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| | materials costs, and direct labor, but it’s always subject to both competitive pressures and how we execute on the cost reduction. |
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E. Reiner | | The final question, if you can roll back the clock to a year ago, would you say that you entered this year with more confidence, less confidence, better visibility, worse visibility? How’s your overall kind of feeling about 2005 versus how you felt a year ago? |
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N. Lotan | | That’s a good question, and actually I’m happy that you asked because we feel very comfortable entering ‘05 for a number of factors. First of all, we have a strong and broad product line, which has been successfully a new product introduction, we’ve seen successfully in Q4 and Q3 with the FTTP Triplexer and some of the MRV networking products. |
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| | So from the get go, we are armed with a very good product line. Second is a lot of new development in the pipeline, which will continue to strengthen the hand of our sales people in the field. The third element, I think we’re seeing a higher level of activity in general, a higher level of RFP’s, and more confidence in customer buying patterns. Overall I think the success of MRV helps position us as a partner rather than a box mover, if you like. We are basically beginning to forge long-term relationships with customers, including end user customers, not just particularly partners. |
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| | So, generally, I think the mood is upbeat. Our sales force is very confident. Like I said earlier we have a tremendous new talent in the field now, so we’re basically ready to go. |
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E. Reiner | | Great. Congratulations, again, on a great quarter. |
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Coordinator | | Your next question comes from Greg Waters with Investors Asset Management. Please proceed. |
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G. Waters | | Nice quarter. A couple of questions. First of all, the $2 million gain, was that one of the development companies that was sold? |
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N. Lotan | | It’s one of our investments. |
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G. Waters | | You can’t highlight if it was a development company or not? Or which one it was, I’m struggling to keep track of those development companies. |
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N. Lotan | | We have ... so it’s really hard for us to violate those, I’m sorry, Greg. |
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G. Waters | | Understood. Second question, Bell South, Alcatel press release the other day, given what you know about what Bell South is planning to do with the fiber to the curb, does MRV fit into that equation? I’m not asking if you have a direct contract, but does your equipment fit with that equation? |