To: rudedog who wrote (160415 ) 9/7/2000 10:17:42 AM From: D.J.Smyth Read Replies (3) | Respond to of 176387 rudedog, re wireless for a few reasons: 1) you talk about the product vs. the service (system design and maintenance). Dell's TrueMobile unit is a more a design related unit than product related in that the TrueMobile team, for larger accounts, sets up wireless functional environments for organizations based on both Dell wireless tecnology innovations and other proprietary innovations that they resell. they're paid for their system design work, or system integration. Such companies as Anglebeat are showing there to be explosive demand for such services 2) WAP (wireless application protocol) currently has as many proprietary versions as there are companies offering it. each company wants to get their particular proprietary version in the face of the corporate/individual consumer. Even BankAmerica offers a "propietary" wireless banking solution in partnership with 724 Solutions that has a built-in WAP relay that differs from NOK and some other giants. NOK's version differs from others and so on. Because of Dell's size and market impact it is believed that Dell can take their personalized phone.com or NOK version to the standard. WAP is supposed to be a standard, but, in reality, it is far from it at this point because of the applications applied to it. companies are asking their software developers to attach proprietary operants to each WAP application or device. Dell has an opportunity to bring things together for their clients under partnership agreements. 3) given that GPRS is a relatively new phenomenon, i.e., the playing field is level with all carriers, Dell has the opportunity to link up with true GPRS mobile innovators in order to integrate these products into their design and resale systems. SUNW has no foothold ahead of Dell in this arena. CPQ has been working on wireless for sometime; but not specifically GPRS or 3g. 4) if you review wireless sales over the past five years, you'll note that "internet sales" and "direct sales of wireless products" have grown from 3% of the distribution chain to 35% of the chain. it is expected that the internet will account for 55% to 60% of all wireless sales by the year 2003/4. That represents a a 125% increase in wireless sales placed over the internet (the total wireless sales pie is also more than doubling - so 60% of the doubled figured). Dell's Gigabuys unit will participate in this increase.