ROW Short Takes

Greater spending on wireless than wireline: In-StatNew research from In-Stat, a US-based high-tech research firm, indicates that in 2006 US businesses of all sizes will spend more on wireless voice services than on wireline voice. In-Stat also notes that wireless data expenditures will continue to increase, adding that enterprises – those with more than 1,000 employees – will up their wireless data spending by about 18% per year on average through to 2009. "The transformation of telecom spending continues unabated," reads an In-Stat market alert. "The relentless march toward IP-based networks, the unequivocal adoption of mobile solutions, and the pervasiveness of broadband have changed the face of business networks forever." Spending on wireless data services in the small office home office (SOHO) segment will outpace other business categories growing to nearly US$2.2 billion by 2009, up from the 2005 level of 470 million. In Motion and TenDigits make Ready to Rocket listVancouver-based firms In Motion Technology and TenDigits Software have been named to the Ready to Rocket 25 list as two of the top 25 private companies in British Columbia that are best-positioned to capitalize on information technology trends. In Motion makes portable wireless local area network technology that is currently being used by public safety and first-responder agencies in North America. TenDigits develops software that extends enterprise applications to mobile wireless handheld devices. For more details on the list and key findings of the overview of the IT sector, visit www.rocketbuilders.com/r2r2006. MSV contracts Boeing for next-generation satellitesMobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) has called on Boeing to build three next-generation L-band satellites that will form the backbone of a telecommunications network being developed in conjunction with MSV and its partner MSV Canada. The communications network is a combination of satellite and terrestrial equipment designed to bring satellite network connectivity to both rural and urban areas. "We are excited at the prospect of completing this paradigm-shifting project ahead of schedule and to provide improved services in both rural and urban areas," MSV chair and CEO Alexander Good said in a news release. Bell Mobility to offer NHL video clipsMore video content is becoming available to Bell Mobility customers. The company launched its NHL video clip service on January 19. As part of the service, users can select game highlights from one or all of the previous nights’ games in any order. "Bell’s new NHL video clip service can be customized to fulfill each user’s unique viewing demands and preferences. Bell Mobility customers now have access to unique NHL content that features game action and highlights packaged in 1-2 minute game clips," reads a Bell news release. Google and RIM team up on instant messaging for BlackBerryResearch in Motion Ltd. and Google Inc. are co-operating to make Google Talk instant messaging and Google Local for mobile available on the BlackBerry wireless email platform. "Instant messaging and local content are two increasingly important areas of focus for mobile applications and we are very pleased to work with Google in extending these two popular Google services to BlackBerry users," Mark Guibert, VP of corporate marketing at RIM, said in a news release. Mitec Telecom receives order for RF filter productMontreal-based Mitec Telecom Inc. has received an order from a tier-one OEM customer for a new product based on the company’s lid-mounted resonator (LMR) RF filer technology. As well, the tier-one customer has decided to make Mitec its primary supplier of filter products that will be integrated into its next-generation base stations. Deliveries of the LMR products are expected to begin immediately with volume production to start in April 2006. "The success of this initiative underscores Mitec’s ability to design, develop and bring to market very competitive products that precisely address the business models of our customers," Mitec president and CEO Keith Findlay said in a news release. Rogers Wireless extends Quebec partnership with MarketelCanada’s largest wireless operator Rogers Wireless has extended its advertising agreement for the Quebec market with Marketel. "This is the second mandate for the agency that created the very successful ad campaign featuring three young people in an urban setting who learn about the innovative products and services that Rogers Wireless offers," reads a January 16 news release. CBS to air cell phone-only programUS television network and broadcaster CBS Corp. will begin airing a new TV show designed specifically for viewing on cell phones. Starting this week, the network will air a 60-second episode of The Courier, its new micro-series, during commercial breaks. Over the course of the next three weeks, subsequent chapters will be inserted during commercial breaks of other primetime series with the goal of enticing cell phone subscribers to download the rest of the season. Product placements will figure prominently in the micro-series, which is about a man trying rescue his kidnapped wife. The Pontiac Torrent sport utility vehicle is one such product. First series of WiMAX products certifiedThe first products to complete the certification process of the WiMAX Forum were unveiled at the Wireless Communications Association International’s Annual International Symposium and Business Expo last week. Two Canadian companies Redline Communications and Wavesat made up half of the four companies to submit products for certification. Aperto Networks and Sequans Communications were the other two companies. "The first round of WiMAX Forum Certified products were developed according to the WiMAX Forum-defined certification profile for 3.5 GHz systems, which is based on IEEE 802.16-2004 and ETSI HiperMAN standards," reads a news release. "Each hardware systems was required to pass stringent and extensive test procedures, consisting of protocol performance, radio conformance and interoperability testing in order to attain the WiAMX Forum Certification seal." Majed Sifri, president and CEO of Redline Communications, said, "We submitted both our base station and outdoor subscriber unit (SU-O) for certification in the spring of 2005 and we expect our SU-O to be WiMAX Forum certified towards the end of the month." TRLabs inks deal with China RailwayEdmonton-based TRLabs has signed a technology development agreement with China Railway Television Media Co. and Pacific Telecom and Networks Ltd. under which the three organizations will work to create a cost-effective, wireless broadband system for rail services. The objective of the agreement is to develop advanced multimedia services that China Railway will offer its passengers.

ROW Short Takes

News | January 25, 2006

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