Comparisons of TUTS, COVD, AWRE (What the company does)
<in no particular order)
1) COVD
Covad Communications Group sells speed to users
hooked on LANs and companies pushing Internet
services. The startup firm uses Digital Subscriber
Line (DSL) technology to provide remote access to
LANs and the Internet, with speeds up to 1.5
megabits per second (25 times faster than most
modems). Covad Communications Group's use of
existing copper phone lines allows it to offer lower rates and 24-hour local connectivity. The company,
which installs lines, configures equipment, and
designs networks in Boston, Los Angeles, New
York, and San Francisco, plans to move into 18
other markets. Clients include Cisco Systems,
Oracle, and Sprint. Principal investors include
Warburg, Pincus Ventures and Intel Corporation.
2) TUTS
Tut Systems puts its equipment through the copper
hopper. The company develops Internet access
products for phone company local loops,
businesses, and homes to provide high-speed data
delivery over underutilized copper phone wires.
Tut's products include the XL line for corporate,
university, and other multi-building campuses; the
Expresso System for high-speed Internet access
over local-loop networks; and the HomeRun family
that allows households to link PCs and peripherals
into small networks. Tut, which relies on contractors
to make its products, sells directly and through
manufacturers and resellers. Chevron and Lockheed
Martin are among Tut's clients; its investors include
Microsoft (10%), AT&T, and Intel.
3) AWRE
Aware's wares include software that increases the
speed of sending and receiving computer data over
traditional copper telephone lines through ADSL
(asymmetric digital subscriber line) technology,
developed by Bellcore. In addition, Aware's
software, chipsets, modems, and other devices
(such as access routers and transceivers) help
telephone companies upgrade their systems without
the costly replacement of transmission lines; they
also reduce Internet download times. The firm also
develops compression products (such as WSQ by
Aware and AccuPress) for video, image, and data.
Clients include U.S. Robotics, Ericsson, and Lucent.
Summary: As Stephen said a few days ago, you have to love the backers of TUTS (both MSFT and INTC) They all have big names on the customer lists. |
