Wireplay without BT's help !!!

[=DI=Penry]

Please correct me if i'm wrong !

i) WP is currently owned by BT !
ii) BT is owned by shareholders !
iii) Hence : WP is owned by BT Shareholders!
iv) BT is selling/losing/GIVING WP to the recently created **un-mentionable name** company!
v) **un-mentionable name** company is being sold to shareholders!
vi) BT is helping to run **un-mentionalbe name** company

erm ! - Hum ! - Something seems a little suss here !!!!!

I've so many questions to ask ! - but i know you cant answer.

Like:
1) Do BT's shareholder know that part of BT is dissapearing ?
2) Does BT own this new **un-mentinable** company ? (Hum - may have to post another message about this one !!! http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif)
3) Do you recon the share value will rise like Freeserve's ? (might be worth a few quid) (you definatly cant comment on this one)
4) How many BT exec's are getting new merc's out of this ! (oooh)

[=DI=Penry]

Just a couple of quick questions about the next weeks activities !.

How are you going to manage without BT's help ???
Are you going to have shareholders LAN parties ???
why does their seem to be very little news about this on your site (if any) and not even a link to your partners (or have they bought you ot first)???

Hum !!

[Uprising]

We've gone to ground because we are legally bound to remain silent on the issue until floatation. We are usually only too happy to answer as any questions as possible, but at the moment we can't say anything. Soz -or we would be singing like canaries. However, I can answer one thing- BT are still supplying the network services and taking an active part in Wireplay,

[=DI=Penry]

ok you are "legally bound to remain silent"

but i'm not !!!

http://www.gameplay.com

a url you might find interesting !!

And who are the proud owners of this URL ??? - why - BTNET of course !!

[This message has been edited by =DI=Penry (edited 29-07-1999).]

That WP log with gameplay.com on the bottom just looks plain wrong

[MrVista]

BTNet (BT's network services bit) don't own it, they just registered gameplay.co.uk for us. Check again, I'm sure I'm right. http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

Anyway, more on all this next week when we're allowed to comment properly.

[This message has been edited by MrVista (edited 29-07-1999).]

[Spart]

Come on guys, give these peeps a break!

If they are legally bound not to comment, of course they can't reply! If they did comment, and it caused financial loss, they could lose their jobs or worse still get sued! i.e. have their computers taken off them! Now I am sure we all can relate to the hardship that would ensue.... http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif



------------------
It is easier to sleep with a Chartered Accountant.

[=DI=Penry]

Right you are MRVISTA - sorry - BTNET registered for "Gameplay.com plc" !

you're right Spart - they deserve more than just a break. It must be hard for you guys to keep stum !, Probably alot of changes ahead - mergers/ takeovers/ new name and whatever ! all that excitement !!

Also not being able to mention anything about gameplay.co.uk (.com), soon to be one of the same - and going live tomorrow (yep TOMMOROW) and floating on monday - with advertised free stuff for anyone who buys online on the first day.

Yes people "Make a purchase on the opening day and recieve a free gift." !

The only problem is = the WP staff cant tell you about it, i assume not till after monday. (stocks and shares - insider dealing and all that) so they have to keep completely quiet about everything relating to gameplay.com (for now)

but this does mean some WP members wouldn't hear about gameplay till after its been launched and miss out on any opening offers.

Not any more !

=DI=Penry.

P.S. If any MessageBoard Administrator / WP staff thinks this post may cause them a problem - Lets too much out of the bag - or put their contracts/PC's in danger - dont hesitate to delete this Thread. I dont want to send any of you up the creek, and all the info i've posted is freely available by straightforward browsing http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif.

[WPS]

No harm in speculating http://www.wireplay.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif

[Fleetfoot]

OK - this is all public or was at one time - I did the research and have the evidence.

First of all the flotation is not for public placement. This means that members of the public can't apply except via their stockbroker - the initial offering is placed with some stockbrokers - all the offering had gone by last Friday when I finally tracked down a brokers who was actually in a position to deal (this was not easy).

BT shareholders, gameplay customers, wireplay customers did not get a look in as far as I can make out (I'm in all three groups). They obviously did not consider the freeserve model where further limiting shares increased the value. Any further comment on this oversight would be unprofessional!

From the draft prospectus / press release BT gains 10% of the new company (gameplay.com). Gameplay.com is formed from the merger between BT's wireplay assets and Interactive Commercial Enterprises Ltd. As far as I can make out ICE is not traded. I've been using ICE or Gameplay for a year or two to get mail order games. The new company is bieng floated at £50m although a fair proportion remains with ICE.

The company has been referred to as an internet stock (The Times) and this makes it very risky as most are overvalued. Technology stocks and internet stocks traditionally trade at a premium to issue price (for the first month) as people who stag the issue sell out to institutions. During this period the price gradually falls.

If you intend to invest for the long term my advice is to wait at least one month - or alternatively wait until the internet bubble bursts and then leap in. I hope the employees retain their salaries - in Silicon valley you work for peanuts and hope stock options make you a millionaire - if the bubble bursts expect to see a lot of job mobility.

Why are internet stocks overvalued? One is very low barriers to entry for competitors - the second reason is very low barriers to exit for customers (no tie ins) and third is almost perfect information - if its cheaper somewhere else its only a few clicks away (and price comparison services are springing up). Any supernormal profits will be quickly eroded - if any company actually makes money (Amazon hasn't yet).

Gameplay.com does have a good commercial model IMO - we'll all see adds for new games when we enter wp and they will be cheap. The prospectus (or the draft one that I found on the proto site) indicates that further growth in Europe will be pursued. Until I know the price I won't be able to determine if its a good buy - I'd look at this carefully. For the next month at least my money is elsewhere.

All of the advice above is my opinion only, avaliable from public sources and in no way should be taken as a recommendation to sell or buy. As you can see I've been researching.

[Fleetfoot]

I changed my mind after reading the final prospectus - I'm investing at 9 a.m. Monday morning for the long term. When the internet bubble bursts I may invest more. That way I cover myself in case it never bursts - I still believe in the long term prospects for this company.