Other possible customers for full motion video & audio web hosting services could also include many universities and hospitals, where real-time video streaming would be a great candidate for off-site training & instruction. Education and entertainment are two huge areas with much potential given sufficient bandwidth. Tapping into Ampex's equipment and patent portfolio would only require sufficient bandwidth to justify the material investment:
"Although the emergence of applications that envision the transmission of video, graphics and other images over the Internet or private networks may create new markets for the Company's data storage products, the Company's management believes that these applications will require bandwidth improvements to current information delivery systems before the information storage systems offered by the Company and others will be required."
As evidenced by his past comments, Bramson has always been well aware of what the future capabilities of data transmission would be. Though his timing may have been off, the slow progress towards increased bandwidth has enabled the company to create a long-term plan to gradually align themselves with this potentially huge market. I think he's on the right track, the train just left the station later than he thought it would. And Ampex is headed in the right direction, let's just hope we're among the first to arrive at our destination.
If earnings come lower than expected, and the stock price falls in reaction to it, it would present an excellent buying opportunity. Accumulation at these levels, at the least, is not a bad idea.
I like the fact that the company has a direction they are heading towards, a potentially well-rewarding direction. For years they have been saying, "Ampex is currently focusing its technology on the emerging market for mass data storage in the visual information age", but now it appears they finally being more aggressive to meet that objective. I'd rather they adopt a risky, all-out strategy than wither away with declining sales of present equipment. I say, "Go for it. It's now or never."
P.S. Can't help you on your Cola problem, Gus. |
