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Technology Stocks : George Gilder - Forbes ASAP -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Bradley W. Price who wrote (921)2/20/1999 11:21:00 PM
From: Jim Lurgio  Respond to of 5853
 
You hit the nail on the head.



To: Bradley W. Price who wrote (921)2/21/1999 10:19:00 AM
From: Grainne1 Recommendation  Respond to of 5853
 
Gee, Brad, I found your response fascinating, and the implications quite alarming. Being sort of an annoyingly politically correct, environmentally sound kind of investor by instinct, I am not really sure I like the idea of investing in a technology which will substantially aid criminals. And it occurs to me that what you are saying would possibly be true not only in South America, but in Russia and parts of Asia as well.

I, too, hope that Mr. Gilder will share his thoughts on this issue, and in general about whether companies like Global Crossing, with its fiber optics slated to crisscross the planet, will pose a substantial threat to Globalstar's business plan.



To: Bradley W. Price who wrote (921)2/21/1999 11:49:00 AM
From: Drew Williams  Respond to of 5853
 
No offense intended, but this analysis is horse patootie (even if the facts are true.)

Both Iridium and Globalstar are configured as supplements to and not replacements for the existing cellular networks, which generally work quite well in the cities. The point of satcom networks is to fill in the holes in the coverage.

For instance, I live in Montgomery County, near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania -- about half an hour from center city Philadelphia. I work in Chester County, two miles north of the next turnpike exit out, about seventeen miles from my house. I can see cellular towers from the front door of both my home and office. I lose cellular coverage in between for about five minutes.

I'm sure you recognize that this spotty coverage becomes much more common the farther from major metropolitan areas you get.

And this is Pennsylvania, not some third world country.

Way back in the dark ages (you know, the eighties) my then-employer, Radio Shack, got involved in selling cellular phones as a direct result of the CEO's wife's Cadillac breaking down on the highway outside Fort Worth, TX, stranding her for hours. If she broke down today on PA route 113, the same thing would happen.

When Globalstar phones hit the streets, they will cost less than cellular phones did then, so many people will simply buy a Globalstar phone instead of a conventional cellular / PCS phone. Most of the time the satellite connection will go unused (and unbilled!) until it is needed.



To: Bradley W. Price who wrote (921)2/22/1999 11:52:00 AM
From: Mammon  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 5853
 
Thank you, Bradley, I haven't laughed out loud at a post on SI in too long a time.