Replies to post #32197 on Wave Systems Corp. (fka WAVXQ)

[barge]

awk--Trusted Platform Module + Interoperability = Wavexpress(?)
Kevin Bachus, CEO of Infinion/Phantom sure appears to be discussing an Interoperable solution, that ONLY WAVE could provide. Below is an excerpt from an interview with Kevin Bachus{"He was a key figure right from the genesis of Xbox project and helped to turn the fantasy of a few "renegades" within Microsoft into the reality which has become a serious challenger in the console market."}

http://www.gamesindustry.net/content_page.php?section_name=new&aid=2888

"Ghost in the Machine

A major problem for most new hardware platforms is that they cannot compete with existing platforms in terms of software support, but this is an issue which Infinium hopes to bypass with the Phantom service, since the system is designed to deliver and play existing PC software without any alterations.

"My message to the publishers is that they're already building Phantom content and they just don't know it yet," states Bachus. "The difference between a PC game and the games that are delivered on the Phantom service is nothing; no additional engineering effort on the part of the publisher is required to make this new revenue stream work, they just have to sit back and watch additional revenues come in."

"Then the only question is, 'what effect will this have on my front line business - will this cannibalise my retail sales', but the fact is that the retailers are very enthusiastic about this," he claims, stating that he conducted a number of meetings with major retailers at CES who expressed a keen interest in the Phantom concept.

This seems counter-intuitive, since if something like the Phantom is successful it will surely take sales away from traditional retailers - but Bachus believes that there's potential for retailers to actually augment their business by working with Infinium. "Retail is not going anywhere for the bulk of sales of software that will happen over the next five years, at least. What I'm proposing is something that augments the traditional retail business; allowing retailers the opportunity to associate themselves with a recurring revenue stream, which is great for their business."

He draws on the example of the mobile phone retail business, where retailers sell a heavily subsidised device, and the network operator makes a significant amount of money off the recurring subscription charge - but the retailer gets an ongoing cut of that charge, and also gets to sell items like accessories and top up cards to customers, both of which he believes are "fairly intuitive" parts of the Phantom business model.


The Phantom Menace?

Bachus may not have the answers to all of the questions right now, but his honesty about the position that the company is in and its future plans is refreshing, as is his realism. "We're not going head to head with Sony or Microsoft - to be honest, we're not even going to see their tail lights," he tells us. "But we will build a loyal and enthusiastic user base - we'll have our place in this industry alongside the consoles and the PC."

Whatever other questions remain unanswered, the biggest question of all - whether the Phantom is actually for real, and whether Infinium is serious about it - has certainly been answered. "I spent more time probing these guys and asking tough questions than any journalist has," says Bachus, "and I would not be talking to you today if I was not confident in the company."