The number 13 is just one of those superstitious numbers. For some, like myself, it is a number to embrace and cherish. For others, however, 13 is a scary number thatshould be avoided at all costs. For our 2000 Comet Award winners, the latter was certainly true. After we closed our inaugural Comet Award issue, number 13 on our list,
RadioLAN, lost its battle to gain supremacy in the wireless LAN space and closed its doors.
So now you're asking: Why mention RadioLAN in the same issue where the second set of Comet award winners gets highlighted? The answer to that question is simple. The selection and demise of RadioLAN shows the true power of the Comet Awards.
In such a tumultuous market, it's tough to predict who will and will not survive. It's tough to pick why company A makes it while company B does not. The reality is that a number of factors come into play. Technology is certainly one. Market vision is another. Risk taking is yet another. And, let's not forget about luck.
But that's where the Comet Awards shine. These awards symbolize our editorial team's take on the companies that have the vision, the technology, and the risk taking mentality required to steer their way through the communication market and turn into the big players of tomorrow. This is our view of the companies that are small- to medium-sized players of the comm industry today, but could be tomorrow's big movers and shakers.
Sometimes, we'll get it right. Just look at Samsung's wireless handset division. After winning the award last year, this division continued to shine and gained the distinction of being the number one CDMA mobile phone manufacturer in the US in 2000.
Sometimes we'll pick a company that gets snapped up. That was the case for MMC Networks. Just after receiving the 2000 Comet Award, well-known AMCC acquired MMC, gaining key net processing and switch fabric capabilities.
Sometimes we'll just be flat out wrong. RadioLAN is the poster child here. Even with the backing of industry stalwarts Cisco and Intel, RadioLAN could not gain acceptance for its technology. (Although it's important to note that a group of investors have bought RadioLAN's assets and are trying to relaunch the company).
But no matter what the outcome, the companies highlighted in the pages that follow are some of the hottest companies to watch in the communication market today. These companies are the risk takers in the market. These are the companies that bring fresh perspectives on how communication systems and equipment are developed.
As we did last year, we have high hopes for our 2001 Comets (Just so you know, Mayan Networks holds the distinction of being number 13 this year. We'll update you on its status next September). But only time will tell who will survive, who will be gobbled up, and who will disappear. Until then, however, sit back and enjoy!
-- rkeenan@cmp.com
