Subject: Short blurb from on the CES from a dying man
From sunpoop
PostID 305488 On Saturday, January 10, 2004 (EST) at 1:01:53 PM
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I finally found my way back to the airport from the State Line where EDiglong's directions took me. Don't EVER go anywhere with him if is reading the map....
Anyway, I picked up something, probably the flu. My ears are blocked, my eyes are fuzzy, my throat is an absolute pain center and we won't talk about my nose....
I picked up Don at the airport early Friday, (I found it myself WITHOUT his directions) and we went straight to the CES. We arrived early an intended to reconoiter any company's booth that might be connected to EDig. Our first stop was TI's booth where Walter from EDig was there. Don has developed a good relationship with him so we started talking. He told us a few ''techie'' things which Don is more able to recount than I. (if he can find the computer) An ''Ittiom'' video player made by EDig for the Indian market (which we did not know of prior to this) was on display. It's essentially an IFE but no security, just a player and doing well in India.
I was hoping to see FF or RP and lo and behold we turned around at 10:26AM and FF was standing in aisle. Talk about fast moving, we hit on him before he had a chance to see us and run.(The word was out on us...from the lips of JO JO Platt, ''I been warned about you two. Never be in a corner when I see you coming.'' By the way some people at EDig do read the posts on Agora and ihub and are very familiar with our names.
He told us we had 3 minutes since he was here to meet a potential customer. We started talking and he was very open and friendly. In fact he was downright upbeat with that look in his face of the ''cat just finishing off the mouse''.
We ''cornered'' him for over an hour and hit every topic of EDig interest. (It turned out the company he was meeting thought he was supposed to meet FF in the next booth and had been standing there for over an hour, waiting) Much to our benefit.
I cannot go into minutia right now, I just don't feel up to it. I can tell you HP was never in the picture for its player. Discussions were had but EDig was right in the middle of getting the Gateway player out, had time constraints and couldn't perform for HP. However, the relationship with HP is still very viable and EDig is working on ''multiple'' projects with them as we speak. Also HP was ''NOT'' one of the ''huge'' OEM's referred to at the SHM.
I asked him about the status of those and his face literaly ''lit'' up. The one OEM is at a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10 in final negotions. This is up from the same question I posed to FF at the SHM which at that time was 6 - 7. FF did give us proprietary information which I believe he never intended to do and which I will not pass on right now. He was just so excited that he slipped a bit. His words that I feel comfortable in passing on were ''I almost can't believe the numbers from this customer, If they are even half of what we are discussing EDig will be ''big time''.
Some of you may discount what you read from Don and myself saying ''where's the beef''. You had to be there, get FF talking, which he was very inclined to do, see the excitement and the honesty of his replies to know truth was evident there.
He had been in private meetings for two days. Meetings that had been called for by potential customers, NOT set up by him. EDig is now well known in the CE world and we are turning awy business. As FF put ''We are no longer ''cold calling'' hoping...we are on firm footing, up front with how to structure our business and get paid for EVERYTHING WE DO UPFRONT.''
I have to go....there will be more, much more, when Don and I get together and check our notes. There will also be pictures, many of them, including our products prominately displayed in the Microsoft booth. The connection here is something Don can explain more than I but it is quite a powerful statement.
FF says EDig is ''ramping up'' In the past we had peaks and valley's. Hard work, finished projects, then stand around for a while until the next one. No longer. It is becoming a steady stream going up the the ''Bell Shaped Curve''
In just talking about one piece of business and there are many now, if this major OEM is signed, and FF says he just about certain it will be. (we are talking about an offshoot of the IFE) then we will know of it and perhaps a major bump in the PPS, however with what we found out yesterday I am becoming more convinced that Lawyerlong's expectations are probably right on and mid 2005 will see an entirely different EDigital, a very successful one.
Guys, EDig has a ''LOT'' going for it right now. Substantial and verified business.
Perhaps we have all had expectation set too high. Waiting for that big PR and big bump. Personally I am fully convinced we are going to satisfy even the most jaded shareholders among us, just not tomorrow but no too far down the road....
More,,,Frank
