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Technology Stocks : Ascend Communications (ASND) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Immi who wrote (57241)	11/16/1998 10:19:00 PM
From: thebeach	Respond to of 61433

The speculators are not out,the only thing they are out is more money to bet on a takeover real soon.After checking these numbers i would say the takeover fever is alive and well: cboe.pcquote.com

To: Immi who wrote (57241)	11/16/1998 10:19:00 PM
From: Immi	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 61433

Ascend in 'Final' Talks to Sell Stratus Units, CFO Ashby Says Ascend in 'Final' Talks to Sell Stratus Units, CFO Ashby Says Alameda, California, Nov. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Ascend Communications Inc. is close to signing agreements with prospective buyers of the three units of Stratus Computer Corp. that it's selling, Chief Financial Officer Michael Ashby said. ''We're in final negotiations with buyers for each of the businesses'' that Ascend acquired when it bought Stratus last month, Ashby said in an interview. He declined to name the prospective buyers. Ashby and other Ascend executives have said previously the company expects to sign ''definitive agreements'' during the fourth quarter and receive $150 million to $250 million from sales of Stratus's corporate computer business and its two software units. Ashby said those plans ''are still on track.'' Ascend said last month that it hired Salomon Smith Barney Inc. to help find buyers for the units. Ascend closed the $822 million purchase of Stratus on Oct. 20 and expects to take a fourth-quarter charge against earnings of $305 million related to acquired technology. The company also will take charges to set aside reserves against loans that it made to customers. That charge should be ''about equal to or less than'' the $8.7 million charge it took for similar loans in the third quarter, Ashby said. Ashby said he expects Ascend's fourth-quarter profit after all charges to be 31 cents a share. The average estimate of analysts surveyed by First Call Corp. is 32 cents a share. ''We're trying to guide (the analysts) down to 31 cents'' a share, Ashby said.

To: Immi who wrote (57241)	11/16/1998 10:24:00 PM
From: Immi	Respond to of 61433

Ascend Unveils Equipment for Unclogging Internet Traffic Jams Ascend Unveils Equipment for Unclogging Internet Traffic Jams Alameda, California, Nov. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Ascend Communications Inc. unveiled computer-networking equipment that makes it easier for phone companies to handle Internet traffic, giving it a jump on rivals in a lucrative new market. Ascend used technology it acquired when it bought Stratus Computer Corp. for the so-called SS-7 Gateway product, which has been tested by several Internet service providers and is available immediately, company executives said. Ascend closed its $822 million purchase of Stratus on October 20. The gateway lets phone companies transfer calls containing data communications onto the Internet before they reach switches used for voice calls, freeing up capacity on their networks. Alameda, California-based Ascend is racing against larger rivals Cisco Systems Inc., Lucent Technologies Inc. and others to make Internet gear for telecommunications carriers. ''They're the first ones to have this stuff ready,'' said Craig Johnson, principal analyst with the market research firm Pita Group in Portland, Oregon. Ascend began working with Stratus before it acquired the company to make sure Ascend's remote access equipment, which route incoming Internet calls, worked with Stratus's SS-7 gear, used to direct voice calls. ''This product is designed to alleviate traffic congestion on the traditional phone network,'' said Rod Randall, vice president of marketing for Ascend's carrier signaling division. Cisco, the top maker of networking equipment, said last month it will work with No. 3 computer-maker Hewlett-Packard Co. to develop similar products, the first of which are expected to ship in the first quarter of 1999. Shares of Ascend rose 1/4 to 53.