| FRIDAY - JANUARY 14, 2005 - ISSUE NO. 148 | ||||
Dear friends of Wireless Messaging and Paging, On September 23, 1960 John Steinbeck left on a 10,000 mile journey through the United States with his dog Charley. He he started from Long Island, New York in a new pickup truck and went to visit his hometown in Salinas, California (and many other places). From his experiences on this trip he wrote a book—Travels With Charley—that won him a Nobel Prize for literature on October 25, 1962. While not pretending to copy Steinbeck, I left on a similar trip in a new pickup truck with my dog José, from Dallas, Texas in the fall of 2002. I am now starting another leg of my journey. I am relocating to my hometown in Southern Illinois for a while. So José and I will head west in a couple of days after I send out this newsletter. I will continue the newsletter on the same schedule as before and my consulting work will only be interrupted for about one week. I will be out of touch with e-mail for just a few days. The Virginia telephone number: will be diverted to a voice mailbox for at least one month. I will pick-up the messages remotely. I am starting to schedule my training classes for 2005. If you would like for me to come to your facility to conduct a one-day training course on Paging or Telemetry over Paging, please let me know. The course outline is here. Of course, it can be customized to include special topics. I just scheduled the first one this week. It will be in February on the west coast. There is a very funny story this week from some of my good friends in Mexico, below in the READER'S COMMENTS section. I continue to be amazed at the responses that I am receiving from the promotion of Payment Guardian. I get more phone calls and e-mails about this than anything I have ever done in this newsletter. I received my first negative message this week. You can see it and my response in the READER'S COMMENTS section. As you may recall from previous newsletters, I always try to report both sides of issues. I hope you find this issue as interesting as I did. Don't miss the two articles in the middle of the newsletter. One is about a GPS-enabled "driver-centric" navigation device that doubles as a full-featured Pocket PC, and the other is about "Watchdog Systems Pack a Bite." It includes some tracking devices, remote vehicle disable, and security devices enabled by two-way paging. In the Wi-Fi news, Intel will now lobby in support of municipal Wi-Fi projects. Now on to this week's news and views. |
Promoting Wireless Messaging, Telemetry, and Paging.
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 Eastern 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. 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.)  | |||
| WORLDWIDE EMERGENCY | ||||
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| WIRELESS NEWS | |||
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SATELLITE SECURITY SYSTEMS TO HELP TRACK ENGINE USAGE IN SACRAMENTO AREA VEHICLES Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District Contracts with Tracking and Monitoring Company SAN DIEGO—December 20, 2005—In order to measure reduced emissions from on-road diesel trucks and off-road vehicles, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) signed a five year contract for installation of Satellite Security Systems’ (S3) GlobalGuard™ technology. Up to 6,000 vehicles could be monitored to track engine runtime and miles traveled. As part of SMAQMD’s heavy-duty incentive program to reduce ozone forming pollutant emissions, GlobalGuard units will be installed on every participating vehicle, with SMAQMD offering financial incentives to public, private and heavy-duty diesel vehicle owners to encourage participation. The GlobalGuard units will track usage from vehicles and engines in Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, Placer, El Dorado and portions of Sutter County. Results including hours and miles traveled are collected monthly by S3, sorted by geographic region and electronically submitted once a month to SMAQMD. “S3 technology offers a very reliable solution for tracking the usage of thousands of vehicles,” said Larry Sherwood, the Mobile Source Division Manager for SMAQMD. “GlobalGuard will help us gauge the success of the emission reduction program for the next five years.” A communications system based on ReFLEX™ technology and Global Positioning System (GPS), GlobalGuard will provide tracking for distance traveled and exact engine runtime. The data sent to SMAQMD will not track where vehicles travel, only monthly totals for the regions. The communications backbone for GlobalGuard is the Motorola ReFLEX satellite communications system. The ReFLEX system is a secure, two-way messaging infrastructure that, compared with competing data networks, provides a wide range of crucial technical and economic advantages. Previously, SMAQMD relied on bi-annual hard-copy surveys mailed from program participants to track engine usage and were labor intensive. S3’s solution provides a more efficient approach by automating this process and guaranteeing accurate collection of information. About Satellite Security Systems Satellite Security Systems' applications secure, track, and control assets throughout the US, Mexico, and Canada for clients including military, government, police, and the consumer market. S3’s technology allows users to communicate with, monitor, track, analyze and control the movement of virtually any object in transit. A 24-hour, seven-day-a-week Monitoring and Support Center (MSC) is staffed with trained professionals to respond immediately to emergency situations. The integration of Motorola's two-way satellite communications, on-board CPU and an integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) make it possible for users to send data back and forth from a central command unit or monitoring center while being continually alerted to new or dynamic changes. The company’s active communication and GPS system can be incorporated into unlimited applications. For more information, visit www.satsecurity.com or call (877) 437-4199. # # # Source: Satellite Security Systems Nortel releases restated earnings, execs to pay back $9M in bonuses By Mike Dano As expected, Nortel Networks Corp. restated its earnings for 2003, 2002 and 2001. The company also announced it will install a chief ethics officer, and 12 of its executives will pay back a combined $8.6 million in bonuses. "With the completion of our restatements we have a solid foundation on which to move forward with our business," said Bill Owens, the company's president and chief executive officer. "I want to thank all our employees and partners, who have tirelessly dedicated their time and efforts. The restatement has been a monumental task, both complex and demanding. I also want to thank our customers for their consistent support that has allowed us to maintain our business and strong financial position during this time and continue our expansion in critical markets. We are well positioned for the future with an extensive global presence." In its refiled earnings, Nortel posted revenues of $10.2 billion and net earnings of $434 million in 2003. The company's stock was down more than 5 percent after the news to around $3.51 per share. Nortel said it is still working to file its financials for 2004. Source: RCR Wireless News President and COO Mike Zafirovski to Resign from Motorola SCHAUMBURG, Ill.—12 January 2005—Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT), today announced that Mike S. Zafirovski, 51, has decided to resign from the company. He will remain president and chief operating officer until 31 January and will then serve the company in an advisory role during the transition. “On behalf of Motorola’s employees, customers and shareholders, I want to thank Mike for his many contributions to Motorola,” said Ed Zander, chairman and chief executive officer of Motorola. “Mike's intense focus on improving the company's operations and product quality has helped us execute on our commitments, enabling Motorola to achieve increased customer satisfaction and strong financial performance. I know Mike will be very successful in whatever he chooses to do next.” “My experience at Motorola has been very rewarding,” said Zafirovski. "It’s been a great team effort, and I want to thank all the Motorola employees for their unmatched dedication, support and thirst for innovation. With the successful spin-off of our semiconductor business, Freescale, and our new organizational structure we have a stronger foundation in place today. I know Ed and the team will do a great job moving forward. “This is a decision I have considered carefully and which I discussed at length with Ed. This is the right time for me to start considering other opportunities,” added Zafirovski. Motorola recently announced a reorganization of its businesses and functions to align with the company’s strategy to make Motorola the world’s preeminent seamless mobility company. The presidents of the company’s four business groups, focused on mobile devices, networks, government and enterprise mobility solutions and connected home solutions, will report to Zander effective 31 January. Zafirovski will not stand for re-election to Motorola’s board of directors in May. About Motorola # # # Media Contact: FCC authorizes new South American satellite Jan 13, 2005 WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission granted Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary L.L.C. permission to launch a satellite to serve South America and the area between South America and the United States. The FCC said the authorization will increase competition in the global mobile satellite service market to the benefit of U.S. consumers. Last November, the Reston, Va., company became the first MSS licensee to win regulatory approval to supplement satellite operations with an ancillary terrestrial component. ATC enables MSV to build and operate land-base cellular networks in conjunction with space-based facilities. The mobile-phone industry has challenged the legality of the ATC feature in federal appeals court here, but the case is on hold until the FCC rules on petitions for reconsideration of the agency decision allowing mobile satellite operators to employ ATC. Meanwhile, Inmarsat, a competing satellite carrier, has raised concerns with the FCC about potential interference MSV-ATC could cause to its communications signals. MSV has accused Inmarsat of trying to obstruct competition in the MSS market. Source: RCR Wireless News SILENT PAGING SYSTEM IMPROVES EXPERIENCE AND PATIENT PRIVACY January 13, 2005 Restaurants use lighted pagers to signal customers their table is ready. Likewise, blue blinking disks help alert patients when the staff is ready to process their admission. At Saint Vincent Health Center, it's called the Comfort Call Silent Paging System. It increases efficiency and decreases the stress level. "You could have a really packed waiting room of 30-40 people on a busy day and it saves the nurses from yelling at the top of their lungs to get someone's attention," said Jodi Gross, St. Vincent Emergency Department Manager. But the practice of calling out the patients' names isn't just an annoyance. It's also a matter of protecting a patient's right to privacy. "We think the professionalism attached to it is key," said Rose DiLuzio, patient access manager. The pager allows patients and family members more freedom, including the freedom to get a cup of coffee without worrying about missing their turn. Saint Vincent currently offers Comfort Call to its patients in three wings—admissions, the emergency department and in the pre-admission and pre-surgical testing areas. "When you start something new, there's always some hesitation. How's it going to work. Is it going to be too confusing. Will people like it, but we haven't heard any complaints," Gross said. The hospital isn't worried about theft or damage. The disks only work within the building. The Saint Vincent Health Center staff believes other hospitals will adopt this new paging system. Source: 35WSEE-TV SMS@ctive™ Technologies Corp Announces Successful Completion of SMS T-Bar Beta Test Thursday January 13, 12:14 pm ET VANCOUVER, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Mr. Arshad Shah, President and CEO of SMS@ctive Technologies Corp. (OTC: SMSE - News) is pleased to announce that the Company has successfully completed its Beta tests on its latest mobile instant messaging product, the "SMS T-Bar". The SMS T-Bar is SMS@ctive's newest mobile instant messaging product. It is based on SMS@ctive's patent pending enterprise solution labeled the "Communication Bar" and the Jabber Open Source Instant Messaging Platform. Short message service (SMS) is a globally accepted wireless service that enables the transmission of alphanumeric messages between mobile subscribers and external systems such as electronic mail, paging, and voice-mail systems. The primary benefits of SMS for subscribers center around convenience, flexibility, and seamless integration of messaging services and data access. The most notable benefit is the ability to use the handset as an extension of the computer. SMS also eliminates the need for separate devices for messaging because services can be integrated into a single wireless device. Other SMS benefits include guaranteed message delivery; delivery of notifications and alerts; reliable, low-cost communication mechanism for concise information; and the ability to screen messages and return calls in a selective way. The SMS T-Bar will provide PC users with the ability to send SMS messages from the Microsoft Internet Explorer's menu bar to wireless users anywhere in the world and receive replies directly from the receiving wireless device. The reply will come back directly to the Microsoft Internet Explorer on the PC's desktop. This new SMS messaging platform is scalable to support virtually unlimited numbers of messages on a daily basis. Arshad Shah, stated "The Company's marketing and sales team have started to introduce the product with the successful testing of the SMS T-Bar. We will now begin to aggressively market the SMS T-Bar in People's Republic of China and North America. We are very excited about our prospects in the first quarter of 2005". Source: YAHOO FINANCE New hybrid cellphone-virus discovered 18:08 13 January 2005 A cellphone virus that uses several techniques to spread is the most sophisticated "mobile malware" yet, but experts say the risk of infection remains remarkably slim. The malicious software, called Lasco.A, spreads via Bluetooth, a short range wireless networking technology, and can infect smartphones running the Symbian operating system. It arrives as an executable file called "velasco.sis" and, once installed, automatically attempts to send itself to other phones within Bluetooth range. Analysis of the code shows Lasco.A is based on an earlier cellphone worm called Cabir.H. However, like many desktop computer viruses, the program not only spreads automatically, but also infects other .sis files on a host handset. Worms spread by simply replicating, while viruses spread by hiding themselves in a file. "This is the first mobile virus to have multiple ways of spreading," says Mikko Hyppönen, chief research officer at Finnish anti-virus company F-Secure. "I guess you could compare it to a Microsoft Windows virus." Easy insertion This is partly because the program uses multiple tricks to proliferate but also because the author has created a Windows program that lets anyone insert Lasco.A into .sis files. But programs like Lasco.A are still unlikely to cause a major outbreak, according to some experts. "It's fairly rudimentary," notes Graham Cluley, chief technologist at UK anti-virus firm Sophos. "We're not expecting anything." Cluley points out that Lasco.A can only infect sophisticated phones in close range of one another - within 10 metres. He adds that users also have to agree to install the program for it to work. "There are lots of barriers," he says. Isolated cases Although just a few cellphones are thought to have been infected, Kaspersky advises preventative measures. These include configuring a phone so that it cannot automatically be discovered by other Bluetooth handsets and refusing suspicious files. "Mobile phone infections are strikingly different from similar issues with regard to desktop computers so preventive measures must differ too," says Kaspersky Labs in a statement. "The primary difference being that mobile phone infections usually occur in crowded public spaces where many people are using mobile phones simultaneously." Source: NewScientist.com | |||
| READER'S COMMENTS | |||
Brad, I have been involved in two-way communications systems for over 30 year [sic] now and this Payment Guardian system you advertise is the most disgusting thing I have ever hear [sic] two-way systems being used for. It nothing more than electronic bounty hunting... How repugnant... It is sad for me to think I spent so many years building an industry just to be used by creditors securing their loans... It time I get out of the business... Shame on you for even mentioning such a use for two-way systems. [name on file] My response: Further comments:
I am sorry, but I am very sympathetic to people who have lost their jobs and are struggling—from my own personal experience. I think Payment Guardian is a great product and I continue to give it my support and endorsement. It is certainly generating more phone calls and more e-mails than anything I have ever done in this newsletter. I continue to work with the owner of the company setting up new dealers all across the United States and in several other countries. | |||
| THE PAYMENT GUARDIAN |
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Wireless Overview System Operation Payment Guardian requires absolutely no customer interaction and integrated seamlessly into the vehicles electrical system and is not visible to the customer, decreasing the possibility of tampering. Unlike other similar products on the market, Payment Guardian™ requires no keypads or input devices, eliminating the hassle of having to generate codes and giving those codes to the customer each and every payment cycle. With Payment Guardian?, lenders no longer have to rely on customers to enter codes into a keypad correctly. With Payment Guardian, only non paying customers require use of the system. Once the system has been activated in the customer’s vehicle—each time the ignition is turned to the OFF position, Payment Guardian reminds the customer that payment has not yet been received or insurance is not current and provides them with specific instructions to contact the leinholder immediately. If the reminder is ignored, you can simply activate Payment Guardian’s Starter Interrupt feature allowing no one to start the vehicle until the system is reset. Payment Guardian’s system control center has been designed to meet the different need of individual lenders and dealers that want a total customized solution to manage their systems, providing you with 3 different ways to use the systems features. This enables you to instantly activate system features, schedule activations to occur at a preset time or completely automate the systems features, allow you to just manage your systems with just a click of the mouse. System Features Audible Voice Reminder Starter Interrupt Emergency Override Vehicle Finder Door Unlock
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Daviscomms—Product Examples For information about our Contract Manufacturing services or our Pager or Telemetry line, please call Bob Popow at 480-515-2344, bob@daviscommsusa.com or visit our website www.daviscommsusa.com
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| Paging Training Course 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 training course 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.  CLICK HERE | Signal Pro Test Equipment For Sale
This equipment is used for monitoring, optimizing, and capturing paging data which includes full messages, capcodes, times, frame information, and other technical data. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 |  hmce@bellsouth.net  e-mailhttp://www.h-mce.com web site |
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Intelligent Paging & Mobile Data Products
Selective is a developer and manufacturer of highly innovative paging receiver/decoders and mobile data equipment including the PDT2000 Paging Data Terminal, THE MOST INTELLIGENT PAGING RECEIVER IN THE MARKET. The PDT2000 is a large display pager designed for desktop or in-vehicle mounting and is widely used by emergency services and in onsite paging systems for forklift dispatch etc. All of the following capabilities are standard features of the PDT2000 and of our other paging data receivers:
Our mobile data equipment includes a range of intelligent Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) which may be interfaced to a variety of wireless networks including GPRS & CDMA cellular. Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and GPS solutions, Dispatch & Messaging software. We offer mobile communications dealers and systems integrators a “fast to market” job dispatch and job management capability with the inbuilt job processing system which may be interfaced to a variety of CAD & JMS platforms. Specialised local area paging systems, paging interception and message reprocessing software, field force automation and mobile dispatch solutions. We do custom product development and export worldwide.
I am an authorized Manufacturer Representative for Selective Communications. Please contact me directly for any additional information. | TGA Technologies
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CUSTOM APPLICATIONS
Please call me so we can discuss your need or your idea. Or contact me by e-mail for additional information. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Advertise Here Your company's logo and product promotion can appear right here for 6 months. It only costs $500 for a full-size ad in 26 issues—that's $19.23 an issue. (6 month minimum run.) Details about the various advertising plans can be read here.
| Complete Technical Services For The Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.
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Remember that old word “Residuals”? The EE Group is actively seeking Dealers with sales/ service/installation capabilities to promote the latest wireless AVL, SCADA and data products from Telegauge Systems, Inc. This innovative program requires NO inventory and NO billing by your facility; you just sell it and sign up the end user to collect the commissions. Now the real reason to choose the EE Group and Telegauge over the host of others; we pay you permanent residual income every month on your airtime sales forever. Airtime commissions range up to 12% per month based on prior sales and you buy all equipment direct from the factory at 2-tiered wholesale prices as well for great margins. Telegauge builds fully 2-way overt and covert (hidden) GPS based Automatic Vehicle Location, SCADA, remote management, telemetry and data systems routed via cellular and satellite that are delivered to the end user via the Internet or direct to the desktop. Applications are both ‘canned’ and custom depending upon the customers needs. We even have full dispatch systems including credit card swipe and billing if needed. Finally, the prices on the product are guaranteed to be the LOWEST in the industry at under $600 retail for the equipment and from $6 to $30 on the monthly airtime with most customers in the $15 range. Note too that the price is the same for cellular OR satellite world wide coverage and no one else has this exclusive capability. Telegauge provides the product, software, airtime, billing and final information from a single source and you can be a BIG part of it. You stock NOTHING, just collect the checks. We are paid by the manufacturer to support YOU and unlike other factories; we never bid against you, restrict you or take your deal. We help you with demo equipment, brochures, information, sales assistance, web advertising and user name/passwords for the website so that you don’t even need to buy anything to start up fast. Contact us for a no-obligation CD of all the presentation and training material, price spreadsheets and information at: EEGroup@EEonTheWeb.com or for fast action call for a link to the Dealers Only page: 310-534-4456 and mention that you found out about it via Brad Dye’s Newsletter. You have nothing to lose and some great residual income to gain. Call or e-mail NOW. |  Building on its long success story in 1-way paging, Advantra International has become the expert in designing and manufacturing the most advanced and lowest cost ReFLEX™ radio modems for 2-way data-communication. The company also focuses on offering total telemetry solutions. Advantra’s current product mix of own products includes the ReFLEX™ radio modules Barran, Karli and Wirlki and the new, highly successful and very low cost location device, the Kepler. Advantra thanks its solid reputation to its world-renowned development team, state-of-the-art manufacturing, excellent customer service and its proven track-record. Sales and Marketing Contacts
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 AAPC Mission Statement To represent paging carriers throughout the United States to ensure the success of our industry by:
Our industry must move forward together or we will perish individually. AAPC links:
| 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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www.gtesinc.com GTES is the only Glenayre authorized software support provider in the paging industry. With over 200 years of combined experience in Glenayre hardware and software support, GTES offers the industry the most professional support and engineering development staff available. New Product Development New Hardware Platform
Continued Support Programs GTES Partner Program CALL US TODAY FOR YOUR SUPPORT NEEDS |  Wireless Communication Solutions The Hark ISI-400LX is a hardware device that encapsulates serial data into TCP/IP for transmission over the Internet. It can also be configured to convert incoming TAP messages from the serial port and send them over the Internet to paging providers in email (SMTP) or Simple Network Paging Protocol (SNPP) format. The ISI-400LX with the optional external modem can connect to a secondary dial-up ISP when a failure on the ethernet port is detected.
This device is the perfect companion for the Hark Gateway products. An ISI can be located at a remote location for receiving TAP, TNPP, or Billing traffic using a local ISP eliminating long distance phone charges.
System Features & Benefits:
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| NEWS |
Specialized Pocket PC navigates, reports weather, traffic Jan. 06, 2005
Mobile Crossing developed WayPoint based on extensive research into what drivers need, according to Calvin Chu, Mobile Crossing's product manager. "The very best road navigation systems provide instant access to the driver's basic needs with very little user interaction," says Chu. "These basic needs include finding parking and food, avoiding traffic, routing around a bad spot, getting to your favorite places easily, previewing weather along a route, and more. With the WayPoint navigation system the driver can do all of this with the click of a button." The WayPoint model 200 can connects to the Internet via a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone, using its built-in Bluetooth interface. Once connected, the WayPoint displays real-time weather and traffic. (The lower-end WayPoint model 100 does not include Bluetooth.) GPS-based navigation features provided by the WayPoint include spoken directions, full-color moving maps, personal landmarks, a toll-road avoider, real-time weather maps and forecasting, and real-time traffic reports with a unique "one-click-detour" function. The company also claims that the WayPoint offers the most built-in maps and POIs (points of interest) of any PDA-based navigation device currently on the market. Other features are said to include automatic Bluetooth GPS configuration, TurnAlert, and "GPS Demand Paging." TurnAlert is a safety feature that flashes a lamp in the driver's peripheral vision to signal coming turns even under low visibility conditions. GPS Demand Paging is a customized version of Microsoft's paging mechanism, modified to specifically improve routing performance, according to Mobile Crossing. The WayPoint is apparently based on a Pocket PC supplied by FIC, a Taiwanese ODM (original device manufacturer), fitted with a CompactFlash GPS receiver. Mobile Crossing lists the following features and specifications of the WayPort hardware:
The navigation device WayPoint is available in two versions. The entry-level model 100 targets "cost-conscious consumers" and does not include Bluetooth, while the higher-end WayPoint 200 features self-configuring Bluetooth GPS and comes with a one-year subscription to traffic and weather services. Source: WindowsForDevices.comCES: Watchdog systems pack a bite IDG News Service 1/11/05 Agam Shah, IDG News Service, San Francisco Bureau Wireless sensor-based products that monitor homes and alert owners about water leaks or unauthorized intruders, as well as issuing reminders about household chores that need to be done, were displayed last week at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Also shown was a device from Intel Corp. that monitors people and can alert family members or a doctor in an emergency. While Intel's product is still in the research phase, Eaton Corp. previewed Home Heartbeat, a wireless system that monitors household devices and reports problems like water leaks, power surges or open windows and doors, said Bill Murphy, engineering manager at Eaton. If a problem is detected, the system sends an alert to a user's cell phone, according to the company. A base station wirelessly communicates with sensors attached to water and power sources and entrances and exits. The base station in turn communicates the status of the sensors to the Home Key, a keychain LCD (liquid crystal display) that gives users a status snapshot of the home. The Home Key can also send an alert to remote users via SMS (short message service). In case of a water leak, a system add-on can shut off the water supply, he said. Home Heartbeat can also remind users to dump trash or clean dishes. This system offers only home awareness capabilities and will not compete with a full-fledged security company, Murphy said. The first version of Home Heartbeat will cost between US$150 to $200 and include one sensor. There are no monthly charges—users pay a one-time cost for equipment and sensor add-ons, which could range between $25 to $60. It will be launched in the second half of 2005, Murphy said. Future product versions will have motion detecting, smoke detecting, gas detecting and temperature detecting sensors, Murphy said. He couldn't provide a tentative release date for the new features. Intruders are the focus of Actiontec Electronics Inc.'s 54M bps (bits per second) Wireless Network Camera, a 802.11g wireless security camera that sends audio and video to a PC using a wireless router. If motion is detected, it automatically sends e-mail with a maximum of five seconds of video footage attached, according to the company. The camera records audio and video in MPEG-4 format, at a 640-pixel-by-480-pixel, 24-bit color resolution, with a time stamp and text overlay. It has an internal microphone, and a port for connecting an external microphone for higher quality audio. Up to four people can view footage over the Web simultaneously from remote locations. Software records footage to a computer’s hard drive based on a user-specified schedule—daily, weekly or on the spot. The $200 camera can be mounted indoors or outdoors and is designed to withstand rain and freezing temperatures, according to the company. It comes with a wireless antenna, an Ethernet cable, a wall-mounted bracket and a swivel stand. It is compatible with Microsoft Corp. Windows systems with Internet Explorer and ActiveX. and will be available in February on Actiontec's Web site, according to the company. Products incorporating GPS (Global Positioning System) technology to track pets or help parents keep tabs on their children were also displayed at the show. GPS Tracks' Globalpetfinder service uses a pet collar GPS-based tracking system to monitor the pets. The device communicates the location and movement of a pet, particularly dogs, to a cell phone, computer or personal digital assistant using the company's client software. The software can also alert users if a pet has crossed a "fence," or a virtual boundary created by a user. The collar and software cost $349.99, with a one-month subscription to the tracking service costing $17.99, according to the company. Crimestopper Security Products displayed TrakNet System TN-4200, a GPS-based vehicle tracking system that can start or stop engines and unlock car doors remotely. TrakNet users can track vehicles containing hidden GPS antennae. If a vehicle being tracked exceeds a speed limit or a boundary, an alert will sound, warning a system administrator to the violation. The system can also remotely unlock, start or shut down the engine of cars, but additional equipment needs to be purchased for that, said Howard Miller, president of Crimestopper. Shutting down a moving car can be dangerous, so the system sounds an alarm in the car to indicate that it will be shutting the engine off, giving the driver enough time to pull over, Miller said. Parents can use the TrakNet system to monitor their children's driving to, for instance, make certain they aren't speeding, Miller said. For a car dealer who has rented a car to a user, "if the renter doesn't pay up, this system can locate him and shut down the car," Miller said. The product can also be useful in fleet-tracking, he said. It will launch later this year and a price for the system hasn't been set yet, Miller said. Crimestopper also displayed a two-way paging security system for vehicle security. The SuperPage V CS-2014FM comes with a keychain remote with 3D LCD that can start a vehicle remotely and sound an alarm in case it detects an unauthorized car power-up. It will cost $349.95 and will be available next month. Source: ITworld.com |
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| WI-FI NEWS | |
Intel To Lobby In Support Of Municipal Wi-Fi Projects Wed Jan 12,12:28 PM ET Intel said Wednesday it will work to prevent legislation that prohibits or limits creation of wireless networks by municipalities. Sean Maloney, executive vice president of Intel's Communications Group, told the Wireless Communications Alliance (WCA) conference in San Jose that Intel would work to get municipalities and telecommunications vendors to cooperate on developing wireless access instead of being adversarial. An Intel spokesperson, Mark Miller, elaborated on Maloney's comments after the speech. "There's been what we call a fairly disturbing trend as cities prepare to unwire themselves and there's been an adversarial role between the public and private sectors," Miller said. One widely-reported conflict involved a municipal Wi-Fi project being launched by Philadelphia. Verizon convinced the Pennsylvania legislature to give telecoms the right to veto such projects if they plan to create a similar project themselves in the next 14 months. However, Verizon also gave the green light to Philadelphia to launch the project. Similar legislation is pending in as many as 17 other states, Miller noted. "We don't think that's necessary," Miller said. "We don't think there needs to be legislative bands or laws that dictate how this is to happen. There's a smarter, better way of doing this, so we've decided to get more public about it." He agreed that telecoms and other private vendors would understandably be upset if municipalities were offering free Wi-Fi or access that undercut private offerings. "We don't think that's a good model, but we don't think the right of first refusal is a good model, either," Miller said. "Sean was saying that a public-private partnership is the way to encourage broadband growth that will benefit everybody. It'll take various shapes but one example will be where a government figures out what it wants and opens up bidding. Then, a companies like Verizon and Sprint can compete for the contract." Miller said that because of the conflict, Intel will use its influence both in the technology and government sectors to encourage that type of cooperation. "This (Maloney's speech) is a formalization of where we're going," Miller said. "The next step will be to formalize the process in terms of how we work with legislatures. Lobbying is a charged word, but we're trying to use our influence to encourage people to work together." Intel, of course, gains from any form of wireless access since it makes chipsets for technologies such as Wi-Fi and WiMAX wireless broadband. Source: YAHOO NEWS |
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Mobile Crossing has released a GPS-enabled "driver-centric" navigation device that doubles as a full-featured Pocket PC. In addition to the usual navigation functions, WayPoint displays weather and traffic conditions, and provides one-touch access to features that enhance driver safety, the company says.
