ROW Short Takes

Department extends deadline for comments on TMI filingIndustry Canada has extended the deadline for comments regarding TMI Communications’ application (Gazette Notice DGTP-009-01) to use parts of its satellite spectrum for a terrestrial repeater network. Comments were originally due Dec. 11, but that has been extended until Dec. 28. Reply comments, which were due on Dec. 28, are now due Jan. 13, 2002. Paradigm location product on sale at Radio ShackToronto-based Paradigm Advanced Technologies Inc. has announced that its Destinator GPS navigation system will be sold in Radio Shack Canada retail outlets across the country. Paradigm will begin shipping the system to Radio Shack stores immediately. Destinator, which will retail for $499, provides navigation assistance to travelers throughout North America. It can provide turn-by-turn voice instruction in English, French or Spanish. "The opportunity to market and sell Destinator through a retail chain of stores such as Radio Shack represents a great step towards establishing this product as the de facto standard in the navigation industry," Paradigm’s president and CEO Eduardo Guendelman said in a statement. Ontario government invests $1M in transportation techThe government of Ontario will invest nearly $1 million to develop the Centre for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) at the University of Toronto. This investment will enable Canadian engineers to research and test the communications technology needed to reduce gridlock and solve environmental and economic challenges it brings. The first-of-its-kind R&D facility in Canada received $800,000 from the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund and the rest came from the Ontario Innovation Trust. A large component of the development program will likely focus on the use of global navigation systems and traffic management. As well, the use of existing wireless technologies and its potential benefits to intelligent transportation systems will likely be explored. Agilent introduces new handheld analyzerAgilent Technologies Inc. has introduced the Agilent FrameScope 350 handheld analyzer, which enables IT support staff, network installers and service providers to verify the performance of key network services such as web, file, email, print and DNS servers. The FrameScope 350 is also the first to combine full Category 6 cable certification with active network testing, reducing the cost of tests by offering installers and maintenance technicians two tools in one. CED makes changes to investment programCanada Economic Development has made changes to one of its key programs that provides assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses. The IDEA-SME program will now include a new area of activity called Innovation and Productivity. The new area has received a $110 million budget over three years. The announcement was made at the first Innovation Forum organized by the Quebec Industrial Research Association (l’association de la recherche industrielle du Québec, ADRIQ). The program will be managed by ADRIQ in conjunction with Canada Economic Development and the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. eXI Wireless reports strong revenue growtheXI Wireless Inc., Richmond BC, has posted strong revenue growth figures for its third quarter this year compared to numbers reported in the same quarter a year earlier. Revenue for 2001Q3 was up 63 per cent to $1.98 million from the 2000Q3 level of $765,395. "This is one of our best quarterly performances to date," says Karim Khoja, chair and CEO of eXI Wireless. "It also marks the fourth quarter in a row that the company has exceeded the previous year’s quarterly performance." The company is a provider of short-range wireless connectivity systems using its eLink wireless protocol and the emerging Bluetooth short-haul communication link. Sierra Wireless signs distribution agreement with PeripheralBC-based Sierra Wireless Inc. has inked a distribution agreement with Peripheral Corner, a division of Fracom Components International Ltd., one of the largest independent distributors of computer components in the U.K. Peripheral Corner will distribute Sierra Wireless’ AirCard 750, a worldwide tri-band wireless PC card operating on GSM and GPRS networks, to the European market. The product will be commercially available in the first quarter of 2002. CCMC, Precarn invest $200K in waterway managementThe Canadian Centre for Marine Communications (CCMC) and Precarn Inc. have announced an initiative to invest $200,000 in support of the Caris’ Bathymetric Engineering and Management System (BEAMS) and Port Information System (PORTIS), a comprehensive waterway management system. BEAMS will provide effective management and maintenance of ports and waterways using bathymetric modeling, multiple format support for base mapping, volume calculation, contour generation for dredging operations and editing and plotting tools. Redknee sells location server to BT CellnetToronto-based Redknee Inc. has sold one of its mobile location systems, Synaxix ELS (enhanced location server) to U.K.-based mobile operator BT Cellnet which will use it to provide location-based services. The ELS location server is built on the company’s open service architecture product, OASIS, which provides a platform that integrates multiple network functions. "Redknee’s technology will enable BT Cellnet to introduce a whole range of specific location-based services for both consumers and business users. Its advanced solution lays the foundation to further develop our mobile services delivery," Claire Jeffries of BT Cellnet said in a statement. Research in Motion comments on patent complaintWaterloo ON-based Research in Motion Ltd., is aware of the complaint filed by NTP Inc. against it in a Virginia court. RIM believes the claim is unsubstantiated and is without merit. MDA enhances its defence operations in HalifaxMacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), Richmond BC, has taken over several Department of National Defence contracts previously awarded to Seimac Ltd. MDA took over Seimac’s information technology division and has been granted the right to follow through on the contracts. The contracts, which primarily involve DND’s acoustic program, represent revenue of about $1 million over the next year. CMC wins $2.5M military radio handset contractCMC Electronics, Montreal, has been awarded a military radio handset contract valued at $2.5 million. The company will supply the ITT Aerospace/Communications division with the Handheld Remote Control Radio Device (HRCRD) as part of the Advanced Lightweight SIP (SINCGARS Improvement Program) Radio. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in January 2002 and will be completed by March 2002. SINCGARS is the largest military radio program in the world for which more than 200,000 radios have been produced for the U.S. Army since the program’s inception in 1991. The HRCRD works in all fielded versions of the SINCGARS ground radio in both manpack and vehicular versions. CMC’s display panels and handsets are an integral part of ITT’s military radio products. Wi-LAN supports IEEE decision on new wireless standardCalgary-based Wi-LAN Inc. is lending its support to an IEEE proposal for a new wireless LAN standard (IEEE 801.11g) based on OFDM technology. The new standard would enable data rates of 54 Mbs in the 2.4 GHz frequency range, which is significantly higher than current rates offered through the 802.11b wireless LAN standard. REA-ALP launches high-speed Internet using WaveRider gearWaveRider Communications Inc. has announced that its LMS3100 non-line-of-sight fixed wireless Internet access system was used by REA-ALP Internet Services to implement high-speed wireless Internet in Alexandria MN. REA-ALP is an alliance between two Minnesota utility companies that are expanding broadband offerings in the state.

ROW Short Takes

News | 11/27/2001 5:00 am EST

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