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Technology Stocks : IRID - Iridium World Communications IPO Announced! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Valueman who wrote (1040)	9/9/1998 6:22:00 PM
From: dougjn	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2693

We all know that inter satellite relaying of signals in the I* system is new, complex and tough. The switching circuitry within the satellites is cutting edge. (And subject to only a certain amount of software upgrading. Lots of hardwiring as well.) G* by contrast is a much simpler "bent pipe" system, with respect to the parts that are in the sky. IF I* were having serious problems with its satellite switching, I think they would act just about as they are acting now. The system could still be made to work to some extent as a bent pipe system, but with much lower capacity, because their design didn't contemplate it, they don't have enough ground stations for that way of operating yet, etc. Now this doesn't prove that this is the nature of their problem, but it is suggestive. And of course we also know that they have a big flywheel problem as well. Meanwhile, G* is saying that their testing indicates flawless handoffs from one bird to another as they whizz past groundstations. No dropped calls. Better than expected results at this stage. BTW, the Zenit launch of 12 birds went flawlessless a little while ago. G* now at 20 sats, nearly half their constellation of 48. Anyone wish to rethink which system makes more sense to invest in? Doug