Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

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 : Next Level Communications Inc. (NXTV) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Rob Pierce who wrote (108)	10/31/2000 5:54:07 PM
From: Rob Pierce	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 131

Next Level jumps 23 percent on Qwest hopes NEW YORK, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Shares of equipment-maker Next Level Communications Inc. jumped 23 percent on Tuesday amid hopes of an expanded contract with key customer Qwest Communications International Inc., traders said. Rohnert, Calif.-based Next Level's VDSL (very high-speed digital subscriber line) equipment turns traditional telephone lines into high-speed pipes able to transmit television, data and voice services. Qwest (NYSE: Q) told analysts in a meeting on Tuesday that Next Level has been making progress in cutting the costs of its products. Qwest previously had said it would not expand VDSL beyond the test market in Phoenix until the the cost to buy and install the equipment fell. Qwest did not comment on any specific plans. Still, its comments about shrinking equipment costs were viewed as a sign that the data and telephone services company may buy more Next Level equipment, traders said. Shares of Next Level (NASDAQ: NXTV), which is majority-owned by Motorola Inc., gained $8, or 22.9 percent, to $43 on Nasdaq. Shares of Motorola gained $1-5/8, or 7.22 percent, to $24-1/8 on the New York Stock Exchange. U S West Inc., the local telephone company Qwest bought this summer, had been a big proponent of VDSL services and had aimed to expand the service to about 10 cities. During the Qwest-U S West merger, however, Qwest put those expansion plans on hold until the cost concerns could be addressed. In the next few weeks, Qwest is expected to announce plans to launch VDSL services in Denver, sources familiar with the situation previously said. Additional expansion plans may be announced in the first quarter, they said. Qwest declined to comment on its specific plans. "If you can get the economics of the product to work, the name of game is that you sell it to everyone possible ... I think we're looking at a 8-10 (market) strategy if we get the product to work," Qwest Chairman Joe Nacchio told analysts. RP