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Technology Stocks : LAST MILE TECHNOLOGIES - Let's Discuss Them Here -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Maurice Winn who wrote (6199)	1/4/2000 8:06:00 AM
From: Frank A. Coluccio	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 12823

Hello Maurice, The possibility of their OEMing the LU device comes to my mind. I just think that way sometimes. Is this what is happening? One aspect of their web site's technology section enhances this suspicion, but I could be wrong: "AirFiber technology information is currently restricted to business partners and current/potential customers. If you already have an account, you may continue on to access the information." If it is not some such OEM arrangement, then some of my observatins below may be relevant. "Do you think airfiberinc.com has any advantage over Lucent's fibre?" I think you mean to ask if AFI has any advantage over LU's optic-air free space laser system, not fiber, right? That would depend on what you're looking for. Let's take a look at two implementations. Is the free space system being used as a tactical measure in order to overcome some limitations imposed by terrain or restricted access to public routes? Or, is it being used to back up an existing carrier provided (or other private) facility one to one? When used for the creation of a straightforward primary high capacity link, it would depend on whether they can "come up to speed" in order to match what LU claims will be multiple OC-48s, resulting in aggregate speeds up to, and beyond, 10 Gb/s. Does AFI make these claims too? [If so, btw, my suspicion of OEMing increases.] However, if AFI provides a "value add" through the inclusion of enhanced networking software, then it's a maybe, but I'd like to know more about their intentions in that regard, before offering an opinion. You note: "If there's fog or rain, then HDR, or VOFDM, or 'WaveACCESS(r) high-speed (11 Mbit/s), point-to-point and point-to-multipoint outdoor wireless networking systems for large corporate complexes and campuses, including access to local Internet Service Providers (ISPs). WaveACCESS is an economical and reliable alternative to leasing phone lines or running cables between buildings' could take over for a while." Perhaps. "If" the applications running over the free space system were of limited bandwidth (information carrying capabilities), or if you only wanted to back up on the basis of criticality while deferring batch work until the obstruction clears. That is, if you only wanted to back up only a portion of the most critical traffic, which is a percentage of normal traffic flows arrived at through risk-analysis, i.e., criticality assessment. I should note here that none of the backup alternatives you've mentioned could actually satisfy the full potential (multi-gigabit) flows of the Optic-air, or even the product you cite, when they operate at full bore, without extraordinary measures put in place which would probably defeat any cost advantages that could be realized from using free space in the first place, if they were intended for "primary" link use. It's for this reason that I think that backups for these devices (which are operated as the user's "primary" high capacity link) will usually be designed on the basis of criticality, only, and not full service restoration... during downtime periods which could be attributed to equipment failures, inclement weather, pigeon races, window washing, (and ticker tape parades/smile). Regards, Frank Coluccio

To: Maurice Winn who wrote (6199)	1/4/2000 12:59:00 PM
From: Bernard Levy	Respond to of 12823

Hi Maurice: Frank gave you a full answer on your technical question. I will only add that Globalstar cannot be viewed as a last Mile solution, since it carries voice only and is extremely narrowband. Cyberstar, Skybridge or Teledesic (if they see the light of day) would represent Last Mile solutions from a satellite platform. Best regards, Bernard Levy PS: In addition to Lucent and AirFiber, I think there are a few other small optical wireless companies. I do not recall the names at this moment.