e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

[Tinroad]

Still more post-conference re XYBR:
http://www.agoracom.com/agora/nonmemforum/msgreview.asp?id=99741&refid=0&orig=99741

I'm sure that after the big buildup I gave to my intentions to post from the show I've no doubt I was a big disappointment but for one reason or another it wasn't to be. I'll do what I can now and am aware that I might be repeating everything you've already heard but my main computer is in the shop and what I'm using is so old and slow I don't want to try to go through all the posts. If I duplicate, so be it.

First of all, I don't see how anyone could have left the show, particularly after this afternoon's presentations, without believing that wearable computing is inevitable and Xybernaut is in the forefront. We heard it everywhere - from every 'user in the real world' and from them loud and clearly. The loved our MA IV and they loved Xybernaut. Each one said they'd tried competitor's products and found them lacking; in some cases wearable computing was going to be discarded as unworkable until Xybernaut came on board and provided the type of service all companies should provide but so few do.

Their ROI has proved to be fantastic. In many cases showing improvement of 90% and more in time, manpower and equipment down time. Mitsubishi Heavy will complete their pilots this year and will examine the wearable computer model for applications in all their vertical markets, in cooperation with X.

GE is bringing online great numbers of new power plants and is unable to find enough trained field engineers for the task. The MA has provided a HUGE productivity benefit and is greatly compensating for the lack of training of the engineers. Their vision for the future is to replace all laptops with the MA and expect 100% rollout of the V by next Spring.

FEDEX: All management is firmly in back of and committed to wearable computing. They intend to stay with X because X has been with them every step of the way, helping and guiding. They've learned that tasks have a typical time to perform and in adverse conditions those times increase dramatically but with the MA the time is cut in at least half and remains the same under all conditions, not increasing with adverse weather, darkness, etc. They are establishing 40 RF LAN networks this calendar year in 40 cities in addition to the 12 already in existance. The MA will be needed in each. They plan to include the LAN to the cockpits so that returning aircraft (and by the way, they are the second largest fleet in the world with 662 aircraft) can wirelessly notify the techs on the ground of the condition of the aircraft so that repairs can begin immediately on landing. They are spreading the word to other airlines and seeing great interest. At one conference after they gave their presentation on wearable use the FAA reps came up afterward and asked if the computers weren't pretty fragile, subject to easy damage; he threw the MA about 20 feet on a hard floor, picked it up and continued using it with no ill effects. FAA was convinced!

DYNCORP has huge potential market, many segments of which already being worked with trials, introductions, etc. Areas include not only Fed government but Law, Health, Logistics, Aviation, Safety and .....the New York Stock Exchange where they've set up a wireless LAN and forsee all traders eventually using the MA. They are working pilots with the Army, Navy, Airforce, EPA and DOE. They are actively engaged in trying to have the MA included in Land Warrior testing, the only drawback now being the non-waterproof issue with the MCPCIA slot installed. They are trying to have the government put up the money for R&D to waterproof.

By the way, I was told by the CECOM Warrant Officer that both CECOM and Land Warrior are currently definitely in the testing stage to determine required specifications and that when the testing is complete the specs will be put out for bidding. Ergo, it would seem we are at least as much in contention as anyone else.

BA - is still in trials but they've had great, positive customer feedback. They are currently letting agents come up with new uses other than check-in. The staff thinks very highly of the MA, full of superlatives.

Bell Canada - Phew! Brad Chitty is probably the greatest ambassador we have. They say the wearable is the single greatest opportunity for growth at Bell Canada. They are operating under the context of 'what if I don't change to wearables' and they believe the answer is that they would be left badly behind. As a result of Bells's tech initiatives they've been asked to be the tech representative for Toronto in that city's bid for the 2008 Olympics.

I was told by Sean Okeefe of Xybernaut, who said he is the main link to Bell Canada, that he has another industry in Canada that will be as large - or larger - than Bell, but he couldn't at this time name the company although he did say he's ready to bring them on line.

International Truck - the same kind of superlatives and an announced intention to roll out the MA in many areas of operations.

To show how little is known about wearables, the Marine Major General who gave the presentation knew almost nothing about them, particularly nothing about the V or the WIA - had never even heard of them. He spent a lot of time talking about how the current wearables were way too heavy and bulky and was happy to know there's something new on line.

The only situation I considered to be a dark cloud on the show - and I was told that it was dangerous to draw conclusions from isolated incidents - was the lack of IBM at the launch and the 'speaker was unable to make it' announcements for both Johnathon Prial and George Tatomyr. Ed told me this morning that he was chewed out by IBM because they had expected IBM to be at the launch and thought Ed had it covered. Other X management told me not to worry about it - there's nothing to worry about. Draw your own conclusions.

And so, after such expectations of IBM commitment and announcements of sales coming out of the show, I can only say that from my point of view it probably was not a suitable venue to announce sales because of disclosure problems but from what I heard from all the 'users' I've no doubt that sales will be forthcoming soon.

Enough for now - I'm tired. I have a small number of XYBR souvenirs - pens, Schedule of Events, MA V folders, tablets that I will be happy to send to the first folks who email me indicating they'd like them. Include your address. [e-mail]

If you haven't seen the MA V, I'd like to say that it looks more than anything like a Nutone door bell - you know, one of those beige boxes with a perforated cover that's mounted on the wall with the bell inside, and just about the same size, 3.5'' x 5.9'' x 2''. But, what a doorbell!!!

It was an enjoyable 2 days spent with my wife, PM179, geekhead, ytsorf7 and his wife, scott 1155, 2 board lurkers with no user names and whom I won't name, and, finally after looking for her for 2 years - goxybr!

More later, if and as I remember.