Most companies are out of good ideas. Thats why share prices are severely depressed. It is evident that well-known companies havent had much to offer in terms of a promising future, Motorola has been struggling for many years to get in touch with the market, and take Microsoft for example: Management focused on bringing Vista to the market and its not very good, it doesnt seem to have a substantial edge, and Microsoft for too long has been focused on things in the market that dont matter that much come on, browser wars, they let Google rule a profitable ad market and then Google eventually introduces a browser (Chrome). Now Microsoft wants to put the future promise on Windows Mobile 7, fine, but now it has to compete with Googles Android mobile OS this recovery thing may take awhile to sort out and maybe there will be another new and powerful challenger. I think Ballmer is a smart guy, but shouldnt he be preparing for the semantic web? I bet the next new market leaders will be able to use the semantic web in meaningful/powerful ways that change our online experience. And with a lack of promising ideas from established companies it is evident why share prices are stagnating. Nobody wants to invest in the companies that made yesterdays news unless theyve got something worthwhile to engage in which aids in restoring them to glory.