Introducing the Optical Oracle

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=09Dear Red Herring Subscriber: Are you interested in a new breed of mark=
et analysis, covering both public and private technology companies - one th=
at analyzes markets from the ground up and filters through the hype? Lig=
ht Reading's Optical Oracle (www.opticaloracle.com ), a leading independent=
technology research service, has been doing exactly that - tracking the ne=
xt wave of developments in optical networking technology and services. T=
argeted at investors and technology leaders in both the private and public =
markets, Optical Oracle was launched last spring and has already published =
nine groundbreaking monthly reports, including examinations of telecom carr=
iers, communications chip players, optical switching, optical components, a=
nd IP networking gear. With a unique blend of financial and technological a=
nalysis, the Oracle has already garnered a reputation for spotting trends a=
nd making gutsy calls. Now that evidence is building that the communicat=
ions industry is bouncing along the bottom, what's next? Though startups=
and public companies have been hit hard, optical technology is still layin=
g the foundation for the next wave of growth. In short, it's opportunity ti=
me; and some of the bigger players are stepping up their involvement in op=
tical technology. Consider that: [IMAGE] [IMAGE][IMAGE]Intel Corp. =
has purchased a portfolio of optical and next-generation communications chi=
p startups - including Cognet, LightLogic, nSerial, and Templex - for a tot=
al of about a half billion dollars. It has also invested in a portfolio of =
more than 30 startups. Much of this activity has taken place over the last =
year, fitting with Intel's reputation for investing during a downturn. [I=
MAGE] [IMAGE][IMAGE]Spending among a handful of the top telecom carriers,=
though in decline over the last two years, still amounts to well over $50 =
billion and is expected to become increasingly focused on efficient next-ge=
neration technologies that lower costs. [IMAGE] [IMAGE][IMAGE]Leading t=
echnologists frequently refer to optical networking technology as in the "v=
acuum tube" stage of its development life cycle. [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] =
How has the Optical Oracle covered these trends? Our reports provide a deta=
iled, opinionated analysis of the product and financial positioning of comp=
anies attacking the various markets. Optical Oracle also continues to d=
eliver, in electronic form, news alerts about developing Light Reading stor=
ies, ahead of publication on the free Light Reading Website (www.lightreadi=
ng.com ). For example, in November, Optical Oracle alerted readers, in adv=
ance of the news, to major layoffs at Nortel, management shifts at Cisco, a=
nd the acquisition of Pacific Broadband by Juniper Networks. Subscribers to=
our service receive these alerts in addition to the monthly electronic new=
sletter. The current Optical Oracle reports on the networking "Big Shots=
," including a competitive analysis of the leading public telecom equipment=
market players: Alcatel (NYSE: ALA), Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO), Lucent (NYSE: L=
U), Nortel (NYSE: NT), and Tellabs (Nasdaq: TLAB). [IMAGE] [IMAGE][IM=
AGE]Follow this link to see the table of contents for this report. [IMAG=
E] [IMAGE][IMAGE]Follow this link to see a sample competitive positioning=
table, for Cisco Systems , from this report. [IMAGE] To view these exc=
erpts, you will need Adobe's Acrobat Reader. If you do not have it, it can =
be obtained for free at the Adobe web site . [IMAGE] [IMAGE] [IMAGE] We ar=
e offering this service to Red Herring subscribers at an introductory rate =
of $899 per year. Note that the price will rise to $1,295 on February 1, 20=
02! To join Light Reading's inner circle, go to www.opticaloracle.com . =
Thank You. Sincerely, R. Scott Raynovich Editor The Optical Oracle=
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[IMAGE]=09 As a subscriber to Red Herring, we thought that this promotion=
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