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Technology Stocks : METRICOM - Wireless Data Communications -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ross who wrote (749)	5/18/1998 11:05:00 AM
From: Chip Anderson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3376

Cellular access prices are incredibly high compared to MCOM. For example, I literally use my Ricochet modem all day (at least 10 hours/day). MCOM charges me $30/mo or $300/year for unlimited access. How much does it cost to use a Cellular modem for (10hrs x 30 days) = 300 hours a month? Airtouch is currently charging me $30/mo for just 45 hours of "free" (ha!) local airtime. They have a zillion plans, so I'm not sure what their cheapest price would be for 300 hours/mo. but I'm certain it is _much_ more than $30. Until Cellular access fees drop to reasonable rates (and cellular modems promise 128K speed), I'll be a loyal MCOM user. Re: Rural Access - I agree that MCOM's coverage will always be smaller than cellular coverage. As a shareholder, that doesn't bother me. Chip

To: Ross who wrote (749)	5/20/1998 1:00:00 PM
From: Rex Takasugi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3376

<< PocketNet pricing can be found on this page: >> Ross -- Thanks for the pricing info on PocketNet. Likewise to HVN on this. Enjoyed the civilized debate between you and Chip on the cellular issue. I think we all learned something from the discussion. I guess I can see how cellular could become a competitor to MCOM in the future, but until pricing for cellular moves away from the $/minute model, I don't see how it can compete price-wise with MCOM with the flat rate model. Also, MCOM's new Pres/CEO mentioned on the analyst conference call that there were some technical difficulties in getting cellular to compete with MCOM's technology. PocketNet seems to indicate that these technical difficulties are being overcome, but pricing still is the major issue, as I see it. I am less concerned with cellular and more concerned with these wireless intranet solutions (within one building wireless networks). There was a story in today's WSJ about another company doing this work. It seems to me that it is a small step from a intranet to a WAN solution, which would then compete directly with MCOM. Would someone who is more knowledgeable about this make some comment? Best, Rex