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 : General Magic -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mark Oliver who wrote (7938)	2/8/2000 2:14:00 PM
From: John Madarasz	Respond to of 10081

Very cool indeed... Thanks Mark... I just spent a couple hours last night at this site reading about agent technology... ieee.org They sponsored the ASA/MA Symposium last year, and I've noticed some of the 20 papers that were published out of the 120 that were submitted at the symposium are available at the site. odysseus.ieee.org Not everybody's idea of a hot night out, but these are the things you do when your wife is 7 1/2 months pregnant<g> Alpha looks like a really cutting edge company and the price is right...(how come all these great companies have to be loaded with debt?<g>) On an aside, I happen to hold shares in another company, MSGI that I have mentioned once or twice, for an idea of how pervasive agent technology will be, and already is, take a look at one of their division subsidiaries, Wired Empire... wiredempire.com Think agents will be big? Thanks again for everything, glad your still around. Best Regards, John

To: Mark Oliver who wrote (7938)	2/8/2000 3:23:00 PM
From: equityanalyst	Respond to of 10081

Hi, Mark -- Back to your post #7886 and comment, "Interesting to see that there hasn't been a legion of short sellers coming in and proclaiming doom and gloom..." With tongue only slightly pressed in cheek, I think the reason for this is that they are quickly figuring out that they're fighting a losing battle in view of everything that's going on with GMGC -- company-wise, industry-wise and stock-wise. A (small) portion of the recent up-move is no doubt short-covering, but there's probably new shorting coming in at the increasingly higher price levels. That's just fine,though, 'cause it gives the stock nice underlying support and could be the added fuel for even stronger price action in the near term as the shorts get religion and are converted into Believers. I just did a quick scan of a wide variety of stocks of companies in the high-tech, bio-tech, genomics, fuel-cell and Internet industries, i.e., high-priced stocks which have generally had huge up-moves recently, and hence are among the most likely candidates to be attracting a lot of skeptics, shortsellers, etc. Plus, many of these companies are obviously very speculative, with little or no track record, untested/unproven products and/or services, although many appear to have lots of potential. Among the highest short positions I came across were stocks like HGSI, YHOO, NTOP, TGLO, VRIO and CMGI at about 6% of common shares outstanding; CNET and CPTH at 7%; IVIL and VERT at 8%; AMZN at 9%; LHSP and DCLK at 10%; CSCO at 12%; AMGN at 13%; COOL at 15%; UBID at 17%; and SCMR at 18%. The typical short interest ratio for the total list of these "hot" stocks (numbering about 70) was in the 1%-3% area of total shares outstanding. In GMGC's case, the latest short position equates to an extremely high 20% of shares outstanding (and, of course, a much higher percentage of the "float"). So with all those increasingly nervous non-believers sitting out there, further good news could really ignite the stock. One can only hope. ea

To: Mark Oliver who wrote (7938)	2/8/2000 11:29:00 PM
From: Challo Jeregy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10081

Mark and all, GMGC and GM in the Automotive News - automotivenews.com Automotive News February 7, 2000, Monday SECTION: Pg. 6 LENGTH: 484 words HEADLINE: GM expects other makers to start using OnStar BYLINE: JOE MILLER BODY: DETROIT - General Motors expects to expand its OnStar in-vehicle communications system to non-GM vehicles within 12 months, said Chet Huber, managing director of GM's OnStar division. GM is working out deals with Toyota Motor Corp. and other undisclosed automakers as it tries to boost OnStar subscriptions from 100,000 in 1999 to 1 million by the end of 2000. In the long term, GM wants 4 million OnStar subscribers by 2003. ''We're in discussion with GM on OnStar, but nothing final has been reached,'' confirmed Mike Michels, spokesman for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. Much of that subscription increase will come as GM makes OnStar standard equipment in much of its lineup. But Mark Hogan, who oversees OnStar and GM's Internet activities as president of its e-GM business unit, said OnStar needs to be an atractive option in vehicles made by other automakers to increase volume further and make OnStar more profitable. MORE VEHICLES OnStar uses a dedicated cellular phone line to connect subscribers to OnStar operators, who can handle emergencies, answer questions and arrange for con-cierge services. A satellite global positioning system allows OnStar operators to locate subscribers' vehicles and give them directions. A base subscription for factory-installed OnStar costs $199 year. If installed at a dealership, it costs an additional $699. By the end of this year, GM will increase OnStar's capabilities greatly by adding voice-activated Internet access and personal cellular phone service. GM has not said what consumers will pay for the advanced system. For the 2000 model year, OnStar appears as a factory-installed option in 19 GM vehicles and as a dealer-installed option in 10 others. OnStar also is available in 2000 model Saab cars. GM owns Saab. Huber said OnStar also is talking with GM-affiliated companies Suzuki Motor Corp., Isuzu Motors Ltd. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., owner of the Subaru brand. GM owns significant shares of each of those companies. ''We're absolutely talking with those as well as all of the OEMs,'' Huber said. BIG SPLASH But OnStar will make its biggest splash when it wins a contract with an automaker outside of GM. Huber expects that to happen within 12 months. In recent months OnStar has made itself more attractive to other automakers by signing deals with Internet and communications companies such as General Magic Inc., Bell Atlantic Mobile and GTE Wireless. General Magic will provide the voice-activation technology for the next-generation OnStar; Bell Atlantic and GTE will provide the cellular network that will make OnStar one of the largest cellular phone providers in the country. Additionally, OnStar is doubling its marketing budget in 2000 from a year ago with a new national advertising campaign featuring Batman. The Batman national TV ads, which do not mention GM, kick off this month. GRAPHIC: Huber: Expects deal within a year: General Motors is offering OnStar to other companies. Above is a system for Buick. Above right is an OnStar communications center.