Hi --
Thanks for the msg. About my claim that photonic devices will become ubiquitous: you are right, I meant that they will become every more important components in telecommunication networks. Realistically, photonics doesn't belong in e.g. computer logic elements for good physical reasons. I don't believe the "optical computer" hype. Photonics is good for communications. Accordingly, another interesting application for photonics is in computers as e.g. optical busses and optical zip cable. Motorola, IBM, and HP are all into this technology. I don't know if this technology is on the market yet, but if it's not there now it will be in a year or so.
About IBM's getting out of WDM: I am intimately aquainted with IBM's sale of Paul Green's WDM group to Tellabs since I am one of the PhDs who were sold. Basically, IBM sees its future in software and consulting, and wants to abandon (most) novel hardware. They see the success of e.g. Sun, who just uses off-the-shelf components (and ASICs) to build its systems, and concentrates on software and architecture. This is a trend which is occurring all over the computer industry.
Also, as a technology, WDM is still very expensive and technology intensive. IBM did come out with a WDM product (the IBM 9729 -- MuxMaster) for computer networking. (Look at research.ibm.com In fact, MuxMaster was the *first* WDM product on the market -- it predated Ciena's equipment by almost one year. HOwever, it is *extremely* expensive, and so is of interest only in certain niche applications for clients who are very rich, and have no other choice for their application (i.e. Wall Street Banks). Since WDM technology is so expensive, it logically should be applied only in the highest-speed and least cost-sensitive applications. That area is traditionallly long-distance telecom, since you absolutely need the speed, and you can amortize high cost equipment over millions of phone calls over several decades. Therefore, the sale of the WDM group (my group!) to Tellabs -- who *are* a telecom equipment mfr -- probably makes sense for both IBM and Tellabs.
About the sale of the IBM Laser Enterprise: Again, it makes good sense because IBM was smothering the laser people. On one hand, they made lots of money for the research division, so previously IBM was reluctant to sell them off. On the other hand, since they did not represent a "strategic technology" for IBM, they were not allowed to expand to their full potential. Now, under UNPH, they should go far. They have other interesting photonic technologies under their belt which can -- hopefully -- be unlocked.
Sorry for being so long-winded, but this is my business :-) !
Stuart |
