William and the Thread,
I found out about ELON a few weeks ago and after doing my due diligence, came to the conclusion that it was an excellent investment for the fund that I manage and I started to accumulate a sizeable position in the company in the $7.50 dollar range.
There are several reasons for my bullishness about Echelon's prospects in the post PC area and I would like to share a few of my thoughts with the thread.
Today, imho, there are six major companies in this technology revolution that we all find ourselves in, and Echelon has an intriguing relationship with all six. The six high-tech leaders are:
1) Microsoft
2) Intel
3) Cisco Systems
4) Sun Microsystem
5) IBM
6) Apple Computers
We are all aware of Echelon's close relationship with Cisco Systems. Having John Chambers, the President of Cisco endorse Echelon publicly in January of this year was a major coup.
The recent invitation from Microsoft for Echelon to serve on the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Forum's Steering Committee with the likes of Compaq Computer, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Mitsubishi, Siemens, Thomson, and Philips is also impressive.
But what I find equally impressive and most intriguing are the three members of the Board of Directors of Echelon Corporation and the power that they wield in the shaping of the tech revolution. The three members I am alluding to are:
1) Ken Oshman
2) A.C. Markkula
3) Arthur Rock
Let's start with Ken Oshman, the Founder and President of Echelon. He along with the other Echelon director, Mr. Robert Maxfield both went to work for IBM after they sold Rolm, the company which they co-founded, to International Business Machines. Therefore, they both have very close ties to IBM dating back more than 15 years. And if that was not enough, Mr. Oshman also sits on the Board of Sun Microsystems
A.C.Markkula provided the initial seed money to Steve Jobs and Stephen Wozniak to start the most innovative technology company of the 1980s: Apple Computers. Had there been no Markkula, chances are there would have been no Apple. Mr. A.C. Markkula sits on the Board of Echelon.
And finally there is Arthur Rock. I don't think I would be exaggerating if I say that today's Silicon Valley owes it's very existence to Mr. Arthur Rock. It was his money that helped start many, many Silicon Valley companies, including the microprocessor behemoth the whole world today knows as Intel Corporation. He has been a director of Intel since its very founding, and is still today, the Chairman of the Executive Committee and the lead Director of the Board of Directors of Intel. Mr. Rock sits on the Board of Echelon!
Mr. Arthur Rock and Mr. A.C. Markkula helped start the PC revolution not just because they had the money to dole out to young hippies who wanted to start a computer company, but also because both these men were grand visionaries. And today they command incredible respect for what they were able to help create. I believe that they still possess a grand vision for the post PC era and just like they helped both Apple and Intel start the PC revolution, they now sit on Echelon's board because they believe in Ken Oshman's vision for the post PC era and want to help it take shape.
I strongly believe that all these exciting relationships that Echelon has so successfully woven with major high tech companies in the last year or so can be directly attributed to Mr. Arthur Rock and Mr. A.C. Markkula's towering reputation and clout. Of course Echelon must have great products and an even greater vision of the future for these two Founding Fathers of Silicon Valley to sit on it's Board and help shape it's future and that of the world!
If Mr. Rock and Mr. Markkula think it is worth their time and money to back Echelon then I don't need a second opinion on my investment and am willing to sit back and watch their vision unfold.
Regards,
Karim |
