J.T.-
Although they will not duplicate the success of 1999 and they are not "new", I still like QCOM and JDSU and think they will both do well next year. I think GMST has a tremendous upside next year. GMST is best known for its VCR+ technology (simple method to program VCRs), but its future will be driven by its numerous patents in the area of electronic programming guides (EPG). EPGs will be the TV portal to all interactive material. They will be the equivalent of Web browsers for cable and satellite TV, allowing viewers to navigate an increasingly complicated array of program choices (particularly with the new digital TV offerings from cable companies). In order to settle some litigation (sound familiar--see QCOM/ERICY resolution in March 1999), in or about October 1999 GMST announced an agreement to acquire TV Guide Interactive (TVGIA). If approved, the GMST/TVGIA deal will likely close in the spring of 2000. NY Stew is a very valuable source of information on GMST. Check his posts on the GMST thread for more information. From a recent GMST press release:
Gemstar develops, markets and licenses proprietary technologies and systems aimed at making technology user-friendly for consumers.
Gemstar's technology and intellectual property are licensed to major companies in the consumer electronics, satellite, cable and personal computer industries, including Aiwa, Akai, America Online (AOL), Americast, Cox, Daewoo, Funai, GTE, Hitachi, Hughes Network Systems, JVC, LG Electronics (Goldstar), Matsushita (Panasonic, Quasar), Microsoft Corp., Mitsubishi, Orion, Philips (Magnavox, Philips), Quadravision, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Shintom, Sony, Southern New England Telephone, Thomson multimedia (GE, Proscan, RCA, Thomson), Time Warner, Toshiba, Uniden, US West and Zenith.
Gemstar has more than 80 issued U.S. patents in the general area of audio-visual technologies with more than 1,790 claims and more than 85 issued foreign patents. The company continues to pursue a worldwide patent prosecution program and has more than 115 pending U.S. patent applications and more than 300 pending foreign patent applications.
Gemstar is a leading provider of electronic program guide services, which allow a user to view a television program guide on screen, obtain details about a show, sort shows by themes or categories, and select shows for tuning or recording, all through the remote control.
In the United States, data for Gemstar's electronic program guide services are carried on the ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, UPN and PBS networks. Gemstar's electronic program guide has been built into a number of models of new televisions, VCRs and TV/VCR combination units.
Gemstar's electronic program guide is also licensed to cable, telco and MMDS service providers, and has been integrated into direct broadcast satellite receivers, digital and advanced analog cable set-top boxes, PCTV and other Internet devices and computer operating systems such as Windows 98.
Gemstar's VCR Plus+© instant programming system is a world standard for VCR programming. The VCR Plus+ system allows a user to record a television show simply by entering a number -- the PlusCode© number -- printed in television program guides.
The PlusCode numbers are published by more than 1,800 newspapers and television program guides worldwide, with a combined circulation of more than 330 million.
The VCR Plus+ system has been licensed to virtually every major television and VCR manufacturer and is now available in 40 countries and six continents, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America and South Africa.
I'll post more on GMST when I have some more time.
Best regards,
LB |
