Plasmon plc Share Discussion Threads

[timtom2] 23/5/2008 13:23

Who knows. It is good that Murphy is walking the talk - he said this was going to happen when he first joined. He knows IBM and software and where gaps are in the market. Plasmon will have to exploit niches and they do have something neither IBM or EMC have.

[dead-cat bouncer] 23/5/2008 11:09

Plasmon Pushes Archive Virtualization

As it forges into a new area, the vendor faces some challenges. The first is that the company is focused on long-term product designs rather than on immediate deliverables. Also, competition is heating up in the virtualized storage market.

"A number of established vendors, such as EMC and IBM, are moving in the same direction as Plasmon," notes Brian Babineau, a senior analyst at market research firm Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG).

Like many of the companies its serves, Plasmon is in the throes of a dramatic retooling. How successful its plans will be is unclear at the moment, but what is apparent is the company no longer views itself as only an optical storage supplier.

"The company is focused on long-term product designs rather than on immediate deliverables. " More jam tomorrow?

[dead-cat bouncer] 22/5/2008 12:54

If 30p "sooner than some realise." were true the price would be going up. It's not; you can get 375,000 for 6.95p on line - the lowest it's ever been. Can you in any way substantiate your assertion?

[mikey_b] 22/5/2008 11:52

wonder if they use 60G optical disks.....

[mikey_b] 22/5/2008 09:24

but first let's see 4p ;-)

[pinkfish] 22/5/2008 09:15

Cost and they see a trade buyer for the company within 3 years?

Perception on the public market doesn't matter.

This will be sold for >30p imho and sooner than some realise.

[hang] 22/5/2008 08:30

I wonder why none of the new developments are ever announced by Plasmon by way of RNS. Makes you wonder what their strategy is. Very strange, most firms are only too eager to put any piece of news out!! I'm beginning to question the agenda.

[timtom2] 21/5/2008 09:58

Expect to see more software solutions in future with UDO as a leg of a system.

[timtom2] 21/5/2008 09:56

mikey_b, I happen to know that a system sale involving HDD so they can piggyback has been on the cards since before last Oct as part of a "system solutins sale". Murphy stated so.

HDD has its place but not for proper longevity of data retention/archive for years and years, nor proper legal compliance nor is it energy efficient. It's just bulk cheapo.

[mikey_b] 21/5/2008 09:49

HDD - wasn't that being knocked on here a while back. I have been pointing in that direction for 2 years I think. Maybe they read the thread.

[timtom2] 21/5/2008 09:46

It's a good idea - they have moved to allow their people to sell a system solution with part of the system possibly being UDO but some of the rest of the system being HDD or existing archive solutions. It looks like the software can determine the most appropriate media for the archive. This is useful to a wide customer base.

It will be developed further and the Plasmon h/w developed to go along with it more seemlessly too.

It will make the Plasmon salesman job a little easier, give him a system sale and allow software differentiation of data to allow use of the most appropriate archive device.

E-mail via Optical perhaps, mass storage without great longevity to HDD.

[timtom2] 21/5/2008 08:24

iii has a post where the first virtual "system" products/software is ready for launch.

[mikey_b] 20/5/2008 12:43

hmmm interesting chart. Nice line to understand unlike all those others which confusingly go in a North East direction.....

Getting nearer to 4p

[dead-cat bouncer] 19/5/2008 14:01

Not enough spin though; stock now available on-line at 6.95p.

[timtom2] 19/5/2008 10:02

This no doubt puts a Plasmon spin on it but I had heard they are gaining good momentum and a good reception with potential for substantial sales:

[timtom2] 17/5/2008 21:50

DCB - you have exposed yourself. "The whole bull case rests on them being technology leaders in their field" - this was and is not the case.

dyor and talk to people and contact a customer or 2.

[dead-cat bouncer] 16/5/2008 10:50

(InPhase finally to phase in holographic disk:

[mikey_b] 14/5/2008 10:15

I guess you need to define profitable. If one cent is profit or $$$. Maybe you are more comfortable with "worthwhile profit" = no.

HTH.

[u813061] 14/5/2008 09:54

They need to get rid of Tim Arthur the finance director. He has no control over the costs (just look at the low gross margin), and he is overpaid.

[timtom2] 14/5/2008 09:29

So when you said "no" to the question of whether or not there was a profitable market for this stuff you were incorrect or deliberately contradicting what you believe in order to achieve some result?

[mikey_b] 14/5/2008 09:02

Not deramping at all. I have never suggested buy/sell. I have made educated technical contribution many times (and now can't be bothered to continue that discussion) over the past years and yet to be disproved in my assessment of the business. I have always declared that I do not hold and additionally I intend to buy in at 4p. Now a second poster has mentioned the 4p position also which amused me.

Product good but they missed the boat and are lagging. Its a fast paced world in high tech and they are in a Morris 1000 trying to catch the McLarens.....they'll make a living on the crumbs but the share price needs to reflect that at this point in time.

[timtom2] 14/5/2008 08:57

mikey - if there is no money to be made in this market then you are wasting your time here as even if at 4p it will still go to Zero.

Either you enjoy time wasting or you are de-ramping as best you can.

[hang] 14/5/2008 07:43

News
Plasmon's US picture clearer
posted on 10 May 2008 17:40


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Faster manufacturing, smaller office and lay-offs


Yesterday's report of Plasmon leasing a new Colorado Springs office and entering into a contract manufacturing arrangement are two pieces of a deliberate plan to strengthen Plasmon's base in the USA.

According to a report in the Colorado Springs-based Gazette.com, it is moving its existing Colorado Springs facility into the new InterQuest Office Park facility of which it has an option to lease the whole building, an additional 10,000 square feet on top of the current 44,000 square feet. It currently has 110,000 square feet on Arrowswest Drive in Colorado Springs and this lease is coming to an end.

By outsourcing manufacturing it gains faster manufacturing and needs fewer people and space itself. Some of its current manufacturing employees may be offered jobs with Western Electronics, the contract manufacturer.

The first manufacturing stages of the G-Series optical libraries will be carried out by Western Electronics with the late stages and testing being handled by Plasmon itself. The net effect is to cut manufacturing time in half.

Plasmon has 130 employees in Colorado Springs and a small number of these will be laid off. It used to empy 210 people there but has progressively downsized.

CEO Steve Murphy said: "We feel that this is a growth move rather than a defensive move. It will allow us to support customers better, faster and with improved quality."

This is Murphy's law in action; run the business to make money and focus on growth markets, meaning archiving appliances.