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Technology Stocks : AUTOHOME, Inc -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: M. Frank Greiffenstein who wrote (23680)	7/19/2000 10:12:24 PM
From: Solid	Respond to of 29970

Hi Doc, I'm sure he made the statements based upon T, 1) lighting a fire under his tail [then looking at installation resources] and, 2) initiating management house cleaning with assurances that Armstrong would try to consolidate leadership power for Bell- as he has done with the CC and Cox deals. Bell knows he needs to get the critical mass or the critical commentary will keep eating the stock price and OA reality may bleed their lead. I felt last quarter and still feel now that at the time he made the statements he was not including Chello or UMG or self-installs into the equation. Didn't he recently reiterate that self-installs would not be a meaningful contribution until at least mid 2001? I believe it was based upon huge installation efforts by existing and newly trained crews and ongoing additions to these crews this year. The MSO's have been hiring like mad all over the states for this reason. I get frustrated when they miss because it implies he is not on top of things as much as he would like others to think he is. This creates a credibility gap. Say what you mean and MEAN what you say or who will believe you? No smoke and mirrors either or you lack trust. In my book, without trust you have next to nothing. He missed the sub numbers. How is John Q. expected to believe he'll get twice the number for the next two quarters when he missed even getting the same number as last quarter this time? He set a high bar and missed. Bell set another high bar, 3 million by 12/31...and now apparently needs self install kits and/or Chello to add in for Happy Holidays. More drama and unknown added to the mix. KB was accurate when he said in the build out phase things are bound to be a bit erratic do to many variables. I have no issue with this. I just do not see the merit to setting a high bar and then faulting out. Set an attainable number and then beat it and surprise to the upside. Is that so bad? WS likes upside surprises. The tension from this outfit is like the EveryReady Bunny...it just keeps going and going and going. It will be interesting to see the commentary from analysts in the coming days. Some firm, the other day increased their target to $57 by year-end. Regardless, we draw closer to a point where the current price looks more ridiculous each day, and so I hold.