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To: Percival 917 who wrote (17435)	5/3/2000 8:45:00 PM
From: tromkio	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 35685

MCOM: a wireless ISP Vulcan Ventures (MSFT co-founder, Paul Allen's venture capital firm) and WCOM announced each was investing $300M (Last July maybe??) to help finance MCOM's buildout of its 128K service, called "Ricochet" into 9 metro areas by Summer, 2000. That $600M funding deal was recently completed giving Vulcan 46% and WCOM 35% of MCOM. Ricochet is currently operational in the metro areas of San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC at 28.8Kbps with about 30,000 customers who can get unlimited "always on" service for $29.95 per month. Some skeptics wonder if MCOM is doomed after QCOM announced technology last week to allow cellular carriers to provide approximately .2Mbps data service with existing standard systems. This seems bearish for MCOM, but there are several reasons that isn't so. 1) 128Kbps is not exactly slow. That's almost 2.5 times faster than the fastest dial up modems (FCC regulated to 53K, max, despite the 56K label). I have seen three powerful Pentium computers simultaneously using a single 128K ISDN line with real time quotes, charting, Level II Nasdaq, and other Internet connections with decent response. A single user on a laptop will not stress 128K. Also, Websites are on a big push to offer "light" versions of their sites or data especially configured for wireless access. 2) Headstart: MCOM's working, installed base has the advantage of being first, sort of like Amazon.com. Barnes and Noble is bigger, but customers tend to be loyal if their needs are meet at fair prices. 3) QCOM's technology may take several months, if not closer to a year for the carriers who decide to offer it to get operational. 4) MCOM initiated a reseller program to allow existing cellular carriers to add Ricochet to their systems. You can bet WCOM considered this to package along with Sprint PCS. 5) Unique advantage: MCOM uses tiny "cells" that are cheap, and supposedly can be installed in five minutes on street signs, utility poles and buildings. This approach could effectively provide blanket coverage in the canyons of downtown buildings and hilly terrain like San Francisco. Conventional cellular modules are too expensive to blanket an area cost-effectively. 6) Unregulated spectrum: Ricochet operates within a license-free portion of the radio frequency spectrum with patented technology that maintains high speeds even as more users are active. Don't get me wrong. I'm long both companies and I love speed. I just don't see MOST mobile users needing much more than 128K. I can't wait to get QCOM's 2Mbps for wireless Internet in my home office and cut the cable modem. Some estimate that over 50% of the U.S. is not served by cable or DSL. That's another area where QCOM's 2Mb service has some potential There are two privately held wireless ISPs that have been operational for at least a few years and that have nationwide (although not total) coverage: Novatel Wireless: (first carrier to license Ricochet) (www.novatelwireless.com) GoAmerica: offering wireless trading with SmartServe Online (SSOL) (www.goamerica.net) Wireless Wonderment, November, 1999 Copyright ¸ 1999 The Pro Right Line Corp Hope it helps, kio

To: Percival 917 who wrote (17435)	5/3/2000 9:16:00 PM
From: imdchamps	Respond to of 35685

Hi Joel, I hold MCOM in my portfolio as a shiny but very bruised pebble. MCOM is in the process of rolling out their Richocet product. Wireless highspeed internet access for the laptop. The Motley Fool Metricom Board is very informative. Principle stockholders are WCOM and Paul Allens Vulcan Venture Fund.

To: Percival 917 who wrote (17435)	5/3/2000 10:46:00 PM
From: robjohnson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 35685

joelman i'd like to play but sundays are out in morning for me. kids,church ,etc. thanks for the help re:mcom the porcher's here are great: read those replys you requested. interesting stuff; maybe there is no play with mcom until the 12 cities are up and running. your thoughts? rob