RoW Short Takes

Shaw Communications sued over LMCS technologyCellularVision Technology & Telecommunications L.P. has sued a successor entity to WIC Western International Communications Ltd., which was taken over by Shaw Communications in 1999. CellularVision alleges breach of contract related to certain LMCS technology. It is claiming damages ranging from $10 to $50 million. Shaw has assumed responsibility for the defence, and believes that the action has no merit. Microcell offers new Nokia GPRS handsetMicrocell PCS has added the Nokia 8390 to its portfolio of handset and devices. The new 8390 is a small and stylish handset that combines GPRS data transmission, infrared connectivity, a to-do list and a new snowboarding game. The handset weighs less than 3 oz. and is only slightly larger than a business card. COM DEV deploys M/ERGY in North AmericaCOM DEV Broadband, a division of COM DEV International Ltd., has deployed its M/ERGY in the first North American CDMA2000 1xEV-DO trial broadband wireless network. Monet Mobile Networks has deployed the network in Manhattan KA and is currently conducting acceptance testing. The network consists of four base stations, a core network controller and subscriber access terminals. Bell Mobility launches 1X network in MontrealBell Mobility, the wireless arm of BCE Inc., has officially launched its next-generation wireless network in Montreal. In the summer of this year, the company will launch the network in other major centres in the province, followed by the rollout of the network in the majority of the company’s Canadian coverage area. Bell is also offering 1X handsets and wireless modems that have voice capabilities. All of the country’s major national wireless operators have introduced next-generation wireless networks, dubbed 2.5G. Rogers Wireless begins offering Handspring TreoRogers Wireless Communications Inc. has signed an agreement with handheld device maker Handspring that will see the Toronto-based wireless operator begin offering the Treo 180 Communicator across Canada. The Treo 180 will be exclusively available through Rogers. The device combines PDA capabilities, wireless phone and wireless messaging into one compact handheld. The device will be available this month through Rogers outlets and Radio Shack retail stores. The Treo will retail for $749 with a two-year service plan and $849 for a single-year plan. In other Rogers news, the company has signed an agreement with Sierra Wireless Inc. to offer its AirCard 750 wireless modem card. RIM introduces BlackBerry Development EnvironmentResearch in Motion Ltd. (RIM) has introduced the BlackBerry Development Environment for the Java application platform. This will enable the broad development of wireless applications for Java and BlackBerry devices. With support for J2ME, the BlackBerry platform is now opened up to a large and growing developer community that currently includes over three million Java developers. RIM has also announced an agreement with Hutchison Telecom that will see the BlackBerry wireless handheld distributed in Hong Kong. Hutchison will market the handhelds under the Orange brand name. This is the first agreement for RIM in Asia. In other Research in Motion news, the company has introduced a new family of OEM radio modems for GSM/GPRS wireless networks worldwide. This marks the first time RIM will be able to sell its OEM radios in international markets. The new embedded modems are designed for OEM customers and incorporate the same core radio frequency as the 5800 series of BlackBerry. C-COM Satellite forms partnership with NorthlandOttawa-based C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. has formed a partnership with Northland Systems Training Inc. that will allow the two organizations to offer Northland’s e-learning solutions to C-COM’s corporate, educational and government clients. The company has been busy signing several contracts in the last few months. LinCsat Communications ahead of rollout scheduleLinCsat Communications Inc., a subsidiary of Imark Corp., is ahead of schedule in its system rollout and VAR sign up. Based on the first 60 days of operation, in which the company has shipped more than 350 systems, LinCsat is confident it can meet the 650 systems projected at the launch of the company. The company’s efforts have also yielded partners in key vertical markets such as the resource, automotive, health care and aboriginal communities. Wmode forms partnership with WirelessDeveloperCalgary-based Wmode has formed a partnership with WirelessDeveloper. The deal is designed to increase Wmode’s range of support options for content developers using the company’s ClearMode payment processing platform. On a WirelessDeveloper-hosted web site, developers will have access to the ClearMode software development kit, which contains a working set of sample code and instructions to build their application program interface to link to the ClearMode system. CSI launches new telematics product for vertical marketsCSI Wireless Inc., Calgary, has introduced its Asset-Link 200 product, a new line of telematics product that offer cost-effective, fleet tracking, safety and security features. The Asset-Link 200 is similar to the previous version but also offers circuit switched advanced mobile phone services, a feature that wasn’t available on the Asset-Link 100. The newest line offers the flexibility of small data communications or larger data communications links. In other CSI news, the company has introduced the GT300 Geo-Telephone, which combines location sensing and GPS positioning capability with wireless communications technology. It is a dual-band phone operating in the TDMA/AMPS bands. The phone, which will be available this summer, will be marketed to vehicle rental companies, telematics providers, fleet operators and other companies serving mobile workforces. NSI Global turns on system in Middle EastMontreal-based NSI Global has announced that its Globalwave asset management and tracking system in now fully operational in the Middle East and North Africa. With the implementation, the company’s Vistar Telecommunications division has received an order for 500 Globalwave MT200 satellite data communications terminals. The terminals were scheduled to be shipped before the end of last month. Wi-LAN to supply equipment for California networkWi-LAN Inc. has been selected to supply equipment, valued at more than US$350,000, to Prime Companies Inc. Prime will use Wi-LAN AWE products in an upscale housing development in California. Prime is an LMDS provider and CLEC offering service in several U.S. states. Nortel Networks’ gear deployed by ConnexNortel Networks Corp. has supplied Connex with a converged packet and voice network based on its softswitch and multiservice switches. The newly deployed network supports Connex’ 2G wireless network and enables a smooth migration to 3G. Connex is owned by Telesystem International Wireless and Vodafone. As part of the agreement, Connex will become the first service provider to leverage the G729 voice compression standard in a wireless network. Redknee and Borland collaborate on Java developmentToronto-based Redknee Inc. has agreed to integrate Borland Software Corp.’s Java development environment, JBuilder, into its open services architecture software framework, OASIS. This agreement extends a previous deal in which Redknee integrated Borland’s enterprise server, VisiBroker Edition, into its OASIS product. Eleven Engineering awarded another patentEdmonton-based Eleven Engineering Inc. has been awarded another "patent of significance" for its SPIKE radio frequency technology (RoW, Feb. 19/02). The patent covers the company’s innovative implementation of multipoint technology.

RoW Short Takes

News | April 3, 2002

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