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Technology Stocks : METRICOM - Wireless Data Communications -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jim who wrote (1542)	7/18/1999 5:42:00 PM
From: KellyW	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3376

ONE MORE TIME: RED HERRING ARTICLE: (last week) The analyst believes that despite the large cash infusion and MCI's backing, Metricom faces major challenges. "I still have a problem with the business model for Metricom," he says. Because Metricom broadcasts in an unlicensed spectrum, it does not own any spectrum assets, unlike other wireless companies. In addition, Metricom's strategy -- hanging transceivers off utility poles in urban areas -- makes it dependent on the permission of local government agencies and planning boards. "They're left at the whim of planning boards," Mr. May says. Meanwhile, competition is zeroing in. Roll-outs from the wireless networks of the three main wireless protocols -- GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) -- are expected soon. "They [Metricom] are going to have a hard time competing in the next three years," the analyst concludes.

To: Jim who wrote (1542)	7/18/1999 10:36:00 PM
From: AJ Berger	Respond to of 3376

Not while local phone calls are unlimited ''will there be any effect on unlimited use of wireless at a reasonable price if telephone companies start charging for wired internet connections?'' only countries where local phone calls are charged by the minute, is there any usage charge (by being built into the phone charge, a kickback going to the ISP for generating prolonged phone call traffic). ISP's in countries like the U.S. have been spoiling customer too long by unlimited local call time, and ISP online time. They may increase the unlimited service charge, as AOL did 2 years ago, but they won't go back to the usage model. Cable Modems and even DSL are for the most part, staying with the unlimited model. I imagine that by the time MCOM's product offerings mature, they will be unlimited as well.