ROW Short Takes

Rogers Wireless introduces new music download servicesRogers Wireless Inc. has introduced a new music download service that allows songs to be downloaded to a subscribers’ cell phone or to their PC. The announcement makes Rogers Wireless the first wireless operator in North America to offer such a service. In conjunction with the launch of Rogers MusicStore, the company announced that RealTrax ring tunes will be available to subscribers. Full length songs and the ring tunes are available from EMI Recorded Music, Universal Music and Warner Music. The full music track and dual-download functionality of Rogers MusicStore is powered by the Melodeo Mobile Music Service. The launch of Rogers MusicStore represents Melodeo’s entry into the North American market. "Rogers Wireless was named the favourite wireless brand in Canada for youth by Trendscan Youth Culture, and we will continue to earn this position with youth by providing them with access to the things that matter most to them," said Rob Bruce, Rogers Wireless’ executive VP and chief marketing officer, in a news release. The music rights groups were also singing the praises of the new legal music download service. Graham Henderson, president of the Canadian Recording Industry Association said, "The music industry, in concert with progressive companies like Rogers Wireless, has long appreciated that music fans want to take full advantage of the flexibility the digital revolution has made possible. Today’s announcement by Rogers Wireless is a great leap forward. Rogers Wireless customers will have the ability to access music wherever they are and, more importantly, to share it legally with friends and family. This will change the way that we experience music. Rogers Wireless clearly understands the enormous potential for the legal digital marketplace and we salute them." David Basskin, VP of CMRRA/SODRAC Inc. said, "Rogers MusicStore enables music lovers to access and share the music of their choice, in a quality environment, with the full support of music publishers." While the music rights groups show their full support for the Rogers Wireless music offering, there are still unresolved issues surround Tariff 24, a proposed 10% fee placed on all ringtones. The wireless operators will be on the hook for the 10% surcharge if the tariff is adopted. New handsets coming to the Canadian marketRogers Wireless Inc. and Telus Mobility have introduced new handsets to the Canadian market. In conjunction with Rogers’ music service launch, the company and Motorola Canada have introduced a new handset, the MuchMusic Edition Motorola V186M. The EDGE-capable flip phone allows for multimedia messaging services (MMS) such as sharing video clips. The V186M retails for $149 (a $50 mail-in rebate reduces price from $199) and is for pay-as-you-go subscribers. Rogers Wireless has also introduced a new camera phone with integrated MP3 player developed by Sony Ericsson. The S710a is a tri-band (850/1800/1900 MHz) and features a 1.3 megapixel camera and integrated MP3 music player. Other features of the handset include personal information management, gaming and messaging. Telus Mobility has launched the Audiovox PPC 6600 Pocket PC smartphone with integrated Bluetooth and messaging functionality. The device also features an integrated digital camera and video capability, expandable memory and MP3 player. The PPC 6600 comes equipped with mobile versions of popular Microsoft applications such as Outlook, Excel, Word, MSN Messenger, and others. "The feature-rich Audiovox PPC 6600 provides an ideal example of convergence for busy mobile professionals. With its sliding QWERTY keyboard, mega-pixel camera, and compelling voice and data capabilities, this device enables mobile professionals the ability to multitask and increase productivity while away from the office," Elizabeth Doucette, VP of UTStarcom Canada (formerly Audiovox Communications), said in a news release. Telus Mobility has also introduced a new handset from Motorola, designed by Kimora Lee Simmons. The Baby Phat i833 operates on Telus’ Mike network. "This new phone by Kimora Lee Simmons fuses the bold style of the Baby Phat brand with the unique all-in-one communications power of Mike to create the ultimate wireless accessory," Telus Mobility’s VP of products and services Robert Blumenthal said in a news release. AirIQ secures new equity, pays down on debtAirIQ Inc. has secured $3 million from three of its former loan lenders in a conversation of loans to equity. At the same time, the company has drawn $2 million from its $10-million credit facility with the Royal Bank of Canada. Together, these funds were used to repay secure loan debts of approximately $5 million. "This next step of our mid-term financial strategy is intended to enable the company to meet its financial commitments without further raising equity. The acquisition of additional equity by our former term loan lenders shows strong support from our strategic investor group, while significantly reducing interest costs," AirIQ president and CEO Donald Simmonds said in a news release. Digital Dispatch inks two new contractsRichmond BC-based Digital Dispatch Systems Inc. has secured two new contracts for its iPilot 8000 mobile computers. The deals are with Salem-Keizer Transit of Salem OR and McDonnell Ronald Limousine Service Ltd. of Woodbridge ON. "The iPilot 8000 is our third generation Windows CE mobile computer. Together with the fact that we have deployed over 10,000 of these units, this make us the vendor of choice for Salem-Keizer," James Watson, VP of development for Digital Dispatch, said in a news release. Korean wireless technology delegation comes to TorontoA delegation of Korean companies will be in Toronto for the Wireless & Mobile World Expo on May 18 and 19 being held at the National Trade Centre. Korean Venture Business Association (KOVA) is bringing companies involved in the wireless, telecommunications and networking to exhibit existing, new and emerging technologies. Some of the technologies to be on display include wireless solutions for the healthcare and hospital markets, high-speed video, Bluetooth gadgets, billing systems, network equipment/solutions and wireless components. Cranite Systems recieves government approvalCranite Systems Inc.’s WirelessWall wireless local area network software has received Canadian government certification. Stratos takes broadband wireless to Gulf of MexicoStratos Global Corp. is bringing next-generation broadband wireless solutions to the Gulf of Mexico. The company introduced on May 2 StratosMAX, a new broadband wireless access network that maximizes the performance, flexibility and scalability of remote voice and data communications. "By combining the wireless capabilities of WiMAX with the unmatched capacity of Stratos’ backbone network, StratosMAX provides truly latency-free voice and data communications service that is easily and affordably deployed to offshore platforms," Stratos Global president James Parm and CEO said in a news release. AGF implements Pyxis’ mPlatform softwareInvestment management company AGF has implemented Pyxis Mobile Inc.’s mPlatform to provide greater access to corporate data for company sales representatives. Included in the installation are both mWholesaler and mReports, which will operate over Research in Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerry devices. "mWholesaler enables our mobile sales team to access and input data at the point of contact, improving the quality of information across the enterprise. Pyxis Mobile allows us to be more effective at managing advisor relationships which, in turn, is leading to better sales results. The installation happened fast and the sales team has adopted this new tool without reservations," AGF senior VP Steve Elioff said in a news release. Instrinsyc contracted for messaging solutionIntrinsyc Software International Inc. has been contracted by a major global software provider to create and deliver messaging software plug-ins for Symbian-based Nokia Series 60 and Series 80 handsets. The development will allow users to access email on a range of phones including the Nokia 6620, 9300 and 9500. The identity of the customer can’t be revealed due to contract restrictions. "This engagement is part of the continued committed success that we are delivering to the mobile handset ecosystem. We are Symbian experts in core Symbian OS as well as UIQ, Nokia Series 60 and Series 80, and we also have unique expertise and technologies covering telephony, networking and application protocol subsystems," company CEO Derek Spratt said. WebTech introduces service offering for long-haul truckingBurnaby BC-based WebTech Wireless announced May 9 the launch of a full service offering for the long-haul trucking market that includes automated driver logs, schedule adherence, driver performance, fuel tax reporting, J1708 reporting, and remote back office integration. "In an increasingly competitive environment, trucking companies are looking for new and innovative ways to streamline their business practices," said WebTech Wireless president and CEO Anwar Sukkarié. "Our full service offering provides key functionality for the trucking market, evidenced by the nine long-haul commercial fleets we are integrating with. Commercial deployment is anticipated by the end of our fiscal year." In addition, the corporation announced a private placement of 62,500 common shares to the independent directors of the corporation. On January 20, each independent director agreed to invest his $10,000 annual retainer in shares of the corporation at the then market price of 64 cents per share. The company said it was part of an ongoing initiative to increase the share ownership of the independent directors to better align their long-term interests with those of the shareholders of the corporation. WiMAX for delivery of wireless Internet tested in CanadaWavesat Inc. announced a partnership with VCom Inc. to bring a WiMAX-compliant system to Canada that will go into field trial this summer. "Our partnership with Wavesat offers us a unique opportunity to be first to market with an 802.16-2004-compliant system," said VCom CEO and founder Surinder Kumar. "The success of this field trial pilot will allow both our companies to showcase our leading edge wireless products in Canada and around world." In-building wireless to experience stable growth: ABIIn-building wireless, or the interior re-transmission of signals, will experience stable and steady growth over the next five years, according to ABI Research, which just released its 2005 IBW study, In-Building Wireless Systems. "It is a topic that’s taken very much for granted," said ABI director of wireless research Lance Wilson. "But as wireless in general progresses, IBW automatically has to progress alongside it."

ROW Short Takes

News | May 17, 2005

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