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

To: Richard Chow who wrote (950)	5/7/1999 8:43:00 PM
From: Ray Dopkins	Respond to of 1412

>>what EXACTLY is SPYG's role in CE's deployment? Go here: spyglass.com

To: Richard Chow who wrote (950)	5/9/1999 1:26:00 PM
From: Oliver & Co	Respond to of 1412

Take a look at the following news and give me your oppinion: 1.Wednesday April 7, 6:00 am Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: Spyglass Inc. Spyglass Secures $20 Million Multi-year Strategic Internet Solutions Agreements with Microsoft Spyglass Providing Services and Technology to Microsoft for Windows CE-Based Devices; Opens Door for Spyglass to Assist Microsoft OEMs NAPERVILLE, Ill., April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Spyglass (Nasdaq: SPYG - news) announced today a new strategic agreement with Microsoft Corp. which provides Spyglass a minimum of $20 million in revenues over a three-year period. Spyglass will license technology and provide services to Microsoft that will help to accelerate the development and deployment of Windows CE-based products. (Photo: newscom.com ) Spyglass will work directly with Microsoft to develop and integrate multiple Windows CE-based applications for Internet device manufacturers that are developing products utilizing the Windows CE operating system. In addition, Microsoft has licensed Spyglass technology and is exploring ways to utilize this technology to enhance the Windows CE experience. This is the second multi-million, multi-year solutions agreement Spyglass has announced in fiscal 1999. In October 1998, Spyglass announced a $20 million solutions agreement with General Instrument to build services and applications for General Instrument's digital cable platform at the new Digital Software Integration Center, which is owned jointly by Spyglass and General Instrument. ''Spyglass continues to strengthen its ability to use key technologies and platforms, such as Windows CE, to help our customers deliver state-of-the-art products and services,'' said Doug Colbeth, Spyglass president and CEO. ''We assist customers in developing Web-enabled products and services by supporting 'best of breed' technologies and platforms. By working directly with Microsoft to enhance Windows CE, we will be in a position of leveraging our expertise to provide our customers unique advantages when they choose to utilize Windows CE in their products and services.'' ''Working with Spyglass to build Internet device solutions is a strategic move to extend the success of the Windows CE platform,'' said Harel Kodesh, vice president, information appliances division, Microsoft Corp. ''Microsoft chose Spyglass to provide development services and technology due to its long-standing leadership in providing Internet solutions to device manufacturers and service providers. Spyglass' extensive customer and project management experience, in support of the Windows CE platform, will help enable the development of a broad variety of products and services for intelligent connected appliances.'' About Spyglass Spyglass (Nasdaq: SPYG - news) provides Internet expertise, software and services for making devices work with the Web. Particularly active in the interactive television and mobile data markets, Spyglass solutions are used by market-leading companies including GTE, General Instruments, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Thomson Consumer Electronics (RCA) and Xerox. Spyglass headquarters are located at 1240 East Diehl Rd., Naperville, Ill., 60563; phone: 630-245-6512; fax: 630-245-6693; press email inquiries: aingalls@spyglass.com; Web site: spyglass.com 2.Thursday April 8, 6:00 am Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: Spyglass Inc. Spyglass Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Navitel Communications; Acquisition Will Significantly Expand Existing Windows CE Practice Navitel Working Directly with Microsoft to Develop Internet Telephony Technology Utilizing Microsoft Windows CE Operating System NAPERVILLE, Ill., April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- In a strategic move that strengthens its existing Windows CE-based Practice, Spyglass Inc. (Nasdaq: SPYG - news) announced today it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Navitel Communications Inc. Based in Menlo Park, Calif., Navitel is the developer of a Microsoft Windows CE-based software and applications platform for Internet enabled telephones. Navitel has worked closely with Microsoft developing Windows CE-based software for information appliances. Navitel developed the software for Microsoft's ''Hermes'' Web-enabled telephone platform powered by Windows CE that was recently previewed at CeBIT '99 in Hanover, Germany. Acer Inc., Daewoo Telcom Ltd., Panasonic, Philips and Vestel's information appliances division demonstrated the prototype phones which combined enhanced data capabilities such as Internet access and e-mail with traditional phone services such as voice messaging and caller ID. ''Navitel was a key contributor in the development of our 'Hermes' project, a Windows CE-based platform for Web-enabled telephones,'' said Derek Graham, program manager, Information Appliances Division, Microsoft Corp. ''Now, Navitel will accelerate the ability of Spyglass to provide solutions to those customers seeking to use the Windows CE platform in their Internet devices. This acquisition makes Spyglass one of the key development associates of Windows CE.'' According to Spyglass President and CEO Doug Colbeth, ''Navitel's extensive experience in providing Windows CE-based solutions for devices is a natural extension of Spyglass' current solutions practice for Windows CE. With the Navitel acquisition, Spyglass will gain significant expertise in developing Internet enabling software and applications running on the Windows CE platform. This will enhance our ability to leverage the success of Windows CE as one of the leading Internet device platforms. In addition, this deal will help facilitate the development and integration services that Spyglass will provide to Microsoft under the separately announced $20 million strategic Internet solution agreements with Microsoft. ''Spyglass continues to strengthen its ability to leverage key Internet-enabling technologies and Internet device platforms to help our customers deliver Web-enabled products and services,'' Colbeth said. ''The Navitel acquisition will complete another milestone in our strategy of offering comprehensive multi-platform solutions to our customers and OEM's which plan to utilize the Windows CE platform in their devices.'' Next Page.

To: Richard Chow who wrote (950)	5/9/1999 1:41:00 PM
From: Oliver & Co	Respond to of 1412

3.From Beefing.com The word is spreading. 10:56 ET Spyglass Inc (SPYG) 19 7/16 +1 1/8 (+6%): Shares benefitting from news AT&T (T) will use Microsoft (MSFT) software in set-top boxes. SPYG recently signed strategic Internet solutions agreement with MSFT. SPYG also has agreement with set-top box maker General Instrument (GIC) to build services and applications for General Instrument's digital cable platform. Volume 469K; intraday range 18 11/16 to 19 3/4. 4.Microsoft may get cozy with Ma Bell Effort to boost Windows CE may pressure Sun By Brenon Daly, CBS MarketWatch Last Update: 4:21 PM ET May 5, 1999 Tech Report NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Microsoft reportedly may look to convert the currency it got as kingmaker in the tug-of-war over MediaOne into a stake in AT&T, in an effort to shore up its position in a new area of software. 5/9/99 11:49:24 AM ET The goal: Make sure Ma Bell (T: news, msgs) uses Microsoft's Windows CE in cable-television set-top boxes, which allows Web surfing over television. If AT&T's mega-acquisition of MediaOne (UMG: news, msgs) goes ahead, AT&T will emerge as the nation's largest operator of cable systems. See related story. A cozy relationship between Microsoft (MSFT: news, msgs) and AT&T might be bad news for Sun Microsystems (SUNW: news, msgs), which offers a Java-flavored version of a set-top box operating system. Sun representatives didn't immediately return phone calls. Shares of Sun edged up 5/8 to 57 13/16, while Microsoft's stock rose 1 1/16 to 79 1/8. <<"That's why the possible deal with AT&T is so important -- so Microsoft will be able to deal directly with AT&T and have them choose (Windows CE)," said Sharon Corbitt, spokeswoman for General Instrument (GIC: news, msgs), the largest maker of set-top boxes. Since these gadgets were introduced in late 1996, General Instrument has shipped more than 3.5 million of them. General Instrument along with its chief rival Scientific-Atlanta (SFA: news, msgs) make the boxes, and then cable operators choose which software they want to power them.>> The New York Times reported that Microsoft may spend as much as $5 billion for up to 3 percent of AT&T. Windows CE, with about half as many lines of code as the better-known Windows 95 system, runs electronic gizmos such as set-top boxes, personal organizers and even small computers in cars. The operating system is viewed as crucial to the fortunes of Microsoft, as the sales rate for the gadgets is expected to vastly outstrip the 15 percent projected for PCs. Microsoft has put an increasing emphasis on CE, but its effort hasn't been a universal success. For instance, 3Com's Palm product -- the best-known personal organizer -- uses an internally developed operating system. Further, not all analysts are convinced that Microsoft can extend its monopoly in the PC market to the notorious difficult consumer electronic market. The move would also bring a new scale of economics, as CE generates only about one-tenth the revenue that its other operating systems produce, according to Forrester Research.

To: Richard Chow who wrote (950)	5/9/1999 1:46:00 PM
From: Oliver & Co	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1412

5.Windows to the world With today's investment in AT&T, Microsoft may be aiming for a foothold in tomorrow's Internet appliance market By Elliot Zaret MSNBC May 6 — When Microsoft ponied up $5 billion Thursday for a stake in AT&T, the world's largest software company may have been reaching into its bag of very successful tricks to take a step toward controlling the future of Internet appliances. How? The deal places Microsoft's fledgling Windows CE operating system squarely on as many as 10 million living room television sets. And as the Internet appliance market grows from TV set-tops to smart cell phones to game systems, Microsoft may be gambling that customers will demand that each device is compatible with the last. MICROSOFT may be aiming to take its software from the desktop to the set-top to nearly everything with a battery or a plug, many analysts believe. (Microsoft is a partner in MSNBC.) What's at stake is nothing less than the future of computing and the Internet. So-called “Internet appliances” — everything from Internet-enabled PDAs and cell phones to portable Internet music players — will be a $15.3 billion market by 2002, according to International Data Corporation. Worldwide shipments of the devices will reach 55.7 million units a year in 2002 compared to 5.9 million devices shipped in 1993 — with a total 151 million of them installed, the consulting firm estimates. “Five years ago we used to be wandering around to companies and shaking them by the lapels, saying when are you going to put a computer in a television set,” said Andrew Lippman, associate director of the MIT Media Laboratory. “The reason was if you designed and defined the interface to that corner of the living room, you would own that portion of the living room now and forevermore.” But owning the corner of the living room is only the first step. What Microsoft is actually buying is “mental real estate,” said Lippman. That is, people will learn how to use their Windows CE television set and not want to relearn another system in the future. “If Windows CE becomes the standard for large numbers of televisions, when people move, they're going to want that kind of box in their next set, won't they?” Lippman asked. “And they're presumably going to want that interface in other devices of that ilk… Maybe that box will connect to other boxes that also run Windows CE. Maybe that box will be buying the mindshare of people who use television.” And that's why the deal may be the key to the emerging Internet Appliance market, said Rick Doherty, a consultant with Envisioneering Group in Seaford, N.Y. “Once the box is in the home and it has Windows CE and a Windows server behind it, it's much easier to attach to and bring that content to other Internet devices in the home — some will be wired and some will be wireless” said Doherty. “You can imagine that content from a Windows server will look best on a CE device.” The AT&T deal may also be the latest blow in Microsoft's war against Sun Microsystems. Sun's Java programming language — with it's “Write Once, Run Anywhere” promise — and its Jini networking counterpart has become the early favorite among developers as the guts that will run and connect all the devices. Fred Cohen, an analyst at Daiwa Research who follows Sun, said that Sun has already been positioning itself well, both in the U.S. and in European markets. Cohen said that Sony plans to use Java in some 50 million Playstations, and Nokia is planning to include Sun's technology in its Internet cell phones — 10-to-15 percent of Nokia cell phones that will ship next year will include Internet connectivity. Sun Vice President of Marketing for Java Software George Paolini agreed that it looks like Microsoft is trying to make inroads in the appliance market. “That would be a reasonable strategy for Microsoft to try to pursue,” said Paolini. “That's the kind of thing they have done in the past.” It all boils down to a simple business strategy said Venky Harinarayan, Amazon.com's director of marketing and product development and founder of Junglee. “You want your business to be as consolidated as possible and you want your suppliers and your customers to be as fragmented as possible,” said Harinarayan. Being consolidated in a fragmented PC market has been the key secret to Microsoft's success with Windows. There is only one Windows, but dozens of PC manufacturers, so Microsoft sets the rules. Many believe that Microsoft envisions a similar future for Internet appliances, with CE on every one. That's why Abhi Chaki, a director at Jupiter Communications, believes that the deal has little to do with Microsoft trying to get eyeballs for its msn.com portal — something many have said was the driving force behind the deal. “That's not even on the radar,” said Chaki. “It's all about CE acceptance. It's not about Microsoft's media strategy.” But not everybody is sure Microsoft will be successful. “There is a lot of reticence against being subjected to the power of Microsoft — I don't think this is going to be embraced wholeheartedly,” said Cohen. “Even if you have 10 million units that have Windows CE, it pales in comparison… All cell phones are going to be using Java/Jini. The information appliances that everybody talks about — all of those are going to use Java/Jini.” Sun's Paolini said that his company's success and Microsoft's aren't necessarily mutually exclusive. “This isn't about Windows CE versus Java — Java interacts with every operating system, including CE,” Paolini said. “They're buying marketshare. But I'm not convinced they will be wholly successful in doing that for the same reason they have not been successful wielding that clout against other open Internet standards.” Chaki noted that Sun's technology already is widespread in Europe. “Their products have worked in markets that the U.S. is looking at,” Chaki said. “They have mindshare in those markets… Microsoft has had very little success.” But Doherty said that while he agrees that Microsoft's deal is nowhere near the death-knell for Sun, it is a threat. “It's not pushing out as much as it will start diluting (Java/Jini) a bit,” he said. “It's not that Sun's role is diminished, but it certainly does seem smaller in comparison to Windows CE.” For most industry watchers, it is simply too soon to predict anything that will happen in the rapidly-moving industry. “Things change more quickly now,” said Lippman. “It's not just your imagination. It's really true.”

To: Richard Chow who wrote (950)	5/9/1999 1:56:00 PM
From: Oliver & Co	Respond to of 1412

6. Form 10-K for SPYGLASS INC filed on Dec 22 1998 "In October 1998, General Instrument Corporation ("GI") acquired 700,000 shares of the Company's common stock for $7,392,000 and also acquired warrants to purchase an additional 700,000 shares. The warrants have exercise prices ranging from $13.20 to $14.78 per share (subject to adjustment in certain circumstances), and become exercisable on varying dates over a five-year period. In connection with this investment, the Company and GI entered into a three-year agreement under which the Company will develop and integrate new Internet cable services and technologies for GI. This work will be performed through a newly-formed subsidiary of the Company, in which GI will hold a 10% minority interest and which GI will have an option to purchase at fair market value under certain circumstances. A central element of the Company's business strategy is its use of an Original Equipment Manufacturing ("OEM") distribution network. The Company chose this approach to enable it to leverage the marketing, distribution and development resources of much larger organizations that are strategically focused on offering value-added products and services that leverage the Internet. The Company intends to continue to increase the performance, functionality and flexibility of its technology offerings and breadth of its services to meet the evolving needs of Internet users and to continue to invest in building customer awareness of the Spyglass name and the range of Internet solutions available from Spyglass".