Some observations regarding the FNTN-Siemens relationship.....
1. In post #657 of this thread it was reported, via interview with Mr. Sheppard ....
"Siemens, what is their role, and what is it costing FNTN,,,nada,,, Siemens Europe lent 6 of their own employees to set up the tech stuff and Siemen's INVESTMENT division is watching FNTN very closely to see if they are kosher
and see if they will make it like the rest of us"
Why would Siemen's INVESTMENT division be watching, if
strictly limited to a vendor-client relationship?
2. Siemens press release of May 5, 1998, (only 1 1/2
months ago, entitled "Siemens Unveils IP Extranet Network
of the Future and Modular Customer Migration Path"
siemenscom.com
" 'The Extranet Network of the Future' will help companies
significantly reduce operating costs, increase productivity and enhance
services by enabling the exchange of voice, video
and data information across both private corporate intranets
public internets. Siemens has packaged these technologies
into comprehensive, low-cost communication and information
management solutions "modules" that can be added at a
pace that is congruent with each customer's technology
investment strategy"
3. The same day May 5, 1998, Siemens had another press release
"Siemens Illustrates Voice/Data Convergence at Networld+
Interop......Company Provides Customers with an Innovative
Migration Path to Voice and Data Convergence and IP
Telephony"
siemenscom.com
This release stated, "From switching systems to networks to
the Internet, Siemens Business Communication Systems integrates
diverse technologies into practical applications for major business
sectors such as healthcare, education, utilities, retail, public sector, and finance."
Compare that excerpt from Siemens press release to FNTN's own
press statement...."The proprietary network is customizable for
any application, group, franchise and association that requires
dynamic information exchange, especially for organizations that
are heavily data laden such as Federal, State, Local and City
government Depts, Law Enforcement, Insurance, Finance,
Medical, and Legal industries.
Both FNTN and Siemens expressly state they are targeting many diverse industries
Seems to me there is room for a lot of future collaboration or
strategic alliance work based on each companies own words.
In any event, time will tell the nature of the FNTN-Siemens
relationship, but I've got the feeling that Siemens "Extranet
of the Future" might be unveiled by July 31, 1998.
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