Replies to post #28358 on InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[3GDollars]

Jerry,

Reading the posts this weekend, it seems to me that the option vote comes down to one issue and that is trust. Do you trust or do you not trust management? And if you do not trust management, why are you invested in IDCC?


To me, it's check and balance.

[Gamco]

revlis -

You stated, "...it seems to me that the option vote comes down to one issue and that is trust."

This is exactly correct. Advocates on both side of this issue provided convincing argument and both sides had to make some assumptions to make their cases. But in the end, one only needs to realize that there exists no good thing that can not be misused under the authority of someone so inclined. I choose to believe that such an obviously conservative group of responsible management will, in the final analysis, genuinely pursue the greatest good after resisting temptation to resort to self serving means. As you said, it is an element of TRUST
JMHO

[GE_Jim]

While I'm no longer invested in IDCC, I plan to be in the future. I use the word trust with people, not with companies. However let's go with this. Never trusted management of IDCC. If you look at the past history, how could you? Very little communication, {we can't talk about that} and when there is some it's vague and confusing but points to SOMETHING in the future if everything align just right on a Tuesday. Still made a lot of money trading it however. Still could make a lot more if Nok/Sam sign on at the stated figures. But trust I wouldn't trust this management team with anything close to blind faith that you're hinting at. They have made too many mistakes especially with the contracts and their view of time lines {Ericy and Euro sales is a big one, left forgotten} and Nokia, still fooling around 4 years later. How much 2g product do you think was sold during that time? And it's on 3 G now and where are the licenses. How about business goals for 2003? Try and define them and please don't use the words hope and wish! To date the only thing that I could trust this management team with is failure to deliver.

But no matter I certainly don't trust Wall Street either. If fact I don't know anybody who does. And so it goes.

[rmarchma]

Revlis re trusting management, you asked as have several others:

...."it seems to me that the option vote comes down to one issue and that is trust. And if you do not trust management, why are you invested in IDCC?"

I don't actually distrust IDCC's top management, but I don't actually trust them either. I do think that they have done some things that are definitely in their own best interests, and not necessarily in the best interests of the outside shareholders though. An excerpt from a recent reply of mine best answers my reasons for remaining invested in IDCC as follows:

First a sell decision should not always be based on one factor, such as one’s judgment of management’s abilities and capabilities. That is certainly important, but in IDCC’s case can be easily overridden by another very important consideration, such as the technology itself. Has IDCC’s engineers really produced essential technology for all the various 2G, 2.5G, 3G and 802 wireless standards? Will IDCC receive royalties/fees on every wireless device produced, as they legally should if the preceding question is answered yes?

Therefore, my decision to sell will be based not upon my assessment of management, but upon my assessment of the underlying technology. If I lose faith in IDCC’s technology, then I will sell in a heartbeat. I still believe that if IDCC really has the technology, and I still think they do, then they can be highly successful in spite of and not necessarily because of management. BTW I do think we have an excellent manager in DR. Brianconn over the technology area. I have also heard some good things about Merritt, Lemmo, and Kiernan. However, I am reserving my personal judgment on Merritt until I begin seeing significant new/updated licensing activity at IDCC.

http://www.investorshub.com/boards/read_msg.asp?message_id=992578

[M6]

Revlis

To make money...why else. Don't be naive with the "if you don't trust management, sell" line. That's a canard. You have to watch anyone with the keys to the safe- period.

The issue is, are there enough current options to run the biz, or not? Is management well compensated already?

I say yes.