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 : Ascend Communications-News Only!!! (ASND) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Maverick who wrote (1216)	2/20/1998 9:49:00 PM
From: FUZFO	Respond to of 1629

Ascend goes for voice-over-IP From CNET news.com February 20, 1998, 12:40 p.m. PT "The convergence continues. Taking advantage of the prevalence of a Net-era transmission method, Ascend Communications (ASND) will soon roll out a series of additions to its networking equipment to allow voice and fax traffic to coexist with data on an IP (Internet Protocol)-based network, according to sources. The expected move marks the latest instance of multimedia support among the networking stalwart. Included in Ascend's plans are hardware and software upgrades to existing MAX 4000 equipment, new remote access systems under the MAX name tailored specifically to integrate voice and data traffic, and a new device designed to provide connections from a corporate network to a service provider, according to sources. Ascend executives could not immediately be reached for comment on the upcoming rollout. The launch is an important one for Ascend, a company that needs to stave off encroachment from competitors such as Cisco Systems while moving forward in the aftermath of a large multibillion dollar merger last year with the company once known as Cascade Communications. A formal launch is expected next month. Estimates vary as to when voice and fax services across an IP network infrastructure will become widely used, but companies are scrambling to articulate a strategy in this arena, since it is perceived as a potentially high-growth area in future years. "Right now, voice-over-IP is getting a lot of hype in the industry," noted Maribel Lopez, an analyst with Forrester Research, who added that the future for the market remains "unclear." From Ascend's perspective, the firm has to stay competitive to retain its presence in large accounts, she said. "Ascend can't get behind in a feature war. They don't want to lose their lead in the service provider space. They can't afford to." Ascend gained much of its strength in the networking market by focusing its effort on high-density equipment for dial-up remote access, providing the gear that allows Net users to connect to a service provider to download email and surf the Web. The company used its expertise to access customer accounts dominated by the likes of Cisco as a result. Adding new enhancements to the MAX line may give Ascend customers a reason to stick with the company, rather than move to equipment from hard-charging Cisco or the U.S. Robotics arm of 3Com, another huge player in the remote access market who recently announced similar multimedia capabilities. The logic behind offering fax and voice services over IP is simple: Corporations can leverage multimillion investments in networks to lower fax and voice costs by sending this type of traffic across a private link rather than over the public Net, using infrastructure to get more "bang for the buck." Additionally, service providers can offer services based on the technology, potentially gaining a cost advantage over competitors. Separately, Cisco will reportedly announce a high-end wide area access concentration device next week, offering the latest indication that the firm--stung by competitors in the remote access market--will continue to apply pressure on Ascend and 3Com, as well as other high-end equipment providers. " ÿ ÿ

To: Maverick who wrote (1216)	2/21/1998 10:11:00 AM
From: w2j2	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1629

Interesting concept. Read the bold print: PHILADELPHIA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Qualcomm Inc has been in discussions with an automaker that is planning a major expansion into telecommunications over the next decade, President Harvey White said on Friday. White declined to identify the automaker in an interview, but he described it as "one of the top four or five automotive companies in the world." "They have 1 percent of their business in telecom today. They expect 10 percent of their business to be in telecom in 10 years," he said. White described Qualcomm's discussions with the company as focusing generally on future automotive needs for wireless products and services. "We're having discussions with various companies, including an auto company, about what their plans are for the future, because we're trying to figure out what our plans are in terms of what kind of products and services we might be able to provide. It's really an issue of trying to understand the industry," the executive told Reuters. Earlier, White said in remarks at a communications conference hosted by the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School that the automaker saw telecom as its future. PHILADELPHIA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Qualcomm Inc has been in discussions with an automaker that is planning a major expansion into telecommunications over the next decade, President Harvey White said on Friday. White declined to identify the automaker in an interview, but he described it as "one of the top four or five automotive companies in the world." "They have 1 percent of their business in telecom today. They expect 10 percent of their business to be in telecom in 10 years," he said. White described Qualcomm's discussions with the company as focusing generally on future automotive needs for wireless products and services. "We're having discussions with various companies, including an auto company, about what their plans are for the future, because we're trying to figure out what our plans are in terms of what kind of products and services we might be able to provide. It's really an issue of trying to understand the industry," the executive told Reuters. Earlier, White said in remarks at a communications conference hosted by the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School that the automaker saw telecom as its future. "They see telecom replacing the automobile," he told an audience consisting mainly of business students, academics and company executives. "They see, that with the virtual workplace, we'll be able to deliver to the workplace and to the person information, and we won't have to take the person to the place. And they think that if they aren't on the leading edge of this change in how people are going to live and work, that they will not have the kind of market capitalization and ability they do." The world's four largest automakers are General Motors Corp (NYSE:GM), Ford Motor Co (NYSE:F), Toyota Motor Corp (TOKYO:7203), Volkswagen AG (FSE:VOWG) and Chrysler Corp (NYSE:C).