I'm Selling These Web Sites, Moving to the USA, and I Got a Job Working for HTC. Any Questions?

[Jason Dunn]

<p>I've been writing and re-writing this post in my head over the past couple of months, and that headline was the best I could come up with. It's not easy to encapsulate one of the most significant changes in my life in a single sentence. Now let's unpack that bombshell I've just dropped...</p><h1>The HTC Job</h1><p>I've been working with <a href="http://www.htc.com/www" target="_blank">HTC</a>, the mobile phone and tablet maker, since August 1st of this year. Being a long-time fan of Microsoft's efforts in the mobile space - and largely tying my career to those efforts, for better or worse - I've watched HTC grow from being a nameless, brandless, tiny Taiwanese ODM making Palm-sized PCs/Pocket PCs to the mobile powerhouse they are today. I've always had tremendous admiration for HTC as a company and loved their products, so when someone I knew from Microsoft got a job with HTC in late 2010, I reached out and we started talking. The rest, as they say, is history. I believe HTC is uniquely positioned to do some amazing things in the mobile space over the next few years and I'm excited to be a part of it!</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//wpt/auto/1317018016.usr1.png" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>Thoughts Media is currently a vendor for HTC USA, and come October 1st, I'll be a full-time employee. I have an H1B work visa, and after closing the sale of my house this weekend (phew!), I'll be moving in the near future to the Bellevue, Washington area with my wife, our&nbsp;two year old son and our dog, and starting my new career. To add a little extra stress into my life, we're also building a new house and will be in temporary lodging until it's finished. Oh, did I mention this is the first corporate job I've held in 13 years? This is the single biggest career transition I've ever gone through.<MORE /></p><p>What am I doing for HTC? I'm a part of their social team - the team that focuses on HTC customers via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/htc" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/htc" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and other communities. My title is Senior Manager of HTC Communities. I'm creating something special for them that, when the time is right, you'll hear about in a very big way. The job couldn't be more well-suited to my skill-set if I had created it myself. I'm massively excited about the opportunities I'll have at HTC, and my admiration for them as a company has only grown since I've been on the inside. A big shout-out to my awesome team at HTC for making a slightly bewildered Canuck feel right at home.</p><p>Effective October 1st, I'll also be retiring from the <a href="https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/aboutmvp" target="_blank">Microsoft MVP program</a>. This ends a 14 consecutive year run that has been profoundly rewarding on both a professional and personal level. I became a Windows CE MVP when I was 22 years old; I've been an MVP for more of my adult life than not, so it was a big decision to remove my name from being renewed for the next year. I have some amazing memories and made some great friends being a part of the program, and I'm forever grateful to Microsoft for allowing me to be a part of it.</p><p>You may have noticed my recent posts about HTC on <a href="http://www.windowsphonethoughts.com" target="_blank">Windows Phone Thoughts</a> or <a href="http://www.androidthoughts.com" target="_blank">Android Thoughts</a> have contained zero commentary - just the facts. It's been difficult to try and keep the two worlds separate, which leads me to...</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//wpt/auto/1317018037.usr1.png" style="border: 0;" /></p><h1>Selling the Thoughts Media Network</h1><p>Months before I started seriously talking to HTC, I was exploring the sale of my Web sites. I've said no to several offers over the years, but it's now time to sell. I've loved running these sites since launching my first one (Pocket PC Thoughts) an incredible 11 years ago, but I've felt for a couple of years now that I needed a career change. When you stop acquiring new skills at a job, and you feel like you've gotten all the experience out of it that you can, it's time to look for something different.</p><p>I say this with no sense of exaggeration: it has been one of the great joys in my life working with the amazing volunteers who keep things humming across all six of my sites, and I'm forever indebted to them - and to you, our awesome community - for giving me the ability to do this for so long. I'll have a more eloquent farewell message when I finally sign off for good, but this was easily one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. Leaving my creation - <em>our creation</em> - in the hands of someone else is no small thing.</p><p>The logical question is "Who's buying the Web sites?". Right now I'm looking for a buyer for all six sites in the network - I'm in talks with several people/companies, but nothing has been finalized yet. If you're interested in taking over a network that has been finely tuned like a racing car, staffed with amazing volunteers that are ready and willing to work with a new owner, <a href="http://www.thoughtsmedia.com/about.php" target="_blank">please contact me directly</a>.</p><p>Serious inquiries only please, but the selling price of the network might be less than you think. Let's just say I'm a motivated seller because it's time for me to move on and jump in with both feet at HTC. <strong>I'll be accepting offers over the next seven days</strong>, then making my decision, so if you're interested please let me know. The ideal buyer is someone who has a passion for technology, community, and an entrepreneurial spirit for making things grow. Oh, and being a little brash and opinionated can't hurt!</p><p>Comments? Questions? Thoughts? Let me hear them...</p>

[leslietroyer]

Congratulations!! Let me know if you want a tour of the breweries in the area - or go on an eastern washington wine tour... This is a great area - and don't treat our breatherin from the north with tooo much distain.

Felow Northwester

Leslie Troyer

[PhatCohiba]

Congrats Jason.

I'm happy to hear about your continued success and wish you only the best. Good luck with the sale.

-John

[paschott]

That's some huge news! Congratulations and welcome to the land where all of the MS services you've been missing for the last decade or so will work! ;-)

You'll be missed in the PPC/WM/WP community - I still remember seeing your posts on the old usenet forums way back in the early days. I hope you still get a chance to contribute or at least chime in every now and then, not necessarily with your new work, but just to get your feedback.

I hope the transition goes smoothly for you and that you get settled in quickly.

[digity]

Congratulations and welcome to the Seattle area! Good to hear a fellow I'll been following for almost a decade is moving across the lake from me! Good luck!

[Sven Johannsen]

Congrats Jason. Been a fan of HTC myself, even back when no-one knew it was them behind the brand on the front of the device. Looking forward to the upcoming Titan. Please convince them to do a Windows Tablet, though I know your heart wouldn't really be in it ;) With a real stylus BTW.

Best of luck to you. I've been hanging around Thoughts forums for so long I almost feel like my landlord of multiple years just told me he is selling the house.

[nosaturn]

Congrats sir!

Your devotion to PocketPC was always great, and it was fun to work with you and the couple of times I did. Good to see you are going to HTC because they are a solid operation. I almost got in once, but will have to try again later ;)

-Brian Haley

[Tim Williamson]

Wow, that's some big news Jason! My first real smartphone was the T-Mobile Dash (aka the HTC Excalibur), it was a really awesome phone at the time, and seeing what HTC is doing lately seems really innovative. I hope you have success in the new job! :)

[jgrnt1]

Congrats, Jason! You will be sorely missed.

I joined PPCT in 2002, after I switched from a Palm IIIxe to an iPAQ 3650, and have followed your sites ever since. I've owned one HTC device -- the Cingular/AT&T 8525. I had a lot of fun with it, continually tweaking my customizations and often running custom ROMs from xda-developers.

For portable devices, I'm pretty entrenched with Apple now -- my third iPhone (I update with each new generation) and an iPad, but I'm always looking as new stuff comes out. It will be interesting to see what HTC can do. They've been on a roll lately.

I'll stick around, so I can see how the Thoughts sites do under new ownership. Heck...maybe I should buy them, quit the restaurant business and become a media mogul. :)

[timmy]

Hi Jason!

Wow that's some changes, but I want to wish you good luck with your new challenges and opportunities.

I have like some other people been around since 2002'ish and I have immensely enjoyed reading your reviews, opinions, participated in your giveaways etc.

However I actually have felt that something was going on...it has been a little too quiet on the site lately. Good to know it was for positive reasons!

I can only hope that some dedicated person takes over and continues your good job so that this community lives on.

Good luck and hope you will have a great time at HTC! Too bad I just bought a Sony Ericsson Ray device which is actually great ;) but my colleagues have HTC's almost all of them, Desire, Incredible S, Desire HD...

[Inventor]

Thanks for all of the work you have done over the years. Its like hearing your local coffee shop owner is selling, still in shock over here.

PS: I have never owned a HTC unit before (mostly HP/Samsung stuff) but because this post my next device will be a HTC, make sure they know that when you start (you already sold one). In respect for THE MAN!!

Also since HTC is the only OEM still selling WM 6.5 units... ;)

Best of luck, it only gets better!

Inventor/Fellow Canuck

[shanks]

Congratulations Jason! You will be missed, I wish you all the best in your future. Have been following you since the Palm PC/Windows CE user groups days to chasing the Compaq iPaq etc :). How far we have gotten in the mobile platform since those days!

--shankar

[Robert Levy]

Jason, I'm really excited for you taking such a big step.

I want to thank you for everything you've done for the community and for me personally. Many many years ago I was a kid who religiously followed PPCT. At my first MVP Summit 10 years ago, I was awestruck with meeting you - my first encounter with an "online celebrity" :) At the end of that week, I was really blown away when you pulled me aside and asked if I wanted to to take on a Managing Editor roll and work with you to launch Smartphone Thoughts.

I was just a kid with no relevant experience at the time but you showed confidence in me and entrusted me with responsibility to lead the team and build relationships with readers & partners. That's a small blip in the history of the Thoughts empire but it made a huge difference in my career: You set a great example for me and gave me the opportunity to learn early in life that with just smarts+passion, I too could build lasting relationships and make awesome things happen in a variety of fields.

I'm grateful for all the great content you've published over the years, but more importantly I'm thankful for being able to count you as a mentor and a friend.

-R

[Paragon]

Wow congratulations!!!

This is a great move for you. I don't think HTC could find a better person for the job. You have put countless hours into, not just this site, but the whole mobile community, from user groups to the MVP Program, and onto Mobius. Not to mention putting up with unruly types like me on your site. You should be proud. This is a great position for you.....damn....I'm jealous!

Best of luck!
Dave Evans

[Hans Nieuwenhuis]

Hi Jason,

Thanks for all the time you've invested in your websites, helping us to become more knowledgeable regarding mobile devices. I was reading your Pocket PC site already before I bought my iPaq 3970. Now I'm using an HTC HD7 (and looking forward to the Titan :)

Good luck with all those big changes in your life and that of your family!

[NSILMike]

Congratulations, and best of luck to you, Jason. Sounds like a tremendous opportunity.
Regards,
NSILMike
(Zune MVP)

[Espiox]

Thanks for all the great posts over the years Jason, particularly your Zune coverage.

[hummingbirdhill]

You go, Jason!

Thank you kindly for alllllll your forums' info, opinions, and advice from which I've constantly benefited since I purchased my initial iPAQ---the 5455.

May God richly bless you and your family in your new community.

P.S. I'm so very happy to now understand why the ThoughtsMedia forums have been a bit slow the last few months; I've been completely puzzled. :)

[BobWitt]

Jason - best wishes to you and yours...

From a reader from all the way back to the Velo 1...

Bob Wittmann

[John Cody]

Congrats Jason - hopefully we might bump into each other again at one of the CES shows.

Good luck with your new position.

[T_Scheen]

Thanks for all these years of devotion, comitment and and all the best for your future career with HTC.
Been following you and the rest of the arena since my first Win-CE device (Casio E-10).
Hope you'll get a fair price.

Thomas

[Iznotgold]

Like many other posters here I joined PPCT some 10 years ago and have been following ever since. You created a great community here, one that fostered informed discussion, sometimes excited debate but for me it was always one of the most civilised communities on the net. An achievement you should be justly proud of.

Over the recent years I have come to really enjoy and value your video reviews - the quality and presentational style make them some of the best out there. Whilst it may not be possible to continue to do video product reviews(?) I hope that your future role will involve some video presentations - I would miss seeing and hearing talking about tech!

This next BIG step in your life is great news for you and your family - I wish you all the success that you deserve.

HTC must be such an exciting organisation to be joining. I've owned a number of their devices which have been fantastic. Although I'm currently using a Samsung device I can't wait to see what HTC do with Windows 8 / mobile etc.

Good luck and best wishes

David

[Eriq Cook]

Um...WOW! Congrats on the new career and sure it will take off in the right direction for you. I'm proud to have been a part of the Thoughts network for a short while after being a longtime reader.

Now that you'll be in the states, you'll be closer to Colorado and may get the itch to go skiing lol. Let me know if you'll be in the area :cool:

[peterawest]

Very exciting news Jason. I am sure you will enjoy the change. You have done great work and I have enjoyed reading your sites for many years.

I lived in the Pacific North West for many years, and enjoyed it. It is beautiful, so you should have plenty to see and to keep your camera busy with.

Although it rains a lot, use a hat and coat instead of an umbrella, or they will know that you’re not a local. :)

[Ilium Software]

Jason, congratulations. You've been such a presence in the mobile world, and this sounds like a great next move for you. Best of luck from all of us.

[EscapePod]

Congratulations and best of luck in you new endeavours. Thank you for all your insite on the various websites, and in your videos (speaking of which... thanks again for the video camera I won in one of your giveaways).

Hopefully, you'll continue posting on these sites as an Independent.

And whatever you do, don't lose the Canadian accent... <img src="http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/images/icons/icon10.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Big Grin" class="inlineimg" />

[marlof]

Good news, my friend. It seems like a job cut out for you in a company that really matters. Thanks for all the things you made me experience!

[prismejon]

Congrats on your new job Jason, and welcome to the Seattle area!

[Tim Williamson]

Surprise Headliner=Jason Dunn? :D

http://www.facebook.com/htcuk?sk=app_267566156599598

[kaps]

I have been following your web sites for a long time and throughly enjoyed them. I worked for Microsoft for over ten years and supported their mobile phone group, along with the rest of the company. You and your family will love it here, once you get used to the rain. Our summers are fabulous though. Bellevue is particularly beautiful.

Great success in your new job and Pacific Northwest!

Karl

[karen]

Wow-o-Wow, Jason. That's some news. Like change much?

I've been a member here since I was researching my first gadget, my iPaq Pocket PC. It was funny reading your post, in that just today I picked up both my iPaq and my Telus HTC windows mobile phones and though "this is when computing became personal for me." I also thought back to all the days of figuring stuff out, reading reviews, getting tips, complaining about Canadian carriers, etc.

Even though I worked in Calgary for a while and sometimes attended the same events as you, we've never met in person. But I feel as if you've been part of my community of IT friends for the whole time.

I think your new job sounds incredibly brilliant, especially for someone like you.

My life has taken a reverse direction; I moved from the west coast of the US to Canada. I can't imagine why you'd want to leave here, my home and non-native land :).

I can't wait to find out what sort of communities you might be part of because I can't imagine not having your insight as part of my regular reading/foruming.

Best of luck in everything. Exciting times.

[WyattEarp]

Congratulations is most definitely in order, although it's a little bitter-sweet. I've followed Pocket PC Thoughts from day one and watched it grow in to the larger Thoughts Media Network it is today with great joy. Most of the things I learned about WM came straight from here. It made my WM experience much more enjoyable and allowed me to pass on the same to others and even started my own tech blog. With that I hope you enjoy your new position and from what you wrote it's really tailor-made for you. I look forward to hearing about your next project and wish you much success in your new endeavor Jason.

[PPC to go]

Like many others I have been following you and your interests for years and have come to respect your comments and perspectives greatly. I too wish you the best in your new digs and role in life.

But mostly, make a difference man! Make HTC even better. Make Microsoft become and remain committed to phone offerings that are rock. With your skills and incites, you can do wonders! Go make things better for all of us. Thanks for in advance!

[robert_biggs]

I found your site shortly after purchasing my first Pocket PC, a Toshiba e310, roughly 9 years ago. I quickly became hooked to both your site and the wonderful world of Pocket PC's. I frequented your site multiple times a day for several years and continued following it on a regular basis since. I've had many great memories reading articles you've posted, both reviews and opinions on the industry. I hope you the best in all you do the rest of your life.

[Lotto]

Wow, such wonderful news for you, and so very sad for us. You will be missed, but I do wish you and your family the best!

[maxnix]

Congratulations.

A great move for you and your family.

And Washington is rather socialistic like some parts of Canada.

[Doug Raeburn]

Jason...

Strange coincidence... for some reason, the whole "selling the web sites" question popped into my head this morning while I was getting ready for work, and led me to wonder how that and other things were going. Shortly thereafter, I went to Zune Thoughts to check out the comments regarding the Zune announcement and lo and behold, there's the answer to my question. :)

Congratulations on the new job and all of the other related changes! It's great to see that you're remaining in an area of the tech industry where you've been so influential in the past. We'll miss your presence on the web sites, but the new job sounds like a perfect next step for you.

I enjoyed all of the years of working as your review coordinator and having you as a friend. Best of luck to you in your new endeavor. And please give my best to Ashley as well.

Doug

[fulltilt]

Jason...

Strange coincidence... for some reason, the whole "selling the web sites" question popped into my head this morning while I was getting ready for work, and led me to wonder how that and other things were going. Shortly thereafter, I went to Zune Thoughts to check out the comments regarding the Zune announcement and lo and behold, there's the answer to my question. :)

Congratulations on the new job and all of the other related changes! It's great to see that you're remaining in an area of the tech industry where you've been so influential in the past. We'll miss your presence on the web sites, but the new job sounds like a perfect next step for you.

I enjoyed all of the years of working as your review coordinator and having you as a friend. Best of luck to you in your new endeavor. And please give my best to Ashley as well.

Doug

How strange - after a long time lurking in the shadows and after the iphone announcement today, I thought i would check back in (after a year at least!) and as I was redirected from pocketpcthoughts.com thought to myself, what if jason was to sell and do something different - (wondering if he was still involved) - and what do you know.....So i'm with you Doug - CONGRATS Jason, welcome to the new world. Corporate life sure has changed.....Best of luck moving to you and your family!

Cheers,
James Casio E-10

[tregnier]

Hi Jason,

I think I joined your forums when I bought my first HP pocket whatever. (I still have my Dell Axim x51). I've gotten a lot of knowledge and help from your forums...and you've caused me to spend tremendous sums on new technology and software that your Thought Media convinced me I could not live without! :-)

Thanks for the years of effort and customer relations that you have expended on our behalf. As a satisfied HTC customer, I wish you the best in your new role and life change. Blessings to you and your family!

[Jason Dunn]

I've been remiss in responding here, perhaps because I'm not sure what to say. Some really nice things have been said and I'm grateful for the support from this community. More from me later, but I wanted to force myself to say at least this much. :o