Bernie was asked that number in the CC, and responded that 300,000 would be an "appropriate number". TeSam stated that they will have 60,000 phones in shops on day 1. Elsacom stated that they have 25,000 phones "ordered". I think it was elsacom who stated that they won't start service in a country until phones were available in that country.
"appropriate" certainly isn't "Yes". I don't know if tesam's day 1 is the same as G*'s. And "ordered" isn't the same as ordering items that are ready to ship.
So, as I look at my notes again, while the company has stated that the number would be 300,000 in September 1999, and monthly production would be 40-45,000 by year-end, there was some fudge in that during the CC, perhaps.
In either case, I figure they need to have a couple of million phones out there, grinding out minutes for our satellites, in order to start making a profit. So, whether you're right or I am, we're still way below the desired amount. Phones are needed, and needed faster than 40,000 per month.
I agree that handsets are the problem. |
