> But in remarkably short order, according to analysts and investors,
> management has stopped the hemorrhaging. Executives discontinued
....
> As part of its effort to shore up that core business, Centura has
> been putting more resources back into customer service, company
> officials say. Plus, it is focusing on updating its database
> products. Just this week, Centura announced two new products -- one > an Internet publishing tool and the other a database-management
> system.
......
> The problem with Centura , Mr. Simon says, is simply that prior
> management strayed from the "meat-and-potato" database and
> software-tool business. New management, he adds, "has the right
> focus."
The article points to the fact that Umang Gupta was right. Gupta nixed or helped in the inevitable nixing of the infospinner deal. One factor maybe the dilution of his holdings. Under Gupta the emphasis was on tools/database and providing a technically superior tool to the market. Just ask people who use SqlBase. Sadly there was no focus on marketing or technical support, although now I feel the tech support is much better than before. Am I right when I recollect that Gupta once said we don't give a &^*^*&^* to small business customers (or something to that effect)?
It's good that they are better focussed now, but the hemorrhaging will continue for a few reasons. I know 4 big corporations (3 from personal experience) that have discontinued using SqlWindows/CTD and one VAR that isn't doing significant SqlWindows/CTD work. All of them have switched to PB or VB. Aurum, (correct me if I'm wrong) which used SqlWindows to develop their sales force automation tool, is doing all development in VB now. Two coys switched out of Sqlwindows/CTD citing their inability to find programmers, and the financial stability of CNTR. Another one switched out reasoning that programmers were hard to find and if they did, they were expensive. How many new customers has CNTR found ?
It looks like CNTR has a long road ahead. It's like a start up with an established base right now. They have to work in getting new customers and a reason for ex-Sqlwindows/CTD programmers to do such development again.
Another issue - Thin client is in. CNTR has to address this in bringing out a viable and good tool for such development. CWD does not really cut it.
> placement; he and his top lieutenants chipped in $1 million out of
> their own pockets. "When I start adding value to the stockholder,
> that's when
That's the only real positive spin. It says volume when management steps in with their own money (I wouldn't be averse to letting them profit handsomely if they did a good job of turning around the company) unlike previous management. BTW this the 2nd or 3rd positive article on CNTR which I think is two or three more than there were during the last two years. :)
Well anyway, has anybody answered the Q whether any new shares are being issued ?????
Thanks,
Shiv. |
