Long term investing - Comparison of Cisco, Microsoft & Infosys

Have you ever wondered how people gained from the phenomenal growth of companies. We all know the Google story, and more recently the Apple story.

Ofcourse we have our local listed companies like Noble etc offering such growths (Sadly these days these are laggards)

Below is a comparison of three stocks (vested in all but not from IPO days.) and you'd be zealous to miss such an oppty.

See it to believe. So if you invested $100 in microsoft in year1986, you are sitting on 41,700 today. If it is Cisco in year 1990 then you are richer by 32,000. If it is Infosys, then you are a HNWI or UHNWI (High Net-Worth Individual or Ultra HNWI) and you can find banks queuing up infront of your home. Because that's > 16 million.

By the way all this numbers are without dividends :)

• Microsoft

• Cisco Systems

• Infosys 

Skype like application from Facebook ???

Source: eweek / strand consultants

Here is an article referring to Facebook and I must admit the article is well written. But I am not quite optimistic about Facebook VoIP making a big entry in to the VoIP market and becoming 'skype killer'.

Main reason: Privacy..

Skype is a simple VoIP application and most importantly it doesn't offer more than your Skype ID, and optionally your total number of contacts, date of birth. That's it. It doesn't share where were you born or your photographs or how is your friends.

It is simply an extension of your mobile / desk phone and offers an excellent way to reach your family, friends (vice-versa). On the other hand Facebook is a platform which enables you to share the information on your personal activities.

I've seen many people printing their Skype ID on their business cards and in their websites/blogs. But so far I've not seen them doing the same with Facebook. Why ?

If FB thinks that by simply putting a VoIP copy cat application and can get a billion dollars then I'm sure Google, Microsoft, Yahoo & even Cisco (with it's latest WebEx) can share a lesson or two to Facebook :)

Sydney Public Transport

I am in Sydney for a couple of weeks and tried to take the public transport. I don't know why, but whenever I try other public transports my love towards our public transport back home started to go up.

Be it the cleanliness (I know we are not doing great these days), or convenience, or comfort we are way better.  The monthly pass or weekly pass is so damn mixed up you'd end up paying more for this by mixing up the zone system.

The journey time is bad too. Not because of the distance but because of frequency, speed and traffic jams. By the way, understand the Metro bus is 'high frequency' which runs average 15-20 min during peak hours :)

Some tips from my experience is to buy the two way ticket which is relatively cheap. Or they have a pass for tourists for a day with unlimited rides. Get it if you are sure to roam around the city. For longer periods, the myzone ticket is a good bet.

Of course I see the best part of Sydney public transport which is you can get a seat most of the times :)