crs, Jabs, that last one may have been a low blow<GG>, but I'll keep sparring. Facts straight? Well I guess we can both use some help in that area. First off, again, I like IDTC prospects and if I had available capital, it would be a possible investment. But IDTC is not in direct competition with FTEL, but rather with FNET, their subsidiary. My main point was that IDTC is not manufacturing hardware, that is FTEL's main business. It would be very difficult for a service co. to 'kill' a hardware corp. FNET is a subsidiary that is destined to be a full service telco, with all those bells and whistles already included:-), and will most likely IPO in the next 6 months, or so. FNET will compete with IDTC for long distance min.'s, not FTEL.
The infrastructure is not in place. However, the ability to bill is not the issue. They have announced the expansion of officespace for FNET and the acquistion of all necessary equipment, during the summer.
What is not in place, at least that I know of, is actually the more important piece, the gateways. Before they actually begin selling minutes to individuals, though not necessarily businesses, they need to have these deployed. The timeframe could actually be shorter than you would think to deploy them as each gateway only takes a couple of hours to physically install. A few hundred POPs could literally take a few weeks to have running.
My mother, and I would kindly ask that she not be referred to any manner<GGGbut seriousGG>, is not FNET's target, the corp. customer is. The Pyschological shift necessary for private households to use IT calls is at least 3 years away. Corporations are now! As the bottom line is immediately impacted by a dramatic lessening of the cost of long-distance, no psychology is required.
As far as your experience attempting to impress the staff at FTEL as to how important of an investor you are, No Offense, but they are hunting big game right now. If you are not an underwriter, investment banker, etc. waving millions at them, you are not going to receive much attention, at this moment. If you did tell them that and they didn't respond, that should tell you something else.<GG> As for the ability to call for free, this was more promotional than anything else. It was a chance for people to try the system. Not any everyday Joe, but investors, big money investors at that. The fact that some of us were lucky enough to also experience it was great, but not a 'ploy' of any sort.
Now FTEL being many months from bringing in meanigful income is correct. They brought meaningful income in many months ago! 2.5 million dollars for a single, small deal for starters, with residuals, %'s etc still too come. Now if you mean FNET may be months away from profitting from selling minutes, I also agree. But if you think that 27 cities and a few countries is going to be tough to match, I disagree. FNET setup 4 major cities for the demo in a couple of hours.
Big money has come into FTEL, not been scared away. See the announcement about 5 million dollars in financing. 'nough said there.
As for IDTC, showing strong, again you are right. It will be best for the industry if they do. The more success for them, the better the entire sector will do. I want them to do well and prosper, but do not for a moment think that their prosperity will come from the demise of any co., especially FTEL.
crs, I make you a promise, by the time FNET and IDTC, are duking it out with ATT, BT and WCOM for control of the long distance, our little investments will be worth a fortune and I'll kick sand from my beach in paradise to yours on the next island over. Sound like a deal?
Evan |
