ROW Short Takes

Lumic signs chip manufacturing agreementOttawa-based fabless semiconductor Lumic Electronics has signed a production agreement with Infineon Technologies. Lumic will gain access to both Infineon’s manufacturing capacity and advanced embedded DRAM technology for the production of its multimedia processors. This new generation of chips will enable a wide variety of mobile devices to handle rich media content including streaming video. Wi-LAN receives official OFDM certificationWi-LAN Inc has received the official certification for the sale of OFDM-based equipment in the U.S. by the Federal Communications Commission. The approval makes Wi-LAN the first company certified to sell products in the 2.4 GHz band that have incorporated the patented OFDM technology. Specifically, the company will be able to sell its BWS 300-24 product line, although it opens the door to other products in the same band. Voice Mobility finalizes contract in MalaysiaVoice Mobility International Inc, Vancouver, has ratified a three-year contract with Haddad Advanced technology Company Malaysia. The deal gives Voice Mobility significant access to the Malaysian market. The contract sets a first-year target of 100,000 users and includes a minimum of 6,000 mailboxes per month. Once the platform is deployed, it is expected to generate revenue between $6 and $10 million. The agreement guarantees revenue of $1.3 million over the three-year deal. Cell-Loc enters into long-term contract with Brazilian partnerCalgary-based Cell-Loc Inc has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with telecommunications systems integrator, Amapri Telecom for the roll out of Cellocate in South America. The five-year build-out program has a potential value of more than US$60 million and provides Amapri with the exclusive rights to Cellocate Beacon-enabled location-based services in the South American market. Cell-Loc does, however, retain the rights to offer location-based services through other wireless devices that integrate Cellocate technology. The first milestone will be the completion of the network in Sao Paulo by July 2002. Storm Internet acquires Perth-based ISPStorm Internet Services Ltd, Ottawa, has announced its intention to acquire Perth ON-based ISP Superaje Communications. The proposed acquisition strengthens Storm’s ability to serve eastern Ontario and will provide high-speed service to more than 3,000 of Superaje customers. Storm, an International Datacasting Corp subsidiary, will gain Superaje’s ability to serve non-urban customers and its use of microwave technologies. Unique Broadband unveils OFDM-based chipConcord ON-based Unique Broadband Systems Inc has completed development on an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) incorporating the core functionality in COFDM modulation. The ASIC was initially developed for the company’s proprietary COFDM DVB-T modulator and modem, it will be able to support a wide range of applications in the broadband wireless market. Sierra Wireless and Citrix form strategic relationshipSierra Wireless Inc and Citrix Systems Inc have formed a strategic alliance to deliver business applications running on Citrix MetaFrame servers over wireless networks to users on virtually any client device. Citrix software supports the current line of AirCard 300, 400 and 510 wireless network cards and will support future iterations. Key terms of the agreement include compatibility testing and joint marketing and sales initiatives. OA Group commits to R&D with TRTechnologiesEdmonton-based OA Group Inc has entered into a wireless R&D project with TRTechnologies, a subsidiary of TRLabs. The project will focus on developing applications using the Bluetooth protocol. OA Group’s Internet subsidiary will also work with TRT to develop applications and enhance the short-range wireless communications standard. Bluetooth is considered a wire replacement technology for printers, keyboard, mice and hands-free devices for cell phones. Spotwave lands financing, extends coverage of networksOttawa-based Spotwave Wireless recently closed a $3-million round of financing enabling the company to continue development of its cell phone network extension technology. The emerging start-up aims to fill in gaps in coverage from the various carriers by strategically placing antenna that boost the RF signal into areas previously unreachable. Spotwave hopes to land another $10-$15 million in financing by this fall. Rogers Wireless launches airtime sharing programRogers Wireless Inc has introduced a new program that will give multiple users access to the same pool of airtime minutes each month. The Rogers AT&T Fair Share Plan is designed to balance the needs of heavy-to-low airtime users. As well, users on this plan will enjoy free incoming local calls from users on the same plan. The Rogers AT&T Self-Adjusting Plan provides flexibility to business customers by offering the best minute rate each month despite changes in the number of minutes used each month. The pricing changes depending on the number of minutes used each month. An example is a month where a lot minutes were used would have a lower per minute rate that a low usage month. COM DEV completes testing of M/ERGY at 120 km/hCOM DEV International Ltd successfully tested its next generation wireless access system at speeds of 120 km/h. The system supported data throughput rates of 2.45 Mbs and was capable of multiple email messages over the Internet. The company is on track to introduce M/ERGY on a commercial basis in 2002Q1. Norsat International gets money from Industry CanadaNorsat International Inc, Burnaby BC, has received $9.4 million from Industry Canada’s Technology Partnerships Canada investment program. Norsat will use the funding to develop the underlying technology for next generation satellite interactive terminals. The new terminals will allow for high-speed two-way Internet access to PCs at speeds 10 times faster than current modem technologies.

ROW Short Takes

News | 06/11/2001 4:00 am EDT

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