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Technology Stocks : Trimble Navigation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Step1 who wrote (1910)	12/3/1997 11:51:00 PM
From: arun gera	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3506

TRMB vs NGPSF Novatel is weaker player than Trimble, Ashtech, and Leica. Novatel has a small market share in Surveying. A big chunk of their revenue is coming form WAAS contract as they were on the right team, which is to their credit. They do not have the marketing power of the Surveying companies such as Topcon, Sokkia, Leica, and Geotronics. As pointed out by Skip, Novatel will have to invest heavily if they have to catch up with Trimble 4800 product. The money raised from the IPO is going towards paying off debts. They are trying to team up with Candaian Marconi for avionics. Heard some bad comments about Canadian Marconi's avionics products from a person who has installed avionics products on commercial aircrafts. Novatel sponsors some events such as the Annual Robotics event. Has used the publicity generated from the event to suggest that Novatel has superior products. The patent settlement between Novatel and Trimble suggests that Novatel is/was not a complete pushover. Don't see any merger between Trimble and Novatel. Trimble does not seem to be lacking in any particular product in comparison to other GPS players. Ashtech is a little ahead on GPS/Glonass products. It Trimble needs to acquire any companies they should be the ones that have products that compliment their GPS product lines. terra has allowed Trimble to establish a broader base in aviation applications, although that strategy has not taken off yet. One of the successes is the complete Trimline avionics in a new aircraft from a company called Cirrus Design. Cirrus already has over 100 planes backlog and a has production capacity of about 400 a year. Arun

To: Step1 who wrote (1910)	12/4/1997
From: David	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3506

I thought I recognized you from lurking on the PN thread. Trimble is way bigger than NovAtel, and already working in product lines that NovAtel can only hope for at this point. If Ashtech decided to enter a defensive merger to compete, what does this say for the truly small players like NovAtel and PN? Trimble's existence is secure for the foreseeable future (although one day it could be a takeover candidate). Can't say the same for its GPS-only competitors.

To: Step1 who wrote (1910)	12/4/1997 9:12:00 PM
From: SKIP PAUL	Respond to of 3506

>Would like to hear your take on TRMB vs NGPSF< No comparison different leagues. Novatel has a chance of succeeding in a growing market, provided they dont get in the ring with Trimble and try to go head to head. Ashtech tried it and got their teeth knocked out. Rather they should find their own niche(like Pelorus) based on their areas of strength. They have nothing to offer Trimble that I can see. I dont see why trimble would be interested in acquiring them. Novatels Land survey product is generations behind and probably considered third tier.