ROW Short Takes

IDC makes sales in North America, Europe and AsiaOttawa’s International Datacasting Corp has racked up more than $2 million in new sales. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp has ordered a dozen FlexRoute digital audio uplinks for the conversion of CBC radio infrastructure to digital technology while SkyOnline of the United States bought another SuperFlex uplink system for its IP network in Latin America. Norway’s Telenor has purchased a satellite receiver for its pan-European IP multicasting network while FlexRoute equipment has been bought by Korea Telecom and the Dong-in Satellite Network for a satellite network project from the Korean government. Telus Mobility introduces pay-per-use wireless web accessTelus Mobility has become the first wireless carrier in the country to feature pay-per-use wireless web access. Customers pay a set cost for the value-added "pocket" web services selected. Among the premium services available are Pocket Play, a games site; Pocket 411, a telephone directory; and Pocket Map, a direction service. WaveRider product gains approval for Chinese marketWaveRider Communications Inc has received approval to sell its NCL 1170 wireless bridge/router in China. The device enables service providers to establish high-speed point-to-point or point-to-multipoint links. It operates in the 2.4 GHz spectrum band. The Toronto-based company has also filed a patent application for its polling Media Access Controller. The new product controls the flow of data traffic between a central network hub and each user on a network. QCC Technologies buys Pippin Technical ServicesQCC Technologies Inc of Calgary has agreed to purchase Pippin Technical Services Ltd. PTS provides deployment, integration and support to wireless, data, microwave and broadcasting customers in Canada and the United States. The move marks QCC’s expansion into the wireless market, from its previous role in network services. Cell-Loc conducts safety tests in TexasCalgary’s Cell-Loc Inc has conducted emergency alert demonstrations in Austin TX. The location-based messaging, carried out at the behest of the Cellular Emergency Alert Services association, sent warnings to targeted geographic sites in the Texas capital. Possible emergencies cited are terrorist threats, severe weather, and missing children. Innovation foundation announces university networkThe Canada Foundation for Innovation is launching an advanced microchip research and design network that will link researchers at 32 Canadian universities. Queen’s University is working with Canadian Microelectronics Corp to design and develop the network. The industry/university partnership is expected to involve more than 250 researchers. Ontario spends $5 million to set up connected communitiesThe provincial government is spending $5.3 million to set up connected communities in Oxford, Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent. All three areas are in southwestern Ontario. The investments are funded through the government’s SuperBuild Corp. Airborne to offer new SMS technology, as well as gamesAirborne Entertainment of Montreal has unveiled PocketBoxOffice, a micro-entertainment star brand. Currently, subscribers can receive a baker’s dozen worth of offerings including Joke Jolt, Broken News Headlines and Brainpoop. The service is bilingual, offering the material in English or French. Wi-LAN subsidiary makes moves into Chinese marketUC Wireless has signed partnership agreements with Sunbeam Technologies Development Corp of Beijing and Spectrum Communications Systems, a Chinese distributor based in Auburn CA. The firms will distribute UC Wireless’ WinRouter 2050, a point-to-multipoint device. UC Wireless is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wi-LAN Inc of Calgary. Global Link Data buys D.A.M. Oilfield ServicesCalgary’s Global Link Data Solutions Ltd has signed a letter of intent to buy D.A.M. Oilfield Services of Estevan SK and the numbered company that owns it. The deal will cost $250,000 in cash and $75,000 in common shares. Global Link will be promoting wireless portabel gas detection services in addition to D.A.M.’s usual offerings. Wildcard to offer Swedish technology in North AmericaWildcard Wireless Solutions Inc of Vancouver has signed a deal with C Technologies AB of Sweden. The companies will collaborate to introduce mobile cheque capture to the marketplace in North America. The device permits merchants to scan cheque information and validate it quickly. Redline and CAIL unveil wireless Ethernet bridgeRedline Communications Inc and CAIL, both of Markham ON, are introducing a wireless Ethernet bridge point-to-point product. The device provides 64 Mbs connectivity between two Ethernet ports over distances of up to 10 km. It operates in the bands of 5.2-5.3 GHz and 5.7-5.8 GHz and does not require a spectrum licence. Stratos offers fixed-to-mobile satellite service for IridiumStratos Global Corp is now offering its fixed-to-mobile satellite communication service to all Iridium telephones and handsets. The service allows customers to call Iridium phone anywhere in the world. Stratos, a subsidiary of Aliant Inc, encourages the use of its calling cards so clients have only one monthly bill to deal with. Rogers AT&T rolls out 2.5G ahead of scheduleRogers Wireless Communications Inc has finished the installation of its GSM/GPRS network in 25 of the largest markets in Canada. The rollout, which involves both voice and packet data, was completed ahead of schedule. Rogers AT&T now has the largest GSM/GPRS grid in the country. Telus Mobility unveils two business web browsersTelus Mobility has introduced two packet web services that allow business clients to connect to wireless email and personal organizer software. Surf Business is targeted to small- and medium-sized firms at $20 per month, while Surf Enterprise is aimed at the large corporate market for a $25 monthly fee. Customers can choose between installing a downloadable software program or deploying a client-hosted product. Wysdom licenses application platform in Latin AmericaWysdom Inc is licensing its Mobyle Application Platform to timnet.com. Timnet will launch a portal in Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, with later expansion to Argentina, Chile and Venezuela. Timnet is the wireless division of Telecom Italia Mobile operating in South America. 01 Communique rolls out upgraded productsToronto’s 01 Communique has introduced enhanced versions of its Communicate! products. The three versions being upgraded are v10.0, Pro v5.0 and i2000. The software permits SOHO clients to manage Internet, voice, fax and email from desktops. Bell Mobility invests $300,000 in mapping firm Maptuit CorpBell Mobility Investments is providing Maptuit Corp with $300,000. Maptuit, an Internet-based services company, will develop location-based technology to support functionality, devices and services. BMI is making the investment as part of its R&D program. MTT Mobility expands digital service on Cape BretonMTT Mobility is spending $2.4 million to expand its digital service in Sydney NS and surrounding communities. The upgrade has been completed at two sites in Sydney and one each in Coxheath and Bouladerie. A fifth site in Glace Bay will be finished this summer.

ROW Short Takes

News | 07/24/2001 4:00 am EDT

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