Big news from me: Future Platforms has been acquired by Vexed Digital.
Vexed is the agency that my old boss, Richard Davies, set up a few years after leaving Good Technology, and the core team there is the old team from GT. My first foray into mobile in 1999 was when I set up GT Unwired, a division of GT which Just Did Mobile, so this feels a little bit like a return home for FP.
Vexed are talented and experienced folks with some great customers and stronger management skills than I've been able to bring to FP. They also know us well - Richard has sat on our advisory board and provided a shoulder to cry on, on occasion. I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do together. The is *definitely* going to be the year that mobile takes off ;)
We're going to start by harmonising where we can (sharing tools and processes, mainly), and are already collaborating on some pleasantly large projects, but FP will remain a separate entity and brand - based in Brighton and employing everyone who works there today. We'll also have facilities in London available to us, which might please those of our customers who have trouble enjoying the Brighton/Victoria line.
As for me: I'm going to carry on working for the business part time, and am filling otherwise empty hours with a return to academia: last week I started on the Advanced Computer Science MSc which Sussex University have begun offering this year.
The ride's not over yet, but it feels remiss of me not to thank everyone who's worked hard to get FP to this point: that'll be everyone who's worked for us, everyone who's still there, and our advisors over the years. In particular I should call out my original co-conspirator Mr Gooby (who shares the blame for FP) and Mr Falletti, who's kept me upright and out of trouble for the last 6 years.
Congrats Tom, Richard and all at FP!
Posted by: Jaygooby | October 10, 2011 at 02:07 PM
Congratulations & good luck
Posted by: Robshepherd | October 10, 2011 at 02:09 PM
Wow. Good luck with the next phase Tom :)
Posted by: will mcinnes | October 10, 2011 at 02:23 PM
Congratulations Tom, well done! Bloody students...
Posted by: Wolf | October 10, 2011 at 02:29 PM
Congratulations (I think). Hope it's all done for reasons of horrible self interest and not economic pressure :-) and you're right it does seem like mobile might take off. Although q4 2012 seems more realistic
Posted by: Iain Tait | October 10, 2011 at 02:35 PM
Great news chap. Wishing you guys all the best!
Posted by: Mojorein | October 10, 2011 at 03:26 PM
Congratulations Tom, fantastic news. Pass on my regards to the team and keep up the great work.
Posted by: James Whatley | October 10, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Congratulations, Tom – and best of luck with the Master's :)
Posted by: Aral Balkan | October 10, 2011 at 03:58 PM
Congratulations Tom (and others)!
Now where are you gonna do your internship… ;)
Posted by: Patrick Sansom | October 10, 2011 at 05:43 PM
Wow, congrats Tom and the rest of FP!
Posted by: Carlo | October 10, 2011 at 06:48 PM
Thanks folks. Iain: it's combination of self- and company interest. I've taken FP as far as I can take it, Vexed are the right people to run it now. You and I should catch up some time, geography permitting ;)
Patrick: I have a long-outstanding request to intern at Yiibu, as it happens ;)
Posted by: Tom Hume | October 10, 2011 at 08:55 PM
Congratulations Tom and the whole team. It's always been a pleasure working with you and I'm sure it will be same going forward.
Posted by: Zabetta | October 11, 2011 at 11:33 AM
congrats Tom and all your team :) great for you!
Posted by: AjitJaokar | October 12, 2011 at 09:29 AM
Hi Tom,
Congratulations and good luck!
Sindo
Posted by: Sindo | October 13, 2011 at 09:38 AM
Congrats to all at FP!
Posted by: Eortiz | October 15, 2011 at 06:21 PM
Somehow missed your exciting news last week, Tom. Another fantastic Brighton success story! Well done to you and all the FP team and enjoy the foray back to academia and a more relaxed pace of life (possibly).
Posted by: Alexcowell | October 19, 2011 at 08:15 PM
Without hard work nothing is possible, now you are in position of this because of hard work only. Hope you and your FP team get success to what you are looking forward.
Posted by: Software Development India | October 20, 2011 at 04:33 AM