RoW Short Takes

Three weeks to apply for unassigned PCS spectrumParties interested in acquiring spectrum unassigned in the 2001 PCS spectrum auction have until December 8 to submit an expression of interest. It is after that date that Industry Canada will determine whether it will proceed with an auction of the 10 available licences or offer the licences on a first-come, first-served basis. The licences are for the most part in rural areas such as the Yukon and Northwest Territories and Northern Quebec where there are four licences available in each territory. There are also single licences up for grabs in Saskatchewan and QuebecTel area. As was the case in the auction, the licences are 5x5 MHz paired blocks. Industry Canada releases more information on auctionIndustry Canada has released clarifications regarding the 2300 MHz and 3500 MHz auction slated to begin in January 2004. The department has extended the deadline for applications to participate in the auction until December 8. Additionally, Industry Canada was notified that the calculation of the financial deposits disadvantaged companies wishing to only acquire a few spectrum licences. The department has changed the initial deposit as follows: "Therefore, the department has decided that the financial deposit will be equal to $500 per eligibility point for the first two hundred points and $3,000 per eligibility point requested thereafter." Previously, the financial deposit was to be equal to $500 per eligibility point for the first 40 points. Industry Canada also corrected an error in the eligibility points for the 4-159 spectrum licence (Merritt) where the department had erred in listing 10 points as opposed to 1 point. PointShot gets infusion of cash for market expansionOttawa-based PointShot Wireless has received US$1 million in venture capital from existing and new investors. GTI Capital joins existing investors Venture Coaches, Axis Investment Fund and several angel investors. The company will use the money to continue developing its SolutionPoint platform and to expand into Europe. The financing is expected to support trial deployments in Europe slated for installation early next year. Digital Dispatch adds Internet-based system to portfolioDigital Dispatch Systems Inc. has expanded into the Internet-based dispatch business through the purchase of Aspiro of Sweden. The Richmond BC-based company will now be able to offer transportation and field service customers that prefer an externally hosted wireless dispatch system. "This technology acquisition is a new venture for us and is a key element of growth strategy. With years of experience in wireless data dispatching solutions, I feel confident that we will be able to use this new software to fully commercialize and deploy ASP services for small- and medium-sized companies in the very near future," Digital Dispatch president and CEO Vari Ghai said in a news release. Agilent releases new wireless network testing productsAgilent Technologies Inc. has introduced two new wireless test systems. The company has unveiled the industry’s first integrated wireless local area network (WLAN) manufacturing test system, enabling more efficient testing of 802.11a/b/g modules. This, the company says, will help increase time to market and improve manufacturing yields. Additionally, Agilent has introduced a one-box platform that enables more efficient radio frequency testing, lowering the cost of test for products and components that incorporate Bluetooth and other emerging wireless connectivity technologies. Colligo bundles software with ViewSonic tablet PCColligo Networks has announced that ViewSonic Corp. is bundling the company’s Personal Edition collaboration software with its V1250 Tablet PC. With the integrated connectivity software embedded on the Tablet PC, users will be able to seamlessly connect with other V1250 users in an ad hoc manner in a wide range of locales. "Mobile users can now effectively bring the office with them as they are able to exchange electronic information with other wireless devices," Dan Coffman, senior product manager, visual solutions group at ViewSonic, said in a news release. Bell Mobility enhances location-based servicesBell Mobility has integrated assisted GPS technology into Roadside Assistance service, enhancing its E911 services and bringing location-based services to the public safety community. Bell Mobility notes in a news release that this is the first commercial application of assisted GPS by a wireless carrier in North America. "With the introduction of these services, Bell Mobility has just made the wireless phone one of the most important safety devices a person can own," Bell Mobility president Michael Neuman said in a news release. In other Bell Mobility news, the company has introduced the SPH-a600 camera phone from Samsung. Subscribers can not only send pictures, but they can attach a 128-character message and a 10-second voice memo. Rogers Wireless releases new handsets and packagesRogers Wireless Inc. is getting into the spirit of the Christmas season and is introducing an array of colour phones and affordable airtime packages loaded with minutes, features and options. The company is releasing handsets from SonyEricsson, Motorola and Nokia. Rogers Wireless has also introduced a Mega Time Offer that comes with 100 local anytime minutes and 1,000 local evening and weekend minutes beginning at $25/month. The Family Plan allows families to share unlimited evening and weekend minutes and up to five phones with better airtime rates and free calling between family members. Unity achieves milestone in product developmentBurnaby BC-based Unity Wireless Corp. has increased the operating efficiency of its Smart Power Amplifier, a significant milestone in the product’s development. Base stations and repeaters using Unity’s power amplifiers will help wireless service providers reduce costs associated with network operations by being able to achieve the same levels of performance using less power. "This is extremely positive from a marketing perspective as efficiency equals savings and reliability in the eyes of our customers. We feel that we now have a product of sufficient calibre that will be very attractive to today’s leading wireless network vendors," Unity’s senior systems sales manager Jeff Joseph said in a news release. Hospitality Network works with FatportHospitality Network (HN) has inked a technology partnership with Fatport Corp. to become a virtual hotspot operator. Under terms of the partnership, Fatport will build out a hotspot network, which will carry the HN brand. The two companies announced their partnership at the 2003 Ontario Hospitals Association Conference and Exhibition in Toronto earlier this month. HN offers healthcare communications and entertainment systems in Canadian hospitals. Telus launches new Audiovox camera phoneTelus Mobility has unveiled the CDM-8900 camera phone from Audiovox Communications Corp. The handset comes equipped with a GPS chip, web browsing and Java capabilities. It also has an integrated speaker phone, voice-activated dialing and dual LCD displays. AirIQ lands first customer from consumer strategyAirIQ Inc. has secured a three-year, $6.9-million contract from a vehicle security firm as part of the company’s recently launched consumer telematics strategy (RoW, Nov. 5/03). The identity of the vehicle security firm can’t be disclosed due to confidentiality provisions. Nokia provides new handset to Bell MobilityNokia and Bell Mobility have launched the 3586i, a new colour screen and customizable handset. The handset comes equipped with voice recorder and voice dialing, among other features.

RoW Short Takes

News | November 18, 2003

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