Will Townsend

Chief Analyst, Top @ARInsights global rank, @Forbes contributor featured on #NPR, #WSJ, #CNBC, #TodayShow & ❤️🚴

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

After nearly a decade with @MoorInsStrat, I’m excited to announce that in the new year, I will establish myself as an independent industry analyst.

LoneStar Advisory & Research will continue to focus on my historic practice areas of enterprise and data center networking, telecommunications, and cybersecurity, with new extensibility into universal communications and end device security.

Additionally, I am launching a new practice area focused on optical networking infrastructure, interconnects, underlying silicon, and services. The need for highly performant networking has never been more important, especially in today’s modern AI era. Those solution providers that can deliver scale up, out, and across will reap the rewards of the networking infrastructure gold rush.

I want to thank @PatrickMoorhead for the opportunity to help build the depth of his firm through my personal contributions and analyst recruitment over the years. His mentorship has been instrumental in my journey.

Another shout out to Dan Pickens, the firm’s retired business development lead who provided me with a wealth of advice that continues to sharpen my analysis and writing.

Finally, many thanks to the clients that I will continue to work with, and to the new ones that I will work with soon!

https://t.co/xSBHDcDrFi

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

https://t.co/I5TXBoh049

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

I think I truly have a watch for every occasion and holiday 🇺🇸🧨🎆 🤣

Mission to Earth "Meatball" limited edition before French microbrand Awake Watches pivoted to a completely different direction with its branding and lineup.

Cool design with a ten minute countdown to ignition/ liftoff, crown inspired by a spacesuit connector and an exhibition case back with a decorated movement including a rotor engraved with the famous @NASA phrase "Dare Mighty Things".

Wish it had a Swiss movement but it's got lots of patriotic personality!

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

@kaeldrk @EliseQuevedo well played 🤣

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

Well optical technology uses light but I'll be digging further with @EliseQuevedo to unpack what's different here.....

[Sawyer Merritt @SawyerMerritt]

Elon Musk has received regulatory approval to acquire startup Mesh Optical Technologies, a company founded by former SpaceX engineers working on optical data center communication technology.

Mesh is developing optical transceivers that rely on light to send and receive information between data centers, which the company says are more power efficient and lower latency than existing options. https://t.co/D7diyxpuHX

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

@hu18379 @MarkVenaTechGuy @MediaTek And their execution to grow from consumer to enterprise is noteworthy - @MediaTek is one to watch

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

The space race is on! 🚀🛰️

[Iridium @IridiumComm]

#HUGENEWS Iridium has entered into an agreement to be acquired by @RocketLab. This transaction is a defining moment for the industry, creating a vertically integrated space powerhouse positioned to unlock critical space applications. → https://t.co/6Rv63A1uDS 🛰️ 🌎 🚀

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

https://t.co/MSTO1OR9pU

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

https://t.co/hXhj3zDB5r

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

Day two of #Engage26 kicks off with @Verint chief marketer Anna Convery speaking to the company's research that indicates AI investment in CX is growing and that's not surprising.

However, a majority of respondents still perceive that businesses fall short of meeting customer service expectations and it can potentially create churn with a single poor experience.

The company's customers report that its ability to demostate AI business outcomes within days is reducing churn by 16% and helping to increase sales by 48% - resulting in a staggering 12x improvement in net promoter scoring 🤯

Check out the entire results ⬇️

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

https://t.co/sAsrUSK6oM

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

https://t.co/mzszOIR5Wk

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

I'm looking forward to spending time with @Verint this week at its Engage 2026 event - insights to follow! ⬇️

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

https://t.co/eytRBha4Bn

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

I share my insights from @HPE Discover U.S. 2026 in this LoneStar Advisory & Research note ⬇️

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

@MichaelDell I remember selling them in Dell Direct in 1991 🤓

[Extreme Networks @ExtremeNetworks]

“If Extreme can continue to execute successfully, it equates to greater infrastructure diversity and customer choice. Both are a good thing.” Coming out of #ExtremeConnect2026, Analyst @WillTownTech highlights how Extreme is focused on delivering better business outcomes and improved network operational efficiency.

Read more: https://t.co/Zp9u8oh93S

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

@MattKimball_MIS @UHC That's a no bueno - we need a major reset with health insurance

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

@StevenDickens3 @jpatel41 @gucci @AntonioNeri_HPE @LouisVuitton @montblanc_world You know I like the flash amigo!

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

I'm noticing a designer belt trend with many tech execs including @jpatel41 that often rocks the @gucci and @AntonioNeri_HPE was sporting @LouisVuitton this week at Discover.

I've been inspired and have added one to my wardrobe now thanks to @montblanc_world 😎

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

@StevenDickens3 @ShaneSniderCRN That was fun and I'll be doing it more often! My favorite that I didn't snap a pic on my wrist!

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

@stecal12 @AmericanAir @flyLAXairport I don't expect that every flight can be held as a frequent business traveler that logs on average 300K miles annually

[Will Townsend @WillTownTech]

So apparently @AmericanAir you do hold flights for delayed connections.

It would have been nice to experience the same after being stranded overnight at @flyLAXairport last month and missing an international connection 👎