Thanking all who have made contributions to the thread. They have been very helpful in gaining a clearer insight into the Ziptel investment proposition.
In the interests of transparency, I do not possess the technical knowledge possessed by many of the contributors of the HC forum. Hence, appreciate their contributions even more, and please excuse my relative lack of such expertise if any of my posts seem technologically naive.
If I may, I would like to address and/or seek further clarification from at least a few thread contributors:
TimJF - comments that Zipt uses "less data in all environments". All? Can this even be confirmed? Especially when new environments are yet to roll out? According to
http://www.cnet.com/au/news/how-5g-will-push-a-supercharged-network-to-your-phone-home-and-car/ 5G will be able to download a 2 hour movie within 3.6 seconds (compared to 26hrs for 3G, and 6 mins for 4G), hence can long term investors be confident that Ziptel will still be able to enjoy the 'comparative advantage' of its compression capability in such an environment? Another consideration is that as businesses strike partnerships and utilise 'bundling' of various services to drive down prices in order to attract and/or keep customers, one could reasonably argue that the future environment would be so competitive in the technological space that alliances with other corporate entities could be struck so as to make the cost for the consumer for communication virtually free because such competition and business partnerships primary aim of merely having "access" to a consumer, just to be able to 'pitch' new products and services, would make free communications worthwhile to their business goals. I totally agree, that such implications for an investor would most likely have a 5+ year time horizon, hence why I have been monitoring Ziptel (as would still be beneficial until the so-called new age technologies not only roll out, but take hold across the entire globe. I do suspect, however, that as technologies get cheaper, time lines could move forward).
gsmi086 - Thank you for commenting that, to your knowledge, Ziptel is leasing the technology "on a 20 year, exclusive basis". Questions arising: What are the IP and/or legal implications when the lease runs out? If Ziptel really takes off and does become a powerhouse, will it face potential legal action that subsequent 'tweaks' that Ziptel may claim is their own, was based on the "leased" technology, hence be held liable for compensation and/or royalties? In various businesses, when leases run out, invariably the parties get to logger heads, even legally.
Moonlight - Yes, I did miss the earlier Ziptel investment opportunity train when it was back at 40cents. But, as explained, did not have time at that stage to investigate the risk profile enough to satisfy questions in my mind to make an actual investment. Regardless of phasing out of technologies and the roll out of new ones; lease vs ownership; etc...considering the population sizes still yet to catch up with newer technologies, at an affordable price structure for the more financially disadvantaged in such nations, I felt, and still feel, that Ziptel would be worth an investment (even if only at a modest level in terms of portfolio size weighting) as there is more upside potential than downside risk...at least at this stage, and for, in my own opinion and risk appetite, for the next 2 or 3 years.
Yesterday, I was at the ASX train station with my Ziptel ticket waiting for the train...but missed out by half a cent. So close, yet so far. But I believe everything happens for a reason.
I shall do some more research, and possibly rethink an entry point (in either direction) in the near future.
Well done for all those who got in so early (hopefully after performing their own due diligence of research if life circumstances permitted such risk reduction at that time). Good luck to all presently invested or those who may invest.
Thanks again for all the contributions to the thread. It has been extremely helpful.
(20min delay)