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In The Balance

In the Balance: The Value of Technology

14/04/2012

The Value of Technology

BBC World Service - In the Balance, The Value of Technology

As Facebook's buys Instagram are we seeing another technology bubble in the making?

As Facebook buys photosharing company Instagram, Lesley Curwen and guests discuss whether we're seeing another technology bubble in the making.

Facebook's decision to pay $1billion for the  photosharing company Instagram, a tiny start up  that has never made a profit, has led  to questions over whether we're seeing another technology bubble in the making.  

Are the valuations of tech companies getting out of hand again? 

At the worst, could this be evidence of a new and dangerous tech bubble, recalling the wild and woolly days of April 2000 when the wheels first came off the tech dream? 

Or are we in a new world now where these figures really do reflect the potential of great businesses with great ideas?

Lesley Curwen debates the issues with Jos White a Partner at venture capital company: Notion Capital; Herman Chinery-Hesse in Accra, the founder of SOFT tribe - Ghana's biggest software company  and entrepreneur Paddy Cosgrave, creator of F.ounders, an annual gathering of some of the worlds leading tech company founders, described by Bloomberg as' Davos for Geeks'.  

And comedian Colm O Regan kicks off a discussion on whether it's a good idea to be "always on". Or should you turn your mobile phone off sometimes?

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