I just got off the phone with IR and the 'quiet period' definitely starts Monday, March 15 (at 12:01 a.m.). So from Monday until earnings, CPQ will not talk about its business with individuals or institutions, can only make press releases.
One question I was able to get an answer to was in regards to the turn around cycle from time one places an order until it is shipped. Right now it varies between 5 to over 10 days, depending on the model. CPQ's goal is to, "Shoot for a 5 day cycle."
In terms of the comment E. Mason made which was taken as a statement that CPQ's sales had been week [January, first 1/2 February], the woman said Mr. Mason was commenting on the industry, not CPQ.
Then I briefly discussed with her my findings when I started shopping for a laptop and compared the Prosignia with similar models from Dell and Gateway. She said my comments were valid and pointed me to when I can write them on CPQ's web site.
Overall impression: Some of the questions I asked could not be answered by the woman either because the information was not available [i.e. How sales of P IIIs are going] or because they were just the kind of questions IRs (any, not just CPQ) either do not normally answer because they do not have the information at hand--or can not answer. I felt the woman was trying her best to answer those questions she could. I did not think she was trying to be evasive.
Lynn |
