Mark,
I cancelled my subscription to Barrons two weeks ago. To many publications, to little time, something had to give. It was Barrons. Great timing.
When Ackerson was asked about LMDS plans at the Nextel meeting, he said they're not going to discuss their strategy at this time. Hopefully they won't wait to much longer before implementing their plan, whatever that might be.
Companies like Winstar and Teligent already have a year or two jump on developing LMDS markets, if in fact Nextel/Nextlink plan on competing in these markets. However, when I consider N has over 8,000 employees including a sales force with presence in 70 of the top 100 markets, and 4,000 cell sites in place today with an additional 2,000 sites planned for '98 (i'm guessing these sites could be utilized for LMDS also), it is conceivable they could get up to speed quickly.
Also at the meeting Ackerson downplayed Nextel's move to offer landline long distance service, stating it's only a trial. I think it's a peak into the future. We'll see.
But everything is all for naught anyway. Come January 1, 2000, the world comes to an end. I know, I read it in the TAVA thread <GGG>.
Best of luck,
Ron |
