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Technology Stocks : CustomTracks Corporation (CUST) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Rajiv who wrote (1980)	8/14/1999 6:02:00 AM
From: ynot	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2514

*OT* Rajiv, what do you think regarding upcoming CPI data? thanks ynot :)

To: Rajiv who wrote (1980)	8/14/1999 10:13:00 PM
From: put2rich	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2514

Rajiv and All, As I suspected they now have a better website in place w/ a more thorough info about their service/product. As I understand from my reading: First, a consumer registers w/ them and give them all personal info as well as all info of their cards (well you have to type a lot if you have 15 cards, for ex.). Then if the card is stolen or reported lost, then somehow a consumer has to remember to inform them too. Also let them know if you change email/password. Second, ZixCharge will ID a consumer by his email address and his/her password to check and authorize the purchase. So what happens if that info is stolen, as well as you have to memorize it. Third, I do shop sometimes with Ubid, Onsale, Barnes... and I think they don't need to go thru CUST, their software and the account/password is safe and capable enough. Now all vendors/card companies who open their doors to let CUST in have to share the meager profits to CUST (vendors only) and have to rewrite all of their software to include ZixCharge interface (also still keep non-Zix users' access). Fourth, what happens if Zix is down or is infested w/ virus. Then vendors can not sell? and who to blame for disagreement? Fifth, is there any company with the same biz model as CUST and already in place? Hope to have some constructive discussion about their biz model. Obviously I am skeptical but I might be dead wrong and CUST price just creeps up w/ better market conditions and some next PRs. Regards,

To: Rajiv who wrote (1980)	8/16/1999 12:44:00 PM
From: gringodoc	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2514

slammed again by briefing.com: 10:50 ET ****** CustomTracks (CUST) 39 7/16 +2 15/16: OK, we admit that it's probably too easy to go after CustomTracks, but it must be done nonetheless. CUST came out with its second informational website on Friday. Note that we did not say "product" here. For CustomTracks, a company with no revenues and no products, it is apparently a major coup to launch an informational website. The company's two product ideas -- ZixMail and ZixCharge -- both have informational websites now, but neither is available as a product. Friday's latest informational website launch was for ZixCharge, a product which will supposedly be available in late September. The ZixCharge product will allow for secure credit card transactions over the Internet. Of course, secure transactions are already available, but CUST sees a market for secure transactions in which the consumer will not have to give his credit card information or email address to the merchant. CustomTracks (which plans to change its name to ZixIt Corp) will get a percentage of every referral which it makes to a merchant. ZixCharge will be free to the consumer. The sales pitch must therefore be made to the consumer, as the merchant has no incentive to simultaneously give up its access to customer information and pay a referral fee. But we fail to see the great consumer uprising that will result in huge demand for this product, assuming of course that the product is eventually available. There were concerns about credit card security back in 1995, but those fears died long ago and credit card transactions over the Net now are as routine as those over the phone or at a restaurant. Despite its steady slide from a high of 90, CUST still enjoys an incredible market cap of $575 mln despite having no revenues and no products. The promise of great things to come based on products that do not yet exist is an obvious red flag for investors. Another is the fact that only a small Florida brokerage firm -- Joseph Charles & Associates -- currently follows the stock. CustomTracks might ultimately succeed, but the current risk/reward offered by the stock is ludicrous. The company has enough cash to make it for another 5+ quarters at its current burn rate. Investors had better hope it comes up with a viable product by then, because the capital markets aren't likely to be as understanding as CUST's current shareholders. - GJ