The Potential: In 2005, Sprint paid a whopping $36 billion for a majority stake in fellow telecom company Nextel to boost its user base and revenues and create a wireless powerhouse. At least that was the idea.
Why it Failed: Both companies thought they would be able to quickly merge customers and catch up to Verizon (VZ) and AT&T. But cultural clashes and incompatible wireless technologies made that impossible. Nextel executives began leaving soonafter the merger. Throughout 2008 and 2009 there were billion dollar losses, thousands of layoffs and the company's stock plummeted.
These unlucky seven mergers -- involving everyone from Apple to Microsoft to Google -- will hopefully never see the light of day.
Tech titans are often one of a kind characters. But some Silicon Valley kingpins have virtual twins lurking in Hollywood and Washington, D.C. Who might play Marc Benioff or Carly Fiorina? Here's a look.
The hero and the villain. It's the age-old formula that pervades today's reality TV showdowns, the shenanigans of professional wrestling and cinematic classics like Star Wars. Tech is no different, with its passionate heroes who balance profit with innovation and social responsibility, and the money-mad, egomaniac villains who simply cannot be trusted. Here's a look at tech's good guys and bad guys.
Many CEOs make the big bucks, but when you're the top exec of a technology giant and can exercise stock options, your wealth can reach the stratosphere. Led by a couple of guys named Larry, each of these eight tech CEOs has a net worth that will make your head spin.
Doing an about-face on key issues: It's not just for politicians anymore. Tech honchos like Ellison, Schmidt and Ballmer do it from time to time -- even the mighty Steve Jobs is guilty.
The origins of iconic tech products. High-tech hotels. The top 10 cities for tech workers. The silliest BlackBerry accessories. Get it all right here and much, much more.
