ROW Short Takes

Indian Railways to employ Nortel wireless solutionWireless communications technology from Nortel Networks Corp. is going to be used by Indian Railways to help improve the safety and efficiency. The Nortel GSM-R network will provide wireless communications along a 751-kilometre, 90-station line connecting Ghaziabad and Mugalsarai in India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh. As part of the largest signalling and communications contract awarded by Indian Railways, the Nortel system will connect train conductors, on-board crew, dispatchers, station personnel and other operations groups. "Nortel is committed to providing railway operators around the world with carrier-grade mobile communications networks and innovative solutions that boost railway efficiency, both in transporting passengers and carrying freight," said Graham Richardson, VP and GM of GSM for Nortel, in a press release. Intrinsyc, ARM team-up to save PDA battery powerVancouver-based Intrinsyc Software International Inc. has integrated its software for Windows Mobile powered devices and Soleus, the worlds first feature phone software platform based on Windows CE, with ARM’s Intelligent Energy Manager (IEM) software. This combines IEM software with Intrinsyc’s processor-level power management solution to reduce power consumption on mobile phones. "OEMs are constantly looking for ways to improve battery life in order to better handle the needs of customers who are increasing their application use," said Kevin McIntyre, ARMs IEM product manager, in a news releases. Intrinsyc’s power management technology and ARM’s IEM delivered power savings of up to 58% in common use scenarios in recent benchmark testing. Dollar-a-day prepaid service now available from FidoFido is now offering its prepaid service customers access to unlimited incoming calls for a dollar a day. Customers can choose from vouchers of $10, $20, $30 or $50 to suit their usage needs. "Fido customers using our prepaid service tell us that they want more flexibility in how they use their airtime," said Karim Salabi, VP of marketing at Fido, in a news release. "Now, all Fido customers have access to unlimited incoming calls, so they never have to worry about answering their Fido." Redline to deploy WiMax network in Gulf of MexicoRedline Communications and AlanDick, a communications network infrastructure solutions provider, are teaming up to set up the world’s first multipoint WiMax network at sea. The deployment will see Redline’s broadband wireless system connect 11 off-shore oil rig platforms in the Gulf of Mexico owned by Mexican oil company Pemex. "Redline’s RedMax products support several different data modulation schemes to deliver an unmatched combination of range, capacity, security, and reliability, even in very challenging environments like those found in the Gulf of Mexico," said Kevin Suitor, Redline’s VP of marketing and business development, in a news release. The oil platforms are located up to 16 km offshore from Ciudad del Carmen and span an average of 10km between each platform. Vidéotron signs with WmodeUnder a new multi-year agreement, Vidéotron ltée will outsource the management, discovery, delivery and payment for graphics, games, video, ringtones and full track music for wireless and cable subscribers to Wmode. "Our wireless product will enable us to fully develop our vision of technological convergence between our different digital platforms, namely the Internet, cable telephone service, and digital television," said Manon Brouillette, VP of marketing and new product development for Vidéotron, in a press release. "We chose Wmode because of their industry expertise and global leadership in content management and distribution." Vidéotron will offer subscribers digital media and content that can be accessed from browsers on a PC or mobile handset. Buzz Telecom’s dial around service now available to Fido subscribersBuzz Telecom Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Knowlton Capital Inc., is now offering its 10-11-555 long-distance dial-around service to Fido subscribers. Anyone making long-distance calls a from Montreal- or Toronto-based Fido cell phone can take advantage of rates like $0.045 a minute to anywhere in Canada and the US, and $0.07 to many parts of Europe. "We are pleased to be able to expand our network to include Fido and be the first company in Canada to offer this innovative long distance service from a mobile phone," said Rafi Hazan, president and CEO of Buzz, in a press release. GoTV launches fantasy sports networkAmerican made-for-mobile television studio and network group GoTV Networks has launched Fantasy Sports Edge (FSE), the only mobile channel for fantasy sports fanatics. FSE allows subscribers to customize and track up to three teams per sport in up to four leagues. Users can also tune in to view video highlights, commentary and updates from fantasy sports resources, standings, draft tips, rumours, transactions and injury updates. As well, daily scores and schedules are provided for the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, and NCAA football and basketball. According to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, 15 to 18 million people in the US participate in a fantasy sports team annually. AskMeNow for cocktail recipesIntelligent mobile search engine AskMeNow has partnered with iDrink.com to provide AskMeNow SMS customers with a daily cocktail recipe. For a flat monthly rate, customers can have the daily drink recipe, which will be pulled from iDrink’s database of more than 14,800 mixed drinks and cocktails, pushed to them. "We are continually striving to provide our customers access to a wide variety of information that is reflective of their interests," said Darryl Cohen, AskMeNow’s CEO, in a press release. "Partnering with iDrink.com allows us to provide our customers with the content they desire and market to an audience with a similar demographic profile as AskMeNow’s SMS target market." Go on a cruise, but stay in touch with landTravelers on all Holland America Line cruise ships will soon be able to keep in touch with family, friends and business associates with their own cell phones and PDAs while at sea. The cruise line’s new cell phone service will utilize SeaMobile Enterprise’s IP/software based solution that works with any type of phone. Said Stein Krause, president and CEO of Holland America, in a news release: "Staying connected is a way of life for most of us, our guests included. Now, whether cruising with Holland America Line in Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska or sailing around the world, our guests can connect at sea anywhere at anytime." The service is already available on the ms Volendam, and will be coming to all ships by March 2007. Belair receives $21.4 million in fundingKanata ON-based Belair Networks has secured $21.4 million in series D financing, led by Ventures West Management Inc., and including Trilogy Equity Partners, T-Mobile Venture Fund, Panorama Capital, VenGrowth Capital Partners Inc., BDC Venture Capital and MMV Financial. The funding will support BelAir’s momentum in the municipal networks space; the company has recently won bids for citywide wireless networks in Minneapolis, London UK, and Toronto. The capital will also be used to continue the company’s sales and marketing activities in the cable and cellular industries, and to expand further into international markets. VCom to buy more Wave Wireless assetsVCom Inc., a provider of broadband last-mile access technology, has issued a letter of intent to acquire the additional assets associated with the sales and marketing components of Wave Wireless Corp.’s 900 MHz business, including Wave’s wholly owned subsidiary WaveRider Communications Inc. "With the acquisitions of these WaveRider assets and their large established customer base, VCom will move into the forefront of non-line-of-sight, high-speed, wireless Internet access equipment which utilizes the unlicensed 900 MHz band," said VCom chairman and CEO Surinder Kumar in a news release. Sierra Wireless supports new Intel platformRichmond BC-headquartered Sierra Wireless Inc. collaborated with Intel Corp. to incorporate Sierra WWAN modules into Intel’s new 3G-enabled Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) platform. The platform is designed to provided integrated wireless 3G connections for ultra-mobile devices like small form-factor tablet PCs. Original equipment manufacturers and original design manufacturers utilizing the UMPC platform can now choose any of the Sierra Wireless PCI express mini card embedded modules to provide voice and high-speed data access to 3G networks. "We believe this will lead to the development of many innovative mobile devices, and we look forward to working with our OEM customers to bring these leading edge products to market," said Sierra’s senior VP of marketing and corporate development Trent Punnett in a news release.

ROW Short Takes

News | October 6, 2006

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