ROW Short Takes

Spotwave introduces new indoor coverage productOttawa’s Spotwave Wireless has introduced a new wireless signal enhancement product designed to strengthen signals for cell phone networks. Dubbed Zen, the product is ideally suited for small and home office spaces of up to 2,500 square feet. "The Zen product is the only network-protecting, intelligent coverage system available for the small office home office (SOHO) and residential space. It uses patented technology from Spotwave commercial products to constantly monitor indoor signal strength – preventing oscillation and harmful interference while ensuring the best signal possible for users," the company states in a news release. The product will become available for purchase in the second quarter of 2006 on Spotwave’s website as well as via retail and channel partners. More mobile music coming to consumersMotorola Inc. has jumped into the radio market with the introduction of its iRadio music service. The service is to be offered by wireless carriers to their subscribers for a fee of between US$7 and US$10 per month. While not yet commercially available from any wireless operators, iRadio will feature 435 channels and will likely compete directly with satellite radio. Downloaded music is increasingly being seen as an important revenue generator for wireless operators as many carriers in the US and Canada have entered the market. Bell Mobility is the most recent wireless operator in Canada to get into the downloaded music game in partnership with Groove Mobile. "The mobile phone will become the digital music player of choice for many music lovers. The rapidly growing popularity of digital music is quickly transforming how people buy, listen and share music," Chris Shannon, GM of hardware, logistics and supply at Bell Canada said in a news release. TelePlus buys Sprint resellerTelePlus Enterprises Inc.’s subsidiary TelePlus Wireless Corp. has inked a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets of Liberty Wireless for $1.9 million in cash. Under terms of the agreement, TelePlus Wireless will acquire the customer base, trade names, trademarks, domain names, websites, and other assets. Liberty is the third-largest reseller using Sprint’s network behind Virgin Mobile and Qwest. The company is considered one of the top 10 pre-paid wireless providers in the United States. Support for SDR WiMAX expressed by Cambridge ConsultantsCambridge Consultants is supporting the development of software-defined radio (SDR) reference designs for mobile WiMAX (802.16e) equipment by picoChip. "The designs will provide air interfaces required for both base station and mobile station equipment in WiMAX 802.16e wireless networks, but in forms which are inherently software-upgradeable. This flexibility will allow the electronics OEM community to develop and deploy while the WiMAX specification is maturing – without fear of incompatibility or obsolescence," reads a Cambridge Consultants news release. Reference designs are expected to be delivered early this year and picoChip will be provide them to lead customers for trials and testing at Plugfest in June. Unity Wireless receives order for power amplifiersBurnaby BC-based Unity Wireless Corp. has received a purchase order from a major Japanese tier-one equipment manufacturer for its 3G multi-carrier power amplifiers. The identify of the Japanese company was not disclosed. The product is being evaluated in a second-phase product qualification for a 3G base station configuration that is being developed by the customer. "This order represents two significant milestones in our business development strategy. It supports our decision to developer greener technology that improves energy efficiency of power amplifiers and is beneficial both commercially and environmentally. It is also a milestone that our first penetration into this new market is to a leading Japanese base station manufacturer that traditionally focuses on local supply," Ilan Kenig, president and CEO of Unity Wireless, said in a news release. WaveRider and Wave Wireless proceed with merger planWaveRider Communications Inc. and Wave Wireless Corp. are going ahead with their previously announced merger plan. Unveiled on November 17, 2005, the merged entity would offer a wide range of fixed and mobile wireless products across a number of frequencies. The transaction is expected to close before the end of the first quarter of 2006. The combined outfit will operate under the Wave Wireless moniker. Popular astrologer horoscopes now available on mobile phonesGeorgia Nicols, considered the country’s most widely read astrologer, is now available from Canada’s wireless operators. Horoscopes and other astrological readings are now available to any cell phone user with text messaging capabilities. The service is being powered by Impact Mobile. BelAir Networks gear being used in Scottsdale networkBelAir Networks has been selected to supply wireless mesh network equipment for a municipal broadband wireless network in Scottsdale AZ. Service to businesses and consumers in the city’s downtown core will be provided by Wildfire Broadband Wireless Communications. "Wi-Fi mesh technology offers new service and revenue opportunities for cities," Phil Belanger, VP of marketing at BelAir Networks, said in a news release. "BelAir offers an integrated, scaleable and cost-effective way for cities to expand their core services and develop new applications for businesses and residents using Wi-Fi." Sierra Wireless gives shareholders positive newsVancouver-based Sierra Wireless is going to have a better fourth quarter than previously anticipated, the company announced on January 4. Revenue, estimated earlier to be in the $32 million range, is now expected to come in at approximately $37 million. With higher than-expected revenue, the company also expects to have a better net income/loss result. This will also result in positive cash flow compared to previously forecast negative cash flow. "We are pleased and encouraged by the strong demand we saw for our new and existing products during the quarter. We remain very focused on driving continued growth in our core business and on returning to profitability and industry leadership," Sierra Wireless president and CEO Jason Cohenour said in a news release. Nearly US$1 billion to shift frequencies for gov’tIt will cost approximately US$936 million to migrate the US Department of Defense (DoD) and 11 other government agencies out of their existing wireless communications spectrum to new frequencies, according to a report from the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration. DoD will cost the most to move at US$289 million with the Justice Department coming second at US$263 million. This spectrum is particularly important since it will be auctioned to wireless carriers which will use it to provide advanced wireless services.

ROW Short Takes

News | January 10, 2006

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