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Technology Stocks : All About Sun Microsystems -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Alok Sinha who wrote (15616)	4/22/1999 1:43:00 PM
From: Mary Kay	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 64865

While you are asking, does anybody know where to look for Toronto Stock Exchange quotes? Mary Kay

To: Alok Sinha who wrote (15616)	4/22/1999 2:11:00 PM
From: P Vyas	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 64865

Alok Try at tradepbs.com

To: Alok Sinha who wrote (15616)	4/22/1999 2:12:00 PM
From: Chad Beemer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 64865

Go to www.thomsoninvest.net and you can get real quotes there for free. Here is more interesting reading on Smart Cards that may be of interest to you. 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. This is why I feel NPCT is on to something significant. Go to www.nanopierce.com and see the technology. Also take the time to go to www.ctst.com and look at the agenda for that conference.