ROW Short Takes

Bell, MTV reach mobile pactMTV content will be available exclusively to Bell Mobility subscribers as part of the first mobile partnership for MTV in Canada. Available now on Bell devices, the 10 Spot Grab includes video highlights, screensavers and ringtones taken from shows in MTV’s 10 Spot programming block, broadcast Monday to Friday from 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm. "Over six million homes in Canada already tune into MTV and now Canadian viewers can keep track of the highlights and previews of their favourite 10 Spot programs anywhere and anytime," said David Inns, VP consumer marketing at Bell Mobility in a news release. The 10 Spot Grab will be available on video enabled handsets including the Motorola e815 and VC3 RAZR, Samsung a920, and Sanyo 8300 and 7500. Wi-LAN sells Til-TekGlobal broadband wireless communications solutions provider Wi-LAN Inc. has completed the sale of the assets of its Til-Tek Antenna Division to TIL-TEK Antennae Inc., a subsidiary of Kavveri Telecom Products Ltd. for approximately $1.8 million. "The acquisition of Til-Tek, a leading antenna manufacturing company recognized for base station antenna technology and product excellence is an important part of our expansion into the North American market," said Shivakumar Reddy, managing director of Kavveri, in a news release. Added Dr. Hatim Zaghloul, chairman of the board of directors of Wi-LAN: "Once completed, we will be a pure patent commercialization company except for an insignificant ongoing time limited liability for the warranty of the previously discontinued product lines: the LR2020 and the AWE family of products. Going forward, we will streamline the corporation to focus entirely on unlocking the value in our WOFDM, CDMA and WiMAX patents." Mitec to deploy BUCs in AfricaMontreal-based Mitec Telecom Inc. will be supporting a network for GSM backhaul in Africa with its high-power block up converters (BUCs), with deliveries scheduled to begin in the first quarter of fiscal 2007. Robert Mitchell, Mitec’s VP satcom, said the deal is valued at approximately CDN$500,000. He added in a press release: "We have been seeing increased interest in our products from network providers and operators serving developing countries. The cellular backhaul market is particularly promising, as our specialized power amplifiers have demonstrated their efficiency in very demanding geographical environments." Orb Networks expands support for online videoOrb Networks Inc., a developer of software and services that give people access to digital media, has expanded support for playing and recording Internet TV and other online video from any mobile device with a streaming Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, or 3GP player on any carrier network and Wi-Fi. Orb allows content providers to publish Internet TV feeds in their media format or bitrate of choice and still be sure that their audience can enjoy the content on their everyday mobile devices. "For example, if there’s an iTV feed of a live soccer match available online in Windows Media Video format only, I can still enjoy it live (or record it to view later) from the RealPlayer on my Nokia mobile phone," said Orb’s VP of product marketing Ian McCarthy in a news release. Telular Corp. to buy CSI’s fixed wireless businessCSI Wireless has signed a definitive agreement to sell its fixed wireless telephone (FWT) business to Telular Corp. of Vernon Hills, Il. Total proceeds of the deal are $14.8 million. The decision to sell the FWT business comes on the heels of CSI’s decision to sell its Telematics business. The company has chosen to focus all of its resources on its GPS products: its Hemisphere GPS division owns the Outback, Satloc and Del Norte brand names. "After much deliberation, we determined that the GPS and Fixed Wireless businesses would perform better, and be more appropriately valued, if separated," said CSI’s president and CEO Stephen Verhoeff in a media release. "We reviewed a number of alternatives, and determined that divesting our Fixed Wireless business to Telular was the best option." Stratos begins legal action against ExigenAdvanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions provider Stratos Global Corp. has commenced an action in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador against the Exigen Group for breach of contract and negligence. The action stems from a contract in which Exigen was to customize and integrate its proprietary CRM software for use within Stratos’ mobile satellite services business. Stratos has experienced cost overruns and delays as a result of Exigen’s inability to perform under the contract and failure to deliver a reliable working system, according to a Stratos press release. The company has filed a claim for US$7 million in damages, plus costs and interest. Infosat to address petroleum industry through Able applicationVancouver-based Infosat Communications Inc.’s acquisition of Able Communications Inc., a company providing turn key wireless communications solutions to the petroleum industry, is complete. Able will now operate as a wholly owned division of Infosat under the name Able Infosat Communications Inc. The company will continue to operate under the guidance of Able co-founder Ed Mallet from its Perland, TX location. "Being part of Infosat represents a major opportunity for our customers to access leading edge satellite voice and data communications from a service provider they already know and trust," said Mallet in a news release. Cell phone rewards option launched at Cape Cod supermarketRing Bros. Marketplace, a popular Cape Cod grocer, has launched Mobile Rewards from MobileLime, the first US-based company to turn cell phones into marketing, loyalty and payment devices. The platform allows the grocery store to offer customers exclusive member benefits, information-based alerts and instant savings on items through their mobile phone. "With MobileLime we are now able to communicate with our customers in real-time, instilling and rewarding their loyalty by offering exclusive savings and information based on their interests and buying behaviours," said Ed Ring, co-owner of Ring Bros., in a news release. The program eliminates the need for loyalty cards by having cashiers enter the customers’ cell phone numbers at the checkout. Camera phones to make history at World Cup 2006Mobile device management company SmartTrust says the proliferation of camera phones means this year’s World Cup in Germany will be the most photographed sporting event in history. The company estimates that 4.5 million images will be captured on spectators’ phones over the tournament’s four weeks. The findings are based on the company’s Mobile Trends survey, which showed that 63% of mobile users now own a camera phone, and spectators are expected to take an average of six pictures each during their trip. "Three million fans are expected to attend games during June," said Tim De Luca-Smith, communications manager at SmartTrust, in a media release. "There is an enormous opportunity to benefit from spectators keen to make their friends jealous by sending home an MMS of one of the greatest tournaments in the world." Bulldog launches latest cargo-securing productRichmond BC-based Bulldog Technologies Inc. launched its latest supply chain tracking product, the RoadBOSS GTS (Global Tracking Seal). The product provides security for intermodal containers and trailers travelling throughout North America by employing existing communications channels, GPS location technology and Bulldog’s patented sealing mechanism which completely secures both locking bars of a container or trailer. "By confirming seal integrity and providing a documented trace of the route and time taken for travel, the RoadBOSS GTS confirms no cargo has been removed or introduced into the container from the point of origin to final destination," said Bulldog’s president and CEO John Cockburn in a news release. Golf course-wide hotspots from GPS IndustriesVancouver-based GPS Industries Inc. has launched Inforezone, the latest enhancement to its Inforemer GPS golf management system. Inforezone enables golf course operators and golf community developers to become wireless internet service providers and turn their entire property into a wireless hotspot. The size of a hotspot with Inforezone is limiteless, according to GPSI’s VP of wireless solutions Peter Lesyk. It can service standard golf courses, which cover about 140 acres, or entire 1000-acre communities. "Because our Inforemer GPS system uses Wi-Fi as the communications vehicle, we’re able to easily add Inforezone to the range of management and marketing tools already in the Inforemer package," said Lesyk in a news release. "The obvious benefit to the golf course operator, or community developer, is a brand new and lucrative revenue stream. The bottom line potential for them is enormous."

ROW Short Takes

News | 05/04/2006 4:00 am EDT

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