RoW Short Takes

Telus Mobility launches 1X wireless network Telus Mobility has unveiled its 2.5G wireless CDMA-based wireless network, commonly referred to as 1X. With the launch, the company also introduced its Wireless Velocity service. Wireless surfing speeds of 144 kbps can be attained but the network offers cruising speeds of about 60 kbps. Telus will offer its 1X services through the LG Electronics TM-520 phone and the Sierra Wireless AirCard 555. In its announcement, the company also unveiled two new partnerships. According to a news release, new alliances with Citrix Systems Inc. and Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Ltd. will provide Telus’ corporate customers with an end-to-end mobile computing system. Bell Mobility offers new pre-paid replenishment serviceBell Mobility is teaming up with Soft Tracks Enterprises and Scotiabank to offer Bell Mobility pre-paid subscribers a new method of topping up their account. The service allows subscribers to simply dial in to replenish their account by linking their bank account to their cell phone account. The payment service is facilitated by the Scotiabank through the subscriber’s bank of choice. This is a first in the Canadian market. Sierra Wireless and Casio to pursue expanded relationshipSierra Wireless and Casio have agreed to work together on a wireless connectivity system for the North American and European marketplaces. The first order of the working relationship will be to integrate Sierra Wireless’ AirCard 555 and AirCard 750 wireless modems into Casio’s Cassiopeia Pocket Manager BE-300. In the future, the companies will work on developing mobile systems ranging from personal use to the extension of corporate local area networks to field force applications. RIM’s BlackBerry moves into Australian marketResearch in Motion Ltd. has signed an exclusive agreement with Telstra Mobile, a mobile operator in Australia, to bring the popular BlackBerry wireless handheld to that market. Telstra would be the first operator in the region to offer the BlackBerry. Further details on pricing, availability and the official launch will be announced at a later date. Safety of wireless networks gets major boostThe assurance that wireless networks won’t become infected with viruses has been made a little easier as Network Associates has announced the availability of its Sniffer Mobile product. The security software works on current cellular and PCS networks as well as future CDMA2000 and W-CDMA network protocols. Network operators can also benefit from the product’s ability to manage both TCP/IP-based and mobile communications from one central location. Wi-LAN receives purchase order for new productsCalgary-based Wi-LAN Inc. has received a $2.5-million order for its latest product, dubbed the Ultima3 ER and RD. Wi-Comm United Communications (WCU), a major Wi-LAN product reseller in the Chinese market, has agreed to purchase a series of the company’s AWE 120-58 Ultima3 ER and RD products. Both wireless products operate in the 5.8 GHz frequency range. The 5.8 GHz band is ideal for the Chinese market, since the 2.4 GHz ISM band has been regulated for indoor use only. This latest deal is in addition to a previously announced $9-million purchase agreement between the two companies. Mitec Telecom receives $17-million contractMitec Telecom Inc., Montreal, has announced contract wins with three major telecommunications network providers, totalling $17 million. The contracts call for the delivery of a variety of wireless base station equipment, including 2.5G GSM and CDMA products. The three operators are located in North America, Europe and China. Airborne Entertainment introduces six new wireless gamesAirborne Entertainment has released new next-gen games that include multi-player and multi-level action. The first six titles range from arcade-style to adventure games. Airborne is innovating game play by adding features such as the "Hot Seat" where several players can play on one phone. Players can also initiate live chats with other players while the game is still active. New games are: BubbleBlast, Contamination, Engima, Magnetron, Super Bloc Bloc, and Quarantine. These are J2ME-based games taking advantage of colour capabilities. fSONA releases new product for wireless marketfSONA Communications has introduced a new free-space optics product aimed at the wireless carrier backhaul market. The SONAbeam 52-M addresses the need of increased bandwidth for carriers when they migrate from current network architectures to next-generation 3G technologies. Predictions point to a tripling of cell sites over the next five years as more carriers, especially in Europe and Asia, introduce more 3G systems. Consequently, the backhaul for these networks will need to be scalable to adapt to this growing demand for bandwidth. Wireless operators are challenged with trying to minimize capital spending while supporting migration to next-gen services. Action Radio acquires assets of Elyps DispatchAction Radio Solutions Inc., Montreal, has acquired all of the assets of Elyps Dispatch Solutions Inc. Elyps operates a radio communications network serving mobile workers at various companies and public utilities. "We have a firmly established clientele, highly competent personnel, reliable partners and a really solid financial situation," Action Radio chair of the board of directors Christian Paupe said in a news release. Handset sales to double Handset sales are expected to nearly double over the next four years, according to a study by In-Stat/MDR. Actual sales will increase from US$60 billion this year to more than US$100 billion in 2006. Last year, sales of handsets experienced difficulties related to overproduction, delays in releasing newer handsets and a faltering worldwide economy. The research group states that before sales can reach previous levels, handsets will have to be reasonably priced, have a colour display, be intuitive in operation, contain multi-function GPS capabilities, have multi-band roaming and have the ability to replace a cordless phone in both the home and the office. In-Stat/MDR also notes that content is key. "While voice will continue to drive the worldwide market for the foreseeable future, data can help drive handset sales, not to mention margins, as well as carriers’ average revenue per users (ARPUs) upward. This is contingent, however, on whether the content and price are right, which they currently are not." Psion Teklogix expands portable computer linePsion Teklogix has expanded its 8500 Series of rugged wireless computers, adding the 8560 wireless tablet that can be used in both fixed and vehicle-mounted configurations. Financial executives prefer cell phones, says studyA new study by RHI Management Resources indicates that most CFOs prefer using cell phones while on the go. While cell phones topped the list of gadgets at 42%, laptop computers came in second at 30%. PDAs came in third, while desktop computers and pagers rounded out the list, in fourth and fifth respectively. Redline sells more broadband equipment in United StatesRedline Communications Inc. has signed a supply agreement with Maika’i Systems of Hawaii. The Toronto-area company will supply systems, which will be used to support backhaul of high-speed voice, video and data traffic. It will also provide disaster recovery communications services. The deal was announced at the SUPERCOMM trade show and exhibition in Atlanta GA. IceFyre selects Nearson antennas for evaluation kitOttawa-based IceFyre Semiconductor has come to a supply agreement with Nearson Inc. Nearson will provide IceFyre with 5 GHz antenna technology for use in wireless local area network evaluation boards and reference designs. IceFyre began developing a partner program earlier this year to provide full-product systems to its customers. The addition of Nearson to its partner program enables the company to offer antennas from one of the antenna market leaders (RoW, Aug. 21/01). MDSI licenses North American public safety businessMDSI Mobile Data Solutions Inc. has announced that its U.S. subsidiary has licensed its public safety products to Datamaxx Applied Technologies Inc. The Florida-based firm gains North American rights to the technology and non-exclusive rights to the technology outside of North America. Under terms of the deal, MDSI will assign Datamaxx its existing contracts in the public safety market in North America.

RoW Short Takes

News | June 11, 2002

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