BRS--thought you would enjoy this and have a good laugh or cry:
BusyBump $$$$
Reply To: None Tuesday, 22 May 2001 at 11:22 AM EDT
Post # of 690600
A Long Talk w/Robert.
Things are improving at home for me and the entire family. I thank all of you for your kind thoughts.
As I have been out of the loop for over a month, my questions to RP may be old news to some of you, but I hope there will be something informative for each of you. The talk was more like friends discussing business rather than an interview. I found it exhillarating, extremely encouraging, and filled with the promise of old.
Question #1- After no communications from the company since Mar. 29th, many of us who have been here following Edig for many years are concerned. Is the company still on solid ground? Are we still involved in lots of contract talks, product development, etc. or are things as quiet there as from the outside?
Response #1- Oh! There is a lot going on everyday! We have made a decision that PRs must only contain significant news, i.e. regarding contracts, revenue, products, and OEMs. We are on the verge of concluding many agreements and we are very aware of how frustrating it is for the shareholders to wait patiently without the benefit of knowing what is going on and we are committed to getting the news out as soon as we are able.
Question #2- Concerning our burn rate...do we have any income or are we still waiting for royalties to begin while using up our cash?
Response #2- We have monies coming in from Lanier, from NREs, and other sources. Yes, there is definitely cash coming in but we all realize that the majority of our revenues will come from royalties from our various jukebox platforms, from DataPlay products, and from products yet to be announced.
Q #3- There was a lot of talk over the past year about bundling our products with PCs. Is this still ongoin and is anything imminent?
R #3- There is a lot going on in this area. We are looking to close some of these deals shortly. The parties involved are talking substantial size orders. You must understand that this takes a great deal of coordination to make sure all the numbers match from a manufacturing point of view. In at least one case, there are 4 parties involved, some of which have been announced previously, and some who have not.
Q#4- You mean we have 4 manufacturers involved in the PC bundling negotiations?
R#4- Yes, 4 in at least one case.
Q#5- According to Fred's last letter, we would have products on the retail shelves this quarter. Will this still hold true?
R#5- We will have products in the retail distribution channels by the end of this quarter. The exact when and where is still in the hands of the OEMs but it will be sometime by the end of this quarter.
Q#6- How about the new product platforms announcements also due this quarter?
R#6- Keep in mind that we would like to make these new product announcements in conjunction with our OEMs so that will dictate the timing of these announcements as well.
Q#7- A long while back you told me that we were working with "double-digit" OEMs. That phrase has been quoted a lot since. Is it still applicable?
R#7- Yes.
Q#8- Where is TREO?
R#8- Ask Hy-Tek! We know that the manufacturing is ongoing...the pipeline is getting filled....and everyone is waiting for the launch. It's in their hands.
Q#9- Do you still see Edig establishing itself as a global standard?
R#9- Absolutely! This has been and remains the goal, the focus of this company and we can only achieve this by successful relationships with our OEMs, by providing them with products and service that make them want to put "Powered by e.Digital Technology" on the outside of their products. We are well on our way to achieving this. Let me say that this is and has been the driving goal behind this company from the very beginning.
Q#10- I own some stock in XMSR and SIRI. Are we actively pursuing products uniquely suited to this growing area?
R#10- I can't give you specific details of what we are working on. Just let me say that we are involved in developing products related to this discipline in the automotive marketplace. This will be a very strong new business over the next year.
Q#11- The broadcasting begins this summer but there are very limited receivers available. Does this make any sense?
R#11- These two companies recognized what the music industry didn't....that you have to provide content to sell the hardware and the subscription services. The content will soon be there and the hardware will follow.
I thanked him for taking his time to talk with me and provide some insight during this virtual news drought.
I was most pleased with the anticipation of great things to come that I sensed in all of his responses. Our investment in Edig is a wise one and the patience we have all had (with the exception of a few!!!) will be justly rewarded.
My very best to all/
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BTW, i guess sh*t happens or in this case doesn't happen----
