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 : General Magic -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Seconds Out who wrote (3794)	9/28/1998 10:55:00 AM
From: Drew Freeman	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 10081

Hi Seconds Out; Thanks for the good inputs. I agree with practically all you said in your insightful post, especially that GMGC was smart to do a phased rollout in order to get a sort of paid beta test. We do differ in opinion, however, in that I will stick to my guns regarding my statement that GMGC is going to have a hard time keeping up with the exploding universal messaging market and will have a hard time staying in the ring with the rather muscular gorillas they're starting to have to compete with. I'm not arguing that GMGC doesn't have a viable and leading technology. I think their technology is cool beans, which is why I'm long. My point is that in this situation where lots of deep-pocketed, well-known names are poised to enter this market and compete head-to-head with GMGC, technology doesn't matter. Remember, we're talking consumer-land here. We're not talking corporate IS sell where there's an eval cycle. My humble opinion is that GMGC needs to do what they do well, which is enable cool things to happen through their technology, and let someone else, like a Bell South do what they do well, like promote and create brand awareness. I personally would love nothing more than to NEVER hear GMGC's or Portico's name and branding when using a cool voice-activated messaging product. I'd rather just have a smug grin on my face knowing that GMGC was behind the scenes, that they're getting paid good royalties, and that their stock price is through the roof. After a few years of this let them begin their 'GMGC Inside' marketing campaign. GMGC has a technology lead right now in some areas, but please don't underestimate the abilities of a large, deep-pocketed company to FUD in the short term to defuse sales from a competitor while their well-funded development teams rush to get a good 'nuff product out to market that does well because it's good 'nuff and linked with a household name. If I were VP of Marketing at GMGC, I'd put every resource I had right now into solidifying deals with the biggies. I'd put zero resource into promoting my own name. Call me harsh if you want, but I've seen too many tech companies with good technology watch while the big dogs pass them by. Ever hear of Altair? I've attached an interview from the CEO of Qualcomm who offers good opinions on where he thinks the universal messaging market is going and how Qualcomm is going to compete in this space. All the best, Drew mercurycenter.com