RoW Short Takes

Decima Reader Poll, June 2002The June edition of the online Decima Reader Poll asked who the CRTC price cap decision pushed the telecom operating balance in favour of. Go to www.decima.ca/publishing to answer this month’s question on jurisdiction in wireless disputes. Mobile Knowledge completes Singapore installationOttawa-based Mobile Knowledge Inc. has completed the installation of 3,500 mobile data terminals in Singapore’s largest taxi fleet, operated by Comfort Transportation. Comfort’s entire fleet of 12,000 taxis is now equipped with Mobile Knowledge’s systems. Taxis are outfitted with the Series 60900 terminal and uses a GPS-based system to dispatch the nearest vehicle to the specified location. Redline highlights five new system integrator alliancesRedline Communications Inc. has signed five new partnership agreements at the Wireless Communications Association’s annual trade show and exhibition. The Toronto-based company has inked agreements with the following systems integrators: Wireless Connections, Maika’i Systems, Gulf Islands Wireless, EduTek and Binary Solutions. Wavesat inks deal with ioWaveOFDM modem developer Wavesat Wireless Inc. has inked an agreement with ioWave Inc., which will see the Montreal-based company supply its OFDM modem technology to the American firm. IoWave, Arlington VA, specializes in the design of high-speed, point-to-point and multipoint-to-point wireless platforms, which are used in the transmission of voice and data over broadband communications networks. Wavesat’s modem will be integrated with ioWave’s hybrid point-to-multipoint fixed wireless local loop system, which has been enhanced by smart antenna technology. Colligo releases new Bluetooth collaboration productColligo Networks Inc. has commercially introduced a new Bluetooth-enabled collaboration tool, dubbed Colligo Meeting. The product is a new group calendaring and scheduling system for Bluetooth-enabled Palm-based PDAs. This application, combined with previously released BlueBoard and BlueChat, creates a new way for mobile professionals to communicate and exchange information using their Palm-based PDAs (RoW, March 5/02). The application costs $19.95. A trial version is available for download on the company’s web site at www.colligo.com. Norsat receives purchase order from Dynamic EngineersNorsat International Inc. has received a purchase order for up to 500 VSAT Ku-band outdoor units (ODU) from Dynamic Engineers Inc. Delivery of the units has already begun and will continue over the next several months. The ODUs will be used for broadband communications to remote networks. Spectrum Signal selected for anti-terrorism programBurnaby BC-based Spectrum Signal Processing Inc. has been selected by a major systems integration firm in the United States to use its flexComm signal processing technology in a U.S. Army counter-terrorism program. The program will assist military forces in anti-terrorism surveillance applications. This agreement marks Spectrum’s third design win for 2002. Rogers completes GPRS network build-outRogers Wireless Communications Inc. has announced that its GSM/GPRS network now reaches 93% of the Canadian population, matching the company’s analog network coverage. Ericsson Canada supplied and installed the wireless infrastructure equipment. fSONA Communications releases new FSO productfSONA Communications Inc. has a released a new faster free-space optics (FSO) system that provides gigabit Ethernet communications at speeds up to 1,250 Mbps. The Vancouver-based company’s SONAbeam 1250-S was unveiled at the Wireless Communications Association and the United Telecom Council’s annual conferences and trade shows. Fairmont offers wireless accessFairmont Hotels and Resorts is now offering guests and visitors wireless access to the Internet in all of the company’s 38 hotels in six countries. The hospitality company began offering the service on July 1. Wireless connectivity will be available in public spaces within the hotels, allowing both guests and conference delegates, for example, to access corporate networks. Fairmont chose to implement Cisco Systems’ Airnet 350 Series Access Points. Service is priced at $9.95 local currency for a 24-hour time period. Plaintree receives more funding from largest shareholderStruggling free-space optics product developer Plaintree Systems Inc. has received another infusion of cash from Targa Electronics Systems Inc., the Ottawa-based company’s largest shareholder. Targa is increasing its existing credit line from $450,000 to $600,000. Plaintree has also announced that the landlord of its Ottawa facility, a subsidiary of Targa, has agreed to defer rental payments, which are already in arrears to the tune of $120,000. Arrears will be allowed to continue until the earliest of 2003 or until regular monthly payments resume. Motorola lands major contract in western CanadaMotorola Inc. has landed a $12.9 million deal with a consortium of 40 public safety agencies in the Victoria BC region. The contract calls for a new radio system that will significantly enhance communications coordination in the area. The radio system is part of the company’s portfolio of integrated communications and information systems to address requirements of public safety and security agencies. The Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications Inc. (CREST) system will consist of an integrated VHF multicast, mixed mode, SmartZone 4.1 radio communications system. When operational, it will integrate 22 volunteer fire departments, five regular fire departments, five municipal police departments, RCMP regional headquarters and the BC Ambulance Service. All of these are in the Victoria area. The system is expected to be operational by the spring of 2003. Sierra Wireless to offer wireless modems in SingaporeVancouver-based Sierra Wireless Inc. has unveiled the AirCard 750 for PDA and laptop users in Singapore. Users that subscribe to services from StarHub will be able to roam freely and stay connected to the Internet or corporate networks. Edge Wireless selects Nortel for infrastructure upgradeEdge Wireless LLC has chosen Nortel Networks Corp. to upgrade its TDMA network to GSM and GPRS in the western United States. The contract is estimated to be valued at US$18.5 million over three years.

RoW Short Takes

News | 07/09/2002 4:00 am EDT

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