RoW Update

RIM outlines future BlackBerry roadmap at PC ExpoResearch in Motion Ltd. unveiled the latest hardware, software, and services for its popular BlackBerry platform at PC Expo in New York last week. The Waterloo ON-based company also gave delegates a glimpse of future BlackBerry devices. On the schedule for later this year are new BlackBerry handhelds supporting GPRS, iDEN, and CDMA/1XRTT network protocols. More details. C-COM Satellite reports continued revenue growthC-COM Satellite Systems Inc. has reported second-quarter revenue of nearly $1 million, marking a second consecutive quarter with more than a 600% increase in revenue. The Ottawa-based company also reported reaching its break-even point and recorded a profit of $5,271. More details. Zi to sell VoIP and Bluetooth business unitCalgary-based Zi Corp. has agreed to sell its interest in Zi Services, its Hong Kong-based telecom technology unit. The company will be selling its stake to a publicly traded company that has yet to be identified. Company officials stated that the commercialization of these technologies would take more resources than it was ready to commit to the project."Zi has invested over $5 million in the Zi Services unit and the development of its technologies, and we believe that further investment will be required as the market for these technologies develops," chair and CEO Michael Lobsinger noted in a news release. More details. MDSI to divest ownership of hosting/IT services subsidiaryMDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc. will return ownership of Connectria, the company’s hosting and IT services subsidiary, to its former owners. MDSI has entered into an exchange agreement with Richard Waidmann and Eric Miller, under which they will receive all shares of Connectria in exchange for their shares in MDSI. More details. UPDATES ON THE EVOLVING WI-FI WORLD Wi-Fi hotspots are no threat to 3G in EuropePublic wireless local area networks (PWLANs) will not have a dramatic impact on existing and future third-generation wireless development in Europe, according a new report. The Yankee Group’s Public Access WLAN in Europe: A Technology in Search on a Business Case indicates that despite the projected future growth of the technology in Europe, this growth won’t "cannibalize 3G revenue to a significant degree." More details. Wi-Fi roaming made easierWireless hotspot aggregator iPass hopes that its generic interface specification (GIS) will help it become the de facto standard for roaming between wireless local area networks (WLANs). Most WLANs are built on different technology, making roaming among the various networks difficult, unless the networks are affiliated. GIS would provide users with the ability to roam among unrelated wireless networks. IPass has support on its side as well. "This generic interface specification is an important development for Wi-Fi network providers like hereUare," Jim Underwood, senior director of engineering and chief architect at hereUare, told a U.S.-based trade news web site. More details. Time Warner warns users providing Wi-Fi accessTim Warner broadband subscribers are being warned to stop providing free Internet access to others using 802.11b wireless networks. The company is saying that providing access for free to others is in violation of the subscriber agreement. It was only a matter of time before the large incumbent providers started to crack down on Wi-Fi free Internet access. The next step for them, however, will be to figure out how to cash in on the growing popularity of wireless networks. More details.

RoW Update

News | July 2, 2002

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