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Facebook’s IPO filing: the opening shot heard round the world

Summary:

Gentlemen, start your engines. Facebook filed for its initial public offering on Feb. 1. Expectations are that in May it wants to raise $5 billion, which would make it the biggest tech IPO since Google’s in 2004. Valuations and timing may shift, but as Om says, Facebook will be doing the mother of all IPOs, with effects on hiring and acquisitions that will ripple throughout the startup and tech communities and at Facebook itself. This report outlines the myriad issues at play in such a big move, from examining how CEO Mark Zuckerberg wants to rewire the world to understanding the changing implications for the company’s infrastructure dependency. But no matter the angle, one thing is clear: The company’s filing has the potential to change the game for the tech industry. Companies mentioned in this report include Facebook, Zynga and Google. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial.

  1. Table of contents
  2. Introduction — by David Card
  3. Facebook wants to rewire the way the world works — by Mathew Ingram
    1. A more networked world — and one company at the center
  4. Facebook just revealed its Kryptonite: mobile — by Kevin Fitchard
    1. A problem with an easy solution
  5. Facebook Credits: a shaky media platform — by Paul Sweeting
  6. In one crucial way, Facebook is still a private company — by Mathew Ingram
    1. Zuckerberg retains control forever, even after his death
    2. Is giving the CEO ultimate control good or bad?
  7. Investors and users beware: Facebook is all about IT — by Derrick Harris
  8. Why Facebook’s S-1 barely scratches the surface of its infrastructure dependency — by Jo Maitland
  9. Facebook needs ad initiatives with quicker payoffs — by David Card
    1. Making Facebook ads work
    2. Facebook should be more opportunistic
  10. What a Facebook IPO means for Silicon Valley — by Om Malik
  11. About David Card
  12. About Mathew Ingram
  13. About Kevin Fitchard
  14. About Paul Sweeting
  15. About Derrick Harris
  16. About Jo Maitland
  17. About Om Malik
  18. About GigaOM Pro
  19. Further reading