ROW Short Takes

Bell Mobility makes new data services available to subsBell Mobility is making the most of new and emerging wireless data services introducing video messaging service and ringtones services. With the introduction of Samsung’s SPH-a680 handset, Bell Mobility subscribers can now capture and send a 15-second video clip to each other and to Sprint PCS subscribers. The Samsung handset retails for $299 with a three-year contract, $324 with a two-year contract and $399 with one-year service. Suggested retail price is $449.The SPH-a680 comes equipped with a camcorder and movie light, flash camera and 10x zoom. Digital talk time is up to 180 minutes and digital standby time is up to 168 hours (seven days). Lightsurf, the company that powers Bell Mobility’s picture messaging service, is also the technology behind the video messaging service. Subscribers can also add a 10-second voice memo or text message to the video clip. In conjunction with the video service launch, the company has introduced a new bundle that allows users to send 10 pictures, one video clip and provides unlimited wireless web browsing per month. Additional pictures are 50 cents each and videos are 75 cents. There is no cost to view video clips if users subscribe to the mobile browser bundle. For pay-per-view users, video clip viewing costs 5 cents per kB. Subscribers who own the SPH-a680 handset can view the entire 15-second clip, while others can only view the first frame. Bell Mobility also unveiled two new ringtone services for its subscribers. Make Your Own ringtone service allows users to convert sounds into customized ringtones. Subscribers to the Caller Ring Tune service can alter the incoming "ring ring" sound to assign jokes, sound effects or celebrity voices to the ring. Aliant joins Bell in video messaging services launchAliant Mobility has joined with its majority shareholder Bell Mobility and launched video messaging services. The Atlantic wireless operator has been working with Bell Mobility on the services launch, which took place at an event in Toronto on October 14. Telus Mobility releases new camera phoneBuilding on the success of its picture messaging services, Telus Mobility has introduced a new camera phone. Audiovox’s 8920 King Kam is the first camera phone to sport a 1.3 megapixel camera, which Telus says is four times better than the current camera phone standard on the market today. "Telus Mobility now offers a broad selection of camera phones at a variety of price points, all of them backed up by our powerful and popular picture messaging service," the company’s VP products and services Robert Blumenthal said in a news release. The King Kam retails for $229 with a three-year service contract. Research continues to show that camera phones are outselling traditional digital cameras and that margin is expected to grow substantially next year, according to Tony Henning, managing editor of Mobile Imaging Report. "We estimate 250 million camera phones will be sold next year, compared to just 87 million digital cameras. Enhanced, high-resolution camera phones such as the new King Kam are certain to fuel that booming growth rate - which will see nine out of 10 digital images taken by consumers captured with camera phones in 2005," he said. Telus Mobility currently sells camera phones from Samsung (the A670, the A600 and the SPHi700) and LG (5450), in addition to the newly announced Audiovox. WaveRider shareholders don’t approve relocation proposal A majority of WaveRider Communications Inc. shareholders failed to approve the company’s plan to change its jurisdiction. The Toronto-based wireless equipment maker had asked its shareholder to approve relocating the company’s jurisdiction from Nevada to Canada. WaveRider had hoped that with a relocation to Canada it would gain better exposure on the financial markets allowing it to potentially receive additional financing in the future. C-Chip reports year-end results, records first salesMontreal-based C-Chip Technologies Corp. secured its first commercial sales totaling more than $1 million in the fiscal year ended June 30. As a result, net loss per share for the year was 14 cents. Working capital at the end of the fiscal year was more than $1.5 million compared to a working capital deficit of nearly $820,000 a year earlier. In an October 13 news release announcing the results, the company is now focused on marketing and selling products and service in the telematics and security sectors. "While our actual results are not yet impressive, we have worked extensively over the last year on planting the seeds of our future success. Key distribution agreements have been concluded and with our full support, we expect that the distribution network that we have put in place in North America will bring significant growth for our company," reads a news release. AirIQ closes acquisition of Boatracs assetsAirIQ Inc. has closed the acquisition of the assets of Boatracs LLC, San Diego CA. The Toronto-based telematics provider announced the acquisition of Boatracs, a leader in telematics for the commercial marine industry vertical last month (RoW, Sept. 22/04). Don Simmonds, president and CEO of AirIQ said in a news release that the commercial marine sector was the next logical step for the company’s expansion. FDNY selects satellite services from Stratos GlobalThe Fire Department of the City of New York has selected an emergency response communications system from Stratos Global Corp. Included in the emergency response system will be vehicular and mobile terminals for the transmission of video and voice communications between on-the-scene responders and headquarter locations. Stratos was selected by the FDNY following a trial of the technology with its field and command centre units. Mobile and vehicular global area network terminals installed in response vehicles are fully integrated with FDNY’s command centre at MetroTech in Brooklyn. Stratos partners include DVLaptop Inc., EMS Technologies, Global Communications Solutions and LiveWorks Ltd. eXI Wireless releases new RFID platform for OEMseXI Wireless Inc., has launched its e-Tegra Auto-ID technology platform, a data collection and decision processing platform which enables software vendors to rapidly deploy auto-ID applications. The company notes in a news release that e-Tegra is more than an RFID middleware product, it is a powerful technology platform and all-in-one system providing data capture, location and control. E-Tegra consists of the company’s eLink network of active RFID tags, readers and control devices, including the eLink Network Manager. The platform will eventually be expanded to include support for third-party auto-ID tags and data collectors. SAMSys and Zetes sign reseller agreement for Benelux marketSAMSys Technologies Inc. and Zetes, a European value-added reseller, have inked an agreement under which Zetes will sell SAMSys’ RFID products to enterprise customers in Europe. Customers in Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg will have the first opportunity to buy the products. Zetes’ systems are found in a wide range of industries including transportation, logistics, distribution, healthcare, field sales, telecommunications, manufacturing and more. C-COM alters iNetVu to work with NetModem IIOttawa-based C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. has altered its iNetVu mobile platform to work with iDirect Technologies NetModem II products. iDirect designs, develops and markets bi-directional satellite-based broadband access solutions. Combining the two products delivers Internet access, video and Voice over IP services to stationary vehicles with throughput rates up to 18 Mbps. Customers in government agencies, the film production industry, the oil and gas exploration business and utility services are already using the combined product offering. "The combined solution will provide customers the ability to automatically locate their satellite of choice from a vehicle or moveable structure anywhere in the world in under three minutes by a simple click of the mouse and be instantly connected to the Internet at broadband speeds," Leslie Klein, president and CEO of C-Com Satellite, said in a news release. Microcell awards Elix contact centre management contractMicrocell Solutions Inc. has awarded BCE Elix a contract to implement a contact centre intelligent routing and reporting solution. The new system will allow Microcell to route incoming customer calls to the most appropriate agent, with the end result of improving the management of customer interactions. "This solution will include a powerful call-reporting tool to facilitate the daily management decision-making process. This overall solution will help Microcell reduce operational costs while providing customers with superior service," reads an October 12 news release. CSI Wireless receives fixed wireless phone orderCalgary-based CSI Wireless Inc. has received an $8.3-million order for the Motorola FX800t fixed wireless telephone from Brightstar Corp. Deliveries are to take place in the fourth quarter of 2004 and early in 2005. "The newest Brightstar order, which is on track for our fixed wireless sales targets in 2004-2005, demonstrates the strong demand for our fixed wireless phones," CSI’s president and CEO Stephen Verhoeff said in a news release. The Motorola FX800t, considered by many to be the best selling TDMA fixed wireless telephone in Latin America, is reliable in both urban and rural environments, including remote communities where landlines don’t exist. Mindready inks deal to create new wireless test systemMindready Solutions Inc. has been awarded a contract by a wireless telecommunications component supplier to design and supply a computer-controlled traveling wave tubes (TWTs) test system. TWTs are high-powered microwave amplifiers used for the amplification of detection and communication signals. The identity of the customer was not revealed in the news release. WebTech inks deal with TMWWebTech Wireless has announced a strategic alliance with TMW Systems under which WebTech’s products can now be integrated with those from TMW. Trucking companies can, as a result, of the agreement take advantage of two hardware and software technologies for vehicle tracking purposes.

ROW Short Takes

News | 10/21/2004 4:00 am EDT

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