Judith, I asked the same question, like you, I thought our relationship with Worldcomm had been replaced with PSI and IDT.
I was told that their goal was to establish quality access in as many cities as possible at the lowest cost. Worldcomm, IDT, and PSI had overlap in many of the larger cities, and price won out and the nod was given to either PSI or IDT. But we still use Worldcomm in those cities where access alternatives didn't exist. This was told to me by Louis.
A good and I'm sure truthful reply. But I also happen to know that there are an assortment of intricately interwoven factors that also come into play. Thus, the hook up with Worldcomm may go furhter than first assumed.
Let me explain.
A few months back, I was doing some digging into IDT (IDTC) and came accross news that they have strong ties to PSI's backbone, via peering arrangements. They also have strong peering arrangements with Worldcomm. Hmmmm.
Here are two news release excerpts that confirm this:
HACKENSACK, N.J., July 2, 1996 /PRNewswire/ -- IDT Corporation (Nasdaq-NNM: IDTC)
today announced a strategic alliance with PSINet (Nasdaq-NNM: PSIX), to
increase the points of presence (POPs) through which IDT customers can access
the Internet. The new alliance is geared towards complimenting IDT's plans to
enhance their network infrastructure, thereby creating a more seamless and
reliable interface for the customer.
(REUTERS) IDT <IDTC.O> signs operating deal with WorldCom
IDT <IDTC.O> signs operating deal with WorldCom
HACKENSACK, N.J., March 14, 1997 (Reuter) - IDT Corp said Friday
it signed an operating agreement with WorldCom Inc <WCOM.O>
whereby IDT will be able to offer aggregate international and
domestic long distance telephone services with its domestic
Internet backbone services.
IDT said the agreement will allow it to reduce its costs
for domestic and international telephone traffic and increase
its margins on the traffic originating in the U.S. which the
company terminates overseas via WorldCom's international
network.
End of News releases.
As you go back and dig in Worldcomm's news or PSI's, you will find similar arrangements, laced throughout the industry, all interwoven into an intricate reciprocating, back scratching network of alliances.
Knowing this, I asked Reggie. He acknowledged that we still were very much involved with Worldcomm. Then waved his hand, as if to say, look around you. In other words, Worldcomm may have a lesser role in the Local POP issue, but that wouldn't preclude other not so obvious issues that may not be so easily recognized at present.
Taking into account all the information and seeing the equipment setup in Atlanta, this would be how I would interpret all the above.
I see Franklin as serving some form of "layoff or switching" function in Atlanta, kind of a central hub or junction where several of these services converge. Although I was not specifically told that we were presently connected to Charter Communications access, it was implied that we had the capabilities to have access to other satellite systems in other hemispheres, specifically the Southern. (Read up on CHTD and you will quickly ascertain what that may imply).
Again, ask yourself the key question, "What does Franklin have, that makes all the big boys want to hop in the sack with them?"
I assure you Franklin isn't sharing Charter's clean room space, unless they are reciprocating with some form of enhancement that they can provide to Charter.
Going back to the IDT/Worldcomm news release dated March 14th (above) read again that second paragraph of the second release, and the paragraph following it (attached below):
IDT said the agreement will allow it to reduce its costs
for domestic and international telephone traffic and increase
its margins on the traffic originating in the U.S. which the
company terminates overseas via WorldCom's international
network.
"By bringing together all of our telephone and Internet
services provisioned through WorldCom, the agreement should
allow IDT to maximize the profitability of the competitive
telephone services we offer our domestic and international
customers and allow IDT to broaden the range of services we
offer to other carriers on a wholesale basis," said Howard
Jonas, IDT's chairman and chief executive.
"AND BROADEN THE RANGE OF SERVICES WE OFFER TO OTHER CARRIERS ON A WHOLESALE BASIS" Consider what was being said, in the context in which it was written, and I think that is the key sentence to unlock this puzzle. Then apply that same functionality to Franklin and it's alliances.
Here you have Franklin, physically situated in a key logistic location, in a room where global players come together. In that room you have both state of the art, domestic and foreign access terrestially, and you have both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere's footprinted via satellite, all converging in one room. Then ask, who is the monkey in the middle of all this? And what the hell are they doing sharing facilities of a global class facility like this?
My guess is this.
I think they represent a link between the sky and the ground, and via proprietary equipment/or software/or both, they in turn offer the converged alliances, that join in that room, a conduit to premium services that are associated with the DigitalXpress deal, as one example.
But, I think it is more sophisticated than just the obvious, sky/ground link. Let me explain.
I'm not a technician, but I do know enough, to know, that the routing schemes and the way the equipment was set up, that this was not an ordinary configuration. I think, FTEL has set up some type of proprietary channel that bypasses or re-routes the land based traffic on some kind of high speed, uncluttered, info-autobahn of their own making. A private corporate premium channel, so to speak, designated strictly to corporate traffic and also providing access to the satellites.
Granted, it is conjecture, but it sure makes sense.
It answers the key question, "What does Franklin have that the others want?"
It also adds credence to Frank's statement, "If I am right, I'm going to re-invent the internet."
It also ties into the use of Internet Telephony, just look at the alliances that converge in that room. Charter is focused on Long Distance. Worldcomm is a global leader in long distance. Wiltel is the backbone provider of fiber optic infrastructure, MFS is linked via their own private fiber optic network that links key metropolitan cities, domestically.
Then take into account that Reggie is preparing to setup duplicity in Westlake, that means it would then tie into GTE, another world class leader, and domestic giant in long distance and fiber optics.
All this makes sense, because it all plays out with Franklin's known objectives. IP (Satellite), FNET (Internet Telephony), and Franklin's Voice server. It gives Franklin "ACCESS" from any angle. The ground, the sky, data, voice, Internet, long distance, services, and equipment, with everthing glued together, everything.
But where I really get goosebumps, is when I think of the posibility of a private network. If that is the case, look out.
Remember, in Franks "Presidential Message" where he states that the Cyclone is expected to be Franklin's best selling product, ever?
What if, just what if, the Cyclone is sold to corporations, to connect their enterprise intranets to a private corporate channel that also gave them satellite connectivity, and in addition allows for Internet Telephony on this same proprietary network? After all the Voice Server is basically just the Cyclone or Tornado with software embedded stacks and voice capable digital signal processing. Right?
And who are all these players? Long Distance companies that are looking for a way to get their fair share of the Internet Telephony market. Right?
All these other partners could resell to their existing corporate clientele, and bring them into this private loop, thus fueling their own cash flow by offering this unique premium corporate service.
A marketing philosophy of, "If you want it, here it is" and guess who has all the software and hardware to make it happen? Has all the alliances, and partnering to make it work?
I know, I know, I'm getting carried away, but am I? Am I really? I don't think so, believe me this may not be totally accurate, but it all fits, and it sure makes more sense to me then any other scenario I can figure out.
If you could see the facilities that I witnessed, you would then realize that Franklin isn't in this to play tittly-winks, they are in it for the BIGTIME. World Class, Global facilities.
If this scenario plays out, HOLY COW!
I truly don't think it is all that far fetched. All the pieces are there, I saw them with my own eyes. It would also explain the secrecy, and the long staging time that has elapsed. Two years in the making.
If it's worthwhile, it's worth the wait, isn't that the saying?
If this is the plan, then Frank has exceeded my wildest expectations.
As Gen. George Patton said to himself, (speaking of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel after analyzing the battle plan of a previously fought tank battle in North Africa), "Rommel, you magnificient bastard, you are a genius."
RB |
