here is another post someone sent me at levy@siliconinvestor.com...I believe this came from the fool board
From the discussion of INSP and VOD on this board I have the impression that
many investors think INSP has only recently lost the VOD account.
I don't think that's the case. I think INSP certainly lost the VOD account
as of May of last year, and perhaps as early as last January.
Look at this press release from 5/17/00, describing Vizzavi - VOD and
Vivendi's "multi access portal."
vizzavi.com.jo
It seems INSP's role in the portal was at least diminished at this point,
based on the following excerpts:
"VIZZAVI will have its own technology team to develop the multi access
interfaces. It will work in close co-operation with Vodafone's global mobile
platform technology team to ensure a seamless global service...Content will
be provided by VivendiNet (Havas, Havas Interactive and Canal+) on a
preferred supplier basis and VIZZAVI will source further external content
and develop some services in-house."
and
"VivendiNet will also be a preferred supplier outside of Europe...In
addition to the VIZZAVI joint venture agreement, VivendiNet and Vodafone
have agreed to continue to study possible co-operation arrangements in the
areas of multi-access portals outside Europe based on the opportunities they
may generate." [Comment: this seems to predict the displacement of INSP in
VOD AU].
Now, this Press release was issued in May. But the basic agreement seeems to
have been sketched out as early as January 30, 2000
internetnews.com
It's interesting that just one day after this January announcement, Naveen
filed to sell over 780,000 shares of INSP
. JAIN, NAVEEN CEO 781,358 S 1/31/2000 $141.50 - - D 2/18/2000
insiderselling.com
Meanwhile, longs were assured that INSP was continuing the VOD roll-out,
with this 4/6/00 press release here
infospace.com
and at least implicitly "reassured" (imo) about the contract in this 3/30/00
on-line interview with Naveen
washingtonpost.com
Excerpt:
***
seattle, wa: How has the roll out been for AT&T, Sprint, and Vodaphone? Can
you give specific details, numbers or percentages of sign ups. Has it met
your expectations?
Naveen Jain: Our partners are thrilled with the roll out and the adoption
rate has been sunstantially better than initial expectations.
***
In fact, it seems that most INSP longs - even the most diligent - have only
discovered the loss of VOD Europe in the past few weeks. Insiders,
meanwhile, would have known of it for months, and perhaps almost a year -
and took the opportunity to sell enormous amount of INSP stock. |
