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MSGL -- Oct 1, 2003 BUSINESS WIRE
LAS VEGAS,
MicroSignal Corp. (OTCBB: MSGL) reported today that significant progress has been made since the company's announcement of an executive management restructuring on Aug. 28, 2003.
Robert Braner, interim president, stated, "With regard to previous and ongoing operations, an extensive due diligence, SEC compliance and intellectual property audit is still underway at the company. Management anticipates that the current offices in Pennsylvania will continue as the company's operations center, and executive offices will be established in Las Vegas within the coming week.
"An expanded organizational structure is being completed and we are pleased to announce that Chris Puleo has been appointed vice president of engineering. Mr. Puleo's duties will include, but not be limited to, proprietary product development, and software MRI interface and system installations. Ms. Sherry Yavelak has been appointed vice president of operations and her duties will include intellectual property compliance, as well as customer service support, software development, MRI interface and systems installation."
Puleo has been associated with the company since 1997 as the lead software engineer in the design of GUI-driven software suites for use with MRI and programming in the UNIX and LINUX environments. Puleo received a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
Yavelak has been associated with the company since 2002 as a software engineer. Yavelak attended Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., and received a B.S. in computer engineering with a computer science minor. Yavelak was also named to the Virginia Tech Collage of Engineering Dean's list and Cooperative Education Program.
Braner further stated, "The latest upgraded version of SLICES is expected to be completed within the company's fourth operating quarter. Time to market is estimated to be shortly after the final testing phase. Specific sales and installation timelines will also be announced after the final testing phase."
About MicroSignal Corp.
MicroSignal manufactures and distributes SLICES(TM) -- a state-of-the-art MR data processing tool that provides significant processing and patient advantages compared to the other imaging softwares of its genre. MicroSignal Corp.'s patented SLICES(TM) software allows the radiologist and MRI technologist to perform advanced imaging features beyond the capabilities of the standard MRI computer.
NOTE: This release may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding future events and the future financial performance of MicroSignal that involve risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future results. Readers are referred to the documents filed with the SEC, specifically recent Form 10-Q reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.
Please visit: www.microsignalcorp.com
SOURCE: Microsignal Corp.
MicroSignal Corp.
Chris Puleo, 724-746-9476
Robert Braner, 619-572-6754
http://www.businesswire.com
Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet
with Hyperlinks to your home page.
Copyright (C) 2003 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
test
Morning chichi2. I've been looking thru your posts
trying to get some insight on the market direction.
I've had you boardmarked for awhile, but really haven't
read your posts that closely....until now.
I'm overwhelmed by the info you've posted.
Thank you,
At noon I placed a CESY sell at .05, but of course the Monkeys never touched it.
CRKT -- ez, read your message yesterday and got in.
Thanks,
CESY -- SBWL. Wall Street News Alert's "stocks to watch"
OTC Power Stocks!
WESTON, FL, Sep. 30, 2003 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) --
Wall Street News Alert's "stocks to watch" this morning are: SkyBridge Wireless (OTC BB: SBWL), Celerity Systems Inc. (OTC BB: CESY), Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) and AOL-Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: AOL).
Investors will be watching SkyBridge Wireless Inc (OTC BB: SBWL) with a keen eye this morning! Yesterday after the markets closed, the company announced that it has completed the installation of a high-speed wireless network which interconnects the Blood Tribe administration building (Alberta, Canada) to seven government and public facility buildings. The installed network uses the Motorola Canopy family of wireless networking products. The installation of the wireless network also included a Wi-Fi "wireless hotspot" access network, which allows the Blood Tribe to provide Internet and network access to residents of the local town site as well as mobile access for the local fire/rescue and police departments.
Investors should keep their eyes on this one! SkyBridge Wireless Inc. is a fixed wireless Internet broadband company that specializes in providing high-speed Internet access to businesses and communities in some of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan markets.
Stocks showing interesting activity yesterday were: Celerity Systems Inc. (OTC BB: CESY) up 2.5% on 107.8 million shares traded, Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) up 1.2% on 45.8 million shares traded and AOL-Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: AOL) down 1.3% on 25.2 million shares traded.
Commentary: Business Travel:
"There is hope in the air for a rebound in the business travel industry. One report from a Wisconsin-based consultant firm, Rhnzheimer International, projected a 6.5% increase in corporate travel budgets in 2004. Another firm, PhoCusWright from Connecticut, said that online travel had an upbeat projection through 2005. However, any optimism will have to overcome hazard concerns such as: security, reduced services, airline bankruptcies, war, disease, and corporate belt-tightening. North American companies have stated that as much as 40% have decreased 2003 travel budgets from 2002 levels. Business trips are cut to the bare bones. No more frills; coach instead of first-class for many senior executives, as much as 70% of bookings on no-frill airlines, and watch that charge to room service. Some expenses you may have to cough-up yourself if not approved by your company accounting department. Coffee instead of latte and watch those expensive hotel robes, towels, and custom toiletries, you may end up paying for them yourself," Stated Sonja Rudd in Wall Street News Alert's daily commentary continued at: http://www.WallStreetNewsAlert.com.
WSNA's email alert service is free to those investors who sign up on the WSNA home page. The alert service is designed to notify investors of undervalued and often overlooked stocks. Subscribers are introduced to Special Situation companies that have the potential of showing increased activity. The Wall Street News Alert home page has experienced over 8 million hits. To subscribe to this free service, visit the Wall Street News Alert home page at http://www.wallstreetnewsalert.com and select the "join now" button.
Verify all claims and do your own due diligence. Wall Street News Alert is a division of Wall Street Capital Funding LLC (WSCF). WSCF profiles are not a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. WSCF is not offering securities for sale. An offer to buy or sell can be made only with accompanying disclosure documents and only in the states and provinces for which they are approved. All statements and expressions are the sole opinion of WSCF and are subject to change without notice. The companies that are discussed in this opinion have not approved the statements made in this opinion. This release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words "may," "would," "will," "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," and similar expressions and variations thereof are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. This profile is not without bias, and is a paid advertisement. WSCF is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. It is strongly recommended that any purchase or sale decision be discussed with a financial adviser, or a broker-dealer, or a member of any financial regulatory bodies. The information contained in WSCF profiles is provided as an information service only. The accuracy or completeness of the information is not warranted and is only as reliable as the sources from which it was obtained. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment if they make a purchase in WSCF profiled stocks.
WSCF has been compensated on behalf of one or more of the companies mentioned in this opinion.
(WSNA has been compensated Thirty-Nine Thousand Dollars for coverage of SkyBridge Wireless (OTC BB: SBWL), by a third party (Alex Consulting Inc), who is non-affiliated, for services provided including this advertisement.) Market commentary provided by Sonja Rudd.
SOURCE: Wall Street News Alert
Copyright 2003 Market Wire, All rights reserved.
NewsProvided by COMTEX, http://www.comtex.com/
MSGL woke up, now .039
Chart pattern: Symmetrical triangle in an uptrend ???
BIIIG TRADER ---There's a man who trades 5,000 futures contracts every day
in an office above a steakhouse in a Texas town of 2,500,
Posted on Sun, Sep. 28, 2003
Big deals from a small town.
Dallas Morning News
CANADIAN, Texas — William Rainer had to see it for himself.
The former chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission took the elevator down from his office in a Chicago high-rise, caught a flight to Amarillo, Texas, and rode 100 miles northeast along U.S. Route 60 to this tiny Panhandle town. Then he climbed the stairs of the former hotel above the steakhouse to visit the man who trades 5,000 futures contracts every day.
On the top floor of the only three-story building in town, an array of computers pumps thousands of buy and sell orders into the Chicago Mercantile Exchange at a dizzying pace.
Main Street doesn't attract much attention in this river-valley town of 2,500 people. But the big-city boys can feel the presence of Salem Abraham.
"There have been a few days where we account for 1 percent of the trading volume at the Chicago Mercantile," said Abraham, a multimillionaire arbitrageur who was born and reared in Canadian. "Our average trade is completed in two-tenths of a second. It's like a game of electronic slapjack, but instead of people playing, it's computers."
Abraham, 37, a mathematics and computer whiz, may live in the Texas outback, but he takes considerable pride in putting his talents up against the pit traders in Chicago and other sharpies.
Self-assured and driven, he represents the new generation of futures traders who use lightning-fast computer technology and sophisticated trading systems to trade around the clock, from anywhere.
"He is on the cutting edge of electronic trading and knows what he is doing," said Rainer, who's now the chief executive officer of One Chicago, an electronic stock exchange. "Technology allows him to live anywhere he wants. He can execute trades from Canadian as fast as someone right across the street from the Chicago Mercantile."
Rainer finally visited Abraham last June after hearing so much about his company, whose trading volume soared in 2000 when he got into arbitrage.
"I wanted to see his operation because it's a little unusual. He has managed to create an edge for himself trading electronically," Rainer said. "Canadian is a beautiful place, and I had a great steak dinner."
HOMETOWN BOY
Abraham, who has eight young children with his wife, Ruth Ann, is the fourth generation of his family to grow up in Canadian. His great-grandfather, who was Lebanese, immigrated to Canadian at the turn of the century.
While much of the Panhandle is flat and featureless, Canadian nestles in a river valley with rolling hills, trees and dramatic mesas. The town boasts a number of well-appointed mansions — including Abraham's sprawling affair — legacies of the ranchers and oilmen who once lived here.
Some of the town's original brick streets have been restored as well as many of the old buildings. The three-story, red-brick Moody Building formerly housed one of the first hotels in the Panhandle. Today, the Cattle Exchange restaurant occupies the first floor.
Those who visit Abraham encounter the aroma of mesquite-grilled steaks as they take the elevator to the second floor and then walk up a flight of wooden stairs to the trading room.
There the turn-of-the-century feel ends. Packed into a room of about 1,000 square feet are 60 computers and seven or eight traders. Each monitors a handful of terminals that automatically buy and sell stock index futures contracts in the split second that a profit opportunity appears.
Stock index arbitrage seems out of place in Canadian, not just because of its distance from the nation's financial centers, but because it's so intangible. There's not even a physical commodity underlying the trades.
But arbitrage traders serve an important function. They bring more liquidity to the marketplace, helping ensure that millions of investors — individuals and money managers alike — get the best prices for their trades.
Their role is at once obscure and vital: The current price of a stock index and a futures contract on that index should move in tandem. If one gets too high, the arbitrageurs will sell it, and the price drops.
"If you didn't have the arbitrageurs watching for the differences, the prices would get out of line," said Henry Hu, corporate and securities law professor at the University of Texas Law School. "They really make the markets function more efficiently."
For Abraham, though, a role in global capitalism wasn't part of any grand plan. Lifestyle and luck get the credit.
He returned to his hometown in January 1988 after graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a finance degree. "I always planned to come back here," he said. "I married my high school sweetheart, and I like the quality of life here."
A small town allows him "to be a good dad," and he doesn't have to wait in lines, sit in traffic or worry too much about his children. "If I want to go to the city and enjoy things there, I know the way."
Abraham has three passions — his family, his trading and his hometown. As he strolls through downtown, everyone seems to recognize him, and many express their appreciation for what he has done to revitalize Main Street. He has purchased several of the town's old buildings and refurbished them, including the Palace theater. He also owns more than 20,000 acres of Panhandle ranch land.
For a couple of years after college, he worked with his grandfather in the oil and gas business in Canadian, and he began trading commodity futures on the side. He had developed a sophisticated trading model in college and wanted to see if it worked.
He started Abraham Trading Co. in 1988 by putting up $45,000 of his own money and persuading his grandfather and two brothers to invest $55,000, for a total of $100,000. It was a basic commodities firm, with orders simply phoned into Chicago.
"My grandfather would say, 'When our investment gets down to $50,000, we'll throw the quote machine out the window,' " Abraham said. "We did get down to about $70,000, but then it turned around."
By mid-1995, the company had grown to $132.7 million in assets and boasted average annual returns of well over 20 percent.
But commodities lost their cachet the late 1990s as technology stocks took off. His investors took their money elsewhere.
"We never lost any money for our clients, but we were returning them only 4 percent and 5 percent," Abraham said.
By November 1999, Abraham Trading had dwindled to $3.7 million in assets, mostly family members' money.
Today, Abraham Trading has assets of about $20 million. It buys and sells basic futures contracts in 51 markets, such as grains, currencies, energy and metals. He and one assistant handle most of the trading.
Only accredited investors are allowed in Abraham Trading, meaning they must have a net worth of $1 million. So far this year, it's up about 20 percent, after a 21 percent gallop last year.
"Even at the lowest point, I still believed in the system and believed it was a good investment," Abraham said.
That low point came when his largest institutional investor withdrew its $90 million stake. The situation was bleak. But in it Abraham found an opportunity.
With virtually no outside clients to worry about, in 2000 Salem Andrew Abraham founded a second company, SAA Ventures, and began trading electronically with his own money in stock index futures.
The trading strategies of Abraham's two companies are vastly different.
"The average holding period for our contracts in Abraham Trading is three months," he said. "The average holding period for SAA Ventures is two-tenths of a second."
In that blink of an eye, Abraham buys and sells futures contracts pegged to stock market indexes — in the jargon, the E-mini Nasdaq and the E-mini S&P. His computers monitor the spread between the current price of, say, the Standard & Poor's 500 index and the futures price. When the spread narrows from its norm, the computers buy the contract, then resell it a moment later when the spread rebounds.
In those split-second gaps, Abraham makes his money. He succeeds because he is able to beat other arbitrageurs to the punch.
To achieve that speed, he installed 15 high-capacity data lines — T-1 lines — each costing $3,500 a month. He is constantly updating the software to keep the system as fast as possible.
He and at least seven other traders are on duty from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., monitoring the computers as they trade, on average, about every six seconds.
WHY IT WORKS
The typical transaction brings in just a few dollars. But about 80 percent of the trades are profitable. Ten percent break even, and 10 percent lose money, Abraham says.
Ordinarily, the fees paid to the exchange on 5,000 trades a day would erode all the profits. But Abraham solved that problem by buying a seat on the Chicago Merc, which allows him to make a trade for 30 cents rather than about $2 or more. A seat on the Merc currently costs $335,000.
"This system works because we are dirt-cheap and lightning fast," he said.
Not too many Harvard graduates send resumes to small Panhandle towns. Abraham's work force consists of the sons and daughters of ranchers, wildcatters and feedlot owners. Two traders are ex-feedlot employees.
"The people we hire here are just as smart as those in Chicago and New York," said Barry Sims, director of operations. "It's just that here the lifestyle leads them in different directions than the financial markets."
Sims said Abraham has a knack for hiring employees who have the potential and desire to learn, and then he trains them exactly the way he wants.
Geoff Dockray, a former assistant manager of a feedlot, started at SAA Ventures with only a working knowledge of computers and cattle futures contracts.
"My first day here I went home thinking that I had really made a mistake, because this stuff seemed complicated," Dockray said. "But eventually you learn it."
Abraham is a very intense, even demanding boss, Sims said, but he's respectful of his employees and their families. He allows them to slip out during the workday to attend their children's school activities. Sometimes he may get excited about a particular trade, but he doesn't raise his voice to employees.
"He is very driven in anything that he does," Sims said, "and when he takes something on, it will be thoroughly researched and understood."
The legendary investor Boone Pickens, a longtime family friend, lightheartedly suggests that heredity may play a role. "I have known the Abraham family for 50 years, and they have made a great contribution to the Panhandle of Texas," said Pickens, who tried unsuccessfully to interest Abraham in a water deal.
No slouch himself in the money-making line, Pickens has traded futures contracts but defers to Abraham's expertise.
"He is way beyond my level of sophistication on his arbitrage activity," Pickens said.
Futures industry experts aren't sure how many traders there are like Abraham. But electronic futures trading is becoming more common.
Every day, more than 1.1 million futures contracts trade over the Merc's electronic trading platform, which is called Globex. That's up 5 percent from the previous year.
And this increase came during a period that overall stock trading volume was down.
The Merc said the goal of electronic trading is to give everyone equal access to the futures market, irrespective of geography.
Abraham, at least, believes that goal has been achieved.
"We are a thousand miles from Chicago, just a podunk town of 2,500 people, but we can do this because of technology," he said. "We can beat the people in New York and Chicago."
http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/business/6870758.htm
Art....I've got 4 of those. Your charts help confirm
that I'm in the right ones....the money makers.
Still hangin' on to AGRD.
FXGP --- Ding Ding.....opening bell and already 1.9mil traded, up 32%
FXGP --- Yea...I'll settle for a 10 bagger.
AGRD ----- interesting chart comparison between MOBL and AGRD
(Partial post borrowed from RB by Rheeman )
"Now keep watching MOBL because AGRD will follow its footsteps: "
http://stockcharts.com/def/servlet/SC.web?c=MOBL,uu[h,a]daclyiay[dd][pd20,2][vc60][iLb14!La12,26,9]&....
http://stockcharts.com/def/servlet/SC.web?c=agrd,uu[h,a]daclyiay[dd][pd20,2][vc60][iLb14!La12,26,9]&....
peace_2_all ----I've got AGRD also, and don't plan on selling.
BUT....I dumped KIWI today and put the $$ into FGWC...it's just too good to pass up.
FGWC --- really flying @.038, 27mil
FGWC --- 5G Wireless Signs Contract with DNS of Ohio
MARINA DEL REY, Calif., Sep 16, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
5G Wireless (OTCBB:FGWC) announced today that it has signed a contract with Ohio-based DNS to provide a full range of 5G's network gear for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint equipment for the DNS Wireless Internet. DNS will immediately begin deploying 5G's patent pending technology in a variety of areas throughout Ohio with plans to expand to other states in early 2004.
"Our decision to partner with 5G was based on a thorough evaluation and hands-on opportunity to see the product in action," stated Kyle Yoder, Vice President and chief technology officer of DNS. "We had tried a number of different wireless products, Alvarion (Nasdaq:ALVR), Navini, Proxim (Nasdaq:PROX) and Cisco (Nasdaq:CSCO) but couldn't find anything that was cost effective and performed in non-line-of-sight (NLOS) environments while maintaining the high throughput that the 5G solution delivers. Since the areas that we cover present a wide range of terrain challenges, we were duly impressed with the ability of 5G to effectively limit potential multipath interference that would create considerable signal loss as a result of obstacles. This was extremely important to us in making our decision to go with 5G."
"Our relationship with DNS began with a simple inquiry over the phone," added Jerry Dix, 5G's Chairman and CEO. "Mr. Yoder explained his requirements and asked if we could provide a solution. We told him we could so he visited us to see for himself."
"I saw things that I didn't think possible with Wi-Fi," said Yoder. "They demonstrated the ability to communicate with their tower about half a mile from where we were while penetrating a brick wall, at full bandwidth. Certainly a non-line-of-sight demonstration. This coupled with the information gathered from the Garden Grove deployment made our decision to go with 5G a simple one. It didn't take much more convincing."
Yoder continued, "As a network and service provider, we are often faced with the challenge of deploying a network that balances coverage, capacity, and time-to-market at reasonable costs, and we found all this with 5G."
The company was recently profiled by 802.11 Planet, "The Source for Wi-Fi Business and Technology." In the piece, entitled "Long Distance Wi-Fi," (www.80211planet.com/columns/article.php/2191841) Eddie Hold, a wireless analyst with Current Analysis in Sterling, VA, maintains that this breakthrough "could considerably change the nature of the Wi-Fi market."
About DNS
DNS manages several IT departments for small to medium sized businesses in the state of Ohio including the regional service provider for dish network, Digital Dish. DNS is also a WISP in Northeast Ohio with plans to expand to Florida in January.
About 5G Wireless Communications, Inc.
5G Wireless Communications, Inc. (www.5gwireless.com), located in Marina del Rey, CA, designs, builds, operates, markets and services wireless broadband systems. Utilizing proprietary IEEE 802.11b enhancements for "last mile" point-to-point and point-to-multi-point networks, 5G customers receive dependable, high-speed internet access without the usual installation delays at significantly lower costs than most major competitors.
Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications which may arise could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above.
SOURCE: 5G Wireless Communications, Inc.
5G Wireless Communications, Inc. Jerry Dix, 310-754-3788 irdept@5gwireless.com http://www.businesswire.com Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet with Hyperlinks to your home page.
Copyright (C) 2003 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
NewsProvided by COMTEX, http://www.comtex.com/
FXGP --- it finally broke thru .0025
AGRD --- an interesting post from Rheenan on RB:
AuGRID Corp (BB: AGRD)
By: Rheeman
13 Sep 2003, 04:13 AM EDT
Msg. 2985 of 2986
WHY THANK YOU, SIR!!!
And thank you for making that special trip for us!!!
Here's the weekly chart with some "analysis" this time:
http://rheeman.tripod.com/photoalbum/Charts/AGRD_Weekly_9_12_03.JPG
(Maximize it once you open it)
First, do you see that blue dot underneath this week's candle (indicated by a circle)?? That little dot hasn't been under since beginning of this year. Those of you know what Parabolic SAR is must be drooling from looking at it.
Second, do you see how the blue just crossed over the red in Aroon Indicator?? The crossover hasn't happened since ... well..., it has never happened before. Those of you know what that means must be drooling some more.
Third, do you see the curve on the Money Flow indicator and (most importantly) the breakout curve on the weekly volume (which has just surpassed the huge volume on the last price spike)?? Well, you don't need to be a chartist to know what that means.
Lastly, do you see that 10 months old trendline (the green line)?? It's sitting right at .02 for next week. Can you just fathom what will transpire once that line gets broken??
The bottom line?? I think I'll be sitting pretty with my 100g profit before the year's over.
Well, that's it for now.
Good nite all and have pleasant dreams(and especially you Jolly)!!
:)
imoeom
ICGE --- Island Pacific and CommerceQuest Develop Business Process Management Solution for Retailers
BusinessWire, Tuesday, September 09, 2003 at 09:14
CommerceQuest is a privately-held company and a member of Internet
Capital Group's (Nasdaq: ICGE)
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2003--
Integrated Business Process Management Suite Provides Superior
Control of Retail Operations
Island Pacific (AMEX:IPI) and CommerceQuest Inc. today announced
the availability of IP TRAXION, a Business Process Management Suite
(BPMS) optimized for retailers. IP TRAXION is the industry's first
offering to provide retailers with complete visibility, management and
control of their business operations and processes, from sourcing
through sale.
Island Pacific partnered with CommerceQuest, acquirer of KMG
Solutions, earlier this year to improve its integration offering by
adding components to tie processes together and allow customers to
better leverage existing systems. IP TRAXION is based on
CommerceQuest's TRAXION BPMS and draws specifically from the company's
process and resource modeling and the process execution engine which
retailers utilize to achieve optimal business process performance. The
suite is a result of both company's unmatched expertise in business
process management and retail systems.
As a retail-specific BPMS, IP TRAXION provides solutions for
executives, business analysts and technologists to collaborate in
delivering improved business processes across the extended enterprise.
It creates an intelligent and dynamic connection between business
processes and technology providing enhanced access and information.
The suite enables real-time design, simulation and management of
internal and external processes, making it easy to optimize workflows
and increase efficiency. In addition, IP TRAXION seamlessly connects
multiple internal and external databases, diverse internal and
external topologies, and new and legacy applications, to create an
intelligent network unifying disparate systems across the extended
enterprise. As a result, IP TRAXION enhances control of business
processes and visibility into supply and demand chain operations.
"IP TRAXION gives customers the instant information they need to
monitor, analyze, create and refine business processes and maximize
efficiency," said Steve Beck, Island Pacific president and chief
operating officer. "What's more, it provides management with
unparalleled control and visibility into every aspect of their retail
operations, from the highest level to the most granular. This
capability is invaluable in today's business climate, where companies
are under tremendous pressure from shareholders and regulators to
reform corporate practices. Island Pacific is committed to help
customers meet these diverse demands with one simple, streamlined
solution."
Retailers are already reaping the benefits of tighter control of
business processes by leveraging TRAXION BPMS, and IP TRAXION will
extend the product's success. For example, a multi-divisional retailer
synchronized all aspects of its product design and development cycle
using TRAXION. First, a restructured process was mapped out to
streamline all of the tasks in the product design and development
course, facilitate all phases of the lifecycle, and develop benchmark
data for future improvements to the process. TRAXION enabled the
retailer to model processes, assign and route tasks to roles, as well
as monitor the entire process in order to measure productivity.
Through this process improvement, the retailer immediately increased
revenue, decreased the lead-time for new product development and
production, and improved customer satisfaction.
In addition to improving retail specific business processes, IP
TRAXION helps retailers comply with the reforms set forth by the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act. IP TRAXION helps improve the execution of risk
management processes and increases overall visibility into activities
and information impacting financial reporting. It provides proactive
monitoring of people, processes and resources via an "executive
dashboard," which alerts management to potential performance problems
at every level of the business. The dashboard also allows executives
to drill down into problem areas to the desired level of granularity,
ensuring that potential issues can be remedied immediately.
"CommerceQuest continues to revolutionize business process
management and provide customers with the most advanced capabilities
in the marketplace," said Ulysses Knotts, chief executive officer of
CommerceQuest. "We are pleased to partner with Island Pacific in
offering this unique solution to the retail industry which enables
them to more effectively address their business challenges. Together,
CommerceQuest and Island Pacific provide greater enterprise-wide
visibility and control, while simultaneously providing the tools to
support other imperatives such as Sarbanes-Oxley compliance."
About CommerceQuest
Founded in 1991, CommerceQuest is the only enterprise solutions
provider that enables its customers to rapidly turn business strategy
into business processes by fully integrating the work that people do
with software systems that optimize business performance.
CommerceQuest delivers a complete set of scalable business process
management (BPM) solutions that leverage existing IT investments to
unite people, processes and technology in a service-based architecture
that spans the extended enterprise, from the mainframe to the Internet
and everything in between. More than 500 industry-leading companies
rely on CommerceQuest to help them integrate heterogeneous workflow
and IT systems, including many of the Fortune 500 companies such as
The Home Depot, Coca-Cola Bottling, Ahold and American Express.
CommerceQuest is a privately-held company and a member of Internet
Capital Group's (Nasdaq: ICGE) collaborative network of Partner
Companies. For more information about CommerceQuest, call 813-639-6300
or go to
www.commercequest.com
.
About Island Pacific
For more than 25 years, Island Pacific has developed a reputation
for delivering high-quality, high-reliability software to the retail
industry. Recently, the company has transformed itself into the
low-cost, high-value provider of retail enterprise solutions by
developing breakthrough technologies, and by partnering with leading
consulting organizations to provide next-generation services. In
addition, Island Pacific leverages its years of experience with
emerging and established retailers to craft creative solutions
tailored for each customer's needs. As a result, Island Pacific is the
definitive resource for scalable, flexible and affordable solutions
for retailers around the world.
With nearly 200 customers, Island Pacific and its solutions are
represented in more than 30,000 stores worldwide, and manage more than
1.5 billion transactions annually. Founded in 1978, the company is
headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices in the United States
and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit
www.islandpacific.com
.
Certain statements contained in this news release regarding
matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements.
These statements relate to future events or the company's future
performance. These statements are only predictions. Because such
forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, actual
results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by
such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the risk
factors listed in the company's (SVI) Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2003 and other risk factors identified from time to
time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. IPI undertakes no obligation to release publicly any
revisions to the forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events.
Editor's Note: Contact Ken Sgro, CEOCast, at 212-732-4300 for
investor relations information.
CONTACT: Island Pacific
Ron Koren, 949-440-3193 (Media Relations)
rkoren@islandpacific.com
or
Tricia Skoda, 858-550-3342 (Investor Relations)
tskoda@islandpacific.com
or
CommerceQuest Inc.
Claudia Duch, 813-639-6329
Claudia.Duch@commercequest.com
SOURCE: Island Pacific
Companies or Securities discussed in this article:
Symbol Name
NASDAQ:ICGE Internet Capital Group, Inc.
NEOM --- New Internet Link from Mobile Camera Phones 'Bigger Than Text Messaging' Says David Foster-Lyons, Managing Director of Big Gig Strategies
BusinessWire, Tuesday, September 09, 2003 at 08:31
LONDON & FORT MYERS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2003--When
David Foster-Lyons signed an agreement for his company to sell and
license the PaperClick(TM) Internet-linking technology and the
portfolio of Intellectual Properties and patents from NeoMedia
Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:NEOM) of the U.S., the London-based
entrepreneur and managing director of Big Gig Strategies simply
couldn't contain his enthusiasm.
The PaperClick for Camera Cell Phones(TM), available first for the
Nokia(R) 3650 camera phone, reads UPC/EAN and other bar codes through
the camera to link the user quickly and directly to corresponding the
Web site or information.
"I've tracked PaperClick for several years, believing all it
needed to be incredibly successful was the right device to unleash its
amazing power," said Foster-Lyons. "Now that device is here - the
mobile/cell picture phone! This happened by chance, much like the
mobile text market in Europe emerged almost overnight to become a $42
billion 'mistake'. I believe PaperClick for Camera Cell Phones will be
bigger than text messaging!"
Direct Link to the Internet
Pioneered and patented by NeoMedia, PaperClick reads and decodes
bar codes to link users to the Internet, providing information and
enabling m-commerce. It employs a standard browser, optional client
software, and a network of online service and applications servers
transparent to the user, who simply takes a picture with the camera
phone and is automatically connected to tailored on-line Web
information.
PaperClick installs via the phone's infrared (IR) port, the
BlueTooth(R) wireless network, or by download using its built-in
browser, requiring only 11.3KB of memory. With software currently
implemented for the Symbian(TM) operating system, it supports UPC-A,
UPC-E, EAN-13, ISBN and PaperClick codes. A previously version of
PaperClick runs on Palm Pilot(R) PDA's.
Used with mobile camera phones, PaperClick enables m-commerce,
letting companies and product/brand managers gain immediate and direct
access to readers/shoppers online.
'Mobile Phone Companies Buying More Lenses Than Camera Companies'
In its agreement with NeoMedia, Big Gig Strategies will sell
PaperClick technology, and licenses for the IP around the technology,
in the U.K. and throughout Europe.
"What great timing!" said Foster-Lyons. "With more than 1.4
billion mobile phones in circulation - with that number growing every
day - mobile companies are buying more lenses than camera companies!
"In Europe, mobile/cellular phone users pay only to make calls,
not receive them, as is the case in the U.S.," reminded Foster-Lyons.
"And in the U.S., during the 'American Idol' TV phenomenon, AT&T
Wireless thought 35,000 text messages in one night was 'good' in the
U.K., we sent 78 million text messages on Valentine's Day alone... and
we have only 58 million people!"
Foster-Lyons said that when NeoMedia's chief scientist Kevin
Hunter got the Nokia 3650 mobile phone to read a PaperClick code, "I
just couldn't contain my enthusiasm, and set out immediately to
represent PaperClick in the U.K. and Europe because - as I said before
- linking to the Internet from a mobile phone will be bigger than
texting!"
Building Profits Through PaperClick and IP
NeoMedia Chairman Chas Fritz said, "the combination of David's
enthusiasm and the power of PaperClick for Camera Cell Phones should
be unbeatable, extending our reach and profit potential. Our patented
technologies are in demand, and we are aggressively working to sell
licenses and ensure that our shareholders' investment in patents and
other IP is protected and a viable generator of income," he said.
About NeoMedia Technologies
NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (
www.neom.com
), is an innovator and
international leader in print-to-Internet and other technologies which
make information faster and easier to access, with expertise in
homeland security and e-authentication applications. NeoMedia markets
services which link physical information and objects to the Internet
under the PaperClick and PaperClick For Cell Phones trademarks, and
its Systems Integration Group specializes in Open and Storage System
solutions and automating print production operations. NeoMedia has
announced plans to acquire and merge with Loch Energy, Inc., of
Houston, an energy company with proven and probable reserves of 13.67
million barrels of oil, and Secure Source Technologies, Inc., of
Silver Spring, Maryland, a provider of security solutions and a
pioneer in covert security technology for the manufacturing and
financial services industries.
About Big Gig Strategies
Big Gig Strategies (
www.BigGigStrategies.com
) is a U.K.-based
consultancy that helps clients explore and execute technologies within
the mobile media sector, offering what it calls "technology with a
twist." Big Gig operates across all the main brand-related sectors,
such as FMCG, pharmaceutical, travel and entertainment, helping brand
owners/managers capitalize on the new growth market of mobile
permission marketing.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. With the exception of
historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this
press release involve risk and uncertainties. Actual results could
differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking
statement.
PaperClick and PaperClick for Camera Cell Phones are trademarks of
NeoMedia Technologies, Inc.
CONTACT: NeoMedia Technologies, Inc.
Charles T. Jensen, 239-337-3434
cjensen@neom.com
or
Big Gig Strategies
David Foster-Lyons, +44-77-300-77724
david@BigGigStrategies.com
or
The Kaminer Group
David A. Kaminer, 914-684-1934
dkaminer@kamgrp.com
SOURCE: NeoMedia Technologies, Inc.
Companies or Securities discussed in this article:
Symbol Name
BB:NEOM Neomedia Techs Inc (BB)
DPRI ----Diversified Product Inspections, Inc. Monthly Inspections Continue Toward Record Year
BusinessWire, Monday, September 08, 2003 at 10:08
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 2003--Diversified
Product Inspections, Inc. (OTCBB:DPRI), a provider of independent
product failure analysis, air contamination and fire investigations
for the insurance industry announced today, that monthly product
liability inspections continue strong and indicate that 2003 will out
perform 2002.
Warren Wankelman, Vice President of Marketing said, "The core
business of providing forensic inspections on failed products for the
insurance industry remained very strong through July, August, and into
the first week of September 2003. A total of 1,928 inspections were
received in the aforementioned period for a YTD total of 6,537. I feel
confident that the product inspections will continue at the current
pace and will surpass the record of 7,765 inspections that was set in
2002. This strength in our core business is reflected in the profits
recorded the last three quarters compared to the losses recorded
during the same period in 2002."
Total Yearly Inspections
Year Inspections
---- -----------
2000 3,082
2001 4,673
2002 7,765
2003 6,537 Year to Date (thru first week of September)
About Diversified Product Inspections, Inc. (www.dpi-inc.com)
Launched in 1991 and headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tenn, Diversified
Product Inspections, Inc. provides expertise and unbiased, independent
investigations on product failures, air contamination and fire
investigations of all multi-billion dollar markets which directly
impact three groups - the insurance industry, manufacturers and
consumers. In addition, DPI has developed an array of comprehensive
services for these three targeted groups, giving the company the
ability to better inform consumers of defective products and recalls
(
http://www.homechecksafety.com
), improve quality control processes
with manufacturers and work with the insurance industry to recover
funds via subrogation - a process whereby the insurer enforces its
right to recoup from any third party that caused the loss on behalf of
the policyholder.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. The
words "believe," "expect," "anticipate" and "project," and similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date the statement was made. Such statements may include, but
not be limited to, projections of revenues, income or loss, expenses,
plans, and assumptions relating to the foregoing. Forward-looking
statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of
which cannot be predicted or quantified. Future results could differ
materially from those described in forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: Diversified Product Inspections, Inc., Oak Ridge
Matt Walters, 800-865-6220
SOURCE: Diversified Product Inspections, Inc.
Companies or Securities discussed in this article:
Symbol Name
BB:DPRI Diversified Product (BB)
A day like today with TFCT makes up for yesterday
when I bailed out of IVOC at .0028.
Is TFCT going to be the next BIG THING ??
I should've paid more attention to you on Sep.2, when you said: "TFCT should make some moves"
UNBELIEVABLE
sarals --- That link I gave you yesterday is NOT Level II real time as I thought.
Don't use it for real time quotes.
Watching the crazy, fast moving IVOC this morning on that link and on my Schwab real time, I realized the difference.
Apparently the time that updates on the bottom of the screen
is the current time only, and NOT the updated time.
Sorry about that. I never used those quotes, but was aware of it.
I don't even want to watch Ivoc anymore. I sold yesterday at .028
REAL TIME QUOTES, Here's Level II quotes, OTC BB. Free, and no registration
http://www.allstocks.com/level2quotesotcbb.html#
OK --- Thanks
omni --- yesterday you said you sold ECGI @ 1.05 --- good timing.
But, WHAT information did you use to determine to get out at that price??
ECGI ------- Envoy's Watt Selected to Re-Design Duty Free Chain in the Bahamas
PR Newswire, Wednesday, September 03, 2003 at 08:01
TORONTO, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Watt International, a wholly- owned subsidiary of the Envoy Communications Group (NASDAQ:ECGI/TSX: ECG),
today announced it has been selected by John Bull in the Bahamas to re-design two of its store formats.
John Bull has 12 stores throughout the Bahamas and services a
discriminating clientele of local residents and international travelers.
"An integrated branding, communications and store design concept is one
of the best ways for retailers to differentiate their offering," said Patrick
Rodmell, Managing Director, Watt International. "We're excited to work with John Bull, a company that clearly understands the important role design plays in support of its bottom line."
Together, John Bull and Watt will create new environments that cater to the unique tastes of its local and tourist customers. The new design will further establish John Bull as the largest retailer of perfumes, cosmetics and
jewellery in the Bahamas.
"Watt's expertise in the creation and execution of retail environments
that support business objectives and deliver results will help us continue to
meet the needs of our customers and remain a leader in the marketplace," said
Fred Hazlewood, President, John Bull.
About Watt International
------------------------
Watt International Inc. (
www.wattinternational.com
) is one of the world's
largest brand strategy and design consultancies, with offices in North
America, the United Kingdom and Europe. Watt has applied its strategies to
drive client profitability in more than two dozen industries, spanning 35
countries. Watt is a member of the Envoy Group of Companies (NASDAQ:ECGI/TSX:
ECG).
About Envoy
-----------
Envoy Communications Group (NASDAQ:ECGI/TSX:ECG) is a marketing and
international consumer and retail branding company with offices throughout
North America and Europe. Combining strategy, creativity and innovation,
Envoy's interconnected network of companies delivers business-building
solutions to over 200 leading global brands and has successfully completed
assignments in more than 40 countries around the world.
Cautionary Statement
Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E(i)(1) of the
United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may
cause Envoy's actual results to be materially different from any future
results expressed or implied by these statements. Such factors include the
following: general economic and business conditions, changes in demand for
Envoy's services, changes in competition, the ability of Envoy to integrate
acquisitions or complete future acquisitions, interest rate fluctuations,
currency exchange rate fluctuations, dependence upon and availability of
qualified personnel and changes in government regulation. In light of these
and other uncertainties, the forward-looking statements included in this press
release should not be regarded as a representation by Envoy that Envoy's plans
and objectives will be achieved.
SOURCE Watt International
-0- 09/03/2003
/CONTACT: Annalee Ulsrud, Watt International, (416) 593-7254 ext. 215,
aulsrud@wattintl.com
; Or contact our investor relations department at:
CitiCap Communication Corp. Contact: Linda Mitropoulos, Tel: (604) 732-6127 or
E-Mail:
linda@citicap.com
/
(ECG. ECGI)
CO: Watt International; Envoy Communications Group Inc.
ST: Ontario
IN: ADV
SU:
-30-
EC
-- TO184 --
5068 09/03/2003 08:01 EDT
http://www.prnewswire.com
Companies or Securities discussed in this article:
Symbol Name
NASDAQ:ECGI Envoy Communications Group, Inc.
I sold GSPG near the top on 8-21. Then forgot about it.
BUT it did hold up very good for the next few days.
I could have held GSPG, but have become gun-shy about "holding"
anything after a significant move.
After Friday's jump I'm reconsidering what I should have done.
Shoulda done this, shoulda done that.......
SCAN SITE?? Here's a real good "Predefined Scans" site: http://stockcharts.com/def/servlet/SC.scan
"HCTL is a little Israeli based sleeper stock on the NASDAQ Small Cap"
Lon Juricic Highlights the Following Stocks: Bioanalytical Systems, Carrington Labs, OSI Pharma, PAREXEL, ArQule, and Healthcare Technologies
BusinessWire, Friday, August 22, 2003 at 05:59
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 22, 2003--Add a little zip to your
portfolio with Lon Juricic's recommendations in the biotech sector
focused on the smallest building blocks of life. Read about
Bioanalytical Systems (NASDAQ:BASI), Carrington Laboratories
(NASDAQ:CARN), Osi Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:OSIP), PAREXEL
(NASDAQ:PRXL), ArQule (NASDAQ:ARQL), and Healthcare Technologies
(NASDAQ:HCTL). Click here for the full story exclusively on Zacks.com:
http://featuredexpert2bw.zacks.com/
Here are the highlights from the Featured Expert column:
It has been an exciting few weeks for a couple of Lon Juricic's
portfolio stocks. In addition to his closed position in Bioanalytical
Systems (NASDAQ:BASI), with a 79% gain, he is currently holding a 49%
gain in Carrington Laboratories (NASDAQ:CARN), a 6.5% gain in Osi
Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:OSIP), and an 8.5% gain in PAREXEL
(NASDAQ:PRXL). ArQule (NASDAQ:ARQL) is showing a modest loss and
Juricic's sleeper stock Healthcare Technologies (NASDAQ:HCTL) is even.
Updated Positions
Healthcare Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:HCTL) specializes in the
development, manufacture and marketing of clinical diagnostic test
kits and provides services and tools to diagnostic and biotech
research professionals in laboratory and point-of-care sites in Israel
and worldwide. HCTL is a little Israeli based sleeper stock on the
NASDAQ Small Cap Index that recently grabbed Juricic's interest. For
the fiscal year ended 12/31/02, revenues rose 4% to $16.7 million and
revenues for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003 were $4.3 million,
up for $4.1 million for the prior year. The only problem Juricic could
find with this little gem is the volume. Nobody has heard of HCTL yet
- OR HAVE THEY! He thinks over the next 12 months word may start
spreading about HCTL and money may start flowing into the stock.
Carrington Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ:CARN) is an ISO
9001-certified, research-based biopharmaceutical company currently
utilizing naturally occurring complex carbohydrates to manufacture and
market products for mucositis, radiation dermatitis, wound and oral
care; manufacture and market the nutraceutical raw materials Manapol
and Hydrapol; and market consumer products under the AloeCeuticals
brand. CARN reported a great second-quarter. Revenues at the company
climbed 83% to $8.0 million from $4.3 million. Second-quarter net
income came in at $339,000, or three cents per diluted share, compared
to a loss of $858,000, or nine cents per diluted share, a year
earlier.
ArQule, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARQL) is a recognized leader in
small-molecule chemistry, and is pursuing a strategy to become an
efficient drug discovery and development company. ArQule provides high
quality library design and compound production to pharmaceutical
collaborators. For the second quarter, ArQule reported revenues of
$15,482,000 compared with $16,231,000 for the same period of 2002. For
the second quarter, the Company reported net income of $1,038,000, or
$0.04 per share. This compares with a net loss of $4,928,000, or $0.23
per share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2002. Although the stock has
been stagnating since Juricic's first recommendation, recent positive
developments at ARQL give him great confidence in the future of the
company.
Get plenty more information on the above-mentioned companies,
including their price targets, and make sure to study Lon Juricic's
new position by clicking:
http://featuredexpert3bw.zacks.com/
About Zacks Featured Experts
To be a successful investor you need professional advice. Experts
who know what they're talking about and can help you achieve your
financial goals in good markets...and especially in bad ones will help
you improve your portfolio. That is why Zacks Investment Research has
assembled the best investment experts in the business to offer their
powerful advisory newsletters to you on all the major investment
topics: Stocks, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Options, Futures etc.
Recommendations from Featured Experts Highlighted in FREE
Investment Newsletter
The best way to tap into the powerful advice from these experts is
through our free weekly e-mail newsletter, "Profit from the Pros".
Each week we highlight several Featured Experts in this free e-mail
newsletter. Get your free subscription to "Profit from the Pros" at:
http://www.freeprofit1bw.zacks.com
About Zacks
Zacks.com is a property of Zacks Investment Research, Inc., which
was formed in 1981 to compile, analyze, and distribute investment
research to both institutional and individual investors. The guiding
principle behind our work is the belief that investment experts, such
as brokerage analysts and investment newsletter writers, have superior
knowledge about how to invest successfully. Our goal is to unlock
their profitable insights for our customers. And there is no better
way to enjoy this investment success, than with a FREE subscription to
"Profit from the Pros" weekly e-mail newsletter. For your free
newsletter, visit
http://www.freeprofitbw.zacks.com
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated
entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which
may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the
clients of such affiliates.
Disclaimer: Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Investors should always research companies and securities before
making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer
or solicitation to buy or sell any security.
CONTACT: Zacks.com
Terry Batey, 312-630-9880 x 307
myzacks@zacks.com
www.Zacks.com
SOURCE: Zacks.com
Companies or Securities discussed in this article:
Symbol Name
NASDAQ:ARQL ArQule, Inc.
NASDAQ:BASI Bioanalytical Systems, Inc.
NASDAQ:CARN Carrington Laboratories, Inc.
NASDAQ:HCTL Healthcare Technologies Ltd.
NASDAQ:OSIP OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc.
NASDAQ:PRXL PAREXEL International Corporation
DMEC -- I've also got a bunch to sell @ .005
BIOM - seems to have similar pattern as BCON
GSPG -- tanking !!
UAX -- also running this morning.
What is meant by "BLUENOTE" ??
VWPT--Another real mover today.
http://139.142.147.218/HistoricalChart_Image.dll?interval_min=5&cus=0&indexSymbol=&secur...
STEALING THE INTERNET.....
Jeff Chester is executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy.
Steven Rosenfeld is a commentary editor and audio producer for TomPaine.com.
Ever stop to wonder what is really happening to the Internet these days?
The crackdown by the music industry on illegal downloading tells just part of the story. Even with the dot-com bust, the digital boom is here, as high-speed connections, faster processors and new wireless devices increasingly become part of life. But the thousands of lawsuits are not just about ensuring record companies and artists get the royalties they deserve. They're part of a larger plan to fundamentally change the way the Internet works.
From Congress to Silicon Valley, the nation's largest communication and entertainment conglomerates -- and software firms that want their business -- are seeking to restructure the Internet, to charge people for high-speed uses that are now free and to monitor content in an unprecedented manner. This is not just to see if users are swapping copyrighted CDs or DVDs, but to create digital dossiers for their own marketing purposes.
All told, this is the business plan of America's handful of telecom giants -- the phone, cable, satellite, wireless and entertainment companies that now bring high-speed Internet access to most Americans. Their ability to meter Internet use, monitor Internet content and charge according to those metrics is how they are positioning themselves for the evolving Internet revolution.
The Internet's early promise as a medium where text, audio, video and data can be freely exchanged and the public interest can be served is increasingly being relegated to history's dustbin. Today, the part of the Net that is public and accessible is shrinking, while the part of the Net tied to round-the-clock billing is poised to grow exponentially.
One front in the corporate high-tech takeover of the Internet can be seen in Congress. On July 21, the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing on the "Regulatory Status of Broadband." There, a coalition that included Amazon.com, Microsoft, Yahoo, Apple, Disney and others, told Congress that Internet service providers (ISPs) should be able to impose volume-based fee structures, based on bits transmitted per month. This is part of a behind-the-scenes struggle by the Net's content providers and retailers to cut deals with the ISPs so that each sector will have unimpaired access to consumers and can maximize profits.
The industry coalition spoke of "tiered" service, where consumers would be charged according to "gold, silver and bronze" levels of bandwidth use. The days where lawmakers once spoke about eradicating the "Digital Divide" in America has come full circle. Under the scenario presented by the lobbyists, people on fixed incomes would have to accept a stripped-down Internet, full of personally targeted advertising. Other users could get a price break if they receive bundled content -- news, music, games -- from one telecom or media company. Anybody interested in other "non-mainstream" news, software or higher-volume usage, could pay for the privilege. The panel's response was warm, suggesting that the industry should work this out with little federal intrusion. That approach has already been embraced by the industry-friendly Federal Communications Commission.
Meanwhile, in the courts, there has been a rash of new litigation spurred by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)'s pursuit of people who have illegally shared copyrighted music. The music industry no doubt hopes to discourage file-swapping piracy, and some big telecom companies, such as SBC Communications, have counter-sued, saying they will protect their clients' privacy. While that's good public relations, there's more to this story as well. Telecoms, like most big corporations, don't want other businesses, let alone the government, interfering in their operations -- so there's plenty of reasons to counter-sue -- even if the record companies and telecoms have parallel stakes in privatizing the Net.
But there's also a technologically insidious element to this side of the story. The software now exists to track and monitor Internet content on a scale and to a degree that previously hasn't been possible. The RIAA is taking people to court because it has the technology to track illegal Internet file swapping. This level of content-tracking is the next-generation application of what's been developed to keep children and teenagers from viewing porn at the local library or home. Consider this typical bit of sales arcana from the Web site of Allot Communications, which says its software can track and filter Internet communications and use that analysis to bill consumers.
"Allot Communications provides network traffic management and content filtering solutions for enterprises, IP service providers, and educational institutions... Allot's QoS [quality of service] and service-level agreement enforcement solutions maximize return on investment by managing over-subscription [unintended uses], throttling P2P [peer-to-peer, the music piracy software] traffic and delivering tiered classes of services."
This new world of metering, monitoring and monetizing Internet content has prompted new business ventures, such as cable firms exploring partnerships with the videogame industry, where there's plenty of money to be made in high-volume interactive uses. In fact, the reason Hollywood has delayed the deployment of next-generation digital television -- besides their fear of digital piracy -- is they have not yet figured out how to impose their pricing model -- to extend their current distribution and sales monopoly.
http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/8528