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 : IDT *(idtc) following this new issue?* -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bill Zeman who wrote (2640)	3/13/1999 5:27:00 PM
From: Steve Fancy	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 30916

Bill, not sure what part you are questioning, but the layoffs and continual restructuring numbers are accurate, ALA was once a huge conglomerate that was into everything from wine to publishing to engineering railroad systems and energy systems, and as they acquire new companies, obviously there is overlap. ALA is in the top couple blue chips in France. As far as the acquisitions, it's actually closer to 7 billion. They bought DSC communications last year for about 4 billion, Packet Engines Inc for $315 million, and just in the last week or so, Xylan for 2 billion and Assured Access Technology, Inc for $350 million. ALA themselves is rumored as a potential buyout candidate (Cisco etc), especially as they rid themselves of the 40 some percent holdings in Framatome, the French nuclear construction firm and hopefully soon the remaining 25% they hold of Alsthom, the huge engineering firm they recently spun off. They are still into many other related business such as Alcatel Space and the Skybridge project, Alcatel Submarine (I believe a division of Alcatel cable) that lays ocean cables amongst other things, and batteries. Seems everytime I turn around I read about a new Alcatel this or that. I'm still learning about this company as you can see. And yes, what you state makes sense regarding potential backlog of data networking switchs vs telecom switches, and it would make sense that IDTC's switch is in the data arena. I'll have to look a little further on this. Back to IDTC...do you know if it's true they have 12000 miles of fiber cable run? I haven't looked all that hard yet, and don't normally ask folks to do my work for me, but can you point me to an in-depth description of IDTC and it's businesses? I actually got into this more on a momentum basis but am becoming more in intriqued as I look futher into it. The Yahoo IDTC board is very active...little bothersome I can't find any negative posts. Thanks for all your input Bill! sf