RoW Short Takes

Rogers to upgrade analog wireless networkRogers Wireless Inc. has announced that it will be shutting down its TDMA and analog networks effective May 31, and will move customers off these networks onto its GSM network. "By transitioning subscribers who are still on our TDMA and analog networks to our more advanced GSM service, these customers will enjoy the benefits of being on Canada's clearest network at no additional cost," said John Boynton, senior VP and chief marketing officer at Rogers Wireless, in a press release. Rogers' remaining TDMA and analog customers will retain their existing phone numbers and service plans after the transition.New versions of Zi's Qix to be unveiled at 3GSMAt the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona beginning February 12, Zi Corp. is expected to unveil the latest version of its search and discovery engine Qix, which will be extended across multiple platforms including Windows Mobile and S60 3rd edition. Qix enables the rapid discovery of contacts, features, services and other content on mobile handsets. New developments of the software allow for easy access to Internet sites, music and video indexing and additional playlist support. Last year Zi signed an agreement with T-Mobile for the deployment of Qix on 25,000 Nokia N70 handsets and other models.Phantom Fiber announces Mobile Banking, BrokerToronto-based mobile solutions provider Phantom Fiber Corp. has announced its banking and brokerage mobile platform. Mobile Broker includes: real-time buying and selling of securities and other financial instruments; streaming quotes; graphing facilities to display market data or personal watch lists; visual stock tracking tools; intuitive alerts and messaging support; and full customization facilities to maintain numerous stock or investment portfolios. Mobile Banking enables real-time cash transfers, bill payments, foreign exchange quotes and currency purchases, account management, and intuitive alerts with customization facilities. "Phantom Fiber intends to extend its market reach by expanding its products to other market verticals in 2007 and our in-depth expertise in the banking and brokerage area is the next logical step," said Jeff Halloran, chair and CEO of Phantom Fiber, in a news release.CSI to become Hemisphere GPSCSI Wireless Inc. has announced plans to formally change its name to Hemisphere GPS Inc. as part of a renewed focus on the strengths of its GPS business. Subject to shareholder approval, among other things, the name change will take place at the company's annual general meeting in Calgary on May 9. "We sold our wireless businesses last year and this year, as part of the refocusing on our GPS business, we are initiating a corporate re-branding strategy to leverage the leadership that our Hemisphere GPS brand enjoys in the market," said the company's president and CEO Steven Koles in a press release. Hemisphere GPS has seven new products scheduled for release in 2007.Sierra debuts HDSPA AirCard Down UnderRichmond BC-headquartered Sierra Wireless Inc. is now supplying the AirCard 875 wireless wide-area PC card to Australian telco Telstra. The card enables high-speed connectivity to Telstra's next generatio network. "The AirCard 875 offers Telstra customers fast, reliable network access with the additional benefit of worldwide high-speed roaming to provide international travelers with a simple connection to the people and information they need to reach work efficiently on the move," said Dan Schieler, Sierra's senior VP of worldwide sales, in a news release. The AirCard 875 supports peak theoretical data rates of up to 3.6 Mbps on HDSPA networks.SaskTel brings wireless services to the mining industryCellular service at remote mining locations across Saskatchewan such as Cameco Corp.'s Cigar Lake and Rabbit Lake uranium operations and advanced underground wireless communications at Agrium's potash operation in Vanscoy are a few examples of the innovative ways SaskTel is partnering with the mining industry. The prairie telco also plans to build cellular towers at other northern sites such as McLean Lake and Midwest in the near future. "SaskTel understands the needs of the mining industry," said Agrium Vanscoy mine manager Lawrence Berthelet in a news release. "The wireless communication system they provided for our underground operations is robust, it improves safety and it makes our operation more efficient."Bluestreak secures $5.5 million in financingWillington Financial LP has announced a $5 million debenture financing and a $500,000 operating facility for Montreal-based Bluestreak Technology Inc. Bluestreak developed the MachBlue platform, which powers user interfaces and applications on mobile phones and TV set-top boxes. The company won top honours in the Orange Partner Innovation Contest, which was awarded to the ‘best of the best' in innovative mobile products, services or technology concepts. "Wellington's funding will help us to make even greater inroads with existing and prospective customers, and to solidify our position as the rich-media platform of reference for digital entertainment devices," said Paul Forostowsky, Bluestreak's CEO, in a releaseTranzeo to buy Sensoria Corp.Tranzeo Wireless Technologies Inc., a Pitt Meadows BC-based designer, manufacturer and distributor of wireless broadband communication systems, has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Sensoria Corp. of San Diego. Sensoria is a expert in wireless mesh networks for broadband with a history of serving military and homeland security markets. "By combining Sensoria's robust self-healing mesh technology and their portfolio of patents with our manufacturing and marketing expertise and world-wide sales channels gives Tranzeo a competitive advantage and a more complete set of solutions to offer our customers," said Tranzeo's president and CEO Jim Tocher in a press release. The acquisition, which is subject to approval of the TSX, is scheduled to close on January 31Wi-Fi mesh equipment shipments to double by 2010New research from In-Stat suggests that the number of Wi-Fi mesh access point units shipped over the next four years is expected to double from 50,000 to nearly 100,000. Wi-Fi mesh equipment helps increase the range of traditional gear by using each access point as a repeater. The high-tech research firm says that equipment incompatibility issues could cause slower growth for the technology. "There is no industry standard for mesh networking yet, so interoperability between mesh vendors continues to be problematic; customers must purchase their Wi-Fi mesh networking gear from one vendor," reads a market alert. "However, Wi-Fi clients are standardized and prolific, providing a ready-and-waiting installed base for Wi-Fi mesh networks.Cell phone screen ads showing up in USAdvertising on the screens of cell phones is being tested in the United States, according to an article in the Chicago Tribune. Verizon, Sprint and AT&T (formerly Cingular) have started testing and it appears as though the carriers might make this more common by next year. Despite consumer concerns about advertising to the cell phone, the wireless carriers believe subscribers will adopt the ads because they will get free content or content at lower prices. Other carriers are promising to reduce subscribers cell phone bills for agreeing to view ads on their cell phones.Municipal wireless creates potential health risks: conferenceThe Wireless Cities Summit in Toronto this week heard that municipalities should be wary of deploying ubiquitous wireless networks. The president of Lakehead University said that people should be given the opportunity to determine if they want to be exposed to wireless signals or not. Fred Gilbert highlighted the potential legal ramifications from exposure, pointing to cigarette smoke and asbestos. He suggested that cities should identify hotspots so that people can decide to avoid them and that Wi-Fi-free zones should be created, and clearly identified.Lakehead University garnered significant media attention last year when it was revealed that the institution wouldn't allow wireless on the campus. At the time, Gilbert said Wi-Fi wouldn't be made available until such time as there is conclusive evidence stating that exposure to radiation from Wi-Fi doesn't pose health risks or that mitigation technologies are developed.Speaking on the same panel as Gilbert, Robert Bradley, director of consumer and clinical radiation protection at Health Canada noted that based on evidence gathered to date, there aren't any negative health effects from exposure to radio frequency radiation.

RoW Short Takes

Briefs | 01/26/2007 5:00 am EST

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