ROW Short Takes

eDispatch sets up committee to review Proprietary’s bidEDispatch.com Wireless Data Inc, Vancouver, has set up a special committee to review a hostile takeover bid launched by Proprietary Industries Inc. Proprietary’s bid is in opposition to eDispatch’s previously announced merger agreement with AirIQ. The special committee, which consists of independent directors, will be headed up by Stephen Willey and will consider any bona fide offer or acquisition proposal made for the company. Proprietary wants to remove eDispatch’s current board of directors and replace it with another board in order to better consider the AirIQ offer. Proprietary, which holds 12 per cent of eDispatch’s stock, is offering $1.05/share, plus another $0.05/share depending on the amount of available cash and short-term investments. Company executives have also said that liquidating the assets of the company is a possible solution for ensuring shareholder value for eDispatch’s current stock holders. Rogers Wireless plans to resell Infowave softwareRogers Wireless Communications Inc and Infowave Software Inc have entered into an agreement under which Rogers will resell some of Infowave’s software. Rogers will begin offering Infowave’s wireless business engine and the Infowave exchange connector to corporate customers which will use the software for secure, reliable, fast access to corporate data from handheld devices. The software provides Rogers’ customers with a real-time email system on a variety of devices. CRTC seeks comment on shortage of 519 area codeThe CRTC is seeking public comment on proposals to deal with the pending shortage of phone numbers in the 519 area code in southern Ontario. The effect would be the need to dial 10 digits for every phone number in the region. Some of the communities covered by this area code include London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Owen Sound, Windsor and others. The CRTC is proposing to overlay a new area code which would come into effect in 2005. Customers would then be given a two-month phase-in period during which the traditional seven digits would still function. After the trial period is complete, 10-digit dialing would be required. CMC Electronics awarded contract with U.S. ArmyCMC Electronics, formerly known as BAE Systems Canada Inc, has been awarded a follow-on contract by the U.S. Army for the supply of high-capacity line-of-sight (HCLOS) radios. The value of the options is US$9 million bringing the total value of the overall contract to more than US$40 million. CMC has been supplying the U.S. Army with HCLOS radios since 1998. They now constitute the RF backbone of its digitization capability. COM DEV signs marketing agreement for M/ERGYCOM DEV International Ltd, Cambridge ON, has signed a marketing agreement with Contela Inc of Korea. Contela is charged with marketing COM DEV’s M/ERGY wireless Internet system, which is based on the next generation of CDMA standard, 1xEDVO. The agreement also calls for potential future product development and distribution of Contela’s wireless systems and VoIP technologies. This is an important step in ensuring the M/ERGY brand name gets recognition in global markets, COM DEV’s COO John Keating said in a statement. CSI Wireless receives awardCSI Wireless Inc, Calgary, has received the "Outstanding Achievement in Alberta Science and Technology" award for companies generating annual revenue of more than $25 million. The award was given by the Alberta Science and Technology (ASTech) Leadership Foundation. Wireless Matrix in series of public safety trialsCalgary-based Wireless Matrix Corp has entered into a series of pilot agreements with U.S. public safety organizations as part of a broad-based field trial program. The pilots will be conducted using both of the company’s mobile base station (multi-mode) and SDM 1000 (satellite only) units. Eleven law enforcement agencies across the United States that have tested various wireless data systems have demanded a system with better coverage, especially for rural areas. These tests will be used to determine market requirements relative to product configuration as well as service packaging and support needs to meet the unique requirements of these 11 agencies. BitFlash releases software for RIM’s BlackBerryOttawa-based BitFlash has introduced a new messaging suite that supports Research in Motion Ltd’s two-way messaging device, the BlackBerry. The BitFlash Mobile Messaging Suite provides BlackBerry users with the ability to view graphics-rich email attachments. The software will be particularly useful for mobile workers in the financial sector, geographic information systems and energy markets. BitFlash is part of RIM’s BlackBerry Alliance Program. IDC to acquire satellite division from BroadLogicInternational Datacasting Corp has signed a letter of intent with BroadLogic Network Technologies to acquire its Satellite Express products business. The deal is expected to close early next month and financial terms of the agreement were not released. IDC will be acquiring a line of DVB-compliant satellite receivers, including the satellite express PCI+ broadband receiver and the satellite express USB broadband receiver. Code selects PowerLOC for location-based services Mobile wireless and GPS integration company, Code Technologies Inc, has selected Paradigm Advanced Technologies Inc’s PowerLOC division to be its location-based services technology provider throughout North America. Code will use PowerLOC’s products as a means of maintaining security for the parent company’s Auto Club of America fleet of vehicles. As part of the agreement, Code will acquire up to 40,000 vehicle location devices over the next 12 months with an option to increase quantities. Microcell i5 unveils initiatives at CTIA conferenceMicrocell i5, a subsidiary of Microcell Telecommunications Inc, has unveiled Masq, an extensible platform that enables mobile operators to implement secure mobile commerce systems. The company also introduced Masq Refill, an account replenishment tool that reduces the cost associated with refilling a pre-paid subscriber’s account. I5 also released Masq Access, a user authentication service which is geared to the corporate account market and Masq Payment a mobile payment authorization system. Fairlawn buys last mile system from WaveRiderFairlawn Technologies Ltd has agreed to purchase LMS2000 systems from WaveRider Communications Inc to establish a wireless network in Lagos, the capital of Nigeria. Installation of the system will be complete by the end of September and Fairlawn expects to begin offering service to the business community early in October. This agreement is in support of its strategic partner Emaar Properties PJSC under which WaveRider will continue to increase its presence and secure new contracts in the Middle East and Africa. Colubris announces new security measures in routersColubris Networks Inc has announced the availability of added security features for its CN1050 range of secure wireless LAN routers. The company has added both IPSec and L2TP to the routers. The new security features will be released in early October and will be offered as a free upgrade to all existing CN1050 customers. Teklogix and Omrom team to deliver RFID systemPsion Teklogix, a division of Psion PLC, has teamed up with Omron to deliver an end-to-end RFID system to the retail sector. The new relationship will see Omron use Psion Teklogix’s Workabout RFID handheld device in all of its retail customer systems. Omron chose the Workabout device because of its robustness and ruggedness in retail environments and ease of use and flexibility, which makes it simple to develop specialized applications. MTT Mobility expands PCS in Nova Scotia corridorMTT Mobility, an Aliant Telecom Wireless company, has completed a $2.5-million expansion of PCS coverage in the corridor from Truro to Amherst Nova Scotia. The route from Halifax to Amherst is covered in a fully digital network. Seven new cell sites have been activated in this project: Londonderry, Westchester, Wentworth, Clairmont, Thompson Station, Amherst and Pugwash.

ROW Short Takes

News | September 18, 2001

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us