RoW Short Takes

Whotspot trademark application filed Terry Fagen of 103 rue Silverbirch in Dollard-des-ormeaux QC has applied for a trademark covering "WHOTSPOT:: CONNECT.ANYTIME.ANYWHERE." The application was made by a federally incorporated company, 3940748 Canada Inc. Fagen would not provide further information regarding his plans for the use of the trademark when contacted by Report on Wireless. "Unfortunately, I cannot discuss this new venture at the present time. I am sure you will be interested in the concept, when we are ready to officially launch," Fagen wrote in an email. The company plans to offer installation of computer networks, computer time sharing services, transmission of data, and telecom services. RIM and JP Mobile team up Research in Motion Ltd. and JP Mobile have inked an agreement to co-develop data synchronization capabilities for JP Mobile's SureWave Enterprise Server in conjunction with the BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Initially, the two companies will work to make the SureWave server compatible with BlackBerry handheld devices. As a follow-on plan, the two companies will work to make both servers capable of data synchronization with devices based on other operating systems. In other RIM news, it is working with Smart Communications to bring the BlackBerry handheld product to the Philippines. The device will operate on Smart's dual band GSM network (900/1800 MHz frequencies). RIM has also announced that it is working with PalmSource Inc. to bring BlackBerry-like connectivity to devices using the Palm operating system. This agreement is part of RIM's licensing program, which is aimed at expanding the company's mobile connectivity technology to other devices. Contec to bring location-based services to China Contec Innovations Inc., Vancouver, has announced a plan to bring location-based services to the Chinese market. The service will be available to subscribers of China Unicom. Contec will provide its Hornet mobile application server as part of the project and will work with Beijing Xiejin Technologies to roll out the location-based services offering U-Map. The two companies have also agreed to work on other revenue generating applications for the Chinese market. AirIQ sells products to Lease Assurance AirIQ Inc. has sold US$1.3 million worth of equipment and services to Lease Assurance Corp. Lease Assurance, Lake May FL, will use the products to protect and manage its commercial vehicles fleet. The Florida-based firm is a special purpose finance company created to fund the acquisition of commercial tractors and trailers, and to acquire lease revenue for those vehicles. AirIQ enables Lease Assurance to monitor the location of its vehicles and, in the case of theft or default of payment, the vehicles can easily be located. Vistar receives major investment from government Vistar Telecommunications Inc. has received $5.25 million from Industry Canada's Technology Partnerships Canada fund as part of a $17.5-million project to develop a next-generation satellite-based telematics system. The new system will be used for wireless asset tracking and other applications for the marine, trucking and automotive industries. Ottawa-based Vistar is a subsidiary of NSI Global Inc. The next-generation telematics offering will be based on Vistar's GlobalWave system, but will be significantly enhanced by the message channel system technology. WaveRider expands sales capabilities in North America WaveRider Communications Inc. will soon finalize a new distribution agreement with Alliance Corp. covering Canada and the United States. When finalized, the agreement will give Alliance exclusive distribution rights for WaveRider's non-line-of-sight wireless products. This deal will complement WaveRider's direct sales strategy. The two companies have worked together since August 2002 for logistical support, during which WaveRider has experienced a nearly 100% year-on-year growth in direct sales. The reach of WaveRider's products will be substantially bolstered by the more than 15 Alliance sales representatives and more than 200 resellers. Wi-LAN works with Wi-Comm on new products Calgary-based Wi-LAN Inc. and Wi-Comm Communications Equipment Co. Ltd. of China have signed a product development agreement under which the two companies will work to enhance Wi-LAN's LIBRA product line. As part of the agreement, Wi-Comm has agreed to pay Wi-LAN $900,000 to accelerate further development of the LIBRA line in exchange for Wi-Comm receiving a licence to assemble and sell the products in China. According to an April 29 news release, this transaction will speed up development time on the LIBRA product line while allowing Wi-LAN to conserve cash. Bell Mobility offers email synchronization feature Bell Mobility has inked an agreement with Visto Corp. to bring mobile email synchronization services to Bell Mobility subscribers using devices such as Kyocera's 7135 model and Audiovox's Thera. The InfoXpress service, which is a Bell Mobility branded service of Visto's MessageXpress, offers access to both personal and corporate email. Telus introduces WLAN service for SMEs Telus Corp. has introduced a new managed wireless local area network (WLAN) service for small- and medium-sized enterprises. The service is designed to provide connectivity to desktop applications from PDAs and laptops without being physically connected to the network. The western-based telco has partnered with Cisco Systems Inc., Avaya, Netscreen Technologies Inc. and SpectraLink to better provide a system that best meets the needs of a particular organization. Infowave teams up with Symbian for wireless email Infowave Software Inc. has joined Symbian's Platinum Partner Program to develop and market wireless email systems. The two companies will work together to make wireless email systems, based on Infowave's Symmetry product line, available to Symbian partners around the world. The Vancouver company plans to release new products as a result of this partnership in the middle of 2003. Infowave has long been a partner of Symbian having been invited to participate in the Catalyst Program.

RoW Short Takes

News | May 13, 2003

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