ROW Short Takes

Despite the growing functionality of handheld devices, the device of choice for mobile workers is still the laptop. According to IDC, 90% of workers plan to use a laptop in the next 12 months, while Internet-enabled phone use hovers around the 30% mark. Source: IDC, February 20013Com joins OFDM ForumAn industry association of OFDM developers spearheaded by Calgary-based Wi-LAN Inc last December has added 11 new members, including sectoral giant 3Com. The new additions were added at the OFDM’s Forum’s first meeting this year which included a demonstration of an OFDM-automated automobile. The three demonstration vehicles use 802.11b technology to automate speed, acceleration and steering without human intervention. One car was merged – at low speed – into a gap between two others to showcase the feasibility of operating cars under precise automatic control at close spacing.Rogers to offer AOL MobileRogers AT&T Wireless and AOL Canada Inc have struck an agreement to offer AOL Mobile content on wireless devices. As part of the agreement, the AOL Mobile service will be placed prominently on the Rogers wireless portal. Further, customers can access AIM Mobile on the new Rogers’ web-enabled phone, a service which will support the "Buddy List" across platforms. AOL customers will be able to use the new services for free.Openwave scores contractOpenwave Systems Inc, Redwood City, has been announced as the browser technology inside Internet-enabled phones for use with Rogers AT&T Wireless’ Wireless Web service. Wireless Web is currently available on Ericsson’s R278d model phone available from Rogers. Microsoft joins Sierra Wireless-led WirelessReady AllianceMicrosoft Corp has joined the Sierra Wireless-led WirelessReady Alliance. The alliance was founded in late-1998 by 18 companies trying to bring new CDMA and GSM wireless data technologies to market quickly. Microsoft’s participation should come as no surprise as the founders were initially-focused on development of the WindowsCE platform.SaskTel Mobility offers webCustomers of SaskTelMobility’s Digital PCS service can now surf the web and send or receive email on their handsets. The company has invested $35 million to expand PCS in the province, and can now offer it to 64% of the population.RIM scores BT Cellnet dealResearch in Motion Ltd, Waterloo ON, has won a contract to supply wireless email services to UK wireless company BT Cellnet. The commitment includes 175,000 BlackBerry handhelds with software and service. Cellnet will operate the service over its GPRS network, providing customers with a link to their corporate email.Fuzion to operate 5.8 GHz network in North YorkFlorida-based Fuzion Technologies Group Inc’s subsidiary Fuzion Wireless Commun-ications Inc is targeting the SME market, ISPs, and communications carriers with a new licence-exempt 5.8 GHz and 2.4 GHz network for Internet access. The company also offers connectivity at higher frequencies. Fuzion officials say North York is the first step of "continued and aggressive growth in Canada."Wi-LAN wins China approvalWi-LAN Inc has won approval for its 2.4 GHz W-OFDM equipment for sale and operation in China. Company officials say the announcement is an important milestone in that country, which is estimated to have 21 million Internet users. Through China-based Wincomm Communications, Wi-LAN’s spread spectrum technology has been used to build a metropolitan access network to cover the city of ShenZhen.SAMSys posts first revenueToronto-based SAMSys Technologies Inc has reported $501,262 in revenue in the first quarter of 2001 – the first-time the company has posted to its top line. Executives say the revenue was a combined result of sales of its early-stage radio frequency identification tags and the consolidation of operations with the Hamel Davidson Group of companies (RoW, Nov. 27/00). The company recorded $790,261 in expenses for the quarter, and a net loss of $785,046, or $0.04 per share. SAMSys has $1.694 million in cash on hand.Rogers bolsters eastern coverageRogers AT&T Wireless has added new cell sites in New Brunswick to improve service to the Shediac, Coxheath and Louisbourg areas. Executives say this is part of an overall effort to improve service for all customers in Atlantic Canada.MDEX to go live with traffic reports in Q3Mobile Data Exchange Corp says it will launch a new traffic-tracking system dubbed eTraffic in the third quarter this year. The service will allow wireless users to view traffic information on handheld devices including PalmOS, RIM and WindowsCE platforms. The service will initially be available in the Greater Toronto Area, likely for a start-up fee of $30 and a monthly charge of $5. Company officials say customers will be able to view actual traffic conditions in real-time, and receive updates on delays.IDC, NEC de Mexico ink partner agreementInternational Datacasting Corp, Ottawa, and NEC de Mexico have signed a collaboration agreement to provide integrated products for customers that want to combine broadband IP-based multicasting with VSAT technology. NEC de Mexico says it has already tested an integration of IDC’s flagship SuperFlex system at a major customer site.Telesat acquires 100% of Infosat CommunicationsBCE Inc will consolidate its key satellite services under the Telesat Canada umbrella as Telesat acquires 100% common share ownership of Vancouver-based Infosat Communications. Infosat will operate as a standalone entity selling mobile and fixed satellite services for voice, fax, paging and data communications. The transaction will be concluded through an all-stock deal with a book value of $24 million.Look trumpets subscriber jumpLook Communications Inc says its customer base grew from a total of 276,000 at the end of September 2000 to 294,000 at the end of December – a 6.5% increase on the quarter, and a 60% year-over-year increase. Digital television customers grew to 293,845 at the end of the fourth quarter from 183,000 at the end of the first. President David Parkes says the numbers prove that, despite rumours, the company is "still very much in the Internet, web solutions and residential television broadcast business." With recent cost-cutting accomplished, the company may again be in a position to begin growing "in certain areas", Parkes said in a press release.Wysdom broadens development platformWysdom Inc, with headquarters in Toronto, will support GPRS on its Mobyle Application Platform (MAP). GPRS’ always-on feature and flexibility have led Wysdom officials to say it is developing new applications based on the MAP platform.COM DEV wins switches contract in EuropeCambridge ON-based COM DEV International has won a multi-program supply agreement with a major European space contractor to supply high power coaxial switches. The first order under the agreement is for $2.8 million. Further orders are expected as the undisclosed customer wins further business.

ROW Short Takes

News | 03/05/2001 5:00 am EST

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