Glenn --
The Sprint conference call was flooded and many turned away. Now, the replay number is giving a canned recording and not the conference call. Technicians are working on the problem --- and have been for over an hour.
Sprint's saying middle of '99 for business access and late '99 for residential. Since USWest, GTE, BA, SBC/PacBell, and Ameritech have all announced similar services in '98, I don't think anyone's going to break the door down to buy FON, especially with the dilution they're stating.
I could be wrong.
If you get a workable replay number, let me know.
Pat
The technology builds on an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) backbone network and will use technology from Cisco Systems Inc., the maker of networking equipment. Bellcore is providing the central software framework at the core of ION, and will provide consulting services. Company officials said they will be able to install a service hub in a subscriber's home that will allow ATM service directly to the residence over existing copper wiring. ION will also be able to use other media, including wireless connections and cable modems, the company said.
ION will be available to businesses in the middle of next year and to residential customers by late 1999, Sprint said. A number of companies are already beta-testing the technology.
Sprint said it has invested more than $2 billion in the ION effort and a number of patents have been granted or are pending in connection with the work. The company said the deployment of ION will dilute its earnings by 20 to 25 cents per share this year and around 60 cents per share in 1999 and 2000, but the investment will start paying off in 2001. In time, said Ronald LeMay, president and chief operating officer of the company, Sprint expects to cut its cost to deliver a voice call by at least 70 percent, reduce maintenance costs by as much as 50 percent, and reduce the cost of provisioning new services. |
