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Technology Stocks : IBM -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tudor who wrote (5018)	4/22/1999 8:35:00 AM
From: A. Edwards	Respond to of 8218

Lehman upgraded IBM to BUY this morning with target of $225. eom

To: Tudor who wrote (5018)	4/22/1999 2:21:00 PM
From: Chad Beemer	Respond to of 8218

I agree that E-commerce is on the minds of many large companies as it pressured Intel to put the ID in the new PIII's. This is why folks I see the future of Smart Cards to be significant. I see IBM as being an integral part of it as well. Go to www.ctst.com and look at this agenda. Here is a recent story on Smart Cards. American interest in Smart Cards: Consumers Fascinated With Smart Cards Survey Shows Consumers Willing to Pay to Use Credit Card-Sized Devices for Storing Financial, Medical and Other Personal Information April 22, 1999 WASHINGTON, April 21 /PRNewswire/ via NewsEdge Corporation -- Americans are ready, willing and anxious to start using smart cards, the next stage in personal electronic technology that allows them to perform financial and other activities through credit card-sized high-tech devices, according to industry research made widely available today. In the survey, conducted for the Smart Card Forum, a Washington-based multi-industry trade group, three-quarters of those polled showed interest in the smart card concept. A significant number of respondents said they would want to use the cards for functions including bank access and ATM services, to carry a record of driver and health insurance information, and as credit cards. They would be willing to pay up to $50 for the card itself and a $25 annual fee. In general, the survey showed that potential smart card users are younger, have higher incomes and own a PC, the classic profile of the early technology adopter. "Previous Forum market research has shown consumer interest in our industry," said Forum president and CEO Donna Farmer. "These initial poll results reveal that smart cards have a potential core early-adopter constituency of about a third of the population. That's a significant potential market." Applications for Smart Cards Smart card technology has a variety of applications. Industry efforts currently are aimed at understanding which of those would be most appealing to North American consumers. The research, consisting of focus groups and separate telephone surveys, defined the smart card as a "card-sized unit with a memory that can hold just about any kind of information but requires some sort of reader to input or output data." Participants were asked an extensive set of questions on their knowledge about smart cards and their willingness to incorporate the devices in their daily lives. Of the 76 percent polled who claimed to be "extremely," "very " or "somewhat" interested in the smart card concept, about one-third were extremely or very interested. Of those, the majority said they would, "definitely want" smart cards to carry med-alert information, health insurance ID, ATM and related bank access, drivers licenses and credit cards. Other potential uses included prescriptions, money for small purchases, medical records, other ID, discount shopping, money for larger purchases, frequent flyer information and other membership cards. Focus group participants indicated that the ideal smart card could do many things as well as a current card does, but should not be a card that can do one thing better than anything else. "We're pleased that those surveyed recognized the diverse uses of smart cards," said Farmer. "The key to unlocking the business potential of our industry is providing business users and consumers with a broad choice of applications on a smart card." Generally, those most interested in smart cards were more likely to have PCs, cell phones or other high-tech devices and to look forward to new technology, tended to be in their 30s, had higher incomes and already carried an average of more than six cards in their pockets. Potential smart card users were focused most heavily on convenience and security. They envisioned a single-use card that would be used in addition to the cards in their wallets. They were most interested in a card that would put multiple uses on a single device -- the fewer things in one's wallet, the fewer things to remember to carry. When they understood that smart cards can be made significantly more secure than a normal magnetic stripe card, survey participants indicated that smart cards might provide additional reassurance by "electronically storing receipts in some way." The security of information stored on cards might be ensured through electronic fingerprinting. Respondents favored a card with the look and feel of a credit card, probably with a photo of the bearer on it. I happen to know the parties involved in NPCT and feel this little company out of Denver is on to a significant breakthrough in solving the problem in the antenna breaking off or becoming separated. Also go to www.nanopierce.com and look at the technology. The CEO of NPCT just happens to be a former SEC fraud attorney so no scams here. I am hearing revenues of over 50 million a year from this arrangement. That to me is significant. Don't think IBM won't want to be involved in this market regarding Smart Cards.