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Technology Stocks : Wi-LAN Inc. (T.WIN) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SurfForWealth who wrote (1204)	11/27/1999 2:50:00 PM
From: axial	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 16863

Surf, and thread - Okay, there's a bit of misinformation about the December 2 meeting. I'll try to clear it up. And Surf, I should have typed " I didn't know about (the details of) the December 2 meeting. First - It was posted in error, somewhere, that the meeting will be held concurrently with a IEEE meeting. Wrong. It will be concurrent with a WECA session, in the same hotel. Second - What is WECA? wirelessethernet.org Basically, an interoperability and business alliance for the IEEE 802.11b standard. Note the members! Remember that Wi-LAN's relevance is with 802.11a, but that there is concurrent relevance with HyperLAN, HyperLAN2 and ETSI BRAN. In the FAQ note - "WECA is a forum whose mission is to certify interoperability of the Wi-FiTM (IEEE 802.11b High Rate) standard WLAN products. HiperLAN2 is an initiative to ensure vendor interoperability of the "next" wireless LAN standard, which is expected to be commercially available in the year 2001. HiperLAN2 technology, over time, might pave the way for next generation wireless LAN products. IEEE 802.11a supplements the IEEE 802.11 standard to provide high data rates up to 54 Mbps in the 5 GHz band. Although this standard operates in a different unlicensed radio band, it shares the same proven wireless LAN MAC protocol as Wi-FiTM. WECA supports the efforts of the HiperLAN2 standard as a non-competitive initiative to WECA. In fact, both groups have the same goals: "to ensure that the best standard is adopted by all wireless LAN vendors, and that customers can rely on the fact that vendors products supporting the standard are interoperable." Over time, the coexistence of Wi-FiTM products and HiperLAN2 in the market is expected, as is programs and initiatives to migrate those customers from one era to another." And especially note - ""WLANA" is very technology agnostic and serves a different purpose than that of WECA. WLANA is all about educating the market about wireless LAN's. WECA supports WLANA and many of its members are also members of WLANA" . Emphasis and italics added. The "technology agnostic" remark is relevant to the VOFDM/WOFDM debate - draw your own conclusions. Third - There is some reason to believe that another wireless heavyweight is strongly interested in WOFDM. I won't name the names I've been receiving, but two of them are as big as they get. This is not insider information, it's informed speculation. But it answers the question " Why would Wi-LAN run a meeting like this, in everybody's face, unless they had major backing? " Peter Ecclesine's somewhat dismissive take, on Last Mile, was "I wouldn't read too much into the meeting." Message 12100087 Fourth - (I know I'm going to get flamed again!<g>) I still think there's room for caution here. I'm letting my position ride, but no one knows with certainty what is happening, or how it will work out. There is (short-term) downside risk, IMO. *But I am certain that in 2 years, Wi-LAN will be showing minimum* EPS of $5-6, meaning a +$100 share price. Fifth - That said, the way Hatim has handled this has been spectacular. I believe that the WOFDM/VOFDM business alliances will be quickly resolved, and we will be able to make better projections after this meeting. He has my confidence, and thanks, for his masterful management of the issues involved. To all the super-bulls, who think I'm being safe, and the cheerleaders, who think I'm chicken, I say SQWWWAAAAAAAAWWWK!** Good luck. Looking forward to Monday! Jim