
| FRIDAY - AUGUST 12, 2005 - ISSUE NO. 175 | ||||
Dear friends of Wireless Messaging and Paging, There is a lot of important news about the US Wireless Messaging Industry this week—and it is all very encouraging. The first major item is about SBC Paging:
SBC Paging, according to my estimate, has somewhere in the neighborhood of one-half million* pagers in service and is the fourth-largest Paging company in the USA. Although the purchase price has not been revealed, the important thing to note here is that a Paging Company has great value as an on-going business! Congratulations to Rodger McDowall and his team—good luck to all of you in your new venture. (*~460K to 530K estimate) Now about the number one company in the US Paging Industry. On Tuesday of this week, USA Mobility released their second quarter (2005) operating results. Their news release and a link to their 10-Q follow in the news section below. Quote:
The encouraging thing about their report is that the loss of paging customers continues to slow down in both absolute numbers and in percentages of the totals. There may be some lip waging and finger pointing when some people focus on the one-time adjustment that had to made to the total units in service when some errors were discovered while integrating the two large billing systems of Arch and Metrocall. It would be naïve to think that two large companies could be integrated without finding some problems in the billing systems. So when you take the total loss of 510K and subtract the 238K mistake that leaves only a loss of 272K for the quarter. Not bad . . . considering everything. I was expecting continued improvement, but not quite this much. Good job. So following is a review of the "net unit erosion" (by quarter) that I have been calling "attrition." I refuse to use that ridiculous term "negative adds" that I frequently hear. I have combined the Arch and Metrocall numbers (just for illustration purposes) from the beginning of 2004 even though they were not officially consolidated until the fourth quarter of 2004. All the following numbers were taken from news releases and/or SEC filings.
So there it is. One company with about 60% share of the US Public Subscriber Paging market—and their performance is improving. However, USA Mobility's president Vince Kelly made it very clear in this week's investor conference call that no "bottom" is expected in the foreseeable future—just continued moderate improvement. That's the way I see it too, although I am hoping for an industry-wide "bottom-of-the slide" before too much longer. Check out Bay Star's new AssistSTAR™ service offering below. This is just what some carriers might need to diversify and increase their revenue. Also, will someone please give Brad King a job! See his plea in the employment section. He is even offering a reward. (He is in the San Diego area.) Now on to the rest of the news and views. | ![]()
A new issue of The Wireless Messaging Newsletter gets posted on the web each week. A notification goes out by e-mail to subscribers on most Fridays around noon central US time. The notification message has a link to the actual newsletter on the Internet. That way it doesn't fill up your incoming e-mail account. There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. Readers are a very select group of wireless industry professionals, and include the senior managers of many of the world's major Paging and Wireless Data companies. There is an even mix of operations managers, marketing people, and engineers—so I try to include items of interest to all three groups. It's all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology. I regularly get reader's comments, so this newsletter has become a community forum for the Paging, and Wireless Data communities. You are welcome to contribute your ideas and opinions. Unless otherwise requested, all correspondence addressed to me is subject to publication in the newsletter and on my website. I am very careful to protect the anonymity of those who request it. NOTE: This newsletter is best viewed at screen resolutions of 800x600 (good) or 1024x768 (better). Any current revision of web browser should work fine. Please notify me of any problems with viewing. This site is compliant with XHTML 1.0 transitional coding for easy access from wireless devices. (XML 1.0/ISO 8859-1.)
The Top Five Market Segments for Messaging
USA Mobility reported that 65% of their customers come from these market segments. Source: August 10, 2005 USMO investor conference call. | |||
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| WIRELESS NEWS | |
USA Mobility Reports Second Quarter Operating Results Significant Improvement in Subscriber and Revenue Trends Continued Debt Reduction and Cash Generation Solid Progress on Merger Integration Objectives Financial Guidance for 2005 ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/—USA Mobility, Inc. (Nasdaq: USMO), a leading provider of wireless messaging services, today announced operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2005. USA Mobility was formed on November 16, 2004 by the merger of Arch Wireless, Inc. and Metrocall Holdings, Inc. USA Mobility's historical financials are those of Arch Wireless, which was deemed the accounting acquirer in the merger. Reported revenue for the second quarter of 2005 was $157.5 million, compared to $115.8 million in the second quarter of 2004, with the increase due entirely to the inclusion of Metrocall revenue for the three-month period ended June 30, 2005. Second quarter revenue decreased 4.9% from $165.7 million reported for the first quarter of 2005. The company's reported net loss for the second quarter of 2005 was $2.6 million, or $0.10 per fully diluted share, compared to net income of $3.1 million, or $0.15 per fully diluted share, in the second quarter of 2004. Included in second quarter 2005 operating expenses were non-recurring severance and related costs of $9.4 million. Units in service totaled 5,348,000 at June 30, 2005, with 4,496,000 direct units in service and 852,000 indirect units in service. USA Mobility reported a reduction of 510,000 units in service in the second quarter, including a one-time adjustment of 238,000 units (see explanation below). Excluding the one-time adjustment, net unit loss activity for the second quarter was 272,000 units in service, including 256,000 one-way units and 16,000 two-way units. One-way units in service at June 30, 2005 totaled 4,876,000 while two-way units in service totaled 472,000. For the quarter, average revenue per unit was $9.89 for direct units in service and $4.58 per indirect unit in service. "We continue to see steady improvement in the rate of subscriber losses and pace of revenue decline," said Vincent D. Kelly, president and chief executive officer. "Unit losses of 272,000 during the quarter compared to 347,000 in the first quarter and 388,000 in the fourth quarter of 2004 on a pro forma basis, represent an improvement in the sequential rate of decline from 6.1% to 5.8% to 4.8% over the past three quarters. At the same time," Kelly said, "the decrease in revenue of 4.9% for the second quarter improved from a decrease of 7.9% in the prior period. While we cannot ensure a continuation of these trends, we are encouraged by these results." "In addition," Kelly said, "we continued to make significant progress during the quarter to integrate our company. Key steps included consolidating the company's operating structure, reorganizing senior management, streamlining sales and marketing operations, conversion to a single customer billing platform, and solid progress in network rationalization. While the paging and wireless messaging industry remains highly competitive," he added, "we believe our efforts to successfully implement merger-related cost savings and operational synergies will allow us to continue to generate positive results over time." Kelly also noted that the company's financial position improved significantly during the second quarter. "Our outstanding bank debt was $26.5 million at June 30, 2005 and our cash balance was $42.6 million, putting us in a positive net cash position at mid-year. In addition, since June 30 we have repaid an additional $8.5 million of debt, leaving us with a total bank debt balance of $18 million and a cash balance of $39.8 million as of July 31, 2005. Because we expect to be debt free before the end of the current quarter," Kelly added, "our Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best interest of our shareholders to declare a special one-time dividend near the end of the year. The exact amount of the dividend and the date of payment have not yet been determined and will be disclosed in the future. Additionally, we have made no determination on future uses of cash beyond this one-time dividend. However, our Board will consider our options to return capital to our shareholders as time progresses." The company also announced financial guidance for 2005. Thomas L. Schilling, chief financial officer, said: "While projections are based on current trends and are always subject to change, USA Mobility expects to generate between $605 million and $615 million of revenue for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2005. The company also expects 2005 operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense) to be in a range between $465 million and $475 million. In addition, we expect capital expenditures for 2005 to range between $12 million and $15 million. This would put our potential year-end cash balance at approximately $75 million. We currently anticipate retaining approximately $25 million for working capital purposes and will revisit this requirement as time goes by and our operating expenses are reduced." Ending units in service at June 30th and revenue per unit for the second quarter reflect a one-time unit adjustment of 238,000 units (see attached schedule). The adjustment was made in connection with the company's recently completed billing system consolidation of Metrocall's legacy billing system to Arch's billing system. As a result of the consolidation, 77,000 units were adjusted due to the definitional differences between the two systems, and another 161,000 units were adjusted to remove cellular phones sold by Metrocall in prior periods that had been inadvertently counted as paging units in service in Metrocall's billing system. The unit adjustment had no impact on reported revenue, income or expenses for the second quarter or previous quarters. USA Mobility plans to host a conference call for investors on its second quarter results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, August 10, 2005. The call-in number is 888-203-7667 (toll-free) or 719-955-1567 (toll). The pass code for the call is 2516741 (followed by the # sign). A replay of the call will be available from 3:00 p.m. ET on August 10 until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, August 26. The replay number is 888-203-1112 (toll-free) or 719-457-0820 (toll). The pass code for the replay is 2516741 (followed by the # sign). About USA Mobility Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act: Statements contained herein or in prior press releases which are not historical fact, such as statements regarding USA Mobility's expectations for future operating and financial performance, are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause USA Mobility's actual results to be materially different from the future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expectations include, but are not limited to, declining demand for paging products and services, the ability to continue to reduce operating expenses, future capital needs, competitive pricing pressures, competition from both traditional paging services and other wireless communications services, government regulation, reliance upon third-party providers for certain equipment and services, the timely and efficient integration of the operations and facilities of Metrocall and Arch as well as other risks described from time to time in periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although USA Mobility believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. USA Mobility disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements. Source: USA Mobility News Release Form 10-Q for the quarter ending June 30, 2005. |
Homeland Security's Alert & Notification Market Sector is a Growing Opportunity for Roaming Messenger
August 11, 2005 01:34 PM US Eastern Timezone
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Aug. 11, 2005—The market sector known as the "Alert & Notification" sector continues to be a growing market opportunity for award winning Roaming Messenger® Inc. (OTCBB:RMSG).
This multi-hundred million dollar sub-sector of the Homeland Defense and Emergency Response market is rapidly growing as the need for new communication technology increases. Technology in general and IT (Information Technology) solutions in particular are leading a revolution in the way incidents are prepared for and responded to, thereby accelerating the expansion of the sector.
"Government Security News," a bi-weekly journal for the homeland defense sector, in their August 2005 issue, has published an article describing how technology, especially alert management technology, is giving incident planners and emergency responders a technical advantage over those who seek to commit disruptive acts of terrorism, or when major industrial accidents such as refinery fires or chemical plant explosions occur. The article can be found at http://gsnmagazine.com/jul_05_02/response_management.html. [copy of article follows below]
The publication, noting that nearly every airport and governmental or other major facility has already formulated a disaster plan, discusses how these facilities are now implementing alert management technologies to build on the investment of time and money that has already gone in to creating the disaster prevention and response plans.
When an event occurs, software automatically sends alerts and provides information which enables responders to be more proactive and helps them to coordinate activities between multiple responders.
Key to the workflow is a decision tree that allows personnel to be alerted in sequence, and asks them to check back in a certain number of minutes. If no check-in occurs within the required time, the alert management system will automatically roll over to the next person identified in the emergency plan. Alert management software—combined with an intelligent video security system—can guide responders through the real-time steps needed to address a threat.
Roaming Messenger delivers sophisticated capabilities beyond even the alert functions discussed in the article. All alert management solutions today use static technology such as e-mail and text messages. The problem with these technologies is that messages can be missed, stuck in spam, read at the wrong time etc. These problems are not conducive to effective incident response. The last thing a response management system should do is create more confusion by sending more useless messages.
Utilizing Roaming Messenger technology, alert management solutions can send out very intelligent, real-time and location based software "messengers" that can roam, locate and deliver highly interactive communications to responders in the field and carry responses back to the originating application.
Messenger based alerts can carry video, maps, text, or nearly any other type of digital content in their payload, which is displayed on the screen of the recipient's wired or wireless devices. This provides information about the scenario before responders arrive, rather than spending time assessing the situation after arrival.
The article concludes by emphasizing how this multi-hundred million dollar industry will continue to grow and rely on technology to advance at breakneck speed:
These tools can help security personnel do their jobs more effectively and extend security capabilities in ways that were not possible even a few years ago. As industry standards evolve and technology advances, the goal will be to identify problems and respond more quickly, more intelligently, and more efficiently.
"This article and other research pieces continue to validate our business plan and the benefits we deliver to this market sector. We continue to make good progress as we execute our channel sales strategy," said Jon Lei, Roaming Messenger's CEO.
About Roaming Messenger
Roaming Messenger is the provider of a breakthrough mobile messaging technology that delivers a completely new and better way for government agencies and corporations to extend information and business processes to the mobile world. The Company, based in Santa Barbara, California, has developed a proprietary technology that encapsulates workflow logic and data into smart software "messengers." Unlike regular e-mail and text messages, these messengers are encrypted, and have the ability to automatically move across wired and wireless devices, track down recipients, confirm receipt, deliver interactive content, and transmit real-time responses back to the sending application. The Roaming Messenger product is easily integrated into existing systems. It serves as a communication gateway to the mobile world for a variety of applications such as those used in emergency response, homeland security, logistics, healthcare, business continuity and financial services. Visit the Company's website at: http://www.roamingmessenger.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently; and other factors detailed in reports filed by the Company.
Contacts
Roaming Messenger
Carol Patterson (media) or Bryan Crane (investors)
805-683-7626
Source: Business Wire
Response management: the critical backend of security
August 2005
By BROOKS McCHESNEY
The security industry is catching up with the increasingly IT-based world. Technology is enhancing traditional uses of sensors and alarms and creating new advancements in the detection of security breaches.
But orchestrating an effective response to a threat is as important as detecting it in the first place. Intelligent software is being applied here, too, by enabling more effective response processes. Technology helps to organize people and drive response management after a threat or crisis is identified.
Workflow Enters the Security World
Typically, when a threat is detected at a transportation hub, mixed-use building or other large facility, extended teams coordinate a chain-of-command in real time as they mobilize. To implement processes and established guidelines, most responders rely on their memories of role-play simulations or procedures printed in binders located far from the scene of the crisis. Unfortunately, reality is generally far more complex—and the results less efficient—than the scenarios portrayed in training exercises.
One complicating factor is the large number of people and teams that must coordinate their efforts. Security at a large facility—such as an airport—could involve many constituents who are called upon to respond to a threat, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) federal security director, airport aviation security, airline security, and an extended network of local teams and agencies such as the local police and fire departments as well as medical providers.
A new direction in solving this problem has emerged from the world of IT and process management: workflow. Workflow has been applied to enhance organizational efficiency for many years, and sophisticated technology has been developed to automate it. Manufacturing plants and other complex environments, such as transportation and distribution centers, rely on workflow technology and processes to help people coordinate their efforts to achieve greater accuracy and efficiency. That same technology is now being used to drive response management.
Security workflow technology, commonly known as alert management, is designed to take effect as soon as a threat has been detected. Alert management software can rapidly inform individuals and teams of their roles, prioritize activities, provide updates on shifting security needs as situations change, and enable detailed situation analysis after the event to improve future response efforts.
There’s Already a Plan
Nearly every airport and governmental or other major facility has already formulated a disaster plan. Alert management technology builds on these existing “investments.”
Here’s how it works. For each type of security policy, plans are programmed into specialized alert management software. When an event occurs, a software algorithm identifies the type of problem or threat and the software automatically sends alerts and provides information which enables responders to be more proactive and helps them to coordinate activities between multiple responders.
The software complies with existing regulations and requirements for the types of security personnel alerted, in which order and through which procedure, as well as determining who gets to see specific information.
Key to the workflow is a decision tree that allows personnel to be alerted in sequence, and asks them to check back in a certain number of minutes. If no check-in occurs within the required time, the alert management system will automatically roll over to the next person identified in the emergency plan. Alert management software—combined with an intelligent video security system—can guide responders through the real-time steps needed to address a threat. The software uses text messages, still images, and video delivered via handheld communications devices.
For example, in a threat at an airport facility, police officers might receive a text message to go to the perimeter, view specific security cameras on their handhelds and begin to determine the cause of the event. Other police personnel may be instructed to handle crowd control in conjunction with some airport personnel who might receive the same message. Fire teams and medical teams could be called, if needed, and guided to the appropriate parking areas and informed how to enter a facility even as they are racing to the scene.
As a result, every security and emergency team can focus on effective response, rather than spending vital time figuring out how to respond. Resource management is a valuable benefit of alert management, helping to identify and mobilize the best responders, based on their training, location, and access to equipment—delivering time savings, optimum use of key personnel, cost efficiency and avoiding confusion over jurisdiction.
The alert management software system also maintains a log or archive of each detected threat as well as the response to each incident. These can be analyzed by management to identify issues such as times of day, types of access doors or response processes where security polices can be improved.
The Value of Accuracy
The security industry is keenly aware that false alarms are worse than having no system at all. Repeated false alarms can delay action in the event of real threats and can make security personnel less vigilant.
Technologies such as behavior recognition software are improving accuracy rates dramatically. In fact, behavior recognition software, working in tandem with alert management, has become the state-of-the-art for security technology today. But improvements are continuing to be made. One example is the critical need for an industry standard for accuracy. The Transportation Security Administration and the National Safe Skies Alliance, among other industry bodies and agencies, are involved in software testing that could become a foundation for vital accuracy benchmarks for security technology.
Looking Ahead
Security and law enforcement experts know that no two emergencies are exactly alike. In response, we are continually challenged to develop new security technologies and new approaches.
There is a major trend toward the application of advanced technologies, such as behavior recognition and alert management. These tools can help security personnel do their jobs more effectively and extend security capabilities in ways that were not possible even a few years ago. As industry standards evolve and technology advances, the goal will be to identify problems and respond more quickly, more intelligently, and more efficiently.
++++++++++++++++++++
About the Author
Brooks McChesney is president and Chief Executive Officer of Vidient Systems, Inc., which designs, develops and deploys behavior recognition software systems. He can be reached at: brooks@vidient.com
Source: Government Security News
Here is another interesting article from Government Security News about the 9/11 ringleader, Mohammed Atta.
Monroe County [Ohio] rejects call for radio-system help
Article published Wednesday, August 10, 2005
MONROE—A Monroe County commissioner last night was thwarted again in his two-year effort to have the board approve hiring a consultant to advise implementation of the county's new emergency radio system.
In his most recent attempt, Dale Zorn asked the board to spend $45,000 to hire a consulting engineer to oversee completion of the county's VHF paging system. But he could not get a single board member to second his motion, and the proposal died without a vote.
"We voted on that issue months ago," Commissioner Randy Ansel said. "We have our staff, Motorola, and the federal government working on this. Who needs a consultant?"
Commissioner William Sisk, who previously supported Mr. Zorn's request, decided last night to oppose the request.
"They have made improvements in the system. I have faith in the project team," he said.
Mr. Zorn told his fellow commissioners he was disappointed by their lack of support for the consultant.
He said he believes the $6 million federal grant the county received in 2003 to install the system required that a consultant be hired, that numerous problems with the system that went online this year prove a consultant was needed, and that the county's fire chiefs have been vocal in their support for expert assistance in the VHF portion of the project, which impacts them directly.
Mr. Zorn also said he believed the county wants to save whatever money is left over from the project to buy more equipment
"I guess that explains it," he said. "I wonder if the federal government knows our intent?"
Earlier, in a report to the board, county sheriff's Lt. David Thompson, who directs to radio installation task force, said that a number of the kinks in the radio system have been worked out.
Specifically, poor portable radio reception in a number of areas improved considerably after three malfunctioning amplifiers were replaced.
"We found out the switches were not manufactured properly," he said.
The system also has been improved, according to Lieutenant Thompson, by reactivating the Ida tower, giving the county four radio towers.
He said a fifth tower likely will be added in the near future when the county taps into a new tower being constructed in North Toledo. That connection will improve reception along the Ohio-Michigan border, where radio service has been spotty, he said.
Lieutenant Thompson said the VHF system, which will be used by the county's fire departments, will be enhanced once his task force gets approval by the Federal Communications Commission for a new frequency the county will share with the Bedford Township fire department and the Pleasant Ridge, Mich., police department.
The previous frequency selected is being used by the village of Whitehouse in Ohio. Officials there declined the share the frequency with Monroe County, Lieutenant Thompson said.
In other business, the board:
Source: The Toledo Blade
Rogers Communications Reports Second Quarter 2005 Results
Tuesday July 26, 7:36 am ET
[Single paragraph about Paging taken from the report.]
One-way messaging (paging) subscriber churn for the quarter decreased to 2.42% for the second quarter of 2005, and to 2.53% on a year-to-date basis. One-way messaging ARPU decreased by 2.3% during the quarter. With 179,300 paging subscribers, Wireless continues to view paging as a profitable but mature business segment, and recognizes that churn will likely continue at relatively high rates as one-way messaging subscribers increasingly migrate to two-way messaging and converged voice and data services.
Source: Rogers Communications
Read the rest of the report here.
| READER'S COMMENTS |
From: [name on file] Brad: I did what you probably did also . . . listen to the U.S. Mobility conference call today. Being the most obvious company in the paging industry, people would naturally look to them for information about our industry. However, I get alarmed over their message and corporate direction, i.e., their number one priority is to maximize cash distribution to their shareholders. This is a message one would hear from those who converted debt to stock and want to milk the cow dry. Furthermore, reducing their work force by 41% this year, decommissioning 2154 2-way transmitters (which I can understand), and projecting a 50% reduction in 1-way stations over the next year or so (from 18K to 8-9K), does not sound very optimistic. There is no mention about the GTES systems, or plans to improve existing service and implement new services to the public. Guess I'm rather disappointed because the message is one I might expect from a company in the process of liquidation. [name on file] |
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PDT2000 Paging Data Terminal
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I am an authorized Manufacturer Representative for Selective Communications. Please contact me directly for any additional information. | InfoRad® Wireless Office (Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP) is designed for the professional who needs full-featured wireless messaging capabilities. Features include enhanced user interface, message log with search function, scheduled Paging, group and individual message addresses, TAPI Smart™, multiple protocol SMS communication compatibility. AlphaCare™ support services available. With a 32-bit architecture, InfoRad Wireless Office is designed for compatibility with Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP. For more information on InfoRad Wireless Messaging software, and a free demo, please click on the logo. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Inputs/Outputs:
General:
Motorola brochure. CreataLink POCSAG 900 Mhz Telemetry Modules These are new closeout surplus and still in original Motorola packaging with very favorable below cost pricing. Several hundred are available. They have RS232 serial outputs in addition to the trigger points and the optional external antenna connectors. Please let me know if there is any interest in this opportunity. Estos son módulos de sobra, nuevos en su embalaje original de Motorola. Los precios son muy favorables, menos del costo original. Hay centenares de ellos disponibles. Incluyen salidas seriales RS232 en adición a los puntos de abre y cierra. También tienen conectores opcionales para antenas externos. Avísame por favor si hay alguna interés en esta oportunidad. | High-speed simulcast Paging with protocols such as POCSAG and FLEX™ requires microsecond accuracy to synchronize the transmission of digital Paging signals. ![]() Zetron's Simulcast System uses GPS timing information to ensure that the broadcasted transmissions between the nodes of the Simulcast System and associated transmitters are synchronized to very tight tolerances. This system is ideal for public or private Paging system operators that use multiple transmitters and wish to create new Paging systems or to build out existing systems into new regions. For more information about Zetron's High Speed Simulcast Paging System, the Model 600 and Model 620, go to: www.zetron.com/paging.
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Advertise Here Details about the advertising plans can be read here. |
Customers in Latin America may contact Brad Dye for price and delivery information. Español esta bien. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MORE TECHNOLOGY NEWS |
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In the Matter of Amendment of Parts 1 through 100 of the Commission's Rules to limit any attempt to implement any format of Understanding or to implement any format of Regulations applicable to Requirements for Regulation of the Rules of the Commission. | ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
WT Docket No. 05-501 RM-10781, RM-10782, RM-10783, RM-10784, RM-10785, RM-10786, RM-10787, RM-10805, RM-10806, RM-10807, RM-10808, RM-10809
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| NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING AND ORDER Adopted: July 15, 2005 Released: July 19, 2005 1000. A: No radio system owner, or radio system operator, or person or persons acting on the direction, or suggestion, or supervision, of any radio system owner, or radio system operator, may try, attempt to try, or make or make any attempt to try, to comprehend or understand, any or all, in whole or in part, of the herein mentioned Federal Communication Commission Regulations, except as authorized by the Administrator or an agent appointed by, or under the supervision of, the Administrator. 1000. B: If any radio system owner, or radio system operator, or group of associated radio system owners or radio system operators, becomes aware of, or realizes, or detects, or discovers, or finds, that he, or she, or they, are, or have been beginning to, or are about to understand the Federal Communication Commission Rules or Regulations or any of its provisions, (he) (she) (they) must immediately, within three (3) days of such discovery or awareness, notify, in writing, the Administrator. 1000. C: Upon receipt of any such above notice of impending comprehension, the Administrator shall promptly cause said Federal Communication Commission Rules and/or Regulations to be rewritten in such a form and manner as to completely and totally eliminate any further possibility of comprehension by any radio system owner, or radio system operator, or person or persons acting on the direction, or suggestion, or supervision, of any radio system owner or radio system operator. 1000. D: The Administrator may, at his or her option, require any radio system owner, or radio system operator, or person or persons acting on the direction, or suggestion, or supervision, of any radio system owner, or radio system operator, who commit(s), or attempt(s) to commit, or exhibit(s) any propensity to commit, the offense of understanding or comprehending the Federal Communication Commission Rules and/or Regulations, or any part thereof, to attend courses of remedial instruction in said Rules and/or Regulations, until such time as said radio system owner, or radio system operator, or person or persons acting on the direction, or suggestion, or supervision, of radio system owner, or radio system operator, demonstrate that they are no longer capable of exhibiting any comprehension or understanding of anything. Comment period: Persons wishing to comment upon said NPRM have until April 1, 2006 to send in comments regarding the above NPRM to the aforementioned agency, in triple quadruplicate. typed, certified, registered, no carbons, initialed and notarized with a photo identification authorized by the Transportation Security Agency, including original radio system license or licenses, medical certificate, three letters of recommendation from employer, police chief and FBI signifying no felony or misdemeanor convictions, poor work habits or personal disgusting habits which would offend the Administrator, including but not limited to: smoking, drinking, profanity, watching R rated movies, owning cable TV, non-church attendance, voting Democratic, listening to rap or rock music, joining trade associations, speaking to attorneys, or talking snippy to anyone in Gettysburg. Send comments to:
Include $29.95 for shipping and handling payable to: Administrator | |||
If anyone thinks that this is not a joke, please get in touch with me for the name of a good therapist.
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| Paging Seminar Specially designed course for sales, marketing, and administration personnel. Engineers will only be admitted with a note signed by their mothers, promising that they will just listen and not disrupt the class. (This is supposed to be funny!) This is a one-day training course on Paging that can be conducted at your place of business. Please take a look at the course outline to see if you think this might be beneficial in your employees: Paging Seminar outline. I would be happy to customize the content to meet your specific requirements. Although it touches on several "technical" topics, it is definitely not a technical course. I used to teach the sales and marketing people at Motorola Paging and they appreciated an atmosphere where they could ask technical questions without being made to feel like a dummy and without getting a long convoluted overly-technical answer that left them more confused than before. A good learning environment is one that is non-threatening. Let me know if you would like to receive a quotation, or if you would like to have any additional information. |
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Download Mr. Mercer's resumé. | Complete Technical Services For The Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.
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SATELLITE CONTROL FOR PAGING SYSTEMS $500.00 FLAT RATE TAPS—Texas Association of Paging Services is looking for partners on 152.480 MHz. Our association currently uses Echostar, formerly Spacecom, for distribution of our data and a large percentage of our members use the satellite to key their TXs. We have a CommOneSystems Gateway at the uplink in Chicago with a back-up running 24/7. Our paging coverage area on 152.480 MHz currently encompasses Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, and Kansas. The TAPS paging coverage is available to members of our Network on 152.480 MHz for $.005 a transmitter (per capcode per month), broken down by state or regions of states and members receive a credit towards their bill for each transmitter which they provide to our coverage. Members are able to use the satellite for their own use If you are on 152.480 MHz or just need a satellite for keying your own TXs on your frequency we have the solution for you. TAPS will provide the gateways in Chicago, with Internet backbone and bandwidth on our satellite channel for $ 500.00 (for your system) a month. Contact Ted Gaetjen @ 1-800-460-7243 or tedasap@asapchoice.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Want to help the newsletter? Become a SPONSOR Promote your company's image with one of the posters or better yet, one of the commercial advertising packages
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| EMPLOYMENT SECTION | |
Reward offered to help Brad King secure a job! Put Brad in contact the hiring manager of his new employer and when he begins working you get the reward. (Subway, Wal-Mart, Jiffy Lube, and Burger King don’t count) You will have your choice of a check for $1,000.00 or two roundtrip tickets anywhere in the lower 48 that Delta flies. For this noble act, in lieu of the reward, Brad will donate $1,000.00, in your name to the charity of your choice. (Prizes paid 30 days after he starts working because he needs the money) If it’s the Braille institute he will contribute another $500.00. Brad wants to thank all the fine professionals that have tried to help him land a decent job over the past five months. They include his friends at Daviscomms, Selective, Waveware, Bearcom, DPC, and Zetron. BUT “No Mr. Popow, Brad is not interested in taking a job in Fargo, ND.” See the attached resume then contact Brad for the summary of job parameters and the details here. (This message sponsored by Brad’s wife who really wants him out of the house!) His son needs some gas for the Jeep. Send Brad King an e-mail here. | With 30 years experience, a seasoned wireless industry executive that has the unique blend of strategic planning skills, balanced with operational management experience. You may download his resumé here. And you can send him an e-mail here. |
EXPERIENCED PAGING TECHNICIAN Knowledgeable w/ Glenayre 3000L and Motorola paging infrastructure. Full-time salary including health benefits. RCC in Allentown, PA. Send resume & salary requirements via e-mail to: nickb@cawinet.com | |
Now Hiring Motorola 2-way Radio Outside Sales Person Charleston, SC 843-266-6241 | |
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| Wi-Fi, WiMax, and VoIP News |
Groups Slam FCC on Internet Phone Tap Rule
By JENNIFER C. KERR
The Associated Press
Wednesday, August 10, 2005; 6:02 PM
WASHINGTON—New regulations making it easier for law enforcement to tap Internet phone calls will also make computer systems more vulnerable to hackers, digital privacy and civil liberties groups say.
While the groups don't want the Internet to be a safe haven for terrorists and criminals, they complain that expanding wiretapping laws to cover Internet calls—or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)—will create additional points of attack and security holes that hackers can exploit.
"Once you enable third-party access to Internet-based communication, you create a vulnerability that didn't previously exist," Marc Rotenberg, executive director at the Electronic Privacy Information Center said in an interview Wednesday. "It will put at risk the stability and security of the Internet."
Acting on appeals from the Justice Department and other law enforcement officials, the Federal Communications Commission voted last week to require providers of Internet phone calls and broadband services to ensure their equipment can allow police wiretaps.
The decision applies to Voice over Internet Protocol providers such as Vonage that use a central telephone company to complete the Internet calls. It also applies to cable and phone companies that provide broadband services.
The companies will have 18 months to comply.
"We recognize that people use different methods for communication and certainly most of the time the people are using the method that they can avoid detection most," said FBI spokesman Ed Cogswell.
Voice over Internet Protocol technology shifts calls away from wires and switches, instead using computers and broadband connections to convert sounds into data and transmit them via the Internet.
Besides the privacy and security concerns, digital rights experts worry that expansion of the wiretapping law, known as CALEA, will stifle innovation.
"Creativity and innovation will end up moving offshore where programmers outside the U.S. can develop technologies that are not required to address the onerous CALEA requirements," said Kurt Opsahl, staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "The U.S. companies will face competition from foreign providers who will enjoy an advantage."
The groups also argue that the FCC doesn't have the authority to order the companies to make changes to their systems for wiretapping purposes, since CALEA only pertains to telecommunications systems, not information systems like the Internet.
An FCC spokesman declined to comment.
The 1994 Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) required the telecommunications industry to build into its products tools that federal investigators can use—after getting court approval—to eavesdrop on conversations.
Lawyers for the Justice Department, FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration asked the FCC in March 2004 to affirm that Voice over Internet Protocol falls under CALEA.
Source: The Washington Post
Qualcomm buys Flarion for $600M
By Mike Dano
Aug 11, 2005
Qualcomm Inc. positioned itself squarely in the race to fourth-generation technology with the acquisition of OFDM technology start-up Flarion Technologies Inc. Qualcomm said it will pay about $600 million for the company.
"With this acquisition, Qualcomm will be in a stronger position to support advanced development in both CDMA and OFDMA technologies," said Paul Jacobs, Qualcomm's chief executive officer. "The combination of Flarion and Qualcomm's engineering resources greatly strengthens our position as a continued technology innovator and leader in the wireless industry. We believe CDMA will provide the most advanced, spectrally efficient wide area wireless networks for the foreseeable future, but with Flarion we can now more effectively support operators who prefer an OFDMA or hybrid OFDM/CDMA track for differentiating their services."
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex Access technology has often been named as the basis for wireless technologies beyond third generation. Qualcomm claims a leading patent position in CDMA and W-CDMA technology, and its acquisition of Flarion could give it a similar position for any 4G technology based on OFDM.
"With the transition to third-generation CDMA wireless services well under way, CDMA2000 and W-CDMA continue to experience substantial growth in markets around the world," said Steve Altman, Qualcomm's president. "The acquisition of Flarion establishes Qualcomm as a pre-eminent developer of emerging OFDMA technologies, enhances our internal OFDMA developments and, when combined with our existing portfolio, results in our owning an industry-leading OFDMA intellectual property portfolio."
Qualcomm's stock was up around 2 percent after the news to about $40 per share.
Founded in 2000, Flarion sells its Flash-OFDM technology around the world. The company boasts that the technology supports 1 to 1.5 megabits per second on the downlink and 300 to 500 kilobits per second on the uplink and a latency of below 50 milliseconds. Flarion has conducted numerous Flash-OFDM trials with the likes of Nextel Communications Inc. in North Carolina, T-Mobile International AG in the Netherlands, Vodafone Group plc in Japan and Cellular One in Texas. The company has also scored commercial deployments with Retel d.o.o. and Arbital Communications Sdn. in Zagreb, Croatia; Citizens Wireless in Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Radford, Va.; and most notably with Digita Oy to cover Finland.
Interestingly, Qualcomm is not new to the OFDM space. The company's MediaFLO mobile TV offering runs on OFDM technology.
Under the terms of the acquisition, Qualcomm said it will issue about $267 million in stock, assume existing Flarion options and warrants of about $128 million, and pay a total of $205 million in cash. Qualcomm also said it would take a hit of around 3 cents per share in its fiscal year ending September 2006 due to the transaction.
Source: RCR Wireless News
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| THE WIRELESS MESSAGING AND PAGING INFORMATION RESOURCE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||