SI
SI
discoversearch

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 : Wind River going up, up, up! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: lkj who wrote (7702)4/29/2000 12:42:00 PM
From: Bargain Hunter  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 10309
 
I agree with your characterization of the "Voice Communicator" and "Mobile Computer" markets with one exception. While there will, no doubt, be Mobile Computers that incorporate phone capability, I expect that most people who want both capabilities will buy separate Bluetooth-capable devices. Reasons include: no need to carry the computer when only telephony is required; ability to select telephony and computer features independently; ability to upgrade one function without upgrading both. Or, to put it another way, it's more like TV/VCR than clock/radio.



To: lkj who wrote (7702)4/30/2000 10:18:00 AM
From: James Connolly  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 10309
 
Ikj,

I have to say I do not understand the consumer space very well. It appears to be a very complex area as compared to servers or Internet infrastructure. When I think of WIND and the consumer space I think mainly of all the design wins WIND has in the Jini/Java area.

Other stuff,
Gigabit Ethernet and network processors seem to popping up everywhere these days, yet another story.

SwitchCore unveils Gigabit Ethernet family offering wire-speed QoS
semibiznews.com

Also, at next weeks Networld + Interop show.
myplanner.zdevents.com
"Winners, Losers, Opportunities
The advances occurring in network processors and embedded software hold the potential to change the present value chain of component suppliers, software vendors, networking hardware vendors, systems integrators, service providers and enterprise customers. This session will present new potential value chains for the networking industry and attempt to determine the winners, losers, and new opportunities that will be created as a result of these new value chains.

Moderator(s) John Freeman , Vice President, Research, Fearless Group, Ltd.


Regards
JC.



To: lkj who wrote (7702)4/30/2000 12:26:00 PM
From: Allen Benn  Respond to of 10309
 
If WRS can sign a VAR deal on Qualcomm's ASICs or Intel's ASICs, we might have something to play with. But can our OS take on Palm and EPOC in the long term?

I think the there is a surprising answer to this question. To start, we have to look at the design Irwin Jacobs has in mind, as the cell phone takes on more functionality. As I recall from a detailed presentation he made at a seminar a few months ago, it looks like this:

1. Phone functionality always comes first, with high availability. General purpose computing functionality must not interfere with making calls.

2. At home, the cell phone rests in a cradle for recharging and providing connectivity to a keyboard and monitor, and possibly other capabilities such as a hard disk, etc.

3. Internet and phone connectivity always is wireless, whether the phone is in the cradle or mobile.

4. Mobile use probably sacrifices general purpose functionality available while in the cradle, but would continue to enable basic functions like scheduling, address books, voice recognition, etc.

5. For most consumers, such a general-purpose cell phone meets their entire personal voice, Internet and computational needs. Whereever you go, you can plug your phone into any cradle and instantly experience your your personalized desktop.

6. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS DESIGN, IRWIN ENVISIONS A DUAL SET OF MICROPROCESSORS, DSP'S, ETC. IN EACH PHONE. The reason is make sure that the first objective above is not sacrificed. In Irwin's mind, the second set could run a general-purpose OS, like CE or Palm, that benefits from available applications.

A better design is the following:

1. Have a single microprocessor and chipset with a robust, protected, high-available OS for performing both voice phone functions and thin-client connectivity to an Application Service Provider (ASP).
2. All applications like scheduling, word processing, spreadsheets, etc. are performed on the network server, and display on the phone and/or connected monitor.
3. No need for local storage.
4. Personal desktop, with unlimited applications and storage, always accessible, with no consumer maintenance required.

Whereas WIND may not be considered ideal for the Irwin's design (because of the requirement for general purpose applications and API), WIND has the only OS capable of the replacement, preferred design. That is, the only one when considering the usual general-purpose suspects: CE, Symbian or PalmOS.

Irwin will capitulate to the replacement design when he realizes that his original design is too expensive and power-hungry to be practical any time soon, and when he realizes that a protected, high-available OS will not degrade phone availability. I see all this happening at least by the time when Intel gets all its wireless capability organized around a StrongARM core with DSP support.

Allen



To: lkj who wrote (7702)5/5/2000 12:25:00 PM
From: James Connolly  Read Replies (3) | Respond to of 10309
 
Ikj,

Interesting white paper on mobile devices from the WIND website.

Tornado in Mobile Internet
wrs.com

Regards
JC.