[TI vs. MOT]
<<<As for the Sourcecom/MOT deal, my interpretation is
that the TI DSP chip has caused considerable upset
in the semiconductor industry. DSLAM makers will
use the TI chip instead of the CG chip unless MOT
has something special to offer.
>>>
Louie --
I've heard the same. Sort of nice being Amati. It's definitely a win-win. If MOT wants to jazz up its CG ---which is inflexible as is---it'll have to renegotiate with Amati. And as for the TI chip, I wish you could have heard Pat Weber, the VP who spoke at the Robertson Stephens Conf. He called the C6X "revolutionary" and spoke of it changing electronics completely. It will cut development costs in half, he said, and the market now at $3.5 billion will increase to $12 billion in 2000.
<<<Was Amati informed of the possible COMS/USRX merger during the negotiation? The merger makes more sense as an ADSL play which allows them to compete with the big companies like ALA and NEC.>>>
I'm not sure if Amati knew of the buyout, but I'd guess they did. The woman who ran the press conference the night of the announcement mentioned the two companies had been working night and day for several months, so it's definitely not a shotgun wedding as one pundit put it. I'm glad you see it as an ADSL play, too. What makes me doubt my own perception is the apparent apathy of the analysts at the RS Conf. They didn't ask one ADSL question in the entire Q&A session. Not until a few of us --- all SI followers --- posed them afterwards was the topic even brought up. And, believe me, Weber was clearly excited someone understood what was going on. He laughed with pleasure when he told us he was being accused of running a start-up things were moving so fast. Can you imagine Motorola being accused of that???? When I mentioned Amati and said it was my primary holding, he looked up with new understanding and said, "This is huge." That's when I asked about the size and timing.
Now if TI is saying the market is huge, then USRX knows it and so does COMS. Heck, they all do. They're talking to GTE and Bell Atlantic and USWest and MCI and AOL and all the rest. Apparently the only ones who *don't* know it are Wall Street analysts. Now, I know I could be wrong. From the looks of it, though, they're obsessed with DRAMs and DRAM prices and probably can't help it because they've always driven the market and why would anything change now. Weber tried to tell them but I'm guessing it'll be one or two more quarters before they wake up. Obviously I'm overstating. There are pockets of understanding--- Soros, obviously, knows what's going on. So does Goldman Sachs and Oppenheimer. RS knows but by backing AWRE, hasn't played its cards well. Alex Brown so far is writing it off as "next year's story." One of their telecommunications analysts was at the RS Conf and was as silent on the subject as all the rest.
Now as for Cisco, they announced months ago they'd have an ADSL solution. Amati's providing technology to the new COMS won't affect its ability to partner, certainly.
Maybe it's time to get an update on ADSL positions at CSCO. (Besides which there are about 30 teenagers here tonight and there's not much I can do but hide away in my office.)
<<<TITLE: PRODUCT MGR II: ADSL :DSL
DEPT: CoreADSLEngineering
REQ NUMBER: 5449
LOCATION: SJCA
Requires a B.S. or equivalent with 2 - 4 years experience with routers, switches or ATM products. Knowledge of Cisco Systems solutions including configuring hardware and software to specific applications. Good written and oral communications skills is required. Experience with DSL Technologies is preferred. Field sales, systems engineering or service experience is a plus.
Define, document and design DSL solutions in response to customer RFIs and RFQs. Consult with developers and field sales to build capital solutions. Present DSL solutions to internal audiences and customers. Define product requirements and write market requirement documents to quick developers. Monitor and coordinate product development activities and drive run products to completion. Help define product pricing, promotion, introduction, public relations, and sales support activities. Implement product management programs as required. >>>
<<<
TITLE: SOFTWARE ENG IV:xDSL :Embedded Sys. Dev.
DEPT: CoreADSLEngineering
REQ NUMBER: 5452
LOCATION: SJCA
Requires a BSCS/EE or equivalent with a understanding of hardware and low level software development. Expereince of 4+ years in embedded systems development and C programming. Ability to write clear and concise functional specs. Knowledge of LAN/WAN protocols is preferred. ATM is a plus. Lab skills - logic analyzer, traffic generators, sniffers, etc. is a plus.
Lead activities related to understanding requirements for diagnostic and verification software for new router/switch platform supporting multiple high bandwidth modems. Address issues of on-line and stand alone diagnostics. Influence hardware design where needed to support maintainability.>>>
<<<
TITLE: HARDWARE ENG III :Design
DEPT: CoreADSLEngineering
REQ NUMBER: 5447
LOCATION: SJCA
Requires BSEE of equivalents and 3 years board-level design experience. Must have FPGA design experience, and high speed CMOS logic design experience. Also requires demonstrated ability to take a design to market. ATM knowledge, datacom or telecom experience, and system-level simulation experience is preferred. MIPS processor knowledge and viewlogic experience is helpful.
Design high speed logic for an advanced ADSL product at board-level. Interface with a combination of standard logic, ASICs processors, and FPGAs to design cost effective hardware in a focussed, market-driven design group.
>>>
These were all added on Feb. 23, 1997. I'm assuming the earlier positions were filled as these are the only ADSL ones listed.
I wonder if any have come from Paradyne. The reason I say this is because the guy from Australia said he'd heard they were leaving "in droves." I think I'd rather see Cioffi's proteges filling the ranks, not CAP expatriots.
Okay, enough rambling thoughts.
Cheers!
Pat
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