Next Year in Networking: Cisco, Juniper and Red Ink

The good news for 2003, networking industry investors and analysts agree, is that Internet router makers Cisco (CSCO Quote) and Juniper (JNPR Quote) should prosper.

The bad news is that their many competitors will once again be left behind, possibly damagingly so. Perhaps worst of all, investors shouldn't hold their breath for any bailout mergers at big money-losing gear shops.

So say the respondents to this year's informal poll of tech watchers. TheStreet.com surveyed a handpicked group of industry observers on whether the top network equipment suppliers would do better, the same or worse next year. The results drew an unforgivingly sharp line across the industry, with data outfits on the winning side and conventional telecom equipment makers and optical gearmakers on the other. ...