RE: Nanovation

Billy Brown (bbrown@conemsco.com)
Wed, 19 May 1999 10:04:25 -0500

GBurch1@aol.com wrote:
> I've been checking Nanovation's web site periodically for a while now.
They
> say they will have an IPO this summer. I'd be very curious to hear
> assessments of their technology from folks who are more technically
> competent than me.

Its hard to develop a firm opinion based on the contents of their web site. On the one hand, photonics as a very promising field that is currently making rapid strides. Their optical telecommunications work seems about in line with what I would expect from a cutting-edge research facility in that field.

OTOH, their claims about optical chips with features "1000 times smaller than today's electron-based semi-conductor chips" radiate a pretty fierce bogon flux. Current state of the art is just beginning to make photonic ICs possible at all - the idea that someone has leaped all the way from discrete macroscopic components to 0.0005-micron features in one mighty bound seems terribly unlikely.

I also note that they seem very leery about giving any technical details about their work. Their press releases give no concrete data at all about the performance of their equipment or the technologies they use, which is very unusual for this sort of operation. This could be the result of paranoid information security policies, but it could also be an indication that the whole thing is some kind of fraud. It is interesting to note that the company is apparently owned by some kind of shell company, which has recently been involved in lawsuits with some of its shareholders.

Bottom line - until they actually start selling something, I'd be very careful about taking their word for anything. I certainly wouldn't invest in the company - there are too many opportunities out there that don't display so many warning signs.

Billy Brown, MCSE+I
bbrown@conemsco.com