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 : Concurrent Computer (CCUR) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Goodboy who wrote (7208)	2/18/1999 1:55:00 PM
From: Nimbus	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 21143

Here ya go ..... (1) How much experience did Diva have before 1996 in installing and integrating digital/analog head end systems, set top boxes and servers? TMR: No one had ever done all 3 commercially, but DIVA now has done it, and it was not at all easy or cheap. (2) Did Diva invent a server, head end equipment, a set top box, an operating system from scratch and integrate them with others components to create their VOD solution? TMR: The server and OS were derived from the Sarnoff PRINCTON ENGINE from the 80's, updated for commercialization, and streamlined for VOD. The SARNOFF STB was the first sub $300 Mpeg2 decoder box, a price point still unmatched by others, but key to minimize end-to-end stream cost. (3) Is that a simple process or a long process? TMR: If you count the Princeton Engine design in the 80's, and that Sarnoff invented MPEG in the early 90's, it has been very long. (4) Is it easier to do something that is your core technology and prime area of business or to move into a market and technology that is new? TMR: Video, Real-time, and cable has always been the core Sarnoff Labs business. CCUR in contrast had essentially no Video or server experience, and has never dealt in cable. CCUR does know RT, and that is why they are able to play while others are struggling. (5) Who do you think has more experience in inventing, installing and integrating digital cable systems and upgrades, DIVA/SARNOFF or Scientific Atlanta? TMR: SARNOFF has the patents on most of the video technology SFA and others use. Sure SFA has great experience in this field. (6) After all their hard work and 22 months of trials, what became of Diva's set top box? TMR: It is still used, but as you know the DIVA system is being upgraded to operate with SFA, GI and the other STBs too. These STBs were just not available in 1996 when DIVA needed them, so they made their own. DIVA has already demonstrated interoperability with the GI box. (7) Has it been replaced? TMR: Not replaced. See #6. (8) Does Diva upgrade the cable plant for the MSO? TMR: In some cases, but not all. (9) Has even one major MSO embraced the DIVA model? TMR: Oh, there is a lot of embracing going on …. Watch for a ring. (10) Do you know how much money DIVA generated in revenue this past quarter? TMR: No (11) How compelling is the CCUR/SEAC/SFA model to an MSO if the DIVA model with a self admitted expensive server can generate profits to DIVA with only 40 percent of the revenue from VOD? TMR: When all things are considered, time will tell. BTW, the just announced 3rd gen server from Diva is dramtically lower cost, and if you compare 1000 title/2000 stream MPEG2 stream systems, there is NO contest. (12) Do you really believe a massively parallel computing architecture will get cheaper than CCUR's offering. TMR: Yes; Already been done. (13) How cheap do you believe a Sun server is running Oracle Video server software? TmR: I've not recently priced out a Sun System with 1000 titles and 2000 streams. Hardware is pretty cheap, but Oracle would have to sell the OVS S/W at much lower per stream license fee to make this combo attractive in Residential. Perhaps that will happen, but they may make more money keeping the license fee high ($300/stream) and sticking to just Corporate Sales of it for Intranet use of VOD to the desktop for training and such. But I'm sure someone will negotiate an attractive stream cost with Oracle at some point, if they haven't already, and come to the residential market with an attractive offering. A Residential VoD offering from SUN directly is not likely as they are focussing on big webservers and data servers where the volumes are much much larger, 100s per day. Thank you for your questions young man, it's good to see someone so very interested in this area.