More from Flint.........
Below I am posting copies of two additional posts by Flint Fastfood from RB board:
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A few points...
1. Brooks Fiber - My understanding (rather limited I agree) was that Brooks were very impressed by the Gigamux, and put it on
their whatever list. But things slowed down once Worldcom acquired them. Since they could not do anything right then they referred the Gigamux and trial data to Texas Utilities (they might have worked with them at some point, hence a connection?).
TU went on to buy one Gigamux.
It is very common when one co gets bought by another, the buying co will put their guys in all the important positions in the bought co. This usually ends up slowing the decision making process since that Mgr is learning this business on the job. They also come in with an initial agenda, and this causes conflicts sometimes, ending in a further reshuffle along the line. So all kinds of stuff happens in such cases.
One of the important things about Gigamux is that it requires a DIFFERENT way of thinking about communication systems and metropolitan networks. So far telcos have CHOSEN a format - SONET or ATM and then trumpeted it as the future solution. Some recently touted IP (Gigabit Ethernet) as THE solution. And here's Gigamux/EPC proposing a structure which will not care about the format. Takes a lot of managers to swallow their pride and say, "Hey we did not anticipate this. We need to rethink our strategy." This takes time. The seminars make sense in this context, rather than a direct sales pitch. Finally if the Ciscos and Lucents of the world (FORE and Ascend too) integrate the Gigamux/EPC methodology in their products ATM/Terabit Switches, routers, that will make the path smoother for this "paradigm shift".
Tough stuff. Much work ahead. This is why a big MediaOne announcement, during a profitable quarter, with every division
coming in positive, will be a critical point in turning around the future of this company and its stock.
It will be interesting times ahead. Hopefully we will not lose our nerves or our sense(s) of humor during the remainder of the tough times! We have come here with our minds intact, a few more months is not too much to expect, is it?! Patience is the byword, with discretion! :-)
Goooooooo FIBR!!
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Couple of points:
1. Too many skeptics are agreeing with Osicom's chances being favorable. That is worrying to a paranoiac like me. :-) But, Really it is. We need to cover all bases and not get smug till it is all over.
2. Scott's point about the "Hunting license" with NEC for RBOCs not having helped with the BEL sale. Look at that list - BEL were buying SONET gear, not DWDMs, 98% was for SONET gear!!! Do you see NEC there? No! That is the problem. BEL was looking for SONET, Gigamux is DWDM, part of 2% of their budget which they seemed to already have allocated mentally to LU and CIEN (re-read the guys gushing in it and emphasizing that tiny part of the contract. Hype alert!)
So if it was a DWDM order and we lost it, I will be very worried. If it was a SONET gear order and they bought at low prices "in bulk" (their wording) from 4 different mfrs, I don't think I would worry about it. Those guys at BEL must be sweating their way out of that contract right now, I'd expect. They must have a clause that lets them off the hook. After all the order is over 4 yrs or something. So they have elbow room to adapt to the Gigamux revolution in networking (;-)) All IMHO of course.
Thanks again everyone. Let's look for possible weaknesses in our assumptions and Osicom's claims. Hopefully we can do it constructively like intelligent investors, and avoid the piccing contests (c=s to fool the RB smell-checker ;-)) and arguments of Yahoo!
Gooooooooo FIBR!!!
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Afaq Sarwar
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