Things have shifted. Not sure when it happen but something struck me the other day. The same two names keep popping up.

FBS
Tarasoft

In recent bids those two names seem to be trading slots as either the number one choice or number two choice for MLS systems that are currently out for bid.

Not Tempo, not Paragon, not Rapattoni.

flexmls
Matrix

Both companies could not be more different. One manages their own data/hosting center (FBS), one does not (Tarasoft), one offers end user support (FBS), one does not (Tarasoft). One is a Canadian company (Tarasoft), one is U.S. (FBS). One is a thin client (Tarasoft), one is browser based (FBS). Both are privately held, albeit FBS is an ESOP. Mike Wurzer has a pretty high profile in the MLS industry through his widely read FBS blog and speaking/moderating panels at industry conferences. Tarasoft’s leadership keeps a lower profile.

A recent controversial report put out by Goomzee lists FBS has have 42 113 MLS accounts, and Tarasoft has having 15. And a lot of Tarasoft’s accounts are big ones! But it does leave them vulnerable (losing just one of those will put a dent in revenue.)

FBS has been reinventing themselves as a state of the art MLS system led by MLS industry guru Mike Wurzer along with recently hired Dave Rifkin as VP of Sales. A lot of people were surprised when they signed ARMLS, but anyone who has been watching knows these guys have been marching towards larger MLS providers for some time now.

Seain Conover and Brian de Schepper at Tarasoft have taken their own road towards success. They have some of the largest MLS providers in the country, MRIS, RMLS, MRMLS, to name a few. They have also announced MLSListings and NWMLS. That’s a huge agent footprint!

Tarasoft
FBS

It will be interesting to see what’s next for these two unique companies as they trade the lead in each race. Plus, you gotta wonder how Marketlinx, LPS, and Rapattoni are going to respond. VROOOOOM Baby!!

Man this is a tough business! I mean what does someone have to do to get a little respect??

Case in point.

MRED,LLC

Bud Fogel and Brad Tertell have successfully merged MAP MLS and MLSNI respectively to the the 51,000 member MRED, LLC powerhouse. No small effort, especially if you know the history, but they got it done. So what next? A bonus? Maybe a raise? Nope their board, in all their wisdom, has decided to go forward with and executive search firm to search for a new CEO. Of course Bud and Brad are welcome to apply. Chicago politics? Money to burn? WTF??

RMLS

In the Northwest we have a different type of story. It was recently announced that Beth Murphy would be stepping down as CEO of RMLS and focusing on special projects. Kurt von Wasmuth and the RMLS staff have done a great job of keeping RMLS going, even hosting a Connection 2008 conference, while Beth has been on the mend. Now it looks like their board is also hiring an executive search firm to help fill the top spot. Why spend the money? Whatever happened to promoting from within? Don’t they remember what happened last time? WTF?