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Technology Stocks : The *NEW* Frank Coluccio Technology Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (4407)	11/26/2001 5:14:32 PM
From: elmatador	Respond to of 46821

Good news for the technically challenged: Gateway Makes House Calls for Wireless Networking By Jay Wrolstad November 16, 2001 'Many consumers and home office customers aren't satisfied with ordering technology over the Web and then having to figure out how to make it work on their own.' Good news for the technically challenged: PC maker Gateway (NYSE: GTW) now makes house calls to lend a hand in setting up a home computer system, including wireless networking. The company's installation service is available to homes across the United States, with Gateway's 296 retail outlets acting as service hubs in most major metropolitan areas. Technicians are dispatched to customers' residences to set up PCs and establish Internet connections. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Going Wireless For those customers who want to go mobile, Gateway said it will set up a wireless home network, providing all the equipment, software and installation service needed for sharing a high-speed Internet connection, data and peripherals like printers and scanners among multiple PCs. To get the wireless network up and running, a company technician will install networking hardware and wireless adapters, set up file and print sharing, configure Web browser and e-mail settings, and explain the network's capability to customers. Users must purchase the US$499 Gateway Wireless Home Network Solution, featuring a Wireless Gateway and an AnyPoint Wireless II Adapter from Intel. Network security is provided by a user network ID, up to 128-bit data encryption and a built-in firewall, Gateway said. Getting Plugged In The company said its House Call program marks a step in its move toward establishing itself as a technology products and services integrator. "Many consumers and home office customers aren't satisfied with ordering technology over the Web and then having to figure out how to make it work on their own," Gateway senior vice president Bart Brown said. "We are offering a convenient way to install technology in their homes and ensure they get the most from their investment." Other House Call program options include a $99 PC installation service that sends a technician to the home to unpack components, make necessary connections and boot up the system, and a $129 PC Plus Dial-Up Installation service for first-time buyers that adds Internet set-up to the PC installation. Slumping PC Sales Gateway, the fourth largest U.S. PC maker, is hoping this personal touch will boost sales and customer satisfaction as it vies for customers with Dell (Nasdaq: DELL), Compaq (NYSE: CPQ), IBM (NYSE: IBM) and other rivals. Gartner Dataquest reported that this year, for the first time, PC sales dropped over a previous year's quarter. Worldwide second-quarter shipments of PCs totaled 30.4 million units, a decline of 1.9 percent from the same period a year earlier. That was the second straight quarter of negative growth in domestic PC sales. Gartner said U.S. shipments fell by 6.1 percent, from 11.4 million to 10.7 million units. The United States accounts for about 40 percent of the global PC market.

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (4407)	11/27/2001 1:20:33 AM
From: TheStockFairy	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 46821

Well, things are only rotten in my tiny tiny part of the telecom world (bandwidth trading). I knew this was coming a while ago, but i didn't know the whole industry would fold that quickly. Most other traditional carrier sales people where I am at are doing pretty well, actually. Since I'm hypercompetitive, if I'm not on top, I'm not happy. Aside from my little career blip, there are, contrary to popular belief, people still making loads of money. Several of my friends are still going to be over the 300k mark this year, which I think is pretty good. A few of them will be over 400k. It's all about who you are selling to.

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (4407)	11/27/2001 8:18:48 AM
From: elmatador	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 46821

"Microsoft's attempts to extend its influence from the desktop to wireless in the shape of its Windows CE, Pocket PC and 'Stinger' platforms as the greatest threat to its future." MSFT Stinger Smartphones are a thread to Multimedia Mobile Systems (MMS). Note that albeit MSFT had been quiet in the first part of this year due to its problems with the DJ, it will re-start its plans to dominate the wireless landscape. Note that it had launched its Stinger Smartphone earlier this year and then it stopped. Now with its purchase of 5% of Korea Telecom (and the Korean governerment want it to buy an additional 4.5%) and its alliance with Samsung, MSFT is a credible threat in the mobile data field. Ben Waldman, MSFT vice president of the Mobile Devices Division, said: "...we fully expect phones to overtake PCs as the way users will access the Internet," Besides that MSFT already own content to send over mobile data; MSN, MSNBC and WebTV. Add to that it already has Internet Explorer Mobile, a micro browser adapted for hand terminals. All that is yet to be 'solidified' in the wireless camp. Add to the above the fact that MSFT is the 'owner' of the Office. Vodafone and Microsoft have launched Vodafone OfficeLive in the UK, the result of their collaboration in corporate mobile internet services. OfficeLive will be a platform for Vodafone applications for corporate users, the first being Microsoft Outlook. Users with a WAP phone or PDA, for example, will be able to access e-mail. The services are accessible via Vodafone’s GSM and GPRS network. The start of UK services this July will act as a testbed for rollout into other countries. Firms will be charged a monthly fee, plus a GBP5 (E5.84) fee per user per month. What all that has to say to you? The writing is in the wall for the fixed broadband. WLANs can, significantly drain traffic out of the wired LAN/WAN environment and port it to wireless. Picture that: MSFT will create a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MNVO), buys excess capacity in bulk from spectrum owners and resell its contents over it. It may not be doing this by itself but jointly with, say, Virgin or Vizzazi, or Vivendi.