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Technology Stocks : Echelon Corporation (ELON) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Boplicity who wrote (1421)	3/15/2000 10:51:00 AM
From: IngotWeTrust	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 3076

Not so sure I agree w/you that power transmission lines are also being "groomed" for two-way data transmission capabilities. More likely the Powercom meter is attached to a phone transmission connector. Besides, imagine trying to use the "smart card to pay the 'lectric bill" during non-peak hours, when the kids are on the phone all the time the parent is NOT on the internet<g> Should make for some interesting excuses when power is disrupted and the homeowner is trying to get it restored. Now, if LonWorks would come up with an automated application for sending phoned data packets when A) no one is using the phone, B) measured service rates are the cheapest C) with the cheapest LD carrier,...now THERE would a home application I could get behind<g> Oh, and BTW, don't you just LOVE the way ELON mgmt manages the news around options expiry time? Tis beautiful, yes?

To: Boplicity who wrote (1421)	3/15/2000 11:38:00 AM
From: Roger A. Babb	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 3076

Greg, I did cover my short with a tiny profit. Yes, I can see many uses for the ELON product within the house. But it is for communications over the powerlines only WITHIN the house. The signals will not pass through the transformers to go further than that. Actually all the houses connected to a single transformer could communicate, but not further than that. However, long distance communication is not necessary for the product to have great value; a single phone line or cable modem connection can communicate with devices throughout the house. The largest value for "smart" electricity use is created if power rates go high enough to make folks worry about such things. Unfortunately high power rates and much higher natural gas rates are probably in our future.