (UN, 2009)
• Capital: Doha
• Area: 11,437 sq km (4,416 sq miles)
• Major language: Arabic
• Major religion: Islam
• Life expectancy: 75 years (men), 77 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 Riyal = 100 dirhams
• Main exports: Oil, gas
• GNI per capita: n/a
• Internet domain: .qa
• International dialling code: +974

 

Leaders

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media

Emir: Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah al-Thani

Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani (right) and his wife, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Misnad

In 1995 armed forces commander and Defence Minister Sheikh Hamad seized power from his father, Sheikh Khalifah Bin Hamad al-Thani, who was out of the country.

The new emir survived an attempted coup in 1996.

Later that year, Sheikh Hamad tried to take his father to court for the return of state funds he believed his father had kept. The dispute was settled out of court.

Since coming to power, Sheikh Hamad has stayed on as head of the armed forces and defence minister and has overseen Qatar’s military development.

 

Media

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media

The launch of 24-hour satellite TV news channel Al-Jazeera in late 1996 raised Qatar’s international profile. The station claims an Arabic-speaking audience of 40m.

Al-Jazeera is owned by the Qatari government. It can be outspoken on subjects deemed as sensitive in the Arab world, but it is careful not to criticise Qatar and its Gulf allies, specifically Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, it has had its bureaus closed in several Arab countries.

Al-Jazeera TV is known for its forthright style

The station became known worldwide after becoming the only channel allowed to report from Afghanistan – and the first to air recorded video statements by Osama Bin Laden – following the start of US aerial attacks in Afghanistan in October 2001. It is noted for its graphic coverage of the Iraq conflict.

A sister network, Al-Jazeera English, launched in November 2006. The news and current affairs network touts itself as the first Middle East-based English-language channel. It says it is available to one billion potential viewers via satellite and cable.

Qatar’s domestic broadcast media are state-controlled. Leading newspapers have links to the royal family and other notables.

Qatar formally lifted censorship of the media in 1995 and since then the press has been essentially free from government interference. However, social and political constraints make self-censorship commonplace.

BBC World Service radio in Arabic, Radio France Internationale, France’s Arabic-language radio service Monte Carlo Doualiya, UAE-based MBC and Radio Sawa from the US are available on FM in Doha.

The press

• Al-Watan (The Homeland) – daily
• Al-Rayah (The Banner) – daily
• Al-Sharq (The East) – daily
• Gulf Times – English-language
• The Peninsula – English-language
• Qatar Tribune – English-language

Television

• Al-Jazeera – influential pan-Arab satellite broadcaster, financed by the Qatar government
• Qatar TV – state-run; operates main Arabic service, Koran channel, English channel, satellite channel

Radio

• Qatar Broadcasting Service (QBS) – state-run, programmes in Arabic, English, French, Urdu

News agency

• Qatar News Agency – state-run

Zio-Podolsk Scandal – Save Our Souls – Part 2 #Nuclear

kracktivist

Zio-Podolsk: The Complete Story

By- CharlesDigges

It all started on May 2, 1919 as the repair assembly plant called the Steam-Engine. Repair of locomotives was carried out until 1930. A total of 863 locomotives repaired.

In 1931, the plant was converted to KES – Cracking-electric locomotive and in the same year, in a record time (for 3 months and 25 days), produced the first Soviet cracking unit for the petrochemical industry. In those years, the company, except for crackers, produced narrow-gauge steam locomotives, railroad cars, industrial and mining locomotives locomotives, tubing for the Moscow metro, and many other products.

At the request of the workers on April 8, 1936 the plant was named commissar of heavy industry, and the plant was called Podolsk Engineering Plant named after Ordzhonikidze (ZIO).

In 1941 the factory ceased production of civilian products (part of the equipment along with the workers had been evacuated…

View original post 1,121 more words

Zio-Podolsk Scandal – Save Our Souls Part – 3 #nuclear

kracktivist

Rosatom-owned company accused of selling shoddy equipment to reactors at home and abroad, pocketing profits

CharlesDigges, 28-02-2012

Russian Federal Prosecutors have accused a company owned by the country’s nuclear energy corporation, Rosatom, with massive corruption and manufacturing substandard equipment for nuclear reactors under construction both at home and abroad.

The ZiO-Podolsk machine building plant’s procurement director, Sergei Shutov, has been arrested for buying low quality raw materials on the cheap and pocketing the difference as the result of an investigation by the Federal Security Service, or FSB, the successor organization to the KGB.

It is not clear how many reactors have been impacted by the alleged crime, but reactors built by Russia in India, Bulgaria, Iran, China as well as several reactor construction and repair projects in Russia itself may have been affected by cheap equipment, given the time frame of works completed at the stations and…

View original post 1,166 more words

#India -Zio-Podolsk Scandal – Save Our Souls – Part -4 #nuclear

kracktivist

Zio-Podolsk and India Connection

 CharlesDigges

[1] February 9, 2011
“ZIO-Podolsk” and IR “ZIOMAR” a delegation of Indian firms WALCHANDNAGAR INDUSTRIES LTD (WIL)

The President of the Technology Centre of the company WALCHANDNAGAR INDUSTRIES LTD (WIL) Mr. N.M. Nadaf  led the Indian delegation, February 8 – 9, 2012 paid a visit to the machine-building plant “ZIO-Podolsk” and visited the EC “ZIOMAR.” The purpose of the visit – negotiations to establish a joint venture for the localization of equipment manufacturing plant in India. The talks brought together representatives of WALCHANDNAGAR, plant management and engineering company “ZIOMAR.” Company WALCHANDNAGAR, which consists of 3 factories of all kinds of equipment – from nuclear energy and space to boilers for the sugar industry, is actively developing its management plans – building a new plant for the production of heavy equipment. This reactor vessel, steam generators, etc.

During the two-day visit of Indian delegation guests…

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Google tool helps manage your digital afterlife ~ RT