Wow, pretty much softball questions that allow a ton of wiggle room - "not permitted to disclose at this time", "blah hype blah rah rah" type answers.
When phrasing the questions it is important that the language is pointed and the answer can be provided with a simple yes or no. Otherwise the question is viewed as speculative and the lawyers will advise Fritz, et al. to refrain from stating anything other than that which is said in the SEC filings.
I anticipate that any open-ended question requiring a speculative answer on the part of the executives will be passed over - particularly those relating to financial concerns.
Q1: Mr. Fritz---NEOM's future appears entirely dependent on MC2's formation and implementation. Is this true or not? Please explain why, or why not?
Of course not. NEOM is exploring opportunities within the MC2 framework. We've opted to pool our IP with other companies in an effort to hasten an industry standard. Should MC2 fail to achieve such ends, NEOM will continue to seek ventures and partnerships with individual companies.
Q2: Mr. Fritz, or Dr. Steinborn, if present---What specific progress, if any, was made at the MC2 meeting last week that IS favorable (or unfavorable) to the financial future of NEOM and/or Gavitec and identify by name who has expressed any interest in taking a stake in NEOM?
Per the risk disclosures in our SEC filings, the current relationship with Cornell makes it difficult to attract financing from other parties at reasonable terms. MC2 continues to work toward reaching an industry standard and, as mentioned in A1, NEOM is participating by pooling it's IP.
Q3: Mr. Fritz, or Dr. Steinborn, if present---When will (a) the 'universal reader' be available to handset makers/carriers and (b) what codes will it read and (c) who will embed it and (d) will it incorporate qode® capabilities? Please explain the expected timing and revenue stream(s) from this product...
Our team is working diligently to roll out the universal reader. To date the alpha version reads ___ codes. We are working with handset providers to find embedding partnerships. At this time we cannot provide a concrete rollout or projected revenue stream. Look for more information on this in the future.
Q4: Mr. Dodge---Before another company would consider taking an equity stake in NEOM, NEOM needs to "get its financial situation in order"--so just how do you plan to do that given that NEOM is in default on all of its obligations to Cornell? Please explain the elements of your plan to us...specifically, how will Cornell exit its investment? Will they convert to common shares and exercise all warrants held, or just sell their existing position to outside parties? Or, God forbid, just liquidate the IP. Please explain which option you expect it will be and why...
I can't comment on Cornell's investment strategy in regards to their position in our company. Cornell continues to be a valuable partner of Neomedia and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them.
Q5: Mr. Fritz or Mr. O'Leary---Alternatively, since Cornell effectively controls over half of the company now IF its current investment were to be converted today and all warrants exercised today, please explain why Mr. Mark Angelo is not available to answer shareholder questions during this CC? Again, we want to hear from Mr. Angelo the exact amount Cornell is willing to sell its stake in NeoMedia for. Please explain why we can or cannot get an audience with Mr. Angelo...
See A4. I cannot comment on Cornell's behalf.
Q6: Mr. Dodge---What is the current head-count and monthly cash burn rate and when will NEOM run out of cash without additional cash infusion?
This is a "hard ball" question and IMO will be ignored.
Q7: Mr. O'leary---Is there a letter of intent or agreement in effect TODAY to sell either AutoX or Triton and is it for a profit, or a loss? If no LOI(s), explain why not? If so, for how much money and when will it/they close?
This is a "hard ball" question and IMO will be ignored.
They will answer the first part by simply pointing to information contained in the SEC filings.
Q8: Mr. Fritz or Mr. O'Leary---Has there been ANY proposed settlement, including a conditional or partial settlement, with Scanbuy, and if so, for how much cash or other compensation? Who is our legal counsel for the Scanbuy lawsuit TODAY and are they working on a contingency basis only?
I don't want to fluster our lawyers so I need to be careful in answering this question. Simply put - NEOM is and will continue to vigorously defend our IP. Please refer to our SEC documents -- specifically the section on legal matters - for any information we are permitted to disclose on this topic.
Q9: Mr. Fritz---Will Newscorp introduce and use qode® by June 30th, or not? If not by then, when? If so, is it a promotional freebie, or is there revenue projected from Newscorp for the balance of 2007 and how much?
We continue to work with Newscorp. NDA's prohibit us from disclosing contract specifics.
Q10: Mr. Fritz or Mr. O'Leary---Please explain why Thornhill's warrants were repriced (on p. 55 of the 10-Q filed May 10th) and why NEOM's CFO, David Dodge, serves on Deepfield's BOD in light of their bad debt owed to us, which Mr. Refkin is incented to get repaid to us with these repriced warrants, all while Refkin himself apparently sits on Deepfield's advisory board?
They will not touch this question with a ten-foot pole
Q11: Mr. O'Leary, just how can you affect a turnaround at NEOM when you are on retainer with at least three other companies who, like NeoMedia, are paying you very well indeed as well as offering lucrative warrants while vying for your time? What is the status of our new CEO hiring efforts?
The first part will go unanswered
We have retained the services of ____ firm in assisting our CEO search. We cannot provide a concrete timeframe for hiring a new CEO but ____ is working diligently on our behalf.
Q12: Mr. Fritz---Just for the record, has Google, Microsoft or Symbol Tech ever made any offer to license NEOM IP or qode® (formerly Paperclick®), and, if so, for how much? If not, has ANY other Fortune 500 company or equivalent-sized firm offered to license NEOM's IP, and, is so, for how much?
This is GREAT softball question because they can really stoke the speculative fire with the following answer..
NDA's prohibit us from providing any comments on this matter.
Q13: Open---Last but not least, when can we expect a PR announcement that will drive a 2 for 1 stock split vice a reverse split? If qode® has the potential to be bigger than Google, NO reverse split should be necessary, don't you all agree?
LOL.. they can't answer this question. And they will avoid negating any speculation in regards to a reverse split. They'd be fools to publicly take the option of a reverse split off the table.
Q14, if time permits: How many keywords have been sold THIS year-to-date? And to whom? And for how much money? (...and is Cellufun a paying customer TODAY, or not?)
Per existing NDA's, we are prohibited from disclosing information on this matter.
