RoW Short Takes

D-Link offers up faster Wi-Fi speeds with new productsToronto-based D-Link has introduced a new line of 802.11b-compliant wireless equipment, which effectively doubles current throughput rates of traditional Wi-Fi gear and can provide speeds up to 22 Mbps. Wi-Fi is the commonly used term referring to 802.11b products operating in the 2.4 GHz band. The company’s 11.b+ line includes the DI-614+, a broadband router, four 10/100Base-T autosensing ports and an embedded dynamic host configuration protocol server. The DWL-900AP+ is a wireless access point with easy setup and web-based management. The company also offers laptop and desktop adapters. The DWL-650+ is for laptops and the DWL-520+ is for desktop computers. Lawyers depend on cell phones, new survey saysCell phones are the most favourite electronic tool for lawyers, a new survey by The Affiliates suggests. According to the national poll, almost 70% of Canadian lawyers use cell phones to manage work-related activities while away from the office. Another 36% rely on laptops, while 23% say they use PDAs when out of the office. The Affiliates provides law firms and corporate legal departments with specialized temporary and full-time legal personnel. Sierra Wireless and Vodafone launch AirCard 750Sierra Wireless and Vodafone UK have announced the commercial availability of the AirCard 750 wireless modem card. The PC card operates on the GSM/GPRS network. Vodafone is the first European wireless operator to begin offering the card to its subscribers. In other Sierra Wireless news, the company’s MP200 wireless modem will be used by the Florida Highway Patrol as part of an initiative to improve communications and the transfer of critical information from central databases to officers while they’re in the field. The MP200 will now be used by 1,750 police officers across the entire state. Sierra Wireless has also announced that it has amended its supply agreement with AT&T Wireless. The agreement now calls for volume commitments worth approximately US$6.5 million with deliveries of the AirCard 710 beginning in Q3 2002 through to the end of next year. CITO to sponsor 25 students in advanced researchCommunications and Information Technology Ontario (CITO) has announced that it will sponsor 25 student internships and then match the students with private sector companies. CITO will contribute a total of $500,000, while private sector partners will match the amount contributed by CITO. Student interns and industry partners will be announced this fall. 724 Solutions unveils Command Banking over SMSToronto-based 724 Solutions Inc. has commercially introduced the availability of Command Banking, a secure mobile banking system that allows customers to access financial information from wireless devices using short messaging service (SMS), secure instant messaging and other asynchronous messaging channels. The service is expected to help financial institutions drive down the cost of providing customer service, while giving customers access to their financial information when and where they want. In other 724 Solutions news, the company has announced that it and International Turnkey Systems have expanded their current reseller agreement. The agreement is for the sale and integration of 724 Solutions’ Frameworks product. OZ is Wireless Village compliantOZ Communications Inc., Montreal, has announced that its instant communications and presence location systems have been declared compliant to the Wireless Village 1.1 specification. OZ’s products that have met the required specifications are the OZ Instant Communication Solution (ICS) server and client applications for Java-enabled mobile devices and Windows PCs. OZ’s ICS server is expected to be commercially available in the third quarter of this year. Tacoma chooses MDSI mobile workforce systemThe City of Tacoma has chosen the Advantex r7 mobile workforce management system from MDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc. The product will be one component of a larger enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that the city is implementing. The other component is mySAP Utilities systems. The integration of the two systems was certified by SAP last month. RIM files second patent complaint against GoodResearch in Motion Ltd. has filed a second patent infringement complaint against Good Technology. The complaint alleges that Good infringes on a portion of RIM’s copyrighted portfolio associated with the user interface on the company’s line of BlackBerry Wireless Handhelds. Last month, RIM filed a separate complaint alleging that Good was infringing on four patents within its wireless integration patent portfolio. LinCsat signs agreement with Cantrex GroupLinCsat Communications Inc. has inked an agreement with Cantrex Group Inc., under which Cantrex will sell LinCsat’s two-way high-speed Internet access via satellite service, Powered by DIRECWAY. Cantrex will market the products and services to its 1,300 merchant member retail stores and DATAZONE banner stores. The companies will begin marketing efforts immediately. In other LinCsat news, the company has signed an agreement with Micro Warehouse Canada. Micro Warehouse will market LinCsat’s products and services to its two million catalog customers as well as promote the service on its web site, which has more than 20,000 products. Nortel Networks ships equipment to Cingular WirelessNortel Networks Corp. has shipped its first commercial EDGE wireless network infrastructure equipment to U.S.-based Cingular Wireless. The wireless operator will deploy the equipment in several U.S. markets. These shipments constitute part of an agreement the two signed in March 2002. Syscan introduces new RFID transponders for metal appsMontreal-based Syscan International has introduced a new line of radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders for metal-based applications. The new Metal-Mate line consists of both read-only and write-only versions and operate in both high and low frequency ranges. The introduction of these RFID transponders is part of an ongoing cooperation between Syscan and AEG ID of Germany. The two companies are working to provide RFID products for the tracking and tracing and maintenance of corporate assets. Syscan’s products are designed for harsh environments.

RoW Short Takes

News | 07/22/2002 4:00 am EDT

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