Eric, Part XII
In fact, even the operating system that runs in this computer,
Windows, Windows NT, even UNIX, is structured in such a way
that it deals with communication as a sub system which sits
behind a service interface, and in many cases, this subsystem
will be implemented in the form of a separate card. Or at least a
separate area inside the computer that has software and silicon
all embedded.
So for us, we look at this as an integral part of our approach to
building next generation networks. Tactically, we're going to
fight against Intel and every product, even marketing promotion,
and we're going to gain share quarter to quarter as we have.
Strategically, we're going to turn this into a way to promote a
different approach to building networks. It will help us not just
there, but also inside the core itself.
Q. Why do you think Wall Street gets so nervous about Intel as
a competitor?
A. Well, Intel is perhaps the most powerful company on earth,
so I couldn't blame Wall Street investors for worrying about
what Intel might do to a small company like 3Com. However,
every investor or analyst who has spent a half an hour looking
under the covers sees this doomsday idea of Intel wiping out
3Com is completely preposterous. Just look at the numbers. The
portion of the NIC market in which Intel competes is between
5% and 10%. So it is remarkable that because of this overlap
people would worry so much.
Q. I want to ask you about the 56K modem market. Is 56K the
height of the modem technology?
A. It is likely that the analog modem market will end at fifty six
kilobits. I think the analog modem is a narrow way of defining
the modem market. Our view is that there will be a diversity of
new modem technologies over the coming years. Most of them
digital based. Some of them land lines, some of them cable,
others copper. Others fiber. Others wireless. And we want to
parlay our dominance of the modem market into all of these
segments.
So it is likely that there is going to be very soon a 56K standard,
and that most of the world will migrate to it because it's just the
best you can get out of existing infrastructure with minimum
incremental investments. |
