Re: 6 figure orders:
Bonsil and others have delved into the confusion of the "6 figure orders" It seems to be the sentiment that these figures were just thrown out there by EDig and are no longer relevant. NOT SO. If I might add my two cents worth without be repetative........When an OEM places an initial order for any NEW product, he doesn't know if he has a Thunderbird or an Edsel so the initial order is meaningless. (it could be 100 units it could be 10,000 units) Interest=Sales=Large reorders, No interest=no sales=Donation to the Friends of the Earth for distribution to the hillside natives of Tupula Mountain in Borneo for their use in attracting their dinner which consists of large spiders wrapped in Kuppabara leaves and slowly roasted in a fire pit.
The six figure orders are a different story however. These figures are still VERY viable and are in present discussion with PC, and other types of manufacturers who wish to bundle their product, to increase sales, with an EDig product inside. It is common to see this in todays market and in fact I just purchased a new DEll 8100 that came with a number of BONUS choices of which I chose a scanner, FREE.
We are dealing with two separate aspects of EDig's business plan. Both are there and are being implemented.
Robert was extremely candid as he always is, but seemed moreso this time. I have known him for 10 years and never have I seen him more confident in his pronouncements. (See Bonsil's posts)
He said two things among many others that struck me with more force than the sales figures everyone wanted to hear. One very positive one negative.
1. "We don't lack for business folks" His exact words stated with force and stated at least 3 times in 3 different aspects of our discussion. He went on to iterate that many different companies have come to them with ideas they wish EDig to develop but they had too much on their plate now, turned away these requests or put them on the back burner for later consideration. These "ideas" were in different areas not relevant to what EDig is now involved in.
The negative, (my opinion) was the constant hammering of Edig customers by us, the shareholders, for information to satisfy our need to be "RICH TOMMOROW". He stated two or three times that it did cause EDig concern with those OEM's and some delicate explaining to allay the irritation of customers. Robert was fully accepted of and felt it was an integral part of his job FOR HIM to deal with every shareholder and their concerns who contacted him but wished questions to customers would be such that he didn't have a fire to put out afterwards. He does recognize that will happen however and states often that EDig is a public company, has shareholders to satisfy and his job is to do that. He has come to the point however, in not advancing any more information than is available and verifiable. He knows and stated on numerous occasions that he in particular and all at EDig WERE NOT SATISFIED with the share price of the company. Orders, sales and bottom line were his solutions to raising that price. NOTHING ELSE, no hype, no president's letters, no feely good pronouncements AND IN THAT REGARD HE WAS AS CONFIDENT AS I HAVE EVER SEEN AND HEARD HIM.
There was no doubt that shipments of the Treo and perhaps OTHER PRODUCTS would begin THIS QUARTER.
There was NO DOUBT that Data Play would start this fall and with HUGE promotion of which EDig would be a part. The most interesting aspect of that relationship is that Robert stated (perhaps my understanding only) "THERE IS NO TELLING HOW MANY OF DATA PLAY PRODUCTS WE WILL BE IN) Not just a music player but EVERYTHING ELSE we have all heard about on this board.
Also mentioned were numerous other, unnamed, OEM's that are in the same markets and WOULD NOT BE LEFT BEHIND in this huge potential market. Not much was said in this regard but you got the feeling we will be hearing about other's we have not heard about. EDig is talking to more companies than we all realize. Maybe some are just conversation but from Robert's tone and conviction, SOME ARE SOLID.
Robert also stated with muted enthusiasm that Voice products, Powered by EDig, would be out by the end of this year. I say muted enthusiasm only because of his uncertainty of the timing, NOT THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PRODUCTS.
A lot was left unsaid but was under the surface of all our conversations. Many of Bonsils questions were answered guardedly because information could not be given at that time but you knew the news was THERE, IN FACT, IN CONCRETE. No hype. This meeting was conducted as a give and take. No pronouncements. We started out asking questions, many, many questions and Robert answered as if we all were sitting around the dinner table discussing who the first draft pick in the NFL should. The entire meeting was not stilted at all.
I left with an EXTREMELY SOLID feeling. Excuse my description but I know of no other way to say it. I felt if Robert had let us go behind that closed door we all passed on our way out that everything we all have wanted was behind that door just sitting there waiting.
Folks, there are no "maybe's" "if's" no "hopes" here. We have long passed that stage in the development of this company. I feel we all have to realize a new technology with new products has not really started yet. To be a major player in that market, a STANDARD in that market, does not happen in day, weeks or months. EDig has come from obscurity in less than two years, with no backing from any outside entity to its present position. I don't think Microsoft went from its garage to being what it is in that short period of time.
I do believe and have stated to many on many different occasions, ad naseum, the worst thing that ever happened to EDig was the hype that $24.00 a share for a FLEETING MOMENT did to raise unrealistic expectations. Without that event most of us would be very satisfied with the status, direction and potential we all see.
As my "little grey cells" get tickled I will bother you more with my observations of that meeting. I hope I won't bore you
Sunpoop,
AI
