Several months ago, D2A issued a series of releases the gist of which
was that, while the Crossbow product had, in the opinion of D2A,
irremediable problems, salvation was nevertheless in hand in the form of
Pinpoint.  In pursuit of the highest standards of both quality and
business ethics, D2A proposed, at its expense, to substitute the
functional Pinpoint for the non-functional 425.  Nothing further about
Pinpoint was announced and casual inquiries as to who made it or was
connected to it were not responded to.  Since then there have been at
best conflicting reports as to the extent to which the Pinpoint has been
tested, the number shipped, whether units in the field have experienced
problems and, if so, what those problems might be.  For the most part,
those who had ordered the D2A system accepted this rather extraordinary
state of affairs based on the "trust me" assurances of D2A.

Without wishing to cast aspersions on anyone (since I know little or
nothing about what actually happened) it seems to me that the demise of
D2A leaves purchasers of the system with questions about Pinpoint that
require, as a matter of basic business ethics, straight answers.  People
should not be made to wait for a product essential to the functioning of
a system on which their lives will depend without knowing anything about
the product, who designed it, who makes it, how it has been tested and
how it has performed both in testing and in the field.  I note that
these questions are unrelated to the questions of who will bear the cost
of systems already paid for and when delivery can be expected, which are
also important but probably have not been worked out yet by those
involved.

Quite simply, honorable business people do not produce and attempt to
sell a product to which purchasers will entrust their lives while
refusing to acknowledge their connection with it or to divulge any
information relevant to a purchase decision.  D2A and its supporters
have regularly claimed to be motivated only by the highest ethical
standards.  I accept that but it is time to walk the walk.  I am sure
that there are people out there who can answer these questions and they
should do so promptly.  Chelton? Joe? Brent? Hamid? Kirk?


John J. Halle