Hi Phil,Paul,trenresearcher ...
there is not much I can say about IFMX that others don't know
so I want to draw attention to only a few points:
Yahoo Feb 16: excerpt... As part of its sponsorship, Informix will provide INFORMIX-Universal Server and DataBlade. The technology and support from Informix will aid in the development and implementation of medical imaging technology that in turn will contribute to the improvement of patient diagnosis as well as reductions in healthcare costs.
My view:Currently the health-care software market at around 8% is minute and underdeveloped and represents and represents a segment of above average growth-opportunity
Yahoo Feb 24:Informix Introduces Comprehensive Program for Consulting Partners...
The Informix Solutions Alliance Consulting Partner Program provides tools and services to assist Informix partners in developing the necessary expertise to focus their business on Informix technology. The program will also allow Informix to develop a network of experienced consulting companies that will provide
in-depth expertise on Informix-based solutions.
My view: the above program enables third parties to combine their respective indutry know-how with IFMX's expertise in its own platform providing the basis for efficient/speedy etc. development of new solutions - IFMX's is basically leveraging its knowhow to all those industry specialists - what do textbokks say about networked organizations?...
Very good strategy indeed - the solutions sell the platform...
As far as SYBS is concerned I have never really considered them - they have had bad publicity but recently landed a deal with Federal Express (?) - so there they obviously
were able to provide the required needs - but their technology is not leading edge - in fact I faintly remember an CEO interview ( couple of issues ago in Barrons I think) where one of the touted self-proclaimed strengths was the reliance on "tried and tested technology" or something like that - in a high-tech environment this doesn't sound
sexy to me.
To sum it up we have glitch in product transition but not a permantent
decline - I don't think this is a gamble I don't think there will be more then four quarters before the stock price has at least doubled (GUESS) L/T they will be back with a vengeance...Another bird's eye perspective: whatever the fair price of the stock it's probably higher than at the moment of greatest gloom.
However I am going to take Phil's advice and have a look at 3Com - Strawberry-picking season has begun and there are bound to be many around...
JJ
Below some information probably old to most but at the very least refreshing:
Informix's Universal Server Wows PC WeekTesters
Annette Hamilton, Executive Producer
ZDNet AnchorDesk
Monday, March 03, 1997
Informix Software was determined to beat arch-rival Oracle to the "universal" server punch. And it took a number of shortcuts to get there, cutting corners in its replication strategy, database gateways, backup and management tools.
Even considering these drawbacks, the Informix Universal Server database-which manages all data types internally earns the esteem of those notoriously hard-to-impress testers at PC
Week Labs.
Informix's secret? Its extensible DataBlade technology scores points for putting new tread on a tired database model. In the two months since the Informix product became available, 24 third-party "DataBlades" software plug-ins that support custom data types have been shipped. Taken with the database's proven relational technology, the Universal Server earns a thumbs up, despite room for improvement.
Being first is important because the huge and vitally important database segment is on the verge of a massive changeover to "universal" technology-databases that can handle any data type, not just the text and numbers stored in today's relational products. Watch for competition to intensify this year. All of the major players-Oracle, Sybase, Informix, IBM and Microsoft have either introduced or promised a plan for their database servers to store and
retrieve multimedia data such as sound or video.
Some analysts peg Oracle's plan safer than Informix's add-on model because the application code is actually in the database, instead of residing outside. But Informix's one-year jump on the competition puts it safely out front. PC Week Labs expects the Universal Server to lure
buyers despite some obvious shortcomings |
