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Technology Stocks : Ascend Communications (ASND) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: scott maragioglio who wrote (32712)	1/31/1998 11:19:00 AM
From: The Phoenix	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 61433

Scott, You're with Netcom? And you say you're not hearing about Cisco? I find that hard to believe. Apparently you're not plugged in over there. As for ASND's CSCC products, they are only in the RBOC's in the U.S. right now. In fact, there's was a post on this thread a few days back talking about the fact that ASND hasn't marketed the CSCC products outside the US in any significant way and that ASND was going to begin doing so. Can anyone find that URL? Also, this was posted as well. bintec.de As for ATM switch revenues, I posted the numbers...this isn't my opinion. This is fact. I should point out that these numbers are typically solicited directly from the vendors by the analysts. You'll note that ASND's success is mainly in RBOC's and ISP's. As for ASND's wins. I have no doubt that they'll get some wins. Again that's not the issue. The issue is do they grow at or better than the market rate? This is what will drive the value of the stock... I know that ASND is king in the RBOC's. However I was surprised by your NTT statement. I don't think there's any CSCC product in NTT, but I could be wrong. I think ASND even mentioned that CSCC hasn't been marketed in Japan yet. So, you got me there. Is this an agreement or is the network deployed? As for Williams. Williams is building an IP network much like QWST. This is the future and Williams will no doubt do well. There is an ATM core to this net, but the predominant portion of the network will be layer 3 products - from Cisco I'm told. As for AT&T Worldcom. CSCC won that because AT&T didn't want to be tied to one manufacturer for both ATM and Frame. ATT said that they preferred the STRM products, but for business reasons had to go with CSCC. This is my understanding. BTW: How is that network rolling out? Is ASND/CSCC succeeding? I could go on and on about the carriers that Cisco is selling to, or has agreements with. The one weakness however has been ATM products into the RBOCS. That's why this deal with US West is so important. It's every bit as important as ASND/CSCC getting WorldNet. In the end however, my point remains. Does ASND keep up with market growth in the face of stiff competition from Cisco and others? If you believe they do, then it's a buy!!! If not, then perhaps you buy ASND to speculate on an acqusition. I do agree with most on this thread that ASND is probably not a good short. Gary (not Korn)

To: scott maragioglio who wrote (32712)	1/31/1998 12:58:00 PM
From: Gary Korn	Respond to of 61433

You also make it sound like Ascend has a couple RBOC contracts and not much else, ASND has relationships w/ NTT, AT+T,WCOM,several RBOC's,PSI NET,Williams, several european PTT's. ETC... Ascend is clearly the team to beat in carrier class WAN(which you can bet is the future), and for the first time CSCO is not #1 in a major and very important area. And for the first time there is no one that they can buy that is going to put them at #1. Scott, Excellent post. In fact, the successes of ASND in the core switching area are almost becoming too many to number. China is using ASND switches and, posted somewhere on this thread (or maybe it was on the Yahoo thread) is a map of MCI's backbone upgrades, with ASND switches throughout. Even the hated analysts have noted that the GBX550 has great potential as a "killer product," one which ASND plans to improve. (Dennis Duke heard of these plans yesterday at the Monty Conf.) Frankly, I think one reason NN is suffering so much is because ASND is now the key player in the WAN core switching segment. CSCO, which is not so concentrated in this area, obviously feels less of that pain. Even if ASND did not have a superior product, ATM demand is so strong that there certainly is room in this segment for more than 1 player. Actually, I should flip that around: Even though CSCO does not have a superior product, it still can achieve some "wins" because the demand in this segment is so strong. (See ATM growth analysis that I previously posted). Gary Korn P.S.#1 Barrons includes an article, this week, on the Monty conference. No mention of ASND in the article. P.S.#2 I bet that if you polled three people here who recently met with ASND mgmt (me, Larry J. and Dennis Duke), all three would wager against an acquisition of ASND (feel free to correct me guys). I say this because, after you do some digging with ASND, you come away with the distinct impression that there is just way too much potential out there to permit this company to be bought out at anything like 40-50/share.

To: scott maragioglio who wrote (32712)	1/31/1998 8:55:00 PM
From: pat mudge	Respond to of 61433

[Williams Co] Scott -- In an interview of ComNet radio, Robert Machlin, Ascend's VP of Marketing, said the Williams contract was valued at $150M over three years. Recent press release announcing that win: <<< U S WEST Communications Announces Strategic Partnership on Nationwide Fiber-Optic Network With Williams Communications; Next-Generation Nationwide Fiber-Optic Backbone Infrastructure to Support U S WEST's Long-Distance and Data-Networking Expansion Efforts DENVER, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- U S WEST Communications announced today an agreement with Williams of Tulsa, Oklahoma, to be their "anchor tenant" in purchasing dedicated bandwidth over Williams' nationwide, next-generation fiber-optic backbone network. Williams today announced its re-entry into the telecommunications marketplace as a "carrier's carrier" after the expiration of a non-compete agreement with WorldCom following their sale of the majority of Williams' fiber-optic network to WorldCom in January 1995. This relationship is another important step in U S WEST's execution of its successful regional and national "data-centric" communications strategy, and helps position the company's impending entry into the inter-state and regional long-distance market. Use of Williams' network will provide U S WEST with access to approximately 11,000 fiber-optic route miles across the United States -- currently the nation's fifth largest fiber-optic network -- extending to more than 18,000 route miles by the end of 1998. This fiber-optic backbone will help U S WEST better serve its customers in markets across the country, with key network hubs located in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The five-year agreement includes commitments for transport capacity to meet U S WEST's anticipated requirements for data and voice services. The agreement also includes an option for U S WEST to extend the relationship for up to an additional five-year period. U S WEST Communications will receive significant strategic benefit from this agreement: * It enables the company to develop and build a network that provides nationwide data and interLATA long-distance voice services over a dedicated transport back-bone; * It enables the company to more cost-effectively continue the national expansion of its successful !NTERPRISE Data Networking Services business, which serves a rapidly growing customer base throughout the United States; * It allows for a "virtual acquisition" of this transport backbone through a variable, "pay as you go" cost structure without having to commit a significant up-front investment, which fits with the company's previously articulated investment strategies. "This deal provides a perfect fit for us as we aggressively pursue our growth strategies," said Sol Trujillo, president and CEO of U S WEST Communications. "And the Williams company's vast experience as the 'carrier's carrier,' and as a company that builds value by knowing its customers well, further complements that fit. . . . " >>> In trying to piece together the recent Cisco win, I found the following: This week's USWest announcement: uswest.com Map of Williams fiber optic network and areas using Cisco switches: uswest.com Vendors named are Pairgain and Cisco: interprise.com Based on the Williams win for Ascend and the USWest win for Cisco, it's apparent both companies are good investments. Later -- Pat

To: scott maragioglio who wrote (32712)	2/1/1998 1:09:00 AM
From: pat mudge	Respond to of 61433

[Williams Co] Scott -- In an interview of ComNet radio, Ascend's VP of Marketing said the Williams contract was valued at $150M over three years. Recent press release announcing that win: <<< U S WEST Communications Announces Strategic Partnership on Nationwide Fiber-Optic Network With Williams Communications; Next-Generation Nationwide Fiber-Optic Backbone Infrastructure to Support U S WEST's Long-Distance and Data-Networking Expansion Efforts DENVER, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- U S WEST Communications announced today an agreement with Williams of Tulsa, Oklahoma, to be their "anchor tenant" in purchasing dedicated bandwidth over Williams' nationwide, next-generation fiber-optic backbone network. Williams today announced its re-entry into the telecommunications marketplace as a "carrier's carrier" after the expiration of a non-compete agreement with WorldCom following their sale of the majority of Williams' fiber-optic network to WorldCom in January 1995. This relationship is another important step in U S WEST's execution of its successful regional and national "data-centric" communications strategy, and helps position the company's impending entry into the inter-state and regional long-distance market. Use of Williams' network will provide U S WEST with access to approximately 11,000 fiber-optic route miles across the United States -- currently the nation's fifth largest fiber-optic network -- extending to more than 18,000 route miles by the end of 1998. This fiber-optic backbone will help U S WEST better serve its customers in markets across the country, with key network hubs located in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The five-year agreement includes commitments for transport capacity to meet U S WEST's anticipated requirements for data and voice services. The agreement also includes an option for U S WEST to extend the relationship for up to an additional five-year period. U S WEST Communications will receive significant strategic benefit from this agreement: * It enables the company to develop and build a network that provides nationwide data and interLATA long-distance voice services over a dedicated transport back-bone; * It enables the company to more cost-effectively continue the national expansion of its successful !NTERPRISE Data Networking Services business, which serves a rapidly growing customer base throughout the United States; * It allows for a "virtual acquisition" of this transport backbone through a variable, "pay as you go" cost structure without having to commit a significant up-front investment, which fits with the company's previously articulated investment strategies. "This deal provides a perfect fit for us as we aggressively pursue our growth strategies," said Sol Trujillo, president and CEO of U S WEST Communications. "And the Williams company's vast experience as the 'carrier's carrier,' and as a company that builds value by knowing its customers well, further complements that fit. . . . " >>> In trying to piece together the recent Cisco win, I found the following: This week's USWest announcement: uswest.com Map of Williams fiber optic network and areas using Cisco switches: uswest.com Vendors named are Pairgain and Cisco: interprise.com Based on the Williams win for Ascend and the USWest win for Cisco, both companies look like good investments. Later -- Pat