Arnie: Some indication on AT&T's wireless plans follows below.
Now I will comment on what I think is going on with the stock. We are in a transition. Nextel is going gangbusters in some markets while cooling off somewhat in others. New cities versus ole granddad here in Chicago. I'd say Chicago is probably a bit soft from rates hit during the summer. New players, some faltering such at Primco (very bad service), others like Cellular One trying to fight aggressively by cutting prices in desperate grab for market share. AT&T has some short term pricing that really opens your eyes - I haven't confirmed but I thought I saw 1699 minutes for $99 - don't know the details at all on this and will try to verify.
Then you had the AT&T annoucement early this week - granted, a validation of Nextel's success, but a response from a goliath nontheless.
AT&T target of Novell's 8+ million Groupwise users is quite interesting. I happen to be very bullish on Novell and see this as good for both companies. But, selfish investor that I am, I'd like to see Nextel integrate with Novell, too. I have contacted Nextel about this - they are planning some very exciting things for '98 in response.
The other thing we must factor in are the higher prices for the next generation handset - should come in at around $400 or so. There won't be much discounting on this for at least the first several months - so this can have a tendency to chill sales a bit especially late in the year as budgets are getting nailed down, etc.
All in all, factors to consider as we move through this bump in the road. Then there's the general market....
All the best - here's the information========================
At the Internet World show, Syclo today announced the release of its Syclo Information Manager(TM)(SIM) 2.0 for GroupWise. Novell, AT&T Wireless, and Syclo will demonstrate this exciting solution in the Novell booth and partner pavilion. With this product release, Syclo now extends the features of its established SIM smart phone application to the over eight million GroupWise users. With the SIM application, specially-equipped cellular phones, and
AT&T PocketNet(SM) service, GroupWise users will have access to their email, appointments, tasks, and address books.
With the SIM, mobile workers are able to directly access their network based GroupWise server from a cellular phone equipped with Unwired Planet's UP.Browser. Because the SIM takes advantage of Unwired Planet's UP.Link platform, mobile workers access information wirelessly and thus never have to synchronize or replicate their data.
With the SIM, mobile workers can now enjoy the following benefits of GroupWise anytime, anywhere - from their cellular phone:
-- A virtual directory of their address book that allows them to dial entries with the touch of a button or fire off an email; -- Access to task and appointment information that is always current; -- Ability to create and modify tasks and appointments from their phone; -- One-button dialing of phone numbers contained in appointment and task descriptions;
"GroupWise is a powerful application that is the basis of collaboration within an organization," said Jeff Kleban, vice president of sales and marketing of Syclo. "The Syclo Information Manager now makes GroupWise as accessible from the field as it is in the office."
The Syclo Information Manager provides the critical link between the smart phone (such as the AT&T PocketNet phone) and the corporate messaging system - GroupWise. By delivering access to GroupWise as well as the wealth of the internet, smart phone technology represents a convergence of form factors that frees the mobile worker from paper, PDAs, and PCs.
"Our GroupWise customers need remote access, but do not want to carry additional equipment to achieve it; the Syclo Information Manager offers a compelling solution," said Lowell Camp, director of business development with Novell. "By delivering access to GroupWise email, appointments, tasks, and address book information from a cellular phone, the Syclo Information Manager fills an important remote access need for our GroupWise customers."
The SIM represents an important step forward in mobile information access. Corporations now have another tool in their tool kit for enabling remote access to one of their most important enterprise systems - GroupWise.
"We have found the ability to access GroupWise from the AT&T PocketNet phone to be a significant and compelling remote access solution," said Jennifer Patterson, systems analyst with the Allegheny Health and Education Research Foundation. "The SIM, combined with the AT&T PocketNet phone and service fills an important gap in our communication and information needs. We are able to offer our GroupWise users a simple and powerful proposition: enjoying
additional access to mission critical information from a device they already use - their mobile phone."
"The SIM for GroupWise is an elegant, integrated solution for mobile executives," said Paul Burstein, business development manager with AT&T Wireless Services, Wireless Data Division. "When combined with our PocketNet service, the SIM for GroupWise offers a new and compelling solution to an ever growing need - remote access to email, schedule, and directory information."
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