RoW Short Takes

724 Solutions shows off MMS interoperabilityToronto-based 724 Solutions and Nokia have demonstrated product interoperability for multimedia messaging service (MMS). The two companies worked on showing the interoperability of 724 Solutions’ X-treme Pull Gateway and X-treme Push Proxy Gateway with Nokia’s MMS solution. 724 Solutions’ gateway products are a flexible infrastructure for advanced messaging, and when integrated with Nokia’s MMS system, it can create an infrastructure capable of allowing rich content and personalized transactions to sent between wireless devices. Cameroon carrier purchases Wi-LAN equipmentCameroon Telecommunications B.P. (Camtel) has purchased $1.1 million worth of Wi-LAN Inc.’s LIBRA fixed wireless access products. Under terms of the contract, Wi-LAN will supply and install its LIBRA non-line-of-sight fixed wireless access products for Camtel’s telecom networks in the cities of Doula and Yaounde. Wi-LAN expects to make more sales to Camtel as its continues to build out its product. RIM and Swisscom sign agreement for BlackBerryResearch in Motion Ltd. and Swisscom Mobile have announced plans to deploy the BlackBerry in Switzerland and offer it to enterprise customers. This is yet another country RIM has entered to offer its popular BlackBerry wireless email system. Other terms and details of the agreement were not disclosed. In other RIM news, the company has inked an agreement with StarHub to bring the BlackBerry platform to corporate customers in Singapore. StarHub plans to conduct customer trials this month. Toshiba Canada enters wireless router marketToshiba of Canada Information Systems Group has entered the wireless router market with the introduction of its WRC-1000 wireless Cable/DSL/Ethernet router. The device, which is based on the 802.11b wireless communications standard, will allow multiple users to access the Internet with a high level of security. Toshiba Canada is well positioned to capitalize on the growing wireless router market, as META Group projects this market to grow 30% annually. Quebec gov’t selects Motorola for public safetyThe government of Quebec has signed a multi-million dollar contract with Motorola Inc. for the deployment of a new radio communications system throughout the entire province. The rollout in the province of Quebec will mark the first time the VHF ASTRO Multicast communications system has been deployed in Canada. The installation of the system is slated to be completed at the end of this year and full system acceptance is projected for the end of 2005. The contract calls for the use of 10,000 mobile and portable two-way radios and Motorola’s Centracom Elite dispatch consoles. All Quebec government departments and public safety agencies will have access to the system. Mobile Knowledge forced into receivership by debt holderOttawa-based Mobile Knowledge Inc. has been forced into receivership by a secured debenture holder, Longitude Fund Limited Partnership. Longitude is a merchant banking fund managed by Latitude Partners Inc., Toronto. Longitude believes that this move will enable the company to restructure successfully and then continue as a going concern after emerging from the restructuring. Last month, the company indicated that it was in discussions with creditors due to defaulting on certain financial covenants under its March 2002 secured debentures held by Longitude. On January 31, Richter & Partners Inc. was appointed interim receiver. FatPort adds two airports to Wi-Fi networkFatPort Corp. is now offering Wi-FI wireless service at the Abbotsford International Airport in British Columbia and the Toronto Buttonville Municipal Airport. These are among the first two airports to install a publicly accessible high-speed wireless access system. Mitec Telecom files prospectus for share issueMitec Telecom Inc., Montreal, has filed the final prospectus for the sale of 9 million units at $0.32 each. Gross proceeds from the sale is expected to be in the range of $2.9 million. The injection of cash gained from the sale will be used for general corporate purposes. WaveRider signs multi-year supply deal with SuburbanWaveRider Communications Inc. has inked a multi-year supply agreement with Suburban Broadband LLC that will help bring broadband access services to 14 counties in Colorado. Nearly 80% of the state’s population will be covered by the network once it is fully deployed. Suburban first deployed WaveRider equipment in April 2002 and has since grown its subscriber base significantly. Telus Mobility to offer 1X version of BlackBerryTelus Mobility and Research in Motion Ltd. have announced plans to offer the BlackBerry device and associated services over its 1X network. Telus Mobility expects to begin offering the BlackBerry 6750, a voice and data-enabled device, during the first half of this year. NSI Global unit signs VAR agreement with Thermo KingThe Vistar subsidiary of NSI Global Inc. has signed a value-added reseller (VAR) agreement with Thermo King. Vistar has also received a purchase order from Thermo King for 500 GlobalWave MT200 satellite communications terminals. The terminals will allow Thermo King to provide customers with ubiquitous communications throughout North America. Sierra Wireless’ AirCard meets Microsoft standardsSierra Wireless Inc.’s AirCard 555 has met the quality standards of Microsoft Corp.’s Designed for Windows XP Logo Program. The certification means that the AirCard 555 has met the standards for a multi-function device operating as both a network interface card and dial-up network. CSI Wireless receives additional purchase order Calgary-based CSI Wireless Inc. has received an additional purchase order from Brightstar Corp. for its fixed-based wireless telephone. The order is valued at $12.5 million. In other CSI Wireless news, the company has announed that manufacturing of the Motorola FX800t has now been transferred to Mexico from Thailand. This move allows the company to save on production and shipping costs. Voice Mobility signs VAR agreement with NekotecVoice Mobility International Inc. has signed a value-added reseller agreement (VAR) with Nekotec to supply the Latin American market with Voice Mobility products and services. Nekotec provides OEM manufacturers, system integrators and service providers the components, systems and technical support to offer better services to customers. Nekotec’s major customers include Telefonica Moviles, Axtel, Telmex, Telnor and Tegua. The VAR can also configure, install and integrate Voice Mobility’s UCN 200 product into existing telco infrastructure. Spectrum Signal product named Product of the YearSpectrum Signal Processing Inc.’s aXs.740 packet-voice subsystem has been named the Product of the Year winner for 2002 from Internet Telephony magazine. The aXs.740 is designed for next-generation mobile wireless infrastructure.

RoW Short Takes

News | 02/04/2003 5:00 am EST

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