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Technology Stocks : PC Sector Round Table -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Gottfried who wrote (1457)	2/22/1999 5:43:00 PM
From: Mark Oliver	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 2025

Interesting article. Reminds one that the future will not be the same. Seems like we are going to see a shift from the basic PC to a wide variety of devices. The recent trade show, CTIA, for wireless phone companies and equipment was very interesting as they are currently defining standards for how smart phones will become a net device. They are currently battling over a protocol, WAP is a leading format but Microsoft is doing its best to divide and concur. This shift to a smart phone will be a quick one once it's ready as the application is very powerful. Interesting to see the partnership between Microsoft and Qualcom called Wireless Knowledge is hoping to jump into action very soon. Then you also have recent developments from Sun for the JINI standard to link all these smart devices. How will the home server look and will it be powered by Intel? Would be interesting to see Intel merge with Sun? Also makes you wonder if AMD and National will continue to be Intel followers, will they just copy graphics developments and will this require them to buy their own graphics company? Maybe a Nvidia, or SIII would be an acquisition? Certainly, the Smart Phone will be using a simplified/integrated graphics chip and perhaps the big competitor is TI. So, what's up with Intel ADI? Can they do what they want with a partnership, or will this lead to another acquisition a la Chips and Technology? Certainly the DSP market is a big one and Intel needs to get involved fast. Motorola won't give up the phone market easily, and they won't want to work with Intel IMHO. Will they be able to make the competing standard for a Smart Phone, and avoid the Win CE world? What about Nokia, Ericson, Siemans and Samsung? How will they forge the wireless market? There are 2 interesting Wireless Protocol projects, Symbian and Unwired Planet. Both of these companies are trying to set a standard for Smart Phones. So, when you read this article, you see Intel thinks they can maintain control over the hub of the networks and higher end devices. The fringe devices are still open to competition, especially when many of them are DSP based. So, again it makes great sense for Intel to buy ADI. Where are all the Japanese? NEC laying off 15,000 workers and having losses the size of many countries GNP. Not much better is coming from Sony, Hitachi, or Toshiba. Are these companies going to lead or follow into this decentralized world? At the moment, they sure seem to be falling out of the loop even though many of these devices seem too be in their realm of consumer devices. What happens when all the cars have AutoPC's? This will be a big shift in component supply from the sound systems of today. What will happen when all the home security and temperature systems are in a network? Will traditional vendors just add an interface chip, or will they see their products fall off the map? Yes, there is an interesting process developing. Regards, Mark