Hi Scott Maxwell,
Why do you doubt there is a significant change in culture? You have posted this opinion twice already, and stated that you got out of BBN stock in 1986. When were you last at BBN? (please don't take this as a personal attack, but some info is a bit out of date).
I was there from 1984 until 1990, and from 1993 until 4/96, I left BBN last month to pursue some personal ideas, I still have a few shares, but of course, I advised everyone to sell when it hit the high 40's last year.
Anyway, my opinions:
1. 1986 is a life time ago, may be several if you count the number of mgmt changes at BBN, but things have stabilized.
2. There is a complete culture shift in BBN Mgmt. team, mr. Conrades has brought his own team aboard, there are new board directors (Regis McKenna is one of them). They could flop as well, but signals are good.
3. Planet revenue is grew about 50%?? last quarter, and continue to expand. They are upgrading the backbone to the DEC Gigaswitches. They signed the International deal with CITA?? the airline network consortium.
4. The rest of the Systems and Technology (used to be Lab.) is going extremely well. THey won the Gigabit Router, the NTDR Mobile net ($110 mil) and the TCS ($140 mil) contracts recently.
5. The 50 gps gigabit router, if Craig Partridge can pull off in 2 years will kick some butts in the backbone IP arena.
6. They are trimming off alot of fat (Domain and Hark etc..) (my humblest apology to my friends there).
7. The place continue to be a great place to work. This does not do much for the stock value, but something in life, even money can't buy.
8. The Planet contract with AT&T is for business services only not consumer accounts.
9. Their contract with AOL to provide dial up services is growing well.
I am not saying it is another AOL, but have you seen AOL from the inside???
Please do your own homework.
respectfully,
Steve. |
