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 : Scientific Atlanta -SFA- going up ??? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: marc chatman who wrote (262)	4/29/1998 3:57:00 PM
From: Paul Lee	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1045

Scientific-Atlanta To Enter Addressable Tap Market With New Remote Service Activation Technology Product Will Enable New Cable Customers To Be Connected Quickly To Two-Way Services, Including Internet, Video, Data and Voice Communications Technology Introduced In Response To Requests From Leading Cable Operators ATLANTA, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., (NYSE: SFA), has responded to requests from major cable operators, including MediaOne and Time-Warner, by announcing a new addressable tap product that is designed to generate new revenue opportunities, improve customer satisfaction and lower operator costs. Called the Addressable Multimedia Stretch(TM) Tap (AMST), the product is intended to allow customers to be connected almost immediately to a variety of two-way cable services, including Internet, video, data and voice. The AMST will enable cable operators to remotely activate customers from the business office, which will offer faster response, higher penetration rates and increased customer satisfaction. It also will save operators the cost of many truck rolls to activate or de-activate service, especially in high-churn areas. It is scheduled for shipment in September 1998. Essentially, the AMST will function as a remote on/off switch. It will allow operators to increase revenue opportunities by more effectively responding to impulse purchasers and immediately withholding service from non-paying subscribers. With the ability to rapidly connect potential customers, subscriptions have the potential to increase, according to Time- Warner's experience with the technology. The AMST will be capable of easily being dropped into existing networks and be deployed incrementally, allowing operators to economically distribute installation costs. Operators can concentrate initial upgrades on areas where they normally would experience frequent truck rolls, such as multiple dwelling units, college campuses and seasonal communities. In addition, operators who have the previous version of the Scientific-Atlanta Multimedia Stretch Tap can install the new addressable version with a simple faceplate upgrade. "Addressable tap technology will be a crucial component of the intelligent network as two-way services reach widespread deployment," said Kevin Casey, vice president of engineering and technology for MediaOne Northeast. "Scientific-Atlanta's Addressable Multimedia Stretch Tap will give us the ability to reduce operating costs, secure our services and enhance revenues while establishing a robust, permanent connection to our customers." MediaOne plans to begin using Scientific-Atlanta's AMST in field trials in June. Time-Warner has tested addressable tap technology with positive results and asked Scientific-Atlanta to enter the market. "We have used addressable tap technology and we have seen the benefits it brings in new revenue generation, reduced operating costs and increased customer service," said Matt Haviland, vice president of engineering for Time-Warner. "Therefore, we have encouraged Scientific-Atlanta to pursue this technology." "This new Addressable Multimedia Stretch Tap will allow operators to respond faster to customer demands, which is critical in today's competitive market," said Greg Hardy, general manager of Worldwide Taps and Passives for the Terrestrial Network Systems sector of Scientific-Atlanta. "It also will give operators a simple method for reducing costs while generating more revenue opportunities." As part of the product launch, Scientific-Atlanta is offering economic modeling assistance, which will provide a detailed analysis to help operators determine the financial benefits of installing AMST technology