RoW Short Takes

Decima Reader Online Poll October/November 2002Attracting skilled workers was a key theme of the Speech from the Throne, delivered on September 30. In relation to the communications industries, do you believe that: There is no skills shortage (22%). The skills shortage has been mitigated by heavy layoffs in the communications sectors (29%). Canada must immediately attract skilled workers from overseas with incentives and reduced red tape (4%). Canada must immediately invest more heavily in education to train Canadians for skilled jobs in the communications sectors (24%). A poor investment climate, and not a lack of training, is responsible for the skills shortage (21%). Text messaging hits milestone in NovemberThe Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) reports that there were 20 million "mobile-to-mobile" text messages sent in Canada in the month of November alone. That, according to the CWTA, represents a near doubling (98%) in traffic since inter-carrier text messaging was introduced eight months ago. The initiative was first announced in November at Communications 2001 (RoW, Nov. 13/01). "There is little doubt that SMS (short message service) interoperability is playing a pivotal role in determining the success of mobile messaging in Canada," the Yankee Group Canada’s research director Mark Quigley said in a news release. Globally, text messaging has grown from 2 billion messages a month to 16 billion in the last two years. RIM unveils 1X-enabled BlackBerry devicesResearch in Motion Ltd., Waterloo ON, has introduced the BlackBerry 6750, which operates in CDMA2000 1XRTT wireless networks. The device doubles as an email device and digital PCS phone, supporting SMS, web browser, PDA organization capabilities and Java applications. The 6750 will be commercially available in the first quarter of 2003 and will be sold by Verizon Wireless in the United States and Bell Mobility here in Canada. In other RIM news, the company has also announced that its 6720 wireless handheld is now available in the United Kingdom through T-Mobile UK. This represents the first 6700 series to be released in Europe. Additionally, the company has delivered a walkie-talkie version of its BlackBerry to U.S.-based Nextel. The 6510 is commercially available today. Hong Kong and Canada renew partnershipIndustry Canada and the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have renewed a memorandum of understanding that aims to encourage and support partnerships, investment cooperation, commercial ventures and research and development in the ICT fields between the two regions. The MoU was renewed at the International Telecommunication Union’s Telecom Asia 2002 trade show and forum. Agilent Technologies offer 802.11g test systemAgilent Technologies Inc. has introduced an array of analysis and test tools for 802.11g wireless systems adding to the company’s tools for 802.11a and 802.11b systems. The test devices are aimed at designers of these products. Psion Teklogix and Certicom partner for securityCerticom Corp. and Psion Teklogix have announced plans to partner to provide enhanced security systems for netpad handheld computers running on the Windows CE .NET platform. The integration of Certicom’s movianVPN into Psion’s rugged handheld computers addresses security concerns facing many organizations implementing mobile data systems. In other Certicom news, the company has terminated the lease agreement covering its facility in Hayward CA. The agreement is effective November 30. Learning another language, culture on the goThose interested in learning another language or gaining information about another culture, but don’t have the time, will be able to do so as a result of a partnership between Airborne Entertainment Inc. and Berlitz Languages Inc. Last week, the two companies launched Berlitz Mobile Alerts, which consists of 14 language and culture alerts offered on a daily subscription basis through SMS. Some of the daily language lessons include Word-a-Day, Phrase-a-Day and Business Phrase-a-Day in French German Italian and Spanish. Alerts on the culture side include Travel Tips and Culture Clues from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, South America and Asia/Australia. Bell Canada donates to Wilfrid Laurier UniversityBell Canada has donated $500,000 to Wilfrid Laurier University to support the chair in management of technology enterprises. Established by the School of Business and Economics, the chair will serve the Canadian technology sector through advanced research, teaching and management practice in entrepreneurial ventures. The contribution comes from the Bell University Laboratories program in conjunction with Research in Motion Ltd. and the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund totaling $1.5 million. Bell Mobility opens call centre in the WestBell Mobility has officially opened its western call centre and network switching and operation facility in Vancouver’s Broadway Tech Park. The 61,000 sq-ft facility houses the 145 current employees. The opening of the facility represents a local investment of $23 million. The network switching operations outfit will monitor the company’s 1X network it launched earlier this year in British Columbia and Alberta. Diversinet and MobileTech unveil licensing dealMobileTech Ltd. has licensed Diversinet Corp.’s Passport ONE wireless security software for integration into its mSuite product line. The Passport ONE product will help control access to sensitive information for those using MobileTech’s mSuite family of mobile commerce applications. Redline product gets approval from Chinese gov’tRedline Communications Inc. has announced that its AN-50 broadband fixed wireless product has been given the go-ahead to be deployed in China. The approval of the Chinese government was announced at the International Telecommunication Union’s Telecom Asia 2002 conference and trade show. "China is an extremely important market for us, as its telecommunications industry is absolutely booming. The infrastructure there will benefit greatly from our AN-50, which offers exceptional data rates, non-line-of-sight capability and superior robustness against interference," Redline’s VP marketing Keith Doucet said in a news release. In other Redline news, the company has announced that the European Union has also certified its AN-50 product for distribution and deployment on the continent. Infowave releases new Symmetry Pro versionInfowave Software Inc. has unveiled the latest of its Symmetry Pro wireless email services. The new version is optimized for the Treo device, manufactured by Handspring Inc. This latest product iteration also supports European languages and is compliant with data accelerator services. The new wireless email system also supports the latest networks, GPRS and CDMA2000 1XRTT. Roadpost offers holiday special for busy travelersRoadpost Inc. has introduced a holiday offer that should appeal to the busy international traveler. Signing up to the International Cellular subscription service, Roadpost is offering to take $99 off the purchase price of Motorola’s Timeport 7389 mobile phone. Glentel provides satellite service to U.S. DEABurnaby BC-based Glentel Inc. has announced that it will provision mobile satellite services to the U.S.-based Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The value of the contract is estimated to be more than US$500,000. "Utilizing a twin mobile satellite system, the mobile satellite communicators have a transmission reach from Alaska to the Caribbean. This will allow the DEA to communicate ‘on-the-go’ anywhere, anytime in North America," Glentel’s VP business services Daniel Lowndes said in a news release. Sierra Wireless signs deal with U.S. distributorSierra Wireless Inc., Vancouver, has signed a distribution agreement with Global Wireless Data (GWD). The agreement covers Sierra Wireless’ AirCard 555, which operates on Verizon Wireless’ Express Network. GWD will distribute the 555 to its channel partner customer base, which currently serves more than 500 companies in the transportation, public safety, manufacturing, field service, utility and other industry sectors. SRT receives major order; improves cash positionSR Telecom Inc. has received additional orders of $10 million from a telecommunications service provider in Australia. The orders, part of a multi-phased, multi-year frame contract originally signed in 2001, calls for the company to deliver 14 systems, including 85 repeaters and 340 terminals each of which can support up to 16 customers. The SWING wireless access system is made up of backbone infrastructure and last-mile access to subscribers’ premises. The gear is to improve telecommunications services to rural and remote parts of the country. Deliveries are scheduled to be completed in the first half of next year.

RoW Short Takes

News | December 9, 2002

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