Corel's java strategy may be a substantial bet (with a huge potential pay out), but I don't see it as "betting the company" necessarily. In fact, Corel's licensing agreement with TriTeal (TEAL) suggests to me they intend to remain viable with products geared to individual platforms as well. TriTeal is a San Diego company that specializes in tying together Windows and Unix operating systems within the same network. Although their newest product (licensed to IBM as well, incidentally) is java, they have been tying together corporate multiple OS desktops with their own software for some time. My point (my humble point, based on my humble opinion :>) is if java doesn't fly, Corel won't either - but it will hardly signal the demise of the company.
On the other hand if java does fly, Corel is positioned to hit its own home run. From an investment standpoint, isn't limited downside with home run potential what tech investors look for? Corel has been here before, as I recall. When msft did its much ballyhooed introduction of windows 3.1, I think Corel was one of the few (if not the only) non msft products demonstrated. When Sun demonstrates its first all-java network, I understand Corel intends to be an integral part of that demonstration. If history is a guide, that could be another defining moment for Corel.
Pierre |
