RoW Short Takes

MDSI upgrades utility company workforce management systemMobile Data Solutions Inc (MDSI) has signed a $4-million contract to upgrade an existing customer’s wireless workforce management system to the next generation Advantex r7. The phased implementation will proceed initially with the installation of an intermediate version to expand the capabilities of the system. In the second phase, Advantex will be integrated with a new customer information system. COM DEV supplies major components for INTELSATThe Space division of COM DEV International Ltd in Cambridge ON has signed a contract worth more than $25 million to supply critical payload subsystems to two INTELSAT satellites. The company will provide switches and multiplexers to Astrium which is building the birds. COM DEV has supplied hardware for each of the previous 21 INTELSAT satellites, and this additional contract demonstrates the expertise that COM DEV has in this area. Together the two satellites will carry more than 200 of COM DEV’s multiplexer channels and more than 950 switches. IDC lands deal with CyberStarInternational Datacasting Corp’s SuperFlex satellite receiver technology has been selected by CyberStar, a Loral company, for its new broadband multimedia data services infrastructure. The initial contract, which includes the receivers, training and a network expansion in Europe, is valued at more than $375,000. The initial roll out will be to accomodate data services for Akamai Technologies and a number of other blue chip streaming media and enterprise customers. SiGEM forms joint venture in SAKanata ON-based SiGEM Inc, along with Arai GLB and TIWEY Florida, have formed a joint venture company that will act as an application service provider providing vehicle location and tracking services to the insurance industry in Argentina and Brazil. The operation will begin before year’s end and hopes to have nearly 150,000 units installed in vehicles in Buenos Aires by the end of 2001. To provide the services, TIWEY Corp will use SiGEM’s ePing web-hosted location and tracking software to monitor and report vehicle status and location to the call centre in Buenos Aires. Sierra Wireless teams up with Sprint PCSVancouver BC-based Sierra Wireless Inc’s AirCard 510 has been chosen by Sprint PCS for its Wireless Web for Business portfolio of services and products aimed at providing wireless connectivity solutions to enterprise customers. The AirCard 510 is the first CDMA PC Card wireless modem and offers clear advantages in simplicity, convenience and performance for corporate wireless connectivity. The wireless modem connectsa user’s laptop directly to the Internet, corporate intranet, email and a host of other corporate applications without having to use a wireless phone or a landline. Wi-LAN gear used in U.S. network build outWi-LAN Inc’s wireless broadband access products are being used by AIR2LAN for the build out of its nation-wide broadband wireless network in the U.S. AIR2LAN launched its high-speed Internet access service in Jackson MS in May following a trial of Wi-LAN’s Hopper Plus 45-24 wireless Ethernet bridges. It plans to build out the national network using both the Hopper Plus and I.WiLL systems. AIR2LAN will purchase approximately $1 million worth of Wi-LAN’s gear. MIST’s PoS equipment gets Class B certificationMobile Information Solution Technologies Inc (MIST) of Toronto, has had its Freedom Wireless point-of-sale (PoS) terminal Class B certified with Vital Processing Services, a leader in technology-based commerce enabling services. The certification of the PoS terminal, which operates on the CDPD data network, enables the company to provide Vital’s client base with an excellent platform to conduct mobile transactions. WaveRider acquires ADE Network of AustraliaToronto-based WaveRider Communications Inc has signed a letter of intent to acquire ADE Network Technology Pty Ltd, a privately held wireless infrastructure company based in Melbourne Australia. The company is a leader in the sales and distribution of wireless solutions and provides planning, installation and maintenance services. The addition of the 25-member team will further establish WaveRider’s presence in the region and positions the company for strong growth. Look purchases Internet Connect of EdmontonLook Communications Inc, Toronto, has purchased all of the assets of Internet Connect Inc, Edmonton, an ISP that has more than 8,000 residential and business subscribers. Soon, Internet Connect customers will have access to Look’s wide range of Internet services including dial-up, web hosting, domain name registration and ecommerce applications. Bell Mobility launches new rate plan for familiesReferred to as the "Rate Plan for 21st Century Families", Bell Mobility has designed a rate plan for families that have more than one wireless phone in the home. RealTime Family enables as many as four family members to share airtime bundles of 100, 300, 500 or 700 minutes, and they can call each other as much as they want at no charge. Additionally, the family shares 15 calls free per month to or from the home number for each active member on the plan. Subscribers to this new rate plan can use the minutes to talk or to surf the Internet using the Mobile Browser. Call waiting, call forwarding, conference calling and detailed billing are standard features included in this plan. Norigen enables online bill viewing and managementNorigen Communications Inc, Toronto, has introduced the electronic bill presentment (EBP) service that enables customers of the One source service to view, understand and manage their billing information on the web more effectively. The service will become available immediately. Built on a highly secure web platform, EBP provides a multi-facetted information gateway to give Norigen customers the flexibility to track their communications usage and better manage billing information. Microcell turns on PCS services in WinnipegMicrocell Connexions Inc, Toronto, has turned on PCS service in Winnipeg as part of the company’s aggressive network expansion strategy. With service now operating in the Manitoban capital, Microcell has PCS services in six provinces, 15 major metropolitan areas and covers more than 55 per cent of the Canadian population. Ezenet opens first U.S. office in Research TriangleToronto-based Ezenet Corp, a business-to-business software and integrated technologies provider specializing in the banking and wireless solutions markets, has opened its first U.S. office. Located in the Morrisville NC (Research Triangle Park), the office will operate as the company’s U.S. headquarters and technology hub. Within the next 12 months, the company plans to open branch offices in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago. The new office will help Ezenet in its aggressive sales and marketing push in the United States. With 20 years experience, the company believes it has the technology expertise in financial software applications and secure online banking systems to play a role in reshaping the future of mobile ecommerce across North America, says president of Ezenet’s U.S. operations, Jeffrey Coyne. The company’s modular solutions will be targeted at midsized U.S. banks and financial institutions from the head office in North Carolina. Upcoming events October 23-24/00 in Amsterdam: Fixed Wireless Broadband Access: Delivering cost-effective Internet, video, data and voice at the Hotel Okura. Speakers from the Wireless Communications Association International, Broadband Wireless Association, European Commission and many leading players from around the globe. For more information email grobertson@thecwcgroup.com or visit the website at http://www.kc-global.com. October 24-27/00 in New York: Internet Device Builder Conference and Showcase. The conference will co-locate with Fall Internet World at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. This fall’s conference will have 10 tracks on the wireless Internet. For more information and registration call (888)-947-3734 or visit the website at http://www.idevicebuilder.com. May 14-16/01 in Santa Clara: Applied Computing Conference and Internet Device Builder Conference and Exhibition. The two conferences will be held at the Santa Clara Convention Center. For more information on Internet Device show, call 1 (888) 947-3734 or visit http://www.idevicebuilder.com. Call for more information on the Applied Computing Conference at (858) 391-5600 or visit the website at http://www.ac-conference.com.

RoW Short Takes

News | 09/05/2000 4:00 am EDT

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