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Technology Stocks : Gemstar Intl (GMST) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: NY Stew who wrote (2085)	2/24/2000 11:26:00 AM
From: Eric Jacobson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6516

Stew, what standards did they choose?

To: NY Stew who wrote (2085)	2/24/2000 3:24:00 PM
From: mauser96	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6516

I never underestimate the ability of the TV broadcasters and the cable industry to do everything in their power to delay and obstruct any form of progress. They have a situation varying between monopoly and oligopoly and fat profits. Why change anything? Any change or improvement in service is regarded as a threat rather than an opportunity. I remember when the cable company got it's monopoly in my former hometown. They did it by giving stock to all the leaders in both political parties, and to the important people in the local media. None of these agreements should be regarded as binding until they are complete and penalties for non performance are included. The cable industry likely regards this as a sop to hold off the threat of FCC action a while longer. They have little worry about any legislative fix because the politicians are afraid of media retaliation.

To: NY Stew who wrote (2085)	2/25/2000 2:17:00 AM
From: Jeff Bond	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6516

Well, then that is settled! Thoughts on the fate of PAGE now? I remember in a research report reading that GMST was going to use "spare" time on the PageNet network to provide wireless link capabilities. It appears that this was an attempt to provide an alternative, should the cable companies decide to play hardball with GMST. Since they appear to have folded, I wonder about the status of the relationship with PageNet. I'd say its toast, but I also remember reading something else that mades me wonder. In the same report, I recall reading that the wireless link was going to be the vehicle for communication of viewing statistics. At first, sometime in Q1 of 2000, a one-way link would be available, but in the following year the full two-way link would be up and running providing full interactive communication. Is this no longer necessary if cable companies decide to play ball, or is the plan to use wireless regardless of their decision? It seems to me that cable companies are prone to be unreliable, so hedging the bet and sticking with wireless seems to make sense. If I read the report correctly, GMST has already negeotiated a long-term deal with PageNet, so I imagine this is what they have in mind. Good news, that was a MAJOR hurdle, and with one more (TV Guide merger) to go, this is really beginning to shape up nicely. Regards, JB