Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Frank Coluccio Technology Forum - ASAP -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (704)	12/12/1999 9:54:00 AM
From: Rande Is	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1782

Frank, Let me start by saying that I have great respect for your knowledge of cutting edge technologies and your ability to explain them. . . thanks in advance for taking your time to reply. [Also posted on ATHM for your convenience] My read on T has changed recently, and I thought you might shed some light on things a bit. This year, we saw their Liberty Media arm grabbing up companies long associated with the production end of the film making business. Coupled with T's conspicuous absence from the current text based internet, what do you think of the possibility that behind the scenes T might be rapidly [secretly?] at work on the Next-Generation Internet. . for the primary purpose of stealing the thunder of its existence by presenting to the world their own full blown working model?. . . end-to-end all optical . . . fibre to the set-top appliance. . . .with video on demand servers pumping out what the world really wants. . .full-motion video/real-time audio, fully interactive. T is the only company capable of pulling off such a feat. And if they did, their domination would be likened only to MSFT and the PC. Todd-AO Sound bought by Liberty Media. . . .that is the one that has my wheels turning most. We know T is working on the physical parts of the theoretical Next-Generation Internet. . . but could they be steering the entire development toward a surprise launch? It would seem they are at least working to establish the standards for which content will be delivered? I would think the next step is to start cutting deals with movie companies and television programmers. . .through one of their equity holdings. . .perhaps Rupert Murdoch's Newscorp. It all seems so much like a plot in a cheap sci-fi flick. . . .but when one company buys another is when I start asking why. . .and often those questions lead to a suspicion or hypothesis. . . and that suspicion leads me to take an early speculative equity position. . . and if I am correct. . .that early position can be extremely lucrative . . . .and gee, isn't that why we are all here? What has your crystal ball been showing you, Frank? I realize this falls just outside the realm of "technology", but with your track record for excellent technology analysis, and specifically your studies of A.T. & T., I would think you would have insight into where they may be headed. . . and look forward to your response. Best wishes, Rande Is

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (704)	12/12/1999 11:36:00 PM
From: George Dawson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1782

Frank, Very good review of home networks or as the authors refer to it "the last 100 yards" in this month's IEEE Spectrum. The article also includes projections for households with structured wiring in the U.S. as well as the breakdown by medium (powerline, wireless, phone line). The projected increase in structured wiring goes from 50K in 1999 to 800K in 2003. Phone line dominates in this space 87% in 2000 to 70% in 2003. The percentage points lost are gained by wireless. The structured wiring has been pushed heavily by some tech companies and IBM was mentioned. In that approach all the lines (cat 5, phone lines, power lines, and RG-6 coaxial cable) all come in through the same point. IBM has a Home Director product that would manage devices on the network. Upstream from this director would be a broadband gateway to the internet containing the necessary modems or transceiver devices. The article also contains specifics about companies and proprietary technologies competing in this space. For example, Tut Systems (Pleasant Hill, CA) has a system for frequency division multiplexing on phone lines. Their system creates three channels for phone service, ASDL, and entertainment and more high speed data. Overall, a very interesting article worth reading. George D. Ref: Dutta-Roy A. Networks for homes. Spectrum 1999; 36:26-33.