Ramsey, Don, here is an item from Individual Inc. I haven't even read the story yet, but can comment on this.
GLOBALSTAR SAYS FILING MISINTERPRETED - Globalstar LP denied rumors
that its communications satellites would have less power than needed
to serve its customers, saying a recent filing to the Federal
Communications Commission was misinterpreted. [Reuters, 126 words]
When discussing call charges with a guy from Qualcomm who had been involved with Globalstar development, I had suggested that in New Zealand,we could get bargain basement Globalstar service as the satellites would never be even the slightest bit busy over NZ as it is mostly ocean. But they would have to have a permanently surplus capacity to maintain service to China, Japan, Indonesia etc, where there are a few more people than we have even sheep [50 million sheep, 3 million people], even if we give each sheep a Globalstar tracking device so they could be called in for milking. Unfortunately for my theory, Globalstar [and all space systems], has a large power requirement over the populated areas so they carry batteries which are recharged over the unpopulated areas and discharged over the populated areas and night-time areas. Battery charge is the limiting factor rather than number of lines available, so it's better to not provide NZ a cheap service and save the batteries for the billions of chattering Chinese. Damn! I thought I was going to get free phone calls! So much for that. But as a shareholder of Globalstar from $12 per share, I'm not complaining much.
The story seems to have put the wind up Globalstar price a bit, just like the panic over Qcom a week ago, which enabled me to pocket paper profits [now $37 up from $30 bottom] to pay for my loss of sleep [which was fun anyway] and my new computer [which enabled me to be on-line, get the information and do the dealing]. If you are all lucky, GSTRF will drop heavily to around $30 or maybe even $20 and you can pile in. Let's face it, Globalstar probably won't work at all and it will be a $3bn disaster, along with all the other CDMA "trail of broken dreams" [as another item today put it, which I haven't read either]. I'll lose all my money and have to get a job! I better go and read them in case I want to sell quickly before you all do!!
Ramsey, I agree with you on the "winner/loser" scenario, and while there will eventually be a winner and loser, just as there was with Apple versus IBM PC, there is a lot of money and happy use of both systems and people benefit from the competition. The loser just has to manage their exit in a dignified way that continues to benefit their shareholders, customers and staff. As long as a "scramble for the exits" is avoided, Globalstar and Iridium can both have a profitable existence, though I think Iridium's will be shorter and less profitable. Maybe space switching with TDMA will be successful, but if battery life is a problem, then the extra energy needed to bounce the signals around the world is going to be tiring for the system and restrict their call capacity per dollar invested. Globalstar on the other hand, sends the signal straight back to ground stations, then uses the normal telephone systems to pump the signal around the world. It puts more governments and telecom companies in the chain, but if properly managed, that is irrelevant. Some countries will suffer telecom tax as governments excessively charge callers, but that won't be a big problem.
In the Qcom thread, someone said that Irwin Jacobs comes across badly and is too technical. If so and if that's the case with the analysts meeting that Ramsey mentioned, then if you are lucky, analysts will pan GSTRF and you will have a chance to buy in at $30 or so. What fun!! Best wishes to all, Maurice
ANZAC day here today [Australia, New Zealand Army Corps]: rembrance of those who died in conflict with Hitler, Hirohito, Ho Chi Minh. By the way, how come they all start with H? I say, promote a sovereign United Nations, whose role is defence and international agreements plus definition of disputed boundaries. Independent, very powerful, own constitution, legal system, President, elected by all people [not by states or dictators such as the Nigerian one]. I cannot have a good life if Taiwan, China, North and South Korea, East Timor, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel, Bosnia etc continue to have their inhuman madness like so many sqabbling tribes of monkeys. Like all wild animals, they have to be controlled. Hitler had no business invading Poland and USA/New Zealand had no business invading Vietnam. France was criminal in its terrorist attack on a Greenpeace ship in my own harbour, Auckland. Support an independent elected United Nations. Live a good, happy and prosperous life. Leave others to do the same in their own way.
Globalstar needs international harmony to profit. Maurice |
