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Technology Stocks : Novell (NOVL) dirt cheap, good buy? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: PJ Strifas who wrote (27941)	8/29/1999 10:54:00 PM
From: Frederick Smart	Respond to of 42771

Why AOL Must Re-think The Value of Novell.... >>If digitalme can offer AOL a way to micro-manage user access into these areas as well as track payment or usage of these areas, it could drive AOL's desire to buyout Novell. Being able to deliver more secure user accounts will also create a more positive e-commerce environment for it's members. This would create more interest in e-commerce on AOL as well as driving more vendors into AOL.>> If AOL purchased Novell, they have a BIG choice on their hands. For Novell - NDS and DigitalMe - represents infrastructure which is waiting for the next chapter of the net to be written. By that I mean that this next Wave - wave 3 - will be all about INDIVIDUALS - not companies - controlling access to data and information. AOL's entire strategy has been one of controlling access, content, data and information. They circle their wagons around various verticals and charge a fee for anyone wanting to come inside, eat visit the campfire and have fun. Wave 3 of the net will be all about US circling our OWN wagons around data, content and information. WE will be the ones inviting our friends, family, neighbors, groups, associations, etc. to come inside, eat, sit around the campfire and have fun. For this next wave to start we won't need for the BIG data, content and information providers to open up. For this "opening up" will happen anyway. If AOL doesn't open up, there will be others that do. In effect, AOL will face the same challenge that companies that waited to get a website faced when their competitors started sharing basic static content and information. XML will be the lasar that opens up ALL datastores. And right behind it I see NDS/DigitalMe providing an intelligent platform to launch these new interactive apps which provide access to more secure datastores deep inside enterprises. If AOL understands this reality, then I think they can totally remake themselves into a giant powerhouse, but here's the catch: ALL their future power will be a function of them doing one thing - extending power and control to end users. The mindset required to lead Wave 3 is diametrically opposed to ALL of what's been happening on the net to date. We haven't even begun to witness the incredible energy and power that will come from opening up this new interactive world of KNOWLEDGE which will come from TRANSFORMING data and information. Here are the levels of progress we must be mindful of.... Mastery Wisdom Knowledge Information Data The world is just trying to get itself uncoupled from the Old Business model power/control paradigm that still wants to restrict/limit access to basic data. Sure there is more information out there thanks to the net, but we are now a world awash in this growing firehydrant of bandwidth-fired data which BIG companies are still trying to control. The next logical step - already under way - is business-to-business e-commerce. Ok, great, fine and logical. Eliminate the paperwork, speed up service and fulfillment processes and save tons of money. But this step is still "inward seeking", not outward seeking. Companies still have their blinders on. "We'll save a ton of money....GO!!" Big deal! The consultants will make a fortune, Novell will get some great new business, but we haven't advanced. We've only streamlined the Old Business model. What's going to surprise many is the degree to which this next phase catches the world totally by surprise. Midway through this phase I see massive dislocations and transfers of business to new domains - call them companies, networks, communities, groups - which will displace traditional businesses. For these domains will be refered to as SERVICE domains. They will be very hard to measure and control. And this will drive traditional companies crazy. For companies today have proven that cannot measure the value of relationships, trust, mindshare, spirit, etc. This is that 3rd rail which will zap those who do not humbly take time to get more in tune with what's happening out there right now. Customers can't be OWNED. Companies must realize very fast that WE are their bosses. For the IP Revolution is just getting started. All the Old Rules have changed. You can take whatever you thought you knew about marketing, business development and product strategy and throw it out the window. For in the future, unless we RISK while humbly SERVING we won't have earned the TIME and TRUST of the individuals we call our clients. RISK and SERVE. Then be sure to fail and change often so that we can RISK and SERVE more successfully. For ALL success will be determined by one question: Have we earned someone's TIME and TRUST? Sure this will be an incredibly micromanaged world going forward. But the "new management" will be all about letting US manage. Give US the power and control to manage what we think are the best inputs and outputs. Steve Case better have a good idea about these trends if he wants to extend AOL's growth into the stratosphere. If he does anything less than completely and totally OPENING UP he will miss this next boat. And I just hope Novell's incredible potential is not stifled in the process. Peace. GO!!