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 : CheckFree (CKFR) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Benny Baga who wrote (8468)	11/3/1998 2:09:00 PM
From: Robert Gintel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 8545

I think the EDS deal will bring into the fold another 400-500 smaller community banks that EDS services. Collectively, maybe they equate to one really large bank contract. Perhaps just as important, it would appear to signal that CKFR and EDS are prepared to work together again after the prior attempts failed. Perhaps when EDS went off on their own, they found they couldn't do it alone and needed Checkfree. Just another piece in the mossaic that is being put together to create a strategically powerful, well intrenched infrastructure to capitalize on the boom we think is coming. The portal access that is being worked on will probably be a first quarter calendar 1999 event and had to get leaked out so that Checkfree's bank customers would not be blindsided by the news that Checkfree wasn't waiting for them to get their act together and intends to open direct access to its services through a number of internet service providers. The pieces to the puzzle are coming together, not withstanding the many hurdles, frustrations, and delays involved in making all this work, and work properly. As investors, we should focus on the Spring of '99 for developments and events that will prove to the rest of the world what we here have believed in so strongly and fervently. Pete needs another year to make all this come together. It will pass more quickly than we now realize.

To: Benny Baga who wrote (8468)	11/3/1998 9:57:00 PM
From: chirodoc	Respond to of 8545

i think this eds deal is very important especially with msft throwing out the fdc deal this tells the banking and finance world that ckfr is playing with the big boys now the more alliances we have the more gates and company cannot use the line "why go with the unknown, untested,..." like they did with aapl and nscp this was a stroke of genius from ckfr leadership they are hanging tough in the game i agree with bob gintel--next spring, summer we should be counting our cash thinking that $15 for ckfr was a steal and killing ourselves for not buying more at $8-10 curtis curtis

To: Benny Baga who wrote (8468)	11/4/1998 9:33:00 AM
From: zuma_rk	Respond to of 8545

Interesting NY times article today... There may be a link to this somewhere on the web, but on the first business page in today's Times is a big article re: Citi and Chase ending their test of electronic cash cards on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. A very amusing article, in that the banks seemed to have totally missed the mark in terms of adding customer value. Some great quotes, including, "Smart cards are a technology chasing a business case," said Richard Speer, the CEO of Speer & Associates. Other comments: <<..In reality, most people who tried the system never loaded their cards a second time. And with few people using the cards, two-thirds of the merchants dropped out. Indeed, in the program's first year, less than $2 millon was spent using all the cards.>> Another brilliant realization by a bank: <<"When you localize your test on the Upper West Side, you realize your usage will be supressed, because everyone leaves the Upper West Side," said Judy Darr, the director of smart-card programs at Citibank.>> IMHO, although I think it's laughable to expect consumers to find joy in STILL having to go to the ATM to load up a card with, say, $100 bucks to then swipe for their morning newspaper (and pay a bank $1.50 per month for the priviledge), I DO think some version of the Smart Cards will catch on over the next several years. For instance, perhaps your new computer keyboard will have a card swiper built in or something. Also, think how long it will take for a substantial number of retailers to invest in the hardware... However, there appears to be a little light at the end of the tunnel: Chase is working on a new version that... <<will have multiple features, including the ability to make purchases over the Internet and to keep track of bonus points at various merchants' frequent buyer programs. "We've learned it takes more than just a plain vanilla product to be successful," Mr. Braco said (I think he's the 'Chief Executive for Overseeing the Obvious' at Chase, or something). "People find that if there is an incentive to use the card, they will use it more often.">> Anyway, it's worth reading the full article to glean a little insight to why banks seem to lumber about before getting the model right. Regards, RK