E-Mailbag Monday: ServiceWare, Emulex, SMS

What looks hot for the IPO market this week?

Reply: Take a look at
ServiceWare.
The company is a leader in e-service technology. They have a suite of
products that help companies maintain complex and huge customer service
databases – especially focused on information technology. Kind of like
artificial intelligence, ServiceWare technology makes databases “smart”;
that is, they continually learn as new information is added.

The company has big-time customers like Merrill Lynch, Pfizer and Texas
Instruments. In the first quarter of 2000, the companys sales were $7
million, which was up from $3.5 million in the same period a year ago.

Key strategic distribution deals – with Oracle, Siebel Systems and Kana
Communications – should help to drive the growth in sales.

The price range is $10.50 to $12.50 and the company intends to issue 4.5
million shares. The lead underwriter is Bear Stearns and the proposed
ticker symbol is SVCW.

Emulex: Still More to Go?

Would it be a good idea to pick-up shares of Emulex?

Reply: Given up for dead, the company surged 42% last Friday, as they
blew past analysts’ reports. Emulex develops technology that
speeds up the flow of information between computers and network data storage
systems. In the latest quarter, the company posted profits of $9.57
million.

No doubt, the fibre channel marketplace is red hot and Emulex was very
undervalued (as are many companies now). However, I would wait several
weeks before jumping in. Typically, after a big move, there is profit
taking. Also, I’m sure there was also much short-covering with the stock on
Friday.

SMS: What’s It About?

What is SMS technology?

Reply: SMS is one of the many acronyms in the wirless world. It
stands for short message service. In fact, it has been in existence since
1991. Basically, SMS allows for sending text messages – over wireless
devices – of up to 160 characters.