• silicon.com
• Technology
• Mobile

By CNET Networks, 11 March 2003 10:47

NEWS Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak has resigned from Danger's board of directors but will join its newly created advisory board, the handheld developer announced Monday. Wozniak's resignation comes as Danger restructures its board to accommodate a director's seat for one of its largest investors, Softbank Capital Partners. Eric Hippeau, Softbank's managing partner, will serve as a director, effective immediately. Softbank, a previous investor that heavily contributed to Danger's $35m fourth round of funding last month, will be taking a seat at the table once again. The venture capital firm was previously represented on Danger's board by Greg Galanos, a Softbank Venture Capital managing director. Galanos, who still remains on Danger's board, now serves as executive managing director with Mobius Venture Capital. Softbank Venture Capital was renamed Mobius Venture Capital in 2001, but it operates as a totally separate entity from Softbank. Wozniak, who joined Danger's board in late 2001, will serve on an advisory board with Mike Read, president of GX Networks in Europe. Danger, which develops the Hiptop, a combination cell phone and web-browsing handheld device, said it plans to announce other advisory board members later this year. "Danger is very fortunate to have strategic counsel from these industry-leading minds," Hank Nothhaft, Danger's chief executive, said in a statement. The committee will provide technical and strategic advice, the company said. Wozniak last year formed Wheels of Zeus, a company to design wireless products. Although Wozniak was asked to step off the board to make way for the Softbank investor, he said he was more than pleased to make the change. "It made sense. My capacity is much more like an advisory board member anyway. I'm much more concerned about Danger's products, quality and how those products are doing. As Danger moves away from being a start-up and its board focuses more on company operations, my value as a director was less," Wozniak said. Dawn Kawamoto writes for News.com