ROW Short Takes

Nortel gets into the wireless gaming marketNortel Networks Corp and Game Park Inc have signed a co-marketing agreement to deliver a dedicated wireless gaming solution that can potentially provide profits for wireless carriers. The game will be designed to be highly interactive and support multiple players all in real time. The system will first be marketed to wireless carriers in the Asia-Pacific region. There is no word on when the product could hit the market. MTT Mobility doubles network capacity in capitalHalifax will be getting a major upgrade to its digital wireless infrastructure. MTT Mobility says it will invest $11 million to double wireless capacity in the Atlantic Canadian city. The company will be deploying a "second carrier" network which is essentially an overlay on top of the existing network. Network capacity expansion is expected to be completed by the end of next month. OmniSky service now available on iPAQUsers of the popular Compaq iPAQ Packet PC can now get access to wireless services and applications offered by OmniSky Corp through an add-on wireless modem. Wireless access to email and calendar functions is being made available through Sierra Wireless Inc’s AirCard 300 wireless modem product line. Cell-Loc tests Beacon I product in AustinThe wireless network subsidiary of Cell-Loc Inc, TimesThree has begun beta testing the Cellocate Beacon I on its wireless network in Austin TX. The tests will evaluate the functionality of the wireless location network, a fleet tracking application, and the field deployment of the Beacon I. The fleet tracking service has previously been put through its rigours on the company’s Calgary network. SaskTel Mobility, BizRelations form partnershipEvent information provider BizRelations Inc and SaskTel Mobility have signed an agreement under which BizRelations will provide event information to the carrier’s subscribers wherever and whenever they want. NewTel Mobility adds another cell site in the northNewTel Mobility has completed the construction of another analog cellular site on Newfoundland as part of its $1 million expansion plan for the province. The new site will enhance service to existing customers in the Northern Peninsula. The carrier now has 64 cellular sites and 13 paging locations across Newfoundland and Labrador. Bell Mobility launches website for wireless developersBell Mobility, in conjunction with Speedware Corp, have announced the launch of a website specifically aimed at the wireless application developer community. The site located at www.developers.bellmobility.ca offers wireless developers all of the information they need to build innovative and leading edge applications for Bell Mobility. The website was developed by Montreal-based Speedware which offers tools for wireless application development. WaveRider gets help from New York investment houseWaveRider Communications Inc and Gruntal &Co LLC, New York, have signed an agreement under which Gruntal will support the Toronto-based company’s growth strategy. WaveRider executives believe that it’s now time to align itself with some U.S. financial interests in order to identify key areas in which to grow and expand the business. Information Highway.com sells dial-up subsidiaryVancouver-based Information Highway.com Inc has come to terms with a private Toronto-based company for the sale of its dial-up ISP, and will now concentrate on providing high-speed wireless access in partnership with AirStream Communications. Information Highway.com will supply services such as email, web hosting, e-commerce and VoIP, while AirStream will provide the wireless points of presence to locations where high-speed service such as DSL and cable are not available. Primal adds wireless capabilities to its product linePrimal Technologies Inc of Toronto has added wireless IP capabilities to its line of intelligent network applications. The company has added three new services. Using a wireless PDA or IP-enabled device, text-to-phone connects to the Primal Service Node and sends a voice message to the selected contacts – synchronized from the users’ desktop address book. The conference application automatically contacts all interested parties (up to 32 people). Directory assistance and 411 searches and connnects to the contact. Voice Mobility expands international presenceVancouver-based Voice Mobility International Inc has entered into an agreement with Haddad Advanced Technology Company to distribute and deploy a unified communications platform in Malaysia. Expanding sales and marketing activities into major international markets is part of the company’s plan. The expansion is being aided by a recent $14 million in equity financing. AmikaNow and eManage get into messaging partnershipAmikaNow, Ottawa, and eManage Inc have entered into a strategic technology and product partnership enabling the development and marketing of complementary products. The companies have also agreed to combine some marketing initiatives and share certain sales activities. The two companies will look at the secure document space to determine how to best make corporate information safe. Ignition Point acquires fibre firm, TeraSpan for expanded accessEmerging broadband communications provider Ignition Point Technologies Corp has acquired 60 per cent of TeraSpan Networks Inc, a provider of final-mile fibre optic networks as part of its plan to become a provider of broadband access from a variety of mediums. This entails acquiring a limited number of private companies that have interesting and complementary technology. Ignition Point was formerly known as TeleLink Communications Corp. Bell Mobility introduces new Palm-powered PDA/phoneBell Mobility will expand its line of phones available to consumers with the introduction of the Kyocera QCP 6035 smartphone later this summer. This new device combines the capabilities of a tri-mode wireless phone, data access and a Palm handheld computer giving consumers a true PDA/cell phone convergence experience. There isn’t any word on what the device will retail for and what the monthly airtime charges will be priced at. Colubris and hereUare sign deal to expand wireless connectivityLaval QC-based Colubris Networks Inc and hereUare Communication Inc have signed a strategic partnership under which the companies will work together to promote the expansion of wireless networks into public places. Colubris will integrate hereUare’s eCoinBox technology into its CN3000 wireless LAN router. Executives hope the initiative will go a long way in expanding access to the Internet in all kinds of public places. C-COM Satellite engages investor relations firmC-COM Satellite Systems Inc has entered into an investor relations agreement with JFH & Associates for an initial period of 12 months. JFH has been involved in the investor relations field for more than seven years. Rogers Wireless completes three financing initiativesRogers Wireless Inc has completed three financing arrangements that are expected to provide the company with enough cash to last it through to the end of 2003. The deals were worth a total of $1.89 billion. Wireless visionaries meet at WCA 2001Government and private sector experts will get together at the Wireless Communications Association International’s WCA 2001 conference in Boston this June to discuss broadband services. And Canada’s assistant deputy minister of Industry Canada Michael Binder will take his place at the table with FCC wireless telecom bureau chief Thomas Sugrue, AIR2LAN chair Jai Bhagat and other industry executives.

ROW Short Takes

News | May 14, 2001

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us