ObjectShare (OBJS) Message Board

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : ObjectShare (OBJS)

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next

To: Pierre Aydin who wrote (84)	8/1/1997 8:12:00 PM
From: Raging Bull	of 185

My sources are mostly ex and current ParcPlace employees and other developers in a few Corporations and consulting companies currently using ParcPlace VisualWorks or VSE products. None of my sources really have access to "inside" information and I am not sure to what extent the company is dropping Smalltalk. One source states that Smalltalk will be "sunseted". Several sources confirm massive layoffs of Smalltalk developers has already occurred and that the compnay name will be changed to ObjectShare. This is further confirmed by the proposal set forth by ParcPlace to be discussed at the next shareholder meeting on August 28. See latest reports on ParcPlace home page proposal number two to change the name to of the company to object share. As far as isolating the customer base, the contacts I had were unaware of plans to de-ephasize of drop Smalltalk. The VSE (Digitalk's Visual Smalltalk Enterprise) customers however are still smarting from being left high and dry by ParcPlace about 5 months ago. IBM aggressively pursued PARQ Smalltalk customers after the VSE announcement was made and got conversions for more than half to VisualAge, their Smalltalk product. They even converted quite a few VisualWorks customers. Smalltalk is booming at IBM. It appears that ParcPlace did not learn from their earlier blunder. They could have quietly downsized the development and support staff of VSE and still provided time and materials consulting, support licenses, and upgrades aimed at database and operating system compatability with miminimal expense and net profit. I still am hoping that ParcPlace has enough sense to handle the de-emphasis of the Smalltalk line (their only real assets and customer base) better than they did with VSE. I am very concerned that they wont. I have seen the compensation package. I do not doubt that the path the company is on will result in higher stock prices above the current level. After all they only need to make 10 cents per share (10% return on a hypothetical revenue of 12 million) from the downsized company to be worth $3.00 based on industry PE ratios. I think that destroying the assets of the company is not the best way to achieve long term value however. I own more than 2% of the company. Michael Ilse's owns 15%. I think it is time that the shareholders let Mr. Goda know what they think of his so called "strategy". What are your thoughts assuming Smalltalk "deephasis" turns out to be the announced course of action?

Report TOU Violation

Share This Post

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next