| WEDNESDAY - OCTOBER 26, 2005 - ISSUE NO. 185 |
Dear friends of Wireless Messaging, I had a wonderful week—last week—traveling to the Wireless Messaging conference in Helsinki, Finland. As you may have noticed, there was no newsletter on Friday. I spent most of Friday flying over the North Atlantic Ocean at 36,000 feet with a ground speed of 553 miles per hour and an outside temperature of -70º F. according to the cabin monitor in the Finnair plane. Today's issue will have to count for two—last week late, and this week early. I will give you a summary of the conference, with several photographs, and then follow up in later issues with some of the great ideas that were presented by the speakers at the conference. HELSINKI—October 19, 2005—A new paging association has been formed. Successor to WMA (Wireless Messaging Association UK) and EMMA (European Mobile Messaging Association), the new association will retain EMMA as its name. Derek Banner, former chairman of WMA was elected chairman of the new EMMA and Jacques Couvas, former chairman of EMMA, was elected honorary president. Seven delegates were elected to the new board of directors and became founding members of the new association (see below for details). The new association will work to the same objectives as the original EMMA and will be open for membership to organizations throughout the world. A goal was set to forge links to other organizations such as the AAPC (American Association of Paging Carriers). Delegates and speakers from Europe, North America, and Australasia met to discuss business and technology developments in paging from global and regional perspectives. The meeting was sponsored by Tecnomen, a well-known company in Finland that has been active in the messaging industry for many years. Tecnomen develops and supplies messaging and charging solutions for telecom operators, and service providers worldwide. Tecnomen treated everyone to a wonderful evening, with a tour of Hvitträsk, a Finnish architectural museum, and an elegant Finnish dinner that included several local delicacies such as fish roe, cheese, as well as marinated elk and reindeer. Thank you Tecnomen for your kind hospitality. I need to find 10 Motorola VHF Nucleus paging transmitters. Please let me know if you can help. I am also looking for a good (new) 72 MHz receiver to use in paging base stations. 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 web site. 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.) |
| HELSINKI CONFERENCE REPORT |
THE CONSTITUTIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE NEW PAGING ASSOCIATION SUCCESSOR OF EMMA AND WMA HELD ON OCTOBER 19, 2005 AT 15:30 HRS AT THE SCANDIC HOTEL SIMONKENTTA, HELSINKI, FINLAND
A G E N D A
New EMMA Chairman
Derek Banner
Chairman
Wireless Messaging Association
Harefield, Middlesex UK
http://www.wirelessmessaging.org
New EMMA Board Members
| Dr. Dietmar Gollnick Geschäftsführer / Chief Executive Officer—Europe e*Message Wireless Information Services Berlin, Germany http://www.emessage.de/de/index.html | Ronald Wray Technical & Marketing Director Multitone Electronics plc Kempshott, Basingstoke Hampshire, UK http://www.multitone.co.uk/index.asp |
| Chris Jones Managing Director PageOne Communications Limited Brentford, Middlesex, UK http://www.pageone.co.uk | Brad Dye Wireless Messaging Consultant Wireless Messaging Newsletter Fairfield, Illinois USA http://www.braddye.com |
| Timo Kangas Director, Business Development Tecnomen Corporation Espoo, Finland http://www.tecnomen.com/ | Roy Chandler Chief Executive Officer Infostream PTY Ltd Belrose, NSW, Australia http://www.infostream.com.au |
| Kirk Alland Vice President & General Manager Unication Group—Unication USA Arlington, Texas USA http://www.uni.com.tw |
 | Conference SPEAKERS |
 |
Jacques Couvas
(Honorary President of the new EMMA) |
 |
Timo Kangas
(New EMMA Board Member) |
 |
Derek Banner
(New EMMA Chairman) |
 |
Dr. Dietmar Gollnick
(New EMMA Board Member) |
 |
Professor Adrian Boukalov |
 |
Chris Jones
(New EMMA Board Member) |
 |
Jim McLochlin Also representing: |
 |
Ronald Wray
(New EMMA Board Member) |
 |
Jim Nelson Chairman, President and CEO Prism Paging Roswell, Georgia USA http://www.prismpaging.com |
 |
Philip Hayes Director Park Magic Mobile Solutions Ltd Limerick, Ireland http://www.parkmagic.net |
 |
Paul Fitzgerald Director Park Magic Mobile Solutions Ltd Limerick, Ireland http://www.parkmagic.net |
 |
Brian Hick Managing Director DigiCall SA Denges, Switzerland http://digicall.ch |
 |
Roy Chandler
(New EMMA Board Member) |
 |
Eric Pozorski GM Sales & Marketing Infostream PTY Ltd Belrose, NSW, Australia http://www.infostream.com.au |
 |
Kirk Alland
(New EMMA Board Member) |
 |
Johan Ågren |
 |
Janne Luntta Director, Messaging Solutions Tecnomen Corporation Espoo, Finland http://www.tecnomen.com/ |
|
Brad Dye (New EMMA Board Member) |
Looking at a new pager during dinner |
Lunch break |
Touring Helsinki |
Conference dinner |
EMMA Mission Statement
Goals
| |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PAGING CARRIERS |
November 3–4, 2005
| ||||||||||||||||
| AAPC BULLETIN | ||||||||||||||||
| FEATURED ADVERTISERS SUPPORTING THE NEWSLETTER |
Engineering Services
Special Projects
Expense Reduction Services
|
THIREE TERM SUPPORTER | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Newsletter repair prices—starting at:
**Special pricing on cellular and pager refurbishment**
Ask for Special Newsletter Pricing. Please call: (800) 222-6075 ext. 306 for pricing.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Messaging Business Opportunity Supplement your existing business by launching this new AssistSTAR message distribution management system. Increase your revenue without purchasing a lot of new infrastructure, by starting out with a subscription service on existing equipment. What is AssistSTAR? Subscription-based AssistSTAR to start Server-based solutions when you are ready Time-critical response When every second counts, manage them effectively. You are invited to view our emerging case study presentation by clicking here.
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GTES has recently made the strategic decision to expanding its development activities to include wireless location technologies; a market that researchers forecast could reach $3.6 billion by 2010. In support of this new strategic direction, GTES has developed SHERLOC™ a complete one-stop wireless location service, providing the flexibility of being protocol neutral and network agnostic. Targeted at business customers who need to track their high-value shipments or better manage their service or delivery fleets, SHERLOC™ is a hosted application that combines configuration flexibility with ease of use. GTES is offering SHERLOC™ services both directly and through authorized resellers. If your company has an interest in finding out how location services can enhance your revenue stream, and has the contacts and expertise to make you successful in the location marketplace, please contact us for further information at www.sherlocgps.com and select “Reseller Opportunities,” or call us at 770-754-1666 for more information. 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. Continued Support Programs CALL US TODAY FOR YOUR SUPPORT NEEDS
|
 Wireless Communication Solutions
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
The Paging Industry expects quality, reliable, and high performance paging products. We at Unication have listened and delivered.
About Unication Co., Ltd.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Wireless Messaging Software
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
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 web site www.daviscommsusa.com
|  Prism Message Gateway Systems Your Choice of Options
Popular Choice for Domestic and International
Logical Choice
Go ahead . . . be choosy . . . choose Prism Systems International
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
eRF Wireless
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WIRELESS NEWS |
European Mobile Messaging Association and Wireless Messaging Association (UK)
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Timo.Kangas@Tecnomen.fl
HELSINKI, October 19.
The two industry bodies of the European paging industry—the European Mobile Messaging Association (EMMA) and the Wireless Messaging Association of the UK (WMA)—will hold on October 19 and 20 their first combined annual conference in Helsinki.
Delegates and speakers from Europe, North America, and Australasia will gather to discuss the business and technology developments in paging from global and regional perspectives.
"This is our first venture ever in Finland and we are very excited to b e here," says Jacques Couvas, Chairman of EMMA. "Finland was one of the pioneers of paging in Europe and a founding member of our Association, and hosts the leading manufacturer of mobile messaging infrastructure, Tecnomen Corporation (Tecnomen Oy)," adds Couvas.
This is the first time that the two associations combine their conferences. "It makes sense to do this," remarks Derek Banner, Chairman of WMA, "since our organizations are both in the same geographical region and have the similar issues to deal with in their respective areas."
EMMA and WMA are in talks for merging to form a global paging association, which will be open to industry players from all continents and will collaborate closely on common-interest projects with regional associations. "We want this new organization to become the global forum for industry-wide interaction," says Banner. The shape of this new entity will be discussed by the delegates to this week's Conference in Helsinki.
According to Jacques Couvas, "Paging is the oldest wireless messaging system after Morse transmission over radio waves." Launched in the United States after World War II, it was introduced in Europe in 1975 and flourished throughout the 1990s. The advent of SMS diminished its attractiveness to young consumers, who were accustomed to Calling Party Pays (CPP) messaging and constituted a volatile audience, but this medium is still cherished by professionals and public-utility agencies that need instant and multi-recipient broadcast messaging, with guaranteed time of delivery and proven reliability. This is consistent with the increasing demand for emergency communications required by government and business users alike. More than 15 million subscribers use today this technology around the world.
EMMA was founded in 1994, with membership throughout Europe, Middle East, and Africa. WMA was formed in 1996 primarily to cater to the needs of the paging operators and manufacturers operating in Great Britain and Ireland.
—END—
Source: Tecnomen
Please also see the attached [following] statement by PageOne Communications, Ltd. of the UK on the effects of paging on the rescue efforts during the terrorist attacks on July 7, 2005 in London.
PageOne Statement
The unfortunate events in London on 7th July 2005 demonstrated the importance of effective communications in responding to and managing major incidents and the increasing role that mobile messaging plays in emergency and business continuity plans.
Throughout the events of the 7th July and the subsequent days, PageOne services played a port in the operational communications of many organizations directly involved in responding to these events. Over this period PageOne distributed nearly a quarter of a million messages.
NHS trusts, emergency services, London Underground, and the rail companies all used PageOne's paging and SMS messaging capabilities to ensure a coordinated and informed response to the incidents. In addition hundreds of corporate businesses used PageOne as part of their own incident and business continuity and thousands of businesses across London were kept informed through the City of London Bombwatch scheme, operated by PageOne.
Whilst events demonstrated the growing role and acceptance of text messaging for critical messaging, it also reinforced the role paging still has to play in communication vital information quickly. Paging's inherent broadcast capability and protection from public peak traffic loads during such emergencies, ensures that even though the paging network experienced record traffic levels on 7/7, messaging was well within capacity, and the delivery of critical messages in a timely manner was unaffected. This mirrors the finding of several reports into communications during the 9/11 disaster in New York, which highlighted the critical role paging played.
Michael Cassidy, president of the London Chamber of Commerce, reinforced this point in an article in the Times soon after the July 7th attacks in London. Cassidy commented, "Firms needed to be able to communicate through a secure paging system in the event of further attacks."
SMS and paging together; a resilient communications method
Of course, paging forms only part of a wider communications plan. SMS text messaging is playing an increasing role within business. Businesses have realized that a resilient communication strategy, uses a combination of technologies such as paging and SMS. As a disaster will inevitably exploit weaknesses in any communications strategy, which is over reliant on a single network or technology—landlines can be damaged, mobile networks can be overloaded.
It is crucial that businesses ensure that they have effective plans for managing and responding to emergency, disaster, or even system failure. Many organizations are indeed currently reviewing their communications plans. Here' how our clients benefited from an integrated communications plan:
How messaging was used:
It was clearly vital for key organizations including the emergency services, London Underground, the hospitals, and the rail companies to keep employees informed and to issue instructions.
PageOne's Connect users include the North East London Strategic Health Authority, responsible for seven Primary Care Trusts, five Acute Hospital Trusts, and Health Emergency Planning advisors.
Senior Manger Emergency Preparedness Chris Drew commented "The system was effective on July 7 at a time when both cellular and land-line phones were unavailable. We were also able to use the system to cascade short 'headline' briefings to organizations throughout the day. In call, a very effective and useful system."
Business Continuity
PageOne is a member of 'Survive—The Business Continuity Group,' the leading forum for expertise and information exchange among Business Continuity professionals.
Survive's Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Lane told PageOne: "The events of 7 and 21 July in London resulted in many companies dealing first hand with a situation that had often been discussed, but which we all hoped would never happen."
"Those companies that already had Business Continuity (BC) and crisis management response plans in place, found their preparedness really paid off. Since the July attacks we have spoken with many of our member companies who were very happy with the way their plans were carried out. They were able to effectively assess the situation, consider the potential risks, and respond appropriately to minimize damage."
"The possibility that further attacks may occur is now a serious possibility, and therefore companies need to continue to improve their levels of preparedness. The City of London Police and British Transport Police have both warned businesses across the UK to have BC plans in place."
About PageOne
PageOne has been in data messaging for the past 20 years supplying paging and SMS services to both public and private sectors who demand extreme levels of resilience and reliability. PageOne focuses on helping businesses make the most of messaging, and our commitment to investment and innovation enables us to offer powerful levels of network capability to a broad customer base.
All PageOne systems are powered by its own flexible messaging platforms developed to enable the seamless integration of mobile messaging across different networks and technologies. These services have consistently been designed to meet and exceed the demands of an increasingly mobile environment, providing highly resilient and cost effective communications to thousands of organizations across the government, NHS, and major corporate sectors.
Press Contact:
Jason Bird
Stewart Muir Communications
T: 020 8917 4900
E: jason@stewartmuir.com
Source: Tecnomen
For Immediate Release Monday 10th October 2005
ParkMagic Test Pilot A Huge Success
Monday, October 10, 2005—With the pilot phase complete as of Saturday, October 8th, it is now official that participants in Limerick absolutely love the ParkMagic system for on-street parking payment and want to see it roll out nationally. A market analysis report conducted by the University of Limerick Marketing Centre clearly shows that motorists find the new system invaluable when parking and cite it being an easy to use, time-saving and efficient parking system that they would like to be able to use it across the country. Most importantly, 99% of all participants said they would continue to use ParkMagic after the pilot phase and are asking when it will be made permanent in the city. In fact, the pilot has been so successful in Limerick, that many other city and county councils both nationally and internationally have contacted the company for information on rolling out ParkMagic in their areas.
More than 400 motorists in Limerick have been using ParkMagic and usage increased by 200% over the first two weeks and currently an average of 43% of motorists who use the system are activating it daily. In fact, 41% of drivers have already used all their free parking credit and have been to shops to top-up in order to keep using the system. Participants have cited many advantages to using ParkMagic including:
90% stated the convenience of being able to pay by phone
80% stated the convenience of not having to walk to the shop for parking discs
55% stated not having to search for coins for pay and display machines
74% stated the speed of being able to park
54% stated the ability to top up your account credit in stores and by other means
Participants also cited that usage of the product throughout Ireland would prove advantageous
The pilot results were published in full today on www.parkmagic.net.
“We wanted to determine the real preferences of motorists,” said Paul Fitzgerald, Director, ParkMagic. “We know that drivers will vote with their wheels and park elsewhere if parking systems are not both easy to use and convenient and the results of the pilot really speak for themselves. It has clearly shown that ParkMagic is a time saving, easy to use system that motorists see as advantageous and want to use as a permanent parking system.”
Profile of Participants
Participants of the ParkMagic test pilot were 42% Male, 58 % Female with 53% between ages of 30 – 49, the over 50 bracket making up 23% and a further 24 % between the ages of 18 – 29. There were 64.4% of participants living in Limerick City, while 28.9% lived in County Limerick and 6.7% were from other counties. Research findings indicate that the distribution of workers and shoppers were almost equal with 41% parking for work purposes and 39% for shopping. Results also show that 42% of respondents visit the city centre on a daily basis, while 20% visit the city centre 4-5 times per week, with 15% visiting 3-4 times a week and 12% coming to the city centre more than 5 times a week. However, 50% of participants in the pilot are using parking systems 6 times a week.
ParkMagic was officially launched on July 28th by Minister for State, Ivor Callely, and is the world’s first in-car parking permit display system controlled using a mobile phone. The ParkMagic system can adapt to existing parking models and parking tariffs are charged at the regular rates with no additional charge to drivers using the system. ParkMagic is also easy to use for Traffic Wardens as it clearly displays that the driver has paid for parking and does not require any special tools, scanners, etc. for the wardens. The system was created by Philip Hayes and Paul Fitzgerald and following the success of the test-pilot, is now available to roll out nationwide and globally to city/county councils.
For more information about the ParkMagic system or where ParkMagic will soon be available in Ireland you can visit www.ParkMagic.net or click here 
to send an e-mail.
After Katrina, Justice weighs changes to wireless communications upgrade
October 24, 2005
By Chris Strohm
cstrohm@govexec.com
The Justice Department is moving forward with an effort to build a nationwide wireless communications system for federal law enforcement agencies, but is reviewing whether any of its requirements should be changed based on what happened to communications networks during Hurricane Katrina.
The department has issued a solicitation for the Integrated Wireless Network and is moving forward as planned, a Justice spokeswoman said Monday. The program is worth an estimated $2.5 billion.
The department, however, is examining lessons learned from the hurricane, which demolished or severely degraded federal, state and local communications networks as well as electricity and other public services.
"Katrina had a devastating effect on most public safety communications systems in southern Louisiana and Mississippi," Vance Hitch, the Justice Department's chief information officer, told a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Sept. 29. "Each of our components was able to re-establish emergency communications capabilities within days of the storm.
"However, based on this experience, the IWN program is reassessing requirements for how the IWN is built and deployed," Hitch said. "We will also look at strategies for reducing dependence on utility services that are at risk of damage or failure during a storm or a terrorist attack."
The IWN program is a joint effort between the departments of Justice, Homeland Security and Treasury. It is envisioned to support about 80,000 federal officers in all 50 states and U.S. territories with wireless communications capabilities, including Voice over Internet Protocol and streaming video. Based on the government's preliminary estimates, the program will require installation of communications equipment at about 2,500 locations around the country, Hitch said.
"Although most major metropolitan areas have some basic capability to link agency communications systems together to communicate in emergency situations, much of the country's existing capabilities are limited and do not meet the requirements for all circumstances," Hitch said.
"To date, the IWN program has developed a comprehensive set of functional and management requirements, conducted a technical assessment and market research into products and services that may provide the basis for the IWN system, and deployed several pilot systems to assess technology options and gain lessons learned on managing multi-agency systems," he added.
As of Monday afternoon, the department was unable to confirm when it plans to sign a contact for the program.
Source: GOVEXEC.com
 | |||
 | |||
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DANIELS Electronics receives ISO 9001:2000 Recertification Victoria, B.C. Canada - October 26, 2005 – Daniels Electronics Ltd., a supplier of high reliability Land Mobile Radio (LMR) radio equipment, today announced that its quality system has received recertification in accordance with the International Standard ISO 9001:2000. Daniels first registered its quality system in 1993 to the standard at the time ISO 9002. Over the past decade the company has continually improved its quality standard to meet the newest and most stringent quality standards leading to the industry standard ISO 9001:2000. The current recertification is valid until 2008. “Daniels is very pleased to be formally recognized by the industry as a design and manufacturing firm that operates in accordance with this stringent quality standard.” said Ken Parks, Daniels Electronics Technical Services Manager. “Being able to demonstrate to our customers that we adhere to the highest quality standard gives them confidence in our products and services, especially when they are being used in critical public safety applications.” About Daniels Electronics Ltd. Daniels Electronics Ltd. is a North American leader in the design and manufacture of customized radio communications systems for specialized applications. For the past 50 years Daniels has provided our customers in North America and internationally with highly reliable base stations, repeaters and paging equipment that is environmentally robust and operates in rugged and extreme temperature conditions where low current consumption is a key requirement. For more information about Daniels Electronics, visit www.danelec.com. | |||
| Contacts: | |||
| Public Relations Daniels Electronics Ltd. 250-382-8268 public_relations@danelec.com | Ken Parks Technical Services Manager Daniels Electronics Ltd. (250) 382-8268 ken_parks@danelec.com | ||
Rebate changes could flush out water's waste
October 19, 2005
Someday, it might pay to buy the device that waters your yard when a satellite says so.
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority today will consider changing its water conservation rebate program, eliminating some rebates in place of others to curb the real sponge: outdoor water use.
WATER-SAVING CHANGES Among proposed changes: Eliminating the $50 rebate for buying a dishwasher using less than 7 gallons of water per load. Increasing rebates to people who xeriscape, grade land to collect rainwater or use rain barrels rather than other water sources for irrigation. Right now, the utility gives a rebate of 40 cents per square foot for people who xeriscape. Under the proposal, people who go for extra methods would get 80 cents per square foot. Phasing out rebates for low-flow toilets, freeing money to be used as credits for outdoor water-saving devices. Changing building codes to encourage construction of homes that use 180 gallons of water per household per day, rather than 200 gallons per household per day. |
"In Albuquerque, during the summer, more than half of the water is used outside," said Katherine Yuhas, the utility's water conservation officer. "I think there's a big opportunity for outdoor water savings in Albuquerque."
Under the proposals, the $50 rebate for people who buy a dishwasher that uses less than 7 gallons of water per load would be gone.
Dishwashers account for just 2 percent of home water use, and Yuhas said there isn't a big difference between the high-water-using washers and others.
The resolution would also have the city and county require that all commercial and residential buildings convert to water-efficient, low-flow toilets, faucets and shower heads prior to resale.
If those ordinances come to fruition, the existing toilet rebates - $125 for the first toilet in homes, $75 for the second, $50 for the third and $90 for commercial buildings - would be phased out.
Since the rebate program started 11 years ago, the utility has given rebates for 50,000 low-flow toilets. The goal was 40,000. Fewer people are asking for the rebates, Yuhas said.
"The goal has been more than achieved," she said.
Now, she said, the utility hopes to use money saved from eliminating the toilet rebates as credits for outdoor water-saving technologies.
Those technologies include things like rain barrels or efficient sprinklers that water a yard based on weather information gathered from a satellite, Yuhas said.
Still, if people are looking to conserve water, the first place to look is in the toilet, said Frances Ortega, a research associate with the Southwest Research and Information Center, an Albuquerque nonprofit group interested in protecting natural resources.
"In the home, it's the toilet that's the main culprit of high-water usage," Ortega said. "I think there still needs to be some effort to switch out the older ones for the newer ones."
Yuhas said most toilets available to consumers now are low-flow.
Technology is evolving. Someday, the utility hopes to offer incentives to buy even more efficient toilets, such as ones that offer two types of flushes: less water for liquids, more for solids.
"The 1.6 gallon (per flush) toilets, they're probably standard now," she said. "What we want to offer a rebate for is going beyond and above that."
Source: The Albuquerque Tribune
This news article was sent in by Jon Word. Please see his comments below.
| READER'S COMMENTS |
From:jonw@selectpath.com
Subject: Re: Wireless Messaging Newsletter for Jon Word
Date: October 19, 2005 5:46:38 PM CDT
To: brad@braddye.com
Brad,
Thanks for your kudos and support. You are a true champion of paging and we are all very thankful for your efforts.
I have attached a Front Page article in today's Albuquerque paper regarding the City's efforts to revamp the water saving device rebate program to include sprinkler control systems and eliminate less effective rebates such as washing machine rebates This was a direct result of our year long efforts with the City of ABQ to have these implement based on our successful demonstration of the Hydro Pro 1000 wireless sprinkler control device. We think this is the best way to get these conservation projects moving. And it works using a PAGER.
If anyone, anywhere in the country gets involved in any of these type efforts, let me know and I will be happy to help them out or send them any of the materials we put together during our work with the City of Albuquerque. I will keep you informed of our progress. This just may be the push we need to get people to participate.
Jon Word
President
Contact Wireless
505-275-4664
| RAPID DEPLOYMENT EQUIPMENT |
Radio Van/Mobile antenna lab, IH 1974 load star 1600 4x6-304 gasoline engine rebuilt in 2002. Has a 100 foot extendable tower which nests atop vehicle that can be swung back and electrically extended. Has walk in box to set up radio equipment for testing and unit maintains small in unit generator for power. Unit has outriggers to stabilize while in operation. Asking
This truck and generator would make a great additions to any wireless company wanting to increase their emergency backup ability for storms and other catastrophic events. Stan Stann |  |
Kohler-325 KVA/260KW generator-info follows: 1 ea. Kohler Model 250 REOZD, Serial number 0621698, 260KW, 325 KVA at .8 power factor 120/208 VAC-3 phase 60 hertz 1,800 RDM on trailer, 3 axle with 400 gal fuel tank, powered by a John Deere engine, model number 6063TIC35. Note: Generator is new, only has 24 hours use. With generator is new never un-packed 1 ea. 800 AMP automatic transfer switch KCT-AHNA 0800S in one NEMA-3R tap box. Current cost for the above $64,827.18, we are seeking FOB our shop $52,240.00. Also have 8 Glenayre GTL 8500, 931.1875 MHz. Radios have GLS 2164 receivers, exciter, PP controls and Glenayre power amplifiers. We have 6 DB809 antennas all in the 929.240 MHz range. Should you have any questions or comments, please feel free to give me a call. Most sincerely, Stan Stann |  |
| FEATURED ADVERTISERS SUPPORTING THE NEWSLETTER |
| Intelligent Paging & Mobile Data Products PDT2000 Paging Data Terminal
LED Moving Message LED Displays 
Mobile Data Terminals & Solutions
I am an authorized Manufacturer Representative for Selective Communications. Please contact me directly for any additional information. |  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. Location Devices & ReFLEX Modems
Sales and Marketing Contacts
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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
* cost per week—six-month minimum—or 26 issues For more details, and pricing on the various advertising options please click here | CUSTOM APPLICATIONS
Please call me so we can discuss your need or your idea. Or contact me by e-mail for additional information. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Motorola CreataLink OEM Modules Specifications:
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.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 advertising plans can be read here. |
Customers in Latin America may contact Brad Dye for price and delivery information. Español esta bien. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TECHNOLOGY NEWS |
GPS-the newest tool for fighting crime
By Joni Morse
Oct 21, 2005
Technologies that employ some aspect of tracking and monitoring are all around these days, and although many people might consider such applications an invasion of privacy, it's hard to deny that tracking technology has crime-fighting applications that come in handy.
Take, for instance, the Bulgarian airport customs official who recently-and unfortunately-learned of the global positioning system capabilities in cell phones. The official allegedly lifted the cell phone of a U.S. ambassador while the ambassador was making his way through an airport X-ray inspection. When the ambassador realized his phone was missing, a search ensued in the immediate area, turning up nothing. The technology-savvy ambassador thought to fire up his laptop and activate his phone's GPS technology. Moments later, the customs
Another technology-inept culprit is now behind bars in Pennsylvania, for murder.
When Jimmy Davis rented a Lincoln Navigator in February 2004, he apparently didn't know that the vehicle was equipped with CSI Wireless Inc.'s Asset-Link GPS technology.
Davis drove from New York City to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where he shot and killed 42-year-old Sheryl Spiros, and then started a fire in her apartment.
The police had no leads for more than a year. In May 2005, they learned of the rented SUV's asset tracking device and contacted its developer, Calgary, Alberta-based CSI Wireless. The company sent Ron Ramsaran, a geomatics engineering expert, to provide his assistance as they built their case around GPS technology recorded in the vehicle's GPS equipment.
First, Ramsaran showed investigators that GPS placed the Navigator at Spiros' apartment building at the time the murder had taken place. Then, he showed them that the technology had recorded that the ignition of the vehicle had been started a minute before the Wilkes-Barre firefighters responded to the apartment fire. Next, the Navigator was tracked driving away from the crime scene, driving onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 80 in New Jersey, stopping along the way at hotels and convenience stores.
"The GPS technology showed us where to look for other evidence," said Jacqueline Musto Carroll, the first assistant district attorney in Luzerne County, Pa.
"As we reviewed the GPS information, we were able to obtain records from a New York hotel where the defendant had checked in, using his own identification. This proved that not only was the vehicle at the hotel, but that the defendant himself was at the hotel.
"And GPS pointed out that the defendant stopped at a convenience store. We were able to obtain video-surveillance tapes proving again that the defendant himself was at the same location as the vehicle."
Davis was arrested in July, and the case was set to go to trial. Before the case went to court, Davis pled guilty to third-degree murder. He was sentenced in Luzerne County Court Sept. 19 and now is serving 19 to 40 years in prison.
"The GPS technology fascinated me, and I know it would have fascinated the jury," said Carroll. "Ramsaran really brought the technology into laymen's terms. It was easy to understand."
"The technology can be used for both real-time or recorded tracking," said Ramsaran. "In this case, the recorded latitudes and longitudes pointed out not only where the vehicle had traveled, but also its speed and its ignition activities."
Ramsaran explained that CSI's Asset-Link technology usually is used to track the locations of fleet vehicles, and there are variations of what information companies can record. For instance, the CSI application can establish a geo-fence and then send an alert signal when a vehicle leaves the pre-determined area, such as crossing a state line. Or a company can be alerted when one of its vehicles sits idling for periods longer than it deems practical.
And just in case any wise guys think they can disable or remove the GPS equipment, think again. First, good luck finding the device. Ramsaran said although the device is an after-market product, it is installed in such a way that a vehicle would have to be dismantled to a large degree to disable or remove the device from the vehicle.
The system also has an internal backup power supply should the main power source become disconnected from the tracking equipment, whether it happens by accident or on purpose.
While every vehicle may not have GPS technology for at least a few years, location-based services quickly are being added to handsets.
ABI Research points out that up until a few months ago, Nextel Communications Inc. was the only wireless operator offering LBS in the United States. ABI said LBS should pick up speed in 2006, with Sprint Nextel Corp. leading the way, having already introduced an operator-assisted direction-finding service.
"When it comes to LBS, we've moved quickly from a walking pace to a run," said Kenneth Hyers, principal analyst with ABI Research. "As we forecast last year, GPS—an essential element for LBS—is starting to be included in GSM and W-CDMA handsets as well as CDMA."
Hyers explained that LBS will proliferate along with other services, like gaming, 411, messaging and photography—all of which will be bolstered and powered by LBS.
As for the crime-fighting possibilities, Carroll said: "It's an exploding science, and word of GPS technology is spreading around the criminal justice community. I wish every vehicle came equipped with GPS technology."
Source: RCR Wireless News
| FEATURED ADVERTISERS SUPPORTING THE NEWSLETTER |
| 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. |
| |||
 Download Mr. Mercer's resumé. CLICK HERE | Complete Technical Services For The Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.
| |||
hmce@bellsouth.net |  | |||
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 | ||||
Please click here to e-mail Ayrewave. |
| National Emergency Communications News |
Senate Commerce approves creation of emergency alert system
By Jeffrey Silva
Oct 21, 2005
WASHINGTON—The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved legislation to create a national emergency alert system designed to take advantage of wireless, Internet and other advanced technologies.
"I'm pleased that my colleagues understand the urgency of developing a comprehensive and modern alert system," said Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), chairman of the Senate Commerce subcommittee on disaster, prediction and prevention. "Without a way to properly alert those in danger, even the most accurate disaster prediction is useless. Today, we can use modern technology to reach Americans with critical safety information. With this bill, a mother picking up her kids from school would be able to have the latest alert for her community sent straight to her cell phone.
Sens. DeMint and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) introduced the Warning, Alert and Response Network Act last month.
The bill's $250 million authorized cost for research, development and deployment would be paid for with proceeds from the auction of TV spectrum as part of the broadcasting industry's transition from analog to digital technology. The Commerce Committee also approved a bill requiring TV broadcasters to return 700 MHz frequencies by April 2009.
The $250 million, to be controlled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, would be spread among a national emergency warning system, grants for emergency alert pilot projects and a tsunami detection and warning system.
"The WARN Act will provide an effective and consistent method to warn Americans when their life is at risk. While the warnings in advance of Katrina were very widely disseminated, we learned that the threat to life continues after the storm passes. This bill provides the tools to alert communities about the provision of ice, water and other life-sustaining resources. I'm very appreciative of Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens' (R-Alaska) leadership to make this critical need a top priority," said DeMint.
Much like the existing national warning system, largely unchanged since the Cold War a half century ago and currently limited to television, radio and cable TV operators, participation by wireless carriers would be voluntary. Mobile-phone operators choosing not to be part of the national alert system would have to disclose that fact at wireless retail stores. It is unclear whether cellular subscribers would be notified that their carrier has chosen not to transmit emergency messages.
A newly created national alert system administrator would be required to report in his/her first annual report to Congress when federal, state and local officials will be able to utilize the revamped warning network.
The bill requires the Federal Communications Commission to complete its emergency alert reform rulemaking within one year after enactment of the De-Mint-Nelson legislation.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs has endorsed the WARN Act. "This legislation would create a nationwide communications system to make first responders and the public better informed and prepared for all hazards, including terrorist attacks," said the IAFC.
The measure, now poised for action on the Senate floor, is co-sponsored by Sens. Stevens, Daniel Inoyue (D-Hawaii), David Vitter (R-La.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).
Source: RCR Wireless News
CongressDaily
Senate Panel OKs ‘09 Deadline For Digital TV Transition
By Drew Clark
(Thursday, October 20) By a 19-3 vote, the Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation setting April 7, 2009, as the "hard date" for the end of analog broadcasting. After that date, television viewers lacking a digital TV set or not subscribing to a cable TV or satellite service would need a converter box to receive digital broadcasts on an analog TV set.
The bill passed after the committee, by a 17-5 vote, rejected an amendment by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to move the hard date ahead two years—to April 7, 2007. McCain has pushed for an earlier date in order to free up a portion of the analog spectrum by use by public safety officials.
Joining McCain in voting to accelerate the date were two Republicans—Sens. John Ensign of Nevada and John Sununu of New Hampshire—and two Democrats, Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and John (Jay) Rockefeller of West Virginia.
On final passage of the bill—which is to be attached to the pending budget reconciliation package to be taken up by the Senate—the three “no” votes were cast by Kerry, Rockefeller, and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.
Introduced by Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, and Commerce ranking member Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, the DTV transition bill would create a nearly $5 billion fund from which a range of communications-related projects would be directly funded.
Included in this is $3 billion allocated for the set-top converter boxes allowing individuals with analog TVs to receive digital signals. Under the Stevens-Inouye proposal, viewers would have to come up with a $10 "co-pay" before purchasing such a boxes—but there would be no limit in the number per household.
It remains unclear precisely when the House Energy and Commerce Committee will mark up its version of the DTV bill—which is expected to contain a significantly lower amount, likely $1 billion or less, to subsidize the purchase of converter boxes.
Draft legislation circulated last spring by Energy and Commerce Chairman Joe Barton, R-Texas, set the firm date for the digital TV transition at Dec. 31, 2008.
Stevens acknowledged that many Republicans are seeking a smaller subsidy for the converter boxes than the amount contained in the Senate Commerce Committee plan. But he said that any floor amendment to strip the $3 billion subsidy from the reconciliation bill is likely to fail.
During Thursday’s session, Stevens urged committee members to reject the amendment by McCain for the earlier transition date. Stevens contended that enacting a 2007 transition date would yield lower revenues from the auction of the analog spectrum than waiting until 2009.
He also contended there would be higher subsidies needed for the converter boxes under an earlier date, because the cost of such boxes are expected to come down with time.
But McCain—who chaired the Commerce panel until being forced to step down late last year due to GOP term limit rules—disputed Stevens' contention that set-top boxes would be unduly costly in 2007.
He cited testimony before the committee from Motorola and chip-manufacturer Zoran that such converter boxes could be available for less than $67 in time for a 2007 transition date.
McCain also emphasized the need to get public safety officials a share of the analog spectrum quickly. He cited support from the 9/11 commission for an expedited date.
"We all found out on 9/11, and during [Hurricane] Katrina that the failure of first responders to be able to communicate with each other has a devastating impact," McCain said.
When broadcasters vacate the frequencies they currently use to transmit analog television, public safety officials will have access to 24 megahertz of radio frequencies. An additional 60 MHz of spectrum is set to be auctioned to telecommunications companies.
CBO has estimated that such an auction will raise $10 billion for the federal treasury, although some estimates from technology firms put that amount considerably higher—at close to $30 billion.
"There is only one thing more important than money, and that is lives," McCain declared—referring to the spectrum that public safety agencies stand to receive for improved communications systems.
In a statement after the vote, Kerry—the Democrats’ 2004 presidential nominee—charged: “We've talked for years about the importance of getting new spectrum in the hands of our first responders. But today that priority was a casualty of the clout that powerful interests wield in Congress and a process driven by gimmicks aimed at making a fiscally irresponsible budget more palatable."
But Stevens said McCain's amendment "does not meet our reconciliation" targets set down by the Senate Budget Committee.
It is from the $10 billion in auction revenues that the Stevens-Inouye bill would draw $4.975 billion into a special communications fund. The remaining $5 billion would go the Treasury—exceeding the $4.8 billion revenue target set for the committee by the Senate Budget Committee.
Stevens also said that he aimed to help first responders meet the need for interoperable communication by borrowing money against the anticipated auction revenue. "The problem with first responders is not spectrum, it is the money to start ordering the new equipment," Stevens said.
In addition to the $3 billion for converter boxes, the special communications fund would pay for: $200 million for a program to convert low-power television stations to digital; $1.25 billion for emergency communications (of which $250 million would be devoted to a national alert system, including $50 million for a tsunami warning system); $250 million for a program to implement emergency 911 calling; and $200 million for a program to provide assistance to coastal states and Indian tribes affected by natural disasters.
Under an amendment by Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., which was accepted, another $75 million from the fund was allocated to the "essential air service"—a program under the jurisdiction of the Commerce Committee. That amount essentially represented the difference between the funding level that the Commerce Committee had authorized and the spending level approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Source: National Journal's Telecom Update
| UNTIL NEXT WEEK |
 With best regards,  | Brad Dye P.O. Box 266 |  |  | |
| Skype: | braddye | WIRELESS  DATA | ||
| Telephone/Fax: | 618-842-3892 | |||
| E–mail: | brad@braddye.com | |||
| Web: | Consulting page MAY I HELP YOU? | |||
| ||||
| Anyone wanting to help support The Wireless Messaging Newsletter can do so by clicking on the PayPal DONATE button to the left. | ||||
 | This newsletter is brought to you by the generous support of our advertisers and the courtesy of iland Internet Solutions Corporation. For more information about the web-hosting services available from iland Internet Solutions Corporation, please click on their logo to the left. | |||
| FLEX, ReFLEX, FLEXsuite, and InFLEXion, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola, Inc. Si desea escribirme en español, puede hacerlo con toda confianza. | ||||
| THE WIRELESS MESSAGING AND PAGING INFORMATION RESOURCE |
AAPC thanks its symposium sponsors!
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
If you see someone in the field (like salespeople, technicians, and delivery people) using paper forms, their company could probably save a pile of money, and get much better timeliness, accuracy and efficiency, by using converting to Outr.Net's Wireless Forms. Custom applications for as little as $995, delivered in just a few days.Outr.Net has a web page on Wireless Forms for Timeports at: 
