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Technology Stocks : Wind River going up, up, up!

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To: David Schoenbach who wrote (5609)6/25/1999 2:38:00 AM
From: Peter Church  Read Replies (3) of 10309
 
David and A.S. gave great summaries of the shareholder's meeting. Here are just a few things I wanted to add.

1. The new building has a stunning view! The sun, the Bay, the boats...couldn't be a nicer place to site the headquarters. The cafeteria was serving up some great looking food, for quite reasonable prices too. Looks like a good place to work, and very friendly too.

2. There was no major news, but a reiteration of the plan to concentrate on the Post PC market: Internet infrastructure, all the traditional RTOS markets, and the new emerging mass market for Internet appliances. The company is fine tuned and the Leader for providing Post PC tools and services. If you believe in this opportunity, you have got to believe in WIND.

3. The company has the business model, the products and the PEOPLE to make itself grow substantially.

4. One of the key ingredients is the GRAD program, which introduces about 1000 college students to Tornado. That should pay off in future talent for RTOS projects being familiar and friendly to WIND.

5 Using outside contractors for technical and professional support leverages the company's technical and sales strengths. There are 1000 certified engineers in the Partners Program. The Partners allow WIND to take on more complex projects without hiring all the needed engineers themselves. One risk this strategy bears is that the partners may not have the same high level of management experience as WRS. The going could be rougher for the company because it is relying on others for success of projects. Perhaps that was a reference to delays experienced with Xact?

4. The emphasis will shift more towards revenue growth.

5. The new mass market customers are often not experienced with RTOS and need much more support than previously. Good technology is not enough by itself anymore. Support is needed, sometimes complete design solutions.

6. Tornado II makes it possible to address the mass market for the first time.

7. Regarding the stock price, Ron said the company is concentrating on building up the fundamentals. Long term investors will be rewarded. There may be some "white water rafting" short term. The momentum players may have exited last January when it became clear that I2O would not be an immediate explosion, but more a small but steady growing ramp up for now. Intel may have over-hyped the speed of I2O roll out three years ago.

8.The royalty price will increase if WIND provides full design services for customers.

9. Here is some color from the meeting. It was very well attended (about 100). Jerry looked rushed but was interested in taking and answering questions. Ron looked healthy and tanned. My guess is that he prefers to work with the fast growing young companies like WIND 5 years ago. He doesn't want to be the leader to take WIND forward to the next level. The sixty hour week gets old. He thinks someone younger and at a different stage of their career should take the job. I think Ron got a little choked up as he wound down his presentation.

Thanks Ron for all you've done to grow this company.
All the best to you!

Alan Benn was not seen by me but has been in touch with Ron. Hi Alan!

Dave Wilner has an office and pitches in to work on special projects.

Bye for now---Peter

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