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the wireless messaging news

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Wireless News Aggregation

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Friday — February 21, 2014 — Issue No. 594

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Paging and Wireless Messaging Home Page image Newsletter Archive image Carrier Directory image Recommended Products and Services
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Reference Papers Consulting Glossary of Terms Send an e-mail to Brad Dye

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Dear Friends of Wireless Messaging,

My Heartburn

I try to keep up-to-date with technology, I really do. I spend lots of time every week reading the news and searching the web for information to include in the newsletter. Somehow I completely missed the "WhatsApp" application. I had never even heard of it until this week. Sorry — it is about Wireless Messaging. You can read the article about WhatsApp later on in this issue, but you have probably already heard or seen something about it in the news on your radio or television.

The big deal is that Facebook paid 19 billion dollars for this little start-up company with only 50 employees!

So why the "heartburn?" Jealous? No, it's not that at all. Even though $19B would be more than enough to pay off my credit card, I know — we all know — money doesn't bring happiness, and I am already happy. It's another thing that Google just did that will be eclipsed by all this hullabaloo about WhatsApp being bought by Facebook.

At the Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas this week, Google announced that their Chromeboxes can power digital signage. (News report follows.)

Another announcement at the Signage Expo was: "New Taxi Top Digital Signage Arrives in the Big Apple" (This news report follows also.)

So what is causing my heartburn you ask again? Recognition, I guess. I am sure that as the concept of sending text and/or graphics messages to digital signs grows in popularity, there will be more billion-dollar buyouts and lots of riches created.

The thing is, I was running around all over the world promoting these concepts over 20 years ago.

I have asked my friend Kirk Meyer to write an article about this, since he wrote about it in his MBA thesis (in 1994, I think) — and his professor was very impressed — gave him an A, and said “This will work!”

More to come on this and the history of "The Wheel of Fortune" in future issues.

Meanwhile as others make billions off of these ideas, can someone loan me a couple of bucks to buy a cup of espresso?

[This is where you are supposed to start laughing.]

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I sent a special message to supporters of the newsletter the other day — asking for suggestions about how to improve its content and appearance. (I have included a copy of that message for all to read — following below.)

One friend, and long-time advertiser, recommended a classified ad section with wanted items, and items for sale. So I have started that in this issue. Check it out and let me know if you have anything for me to include in future issues.

Ron Mercer has also written in with suggestions (in the LETTERS TO THE EDITOR section) for a Paging History Column.

I have made minor stylistic changes throughout this issue. Let me know what you think — if you can find them.

I have also updated my daughter Allison's ad for cellphone service through Solavei. It looks like a good deal to me. If you get enough of your friends signed up as well as yourself, you can even get the service for free. She is a single mother and this will help her feed my grandkids.

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Now on to more news and views about Wireless Messaging and Technology.

Wireless Messaging News
  • Emergency Radio Communications
  • Wireless Messaging
  • Critical Messaging
  • Telemetry
  • Paging
  • Wi-Fi
Wireless
wireless logo medium
Messaging

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About Us

A new issue of the Wireless Messaging Newsletter is 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 web. 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 Messaging 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 readers' comments, so this newsletter has become a community forum for the Paging, and Wireless Messaging 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.

I spend the whole week searching the Internet for news that I think may be of interest to you — so you won't have to. This newsletter is an aggregator — a service that aggregates news from other news sources. You can help our community by sharing any interesting news that you find.

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Editorial Policy

Editorial Opinion pieces present only the opinions of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of any of advertisers or supporters. This newsletter is independent of any trade association.

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Back To Paging

pagerman

Still The Most Reliable Protocol For Wireless Messaging!

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Subscriptions

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If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter just fill in the blanks in the form above, and then click on the “Subscribe” bar.

free There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. It's all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology.

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Newsletter Advertising

advertise here

If you are reading this, your potential customers are probably reading it as well. Please click here to find out how.

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Can You Help The Newsletter?

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You can help support the Wireless Messaging News by clicking on the PayPal Donate button above. It is not necessary to be a member of PayPal to use this service.

Voluntary Reader Support

Newspapers generally cost 75¢ $1.50 a copy and they hardly ever mention paging or wireless messaging. If you receive some benefit from this publication maybe you would like to help support it financially? A donation of $50.00 would certainly help cover a one-year paid subscription. If you are wiling and able, please click on the PayPal Donate button above.

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Valid CSS!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

American Messaging Services, LLC partners with NASCAR Team Precision Performance Motorsports

LEWISVILLE, TX — February 20, 2014 — American Messaging Services, LLC (“American Messaging”) is pleased to announce it has signed a multi-year sponsorship arrangement with NASCAR Team Precision Performance Motorsports.

The partnership brings together two professional organizations uniquely focused on providing the best products and services to their customers.  J. Roy Pottle, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of American Messaging said “We are excited about our partnership with Precision Performance and look forward to attending various race events with our clients and using motorsports as a platform to create awareness of our products and services.”  

Richard Gdovic, Vice President of Precision Performance said, “We very much appreciate our partnership with American Messaging and their multi-year sponsorship of our organization. Their level of commitment to our team will be matched by our commitment to bring them great value through the use of motorsports to market their products and services and to entertain their clients.”

About Precision Performance Motorsports
Precision Performance Motorsports is located in Yorktown, Virginia. The team competes in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East. For more information and the race schedule please see: Facebook: Precision Performance Motorsports.

About American Messaging
American Messaging is one of the largest critical messaging companies in the United States delivering more than 5 million critical messages per day. American Messaging provides service to approximately 900,000 customers, including more than 1,000 major healthcare and first responder clients across the United States.

For more information visit www.americanmessaging.com

Media Contact: Jenna Richardson, Vice President of Marketing
and Product Development, (623) 581-0740
jenna.richardson@americanmessaging.net
Source: American Messaging

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Advertiser Index

American Messaging
Critical Alert Systems
Critical Response Systems
Eagle Telecom
Easy Solutions
Hahntech USA
Hark Technologies
Ira Wiesenfeld & Associates
Ivycorp
Leavitt Communications
Preferred Wireless
Prism Paging
Product Support Services — (PSSI)
Paging & Wireless Network Planners LLC — (Ron Mercer)
WiPath Communications

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Ivy Corp Eagle Telecom

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ivy

eagle

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Critical Response Systems

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More than Paging.
First Responder Solutions.

Our patented technology notifies clinical personnel immediately, while tracking who receives and responds to each alarm. Users confirm or defer each event with a single button press, and analytic dashboards display response statistics in real time, as well as historically broken down by time, unit, room, and individual.

Our systems not only notify your personnel quickly and reliably, but also provide actionable feedback to fine-tune your procedures, reduce unnecessary alarms, and improve patient outcomes.

www.criticalresponsesystems.com

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The Wireless Messaging News

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Newsletter Plans For 2014

Thanks to the continued support of individuals, companies, and paid advertising, I plan to continue the newsletter for the foreseeable future.

This letter is to request your advice and assistance on how to improve the newsletter format and content. First and foremost I am asking all advertisers who have not reformatted or updated their ads in the last year to help with a new layout. Critical Response Systems has recently done this with a very attractive new advertisement. They have been partly responsible for me learning how to use CSS (cascading style sheets), which improves the overall appearance and efficiency of the newsletter.

So here are some suggestions for what you can do to help:

  • Get at least one friend or colleague to subscribe to the newsletter — this will increase my direct subscriptions and help me attract new advertisers by virtue of having a larger subscribed-reader base (I know there are many more readers than those I send weekly reminders to, but it is difficult to tell how many there are);
  • As already mentioned, let’s work together on a new layout for your advertisement — if you are already advertising;
  • Anytime you are in contact with an advertiser or supporter, please mention that you saw their ad in the newsletter and that you appreciate their support;
  • Forward copies of newsletter to friends and colleagues who might be interested in the content;
  • Write LETTERS TO THE EDITOR;
    • Tell me what you like and don’t like,
    • Promote your products or services (no charge for this),
    • Include human-interest stories about your employees,
    • Tell the readers about your hobbies,
    • Share news about our industry (I can’t find everything),
    • Help me combat the common but mistaken notion that Paging is obsolete — with examples,
    • Send me photos — this is what makes Facebook so popular,
  • If you have noticed a vendor’s ad in no longer included, please encourage them to renew.

Remember this newsletter is the only remaining community forum that reaches all (or almost all) of the various wireless messaging markets:

  • Radio Common Carriers (public paging)
  • On-site Paging Operators (private paging)
  • Telephone Answering Services
  • Other Specialized Wireless Messaging Service Providers

This is not my newsletter — it is our newsletter. That is why I am asking for your help and advice. Together we can make it better.

Sincerely,

Brad Dye, editor

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Solavei unlimited plans start at $29/mo

We’re excited to introduce our new unlimited rate plans, with nationwide voice, text & data starting at $39/month. Or get unlimited voice and text for just $29/month. You can also save even more when you share Solavei with others.

allison dye

For more information contact me at allie7371@hotmail.com or go to: www.solavei.com/allie7371

Allison Dye (Kornberger)
Telephone: 918-814-8142
Tulsa, Oklahoma

This is a commercial message from Solavei, LLC

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More WiFi Coming To NYC Subway Stations, Including Grand Central & Herald Square

When you have subway station WiFi, you can Instagram this stuff more quickly (Photograph by scoboco on Flickr)

There's more wireless coming to big subway stations. Transit Wireless announced that it was "beginning of Phase Two" of ensuring that Tweets about your misery waiting for the L train will be distributed ASAP.

Transit Wireless announced, "Service will roll out progressively throughout Phase Two, starting with 11 stations in mid-town Manhattan, including Grand Central Terminal, 34th St. Herald Square and Bryant Park. Construction for the entire borough of Queens will begin rolling out in March. Phase Two will provide nearly 250 million annual riders with cellular service on AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon Wireless as well as Wi-Fi. The Phase Two build-out is expected to be completed by June 2014."

Last year, Transit Wireless added WiFi to 30 stations , mostly along the west side of Manhattan. The company has now released some stats on WiFi usage: "The Wi-Fi network served 2.6 million connections throughout the year. The network processed more than 60 terabytes (TB) of data - more information than the Hubble Space telescope has collected in two decades—with the average user spending nine minutes on the network. Smartphones like the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S® 4 were the most popular devices to connect to the Wi-Fi network and were responsible for 76 percent of the data usage."

And here's an infographic with even more factoids—like 37,000 laptops connected to the network and about two-thirds of those hopping on were dudes:

Source:gothamist

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leavitt

Specialists in sales and service of equipment from these leading manufacturers, as well as other two-way radio and paging products:

UNICATIONbendix king
ZETRON

motorola blue Motorola SOLUTIONS

COMmotorola red Motorola MOBILITY spacer
Philip C. Leavitt
Manager
Leavitt Communications
7508 N. Red Ledge Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail: pcleavitt@leavittcom.com
Web Site: www.leavittcom.com
Mobile phone:847-494-0000
Telephone:847-955-0511
Fax:270-447-1909
Skype ID:pcleavitt

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Microsoft renames Office Web Apps to Office Online

Ketan Pratap, February 20, 2014
NDTV Gadgets

Microsoft has announced that it is renaming its Office Web Apps to Office Online, which includes the online versions of its popular Word, PowerPoint and Excel apps.

Microsoft announced the news on its Office blog, which said, "First, we're renaming Office Web Apps to Office Online, so you know where to find our free online experience."

Further, the blog by Microsoft's Amanda Lefebvre said that the main reason for dumping the Office Web Apps was because of user feedback: "We heard from customers that the inclusion of Apps in our name was confusing. Are they something I install? Do I go to an app store to get them? No, to use them all you need is a web browser."

The blog post also explains that now users can go to Office.com and start using the Microsoft Word Online, Excel Online, PowerPoint Online and OneNote Online starting Wednesday. Users just need a Microsoft Account for using the Office Online.

Some of the new changes in the new Office Online include new free Word, PowerPoint and Excel templates.

The blog post said, "A lot of you don't know that we have an online version of Office because you just couldn't find it. If you're already using Office Online on OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive) or on SharePoint at work, great. We're glad you found it there. You can still use Office Online just like you always have. But we're making it easier to find for the rest of you by introducing Office.com, a discoverable and shareable web page so that you can start using Office Online right away."

Microsoft also promises that the new release will bring more cohesive Microsoft Office experience, which will make it easier for users to share and work together online with Office, OneDrive and Outlook.com.

Microsoft has also added Word Online, Excel Online, PowerPoint Online and OneNote Online in an app switcher which will allow users to switch between email, storage and the files without navigating in and out of the online services.

Microsoft has also asked the Office desktop applications users to give Office Online a try.

You can watch the new look of Office Online here.

Source: NDTV Gadgets

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American Messaging

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amsi

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American Messaging

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Easy Solutions

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easy solutions

Easy Solutions provides cost effective computer and wireless solutions at affordable prices. We can help in most any situation with your communications systems. We have many years of experience and a vast network of resources to support the industry, your system and an ever changing completive landscape.

  • We treat our customers like family. We don't just fix problems...
    • We recommend and implement better cost effective solutions.
  • We are not just another vendor — We are a part of your team.
    • All the advantages of high priced full time employment without the cost.
  • We are not in the Technical Services business...
    • We are in the Customer Satisfaction business.

Experts in Paging Infrastructure
Glenayre, Motorola, Unipage, etc.
Excellent Service Contracts
Full Service—Beyond Factory Support
Contracts for Glenayre and other Systems starting at $100
Making systems More Reliable and MORE PROFITABLE for over 28 years.

Please see our web site for exciting solutions designed specifically for the Wireless Industry. We also maintain a diagnostic lab and provide important repair and replacement parts services for Motorola and Glenayre equipment. Call or e-mail us for more information.

Easy Solutions
3220 San Simeon Way
Plano, Texas 75023

Vaughan Bowden
Telephone: 972-898-1119
Website: www.EasySolutions4You.com
E-mail: vaughan@easysolutions4you.com

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Easy Solutions

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Product Support Services, Inc.

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Repair and Refurbishment Services

pssi logo

pssi

Product Support Services, Inc.

511 South Royal Lane
Coppell, Texas 75019
(972) 462-3970 Ext. 261
sales@pssirl.com left arrow
www.pssirl.com left arrow

PSSI is the industry leader in reverse logistics, our services include depot repair, product returns management, RMA and RTV management, product audit, test, refurbishment, re-kitting and value recovery.

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Classified Advertising

Want to BuyFor Sale
Vocom 350 Watt UHF amplifiers
Giles Smith gsmith@gcseac.com
GCS Electronics & Communications
 
  
  
  
  
  
If you have any equipment that you would like to buy or sell, please send me an e-mail and I will include it in the classified section above. If a sale is made I ask the seller to send me a 10% commission, much the same as the voluntary payments that are requested on the Internet for shareware. There is no cost to the buyer. This is on the honor system — no contracts — just the Internet equivalent of a hand shake.

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Leavitt Communications

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its stil here

It's still here — the tried and true Motorola Alphamate 250. Now owned, supported, and available from Leavitt Communications. Call us for new or reconditioned units, parts, manuals, and repairs.

We also offer refurbished Alphamate 250's, Alphamate IIs, the original Alphamate and new and refurbished pagers, pager repairs, pager parts and accessories. We are FULL SERVICE in Paging!

E-mail Phil Leavitt ( pcleavitt@leavittcom.com ) for pricing and delivery information or for a list of other available paging and two-way related equipment.

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Phil Leavitt
847-955-0511
pcleavitt@leavittcom.com

leavitt logo

7508 N. Red Ledge Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
www.leavittcom.com

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WhatsApp winning in crowded market

Published February 20, 2014
Associated Press

Feb. 19, 2014: The WhatsApp and Facebook app icons seen on an iPhone in New York. On Wednesday the world's biggest social networking company, Facebook, announced it is buying mobile messaging service WhatsApp for up to $19 billion in cash and stock. (AP PHOTO/PATRICK SISON)

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — Facebook's announcement it is paying $19 billion in cash and stock to acquire WhatsApp is a milestone in the short history of mobile messaging apps.

Hundreds of millions of people have downloaded such apps to their smartphones and tablets to chat and share photos and videos for free, making them potent rivals to Facebook. WhatsApp alone has 450 million active monthly users.

The stunning price tag for a company that employs just 55 people is likely to boost valuations of other messaging applications and also stoke worries about a new tech bubble. Many of the apps are still figuring out how to make money from big pools of users.

THE BUSINESS OF TECH
Facebook inked a deal late Wednesday to buy popular texting service WhatsApp — a colossal cash- and stock-deal that includes $4 billion in cash, roughly $12 billion worth of Facebook shares and an additional $3 billion in restricted stock units to be granted to WhatsApp’s founders and employees to vest four year after the deal closes.

Shares of Facebook fell 4.75 percent after hours to $64.70. Read more at FoxBusiness.com .

Their main features are free messaging and voice calls between two individuals or in groups. Some have been adding gift buying and mobile games. They are already undercutting the mainstay businesses of mobile phone network companies: text messages and voice calls.

Some of the most popular messaging apps were developed in Asia, where a slew of competitors are vying for dominance.

LINE
Developed by Naver Corp. in 2011, LINE is a free messaging app that has become hugely successful in Japan and Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand. It built its popularity around cute "stickers" of animal or comic characters that users can share in chat rooms. As of November, 300 million people were using LINE around the world. In less than three years, LINE has become a cash cow for Naver, which operates South Korea's most visited web portal but is little known outside of East Asia. Its money making prowess makes it a rarity among messaging apps. Most of the app's revenue comes from mobile games. Some also comes from sticker sales which cost about $1 for a dozen. LINE raked in revenue of 454.2 billion won ($423 million) in 2013.

Viber
Created by Cyprus-based Viber Media, Viber offers its core Internet phone call function for free to its 280 million global users. Japan's top online retailer Rakuten Inc. said last week it will buy Viber for $900 million as the retail giant is eager to expand outside Japan. Rakuten founder Hiroshi Mikitani sees Viber as a potential platform for games and other content. Viber users can make video calls and exchange photos and messages between mobile devices and desktop computers. Access from a desktop computer is a feature that more mobile messenger apps are offering as they want users to stick with their service as they shift between devices.

WeChat
China's dominant mobile messaging app is WeChat, launched in 2011 by Tencent Holdings Ltd., one of China's leading Internet companies. Tencent, which makes most of its revenue from games, said WeChat had 272 million active users last year, with more than 100 million of them abroad. Other Chinese Internet companies including Alibaba and Baidu and phone carrier China Mobile Ltd. also offer instant messaging apps but have far fewer users. WeChat has added features including short voice messages and video calls over WiFi, which saves users money on phone calls. WeChat has added a payment feature for use in e-commerce. Alibaba, which dominates e-commerce in China, sees that as a threat to its own online payment service and is scrambling to shore up its dominance.

Kakao Talk
Created in 2010 by Kakao, a South Korea startup, Kakao Talk spread quickly in South Korea along with rapid adoption of smartphones. It has become the go-to free messaging service enjoyed by nearly all Korean smartphone users, giving birth to new idioms such as "Let's do Ka Talk." Some government officials and business people hold online meetings in Kakao Talk's group chat rooms. Abroad, it has lagged behind LINE and others in popularity. As of last month, Kakao Talk had 130 million users exchanging 5.5 billion messages a day and spending 213 minutes on the app every week. Kakao Talk is looking for ways to extend beyond messaging and mobile games to become a portal for navigating the mobile Internet and an e-commerce platform. Mobile games helped the app become profitable in 2012 and Kakao plans an IPO for 2015. Tencent became Kakao's second-biggest shareholder in 2012.

Source: Fox News

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Consulting Alliance

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Brad Dye, Ron Mercer, Allan Angus, Vic Jackson, and Ira Wiesenfeld are friends and colleagues who work both together and independently, on wireline and wireless communications projects. Click here left arrow for a summary of their qualifications and experience. Each one has unique abilities. We would be happy to help you with a project, and maybe save you some time and money.

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Consulting Alliance

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advertise

 

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HahntechUSA

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HahntechUSA

Telemetry solution

Easy Application & Better Performance

 

NPCS Telemetry Modem

BLUE LINE

(ReFLEX 2.7.5)

telemetry

finger

E-mail: sales@hahntechUSA.com

Website: hahntechUSA.com

 

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HahntechUSA

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Preferred Wireless

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preferred logo

Terminals & Controllers:
5ASC1500 Parts: ATC, Memory Cards & Power Supplies    
3CNET Platinum Controllers 
2GL3100 RF Director 
1GL3000 ES — 2 Chassis
40SkyData 8466 B Receivers
1GL3000L Complete w/Spares
3Zetron 2200 Terminals
1Unipage—Many Unipage Cards & Chassis
9Zetron M66 Transmitter Controllers  
Miscellaneous:
4Glenayre Universal Exciters, 1 UHF, 3 VHF
5Hot Standby Panel—2 Old Style, 3 New Style
25New and Used Cabinets & Open Racks 
38Andrews PG1N0F-0093-810 Antennas 928-944 MHz, Omni, 10dBi, 8 Degree Down-Tilt
4Andrews PG1D0F-0093-610 Antennas 928-944 MHz, Omni, 10dBi, 6 Degree Down Tilt
Link Transmitters:
1QT-5701, 35W, UHF, Link Transmitter
4Glenayre QT4201 & 6201, 25 & 100W Midband Link TX
1Glenayre QT6994, 150W, 900 MHz Link TX
3Motorola 10W, 900 MHz Link TX (C35JZB6106)
2Eagle 900 MHz Link Transmitters, 60 & 80W
8Glenayre GL C2100 Link Repeaters
2Motorola Q2630A, 30W, UHF Link TX
VHF Paging Transmitters
1Glenayre QT7505
1Glenayre QT8505
25GLT8311
25GLT8411
UHF Paging Transmitters:
20Glenayre UHF GLT5340, 125W, DSP Exciter
900 MHz Paging Transmitters:
2Glenayre GLT8200, 25W
15Glenayre GLT-8500 250W
3Glenayre GLT 8600, 500W
40Motorola Nucleus 900 MHz 300W CNET Transmitters

SEE WEB FOR COMPLETE LIST:

www.preferredwireless.com/equipment left arrow

Too Much To List • Call or E-Mail

Rick McMichael
Preferred Wireless, Inc.
10658 St. Charles Rock Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63074
888-429-4171 or 314-429-3000
rickm@preferredwireless.com left arrow

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Preferred Wireless

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critical alert CA Partner’s Program
 

Providing better communications solutions to hospitals across the country — together!

For CAS, strong partnerships remain key to providing our software-based communications solutions to our customers. These solutions include:

ca dr and nurse
nurse call systemscritical messaging solutionsmobile health applications

We provide the communication, training and resources required to become a CA partner. In turn, our partners provide customers with the highest levels of local service & support. CA Partners may come from any number of business sectors, including:

  • Service Providers
  • System Integrators
  • Value Added Resellers and Distributors
  • Expert Contractors
If you would like to hear more about our CA Partners program, we’d love to hear from you. criticalalert.com

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Selected portions of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, and/or the BloostonLaw Private Users Update — newsletters from the Law Offices of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP are reproduced in this section with the firm's permission.

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BloostonLaw Telecom Update Vol. 17, No. 7 February 19, 2014

Headlines

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FCC Deciding 600 MHz Auction Sizes, Industry Input Sought ASAP

The FCC is nearing a decision on the number and size of licenses to be sold in the 600 MHz auction that will be held next year, using spectrum reclaimed from broadcasters pursuant to the “incentive auction” process mandated by Congress. The Blooston Rural Carriers filed comments last month supporting the use of the 734 Cellular Market Areas (CMAs) as the license size for this auction, since this had been used for several prior auctions and has given small and rural carriers a realistic opportunity to purchase spectrum.

Unfortunately, it appears that the FCC will NOT be utilizing CMAs as the license size for 600 MHz. The Commission’s proposal is to utilize Economic Areas (EAs), which afford relatively reasonable license sizes in many East Coast states but result in very large license areas west of the Mississippi. Moreover, EAs often are centered around significant-sized cities or towns, which means that rural carriers seeking to provide wireless in and around their current service areas would have to bid for a much larger area than they want, and often against well-heeled bidders.

NTCA and RWA are trying to cobble together a more moderate alternative, which would combine CMAs where possible, to bring the total number of licenses down to approximately 400. To help with that process, we are seeking input from clients that may be interested in participating in the 600 MHz auction, to determine if there are any situations in which CMAs can be combined in a way that would not hinder the ability of small and rural carriers to bid; and to determine if any of the proposed combining of CMAs already on the table create issues that can be resolved by alternative map changes.

The FCC is seeking input within the next few business days, so any clients interested in pursuing this matter should contact us ASAP.

FCC Establishes New Open Internet Docket

On February 19, the FCC released a Public Notice establishing a remand proceeding “within which to consider how the Commission should proceed in light of the court’s guidance in the Verizon v. FCC opinion.” Although the FCC has not provided a deadline for comments on the remand, the Public Notice indicates that comments filed within the next thirty days will be “especially helpful.” Carriers interested in filing comments should therefore plan to file by March 21, 2014.

As we reported in the January 15 edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, on January 14, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed the FCC’s authority to regulate broadband Internet access service and upheld the transparency rule, but vacated the no-blocking and no-discrimination rules as impermissible common carrier regulation of an information service. The court remanded the Open Internet Order to the Commission for further proceedings consistent with its opinion.

In a statement on the establishment of the new docket (GN 14-28), Commissioner Tom Wheeler said the FCC intends to propose new rules which: (i) enforce and enhance the existing transparency rule; (ii) fulfill the “no blocking” goal; and (iii) fulfill the goals of the no-discrimination rule. He also indicated that the FCC would not seek review of the Verizon decision. Rather, the FCC will seek comment through a formal rule making on the specific rules for preserving and protecting the open Internet in line with the court’s decision.

FCC Seeks Comment on FCC Process Reform Report

The FCC has issued a Public Notice seeking comment on the FCC staff Report on FCC Process Reform. According to the Public Notice, the Report seeks to further the goal of having the FCC operate in the most effective, efficient and transparent way possible. It examines the FCC’s internal operations with the aim of improving the overall functioning of the agency and its service to the public, and includes a comprehensive list of proposed recommendations for process reform at the Commission. Comments are due March 31.

A number of recommendations are relevant to rural carriers. For example, Recommendation 1.1 would require the FCC to perform an intake analysis on every new filing and prepare a timeline to allow interested parties to track the proceeding and ensure it is completed in a timely fashion, or amended as necessary. This could help avoid situations where waivers are filed and left unacted-upon for years on end. Recommendation 3.10 proposes the adoption of a minimum comment period for significant regulatory actions, which may help ensure carriers have sufficient time to review FCC orders and prepare appropriate comments.

Although the Report proposes more than 150 process reform recommendations covering a wide range of specific topics, they generally aim to advance the following goals:

  • Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the FCC’s decision-making process by streamlining the internal FCC review process, improving tracking accountability, and reducing backlogs;
  • Processing items before the agency more quickly and more transparently by accelerating the overall speed, and ensuring the public is provided more information regarding the status of particular matters;
  • Streamlining agency processes and data collections, including reworking essential processes such as licensing activities, internal distribution and release procedures;
  • Eliminating or streamlining outdated rules;
  • Improving interactions with external stakeholders by enhancing the FCC’s public outreach and transparency;
  • Maximizing the Commission’s tools and resources by ensuring effective internal communications, human resource management, and training; and
  • Modernizing the Commission’s information technology infrastructure to improve its website functionality, data management, and tracking capability

Oppositions to Reconsideration Petitions of Rural Call Completion Order

The FCC has set the pleading cycle on the Petitions for Reconsideration of the Rural Call Completion Order filed by Transcom Enhanced Services (Transcom), COMPTEL, Carolina West Wireless (CWW), Sprint, and USTelecom and ITTA. Oppositions are due March 3 and replies to oppositions are due March 11.

As we reported in the January 23 edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, six petitions for reconsideration of the FCC’s Rural Call Completion Order were filed on January 16, 2014. Most relevant to our clients, Comptel asked for reconsideration of the FCC’s small carrier exemption. According to Comptel, the small carrier exemption that the FCC adopted in the Rural Call Completion Order is substantially narrower than the proposed small carrier exemption from the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

Transcom asked the FCC to expressly limit the Rural Call Completion Order and its associated rules to common carriers. USTelecom and ITTA asked the FCC to exclude call attempt data related to intra-LATA inter-exchange toll calls the FCC’s call completion reporting requirement. Sprint asked the FCC to reconsider its decision to use the required call completion reports as the basis for subsequent enforcement action, because according to Sprint the FCC has provided no guidance as to what behaviors by covered carriers it considers unreasonable, or what performance results are actionable and therefore could trigger enforcement action against a covered carrier. CWW asked the FCC to modify the definition of “covered provider” so that the lines served by non-controlling minority owners are not counted toward the 100,000 line threshold.

Carriers interested in supporting or opposing any of the Petitions for Reconsideration should contact the firm without delay.

PCIA and Distributed Antenna Proponents Seek Streamlined Rules for Small Cell Deployments

In response to a recent NPRM on improving the FCC’s wireless facilities siting policies, wireless infrastructure advocacy groups are asking the Commission to amend its rules and “categorically exclude” distributed antenna systems and small cell deployments from environmental and historic review.

PCIA—The Wireless Infrastructure Association and a working group of PCIA dedicated to the advancement of heterogeneous wireless networks filed comments earlier this month urging the FCC to encourage greater deployment of distributed antenna systems (or “DAS”) and small cells. Other recommended rule changes include updating the FCC’s collocation categorical exclusion to include collocation on all structures; clarifying that the corridor categorical exclusion includes DAS and small cell components; and adopting new exclusions for (i) certain DAS and small cell components located outside of existing corridors, (ii) collocations on utility poles and other non-tower structures over forty-five years old, (iii) collocations and new poles in utility or communications rights-of-way, and (iv) replacement utility poles or non-tower structures.

DAS and small cells are newer technologies that can address capacity and coverage needs and possess low profiles that make them desirable in historic areas. PCIA and the HetNet Forum (f.k.a. the DAS Forum) believe that an exemption from environmental and historic review is appropriate because DAS and small cell installations have limited visual impacts, involve minimal ground disturbance, and generally occur in existing public rights of way where some ground disturbance is to be expected.

“By removing barriers to the deployment of newer technologies like DAS and small cells, and refining its rules for collocations, the FCC can facilitate greater coverage and capacity of wireless broadband networks,” wrote PCIA.

The PCIA Comments also ask the FCC to clarify the requirements of Section 6409(a) of the Spectrum Act, which provides that “a State or local government may not deny, and shall approve, any eligible facilities request for a modification of an existing wireless tower or base station that does not substantially change the physical dimensions of such tower or base station,” including requests to “collocat[e] new transmission equipment.” Specifically, PCIA urges the Commission to define key terms used in the statute to avoid the potential for inconsistent court rulings, and to set baseline limits for application processing (e.g., “shot clocks”) to ensure that the statute’s “may not deny, and shall approve” mandate is carried out.

Finally, the PCIA Comments urge the Commission to make permanent its environmental notification waiver for temporary towers and adopt other proposed guidelines for temporary towers. “Temporary towers that meet these guidelines do not have the potential for significant environmental effects, but will benefit the public by addressing short-term coverage and capacity needs,” wrote PCIA.

A ruling in the FCC’s facilities siting policies docket (WT Docket No. 13-238) is expected later this year. Clients interested in supporting or otherwise responding to PCIA’s proposal should contact us promptly.

Law & Regulation

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FCC Issues Agenda for February Open Meeting

The FCC issued the agenda for its February 20, 2014 Open Meeting. The Open Meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m., and audio/video coverage of the meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet from the FCC Live web page at www.fcc.gov/live .

At the meeting, the FCC will consider:

(i) a Third Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to ensure that accurate caller location information is automatically provided to public safety officials for all wireless calls to 911, including indoor calls, to meet consumer and public safety needs and expectations, and to take advantage of new technological developments, and

(ii) a Report and Order, Declaratory Ruling, and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that addresses the quality and technical compliance of closed captioning on television programming to ensure that video programming is fully accessible to individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing.

The FCC will also consider three applications for review of decisions by the Media Bureau.

Senate Democrats Introduce Cell Phone “Kill Switch” Bill

In an effort to curb the growing problem of smartphone theft, four Democratic Senators have proposed Federal “kill-switch” legislation that would mandate a technology that allows consumers to remotely wipe personal data from their smartphones and render them inoperable when stolen.

A bill known as the Smartphone Theft Prevention Act, was introduced last week by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn) and co-sponsored by Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI). Text of the proposal obtained from the Washington Post indicates that it would amend the Communications Act to impose obligations on device manufacturers and mobile service providers to make kill-switch functionality available on all mobile data devices manufactured or imported into the United States after January 1, 2015.

“Cell phone theft has become a big business for thieves looking to cash in on these devices and any valuable information they contain, costing consumers more than $30 billion every year and endangering countless theft victims,” Senator Klobuchar said. “This legislation will help eliminate the incentives for criminals to target smartphones by empowering victims to take steps to keep their information private, protect their identity and finances, and render the phone inoperable to the thieves.”

Last summer, Apple implemented a "kill switch"-style update designed to make mobile devices less valuable to thieves. The Activation Lock feature included as part of its iOS 7 requires an Apple ID and password before the phone's "Find My iPhone" feature can be turned off or any data can be erased. Samsung has reportedly also been working on its own kill-switch technology for Android devices.

The proposed Federal legislation would allow only a phone’s owner or someone authorized by a phone’s owner to activate the kill switch, and it would give the FCC authority to issue forfeitures against carriers and manufacturers who fail to make kill-switch technology available. Imposing legal obligations and potential fines upon small carriers is troubling because, like in the HAC context, small carriers have little or no ability to influence the design or functionality of wireless devices that are available to them.

The Senate kill-switch proposal comes on the heels of a California proposal that would require wireless device manufacturers to include the function on all devices or face fines of up to $2,500 for each device sold without kill switch functionality (see BloostonLaw Telecom Update - February 12 2014). A similar bill has been under discussion in Minnesota .

Prospects for this legislation being approved by both houses and signed into law are unclear, but we expect the debate about “kill-switch” technology will continue. CTIA and larger wireless carriers have rejected the idea of such a kill switch noting that once the switch is used, the device is “bricked” and cannot be reused. Opponents have also argued that a kill switch could be a target for hackers seeking to harm individuals or larger groups of users like the Defense Department, Homeland Security or law enforcement officials.

Representative Eshoo Doubts Net Neutrality Bill Will Pass

As reported in the February 5, 2014 edition of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), along with and Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.), introduced a limited duration net neutrality bill that could pressure the Federal Communications Commission into action on net neutrality. The bill, known as the Open Internet Preservation Act, is a response to the January 14, 2014 decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Verizon v. Federal Communications Commission, which vacated the FCC’s net neutrality rules. Those rules prevented Internet providers from blocking or slowing access to certain websites.

If enacted, the proposed legislation would grant limited relief by temporarily putting back on the books the FCC’s Open Internet Rules vacated by the Court “during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date when the Commission takes final action in the proceedings remanded to the Commission in that decision;” and goes on to authorize the Commission to “continue to adjudicate cases regarding violations of the rules … that occurred during such period.”

However, in a recent interview with C-SPAN’s Communicators series, Rep. Eshoo conceded that it would not become law. She stated that she introduced the bill because it reflected the will of millions and millions of people “that want the Internet to remain accessible and open and free to them,” and she sees that as an important principle. Since she does not see the proposed legislation being enacted, she said that the future of net neutrality “will be in the hands of the FCC. So, let’s see what they do.”

Industry

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Comcast Seeks to Buy Time Warner, Create Largest Television and Internet Provider in U.S.

On February 13, Comcast announced that it had agreed to buy competitor Time Warner Cable for $45 billion, thereby combining the two biggest cable companies in the United States. If approved, the deal will no doubt create a dominant service provider for television and Internet, reaching approximately one in three homes, reports CNN . CNN further reports that the companies expect the merger to take effect by the end of the year, assuming regulators approve the deal. Comcast has indicated to address regulators’ concerns, it is prepared to divest approximately 3 million subscribers (approximately 10%, leaving some 30 million).

Our readers may recall that Time Warner rejected a bid by Charter about a month ago (BloostonLaw Telecom Update of January 15, 2014). Charter had offered approximately $130 per share but was rejected by Time Warner, whose CEO suggested $160 would be closer to the mark – almost exactly what Comcast offered.

A number of voices have raised concerns about the deal, both on the Hill and off. Broadcasting & Cable reports that Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), a member of the committee as well as chair of its antitrust subcommittee, has already signaled she will be holding a hearing on the merger. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said, “The proposed merger of Comcast and Time Warner Cable raises serious questions that deserve thorough scrutiny . . . the threshold question must be whether the creation of an even larger video and broadband juggernaut results in greater choice and lower rates for consumers. This has not been my experience with previous mergers of this size.” In an interview on CNN, Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), said that the deal was going exactly in the wrong direction if the idea was to promote competition.

Public Knowledge posted a Policy Blog stating that a merger between Comcast and Time Warner Cable would create a dominant gatekeeper for content providers and would only lead to fewer choices and higher prices for consumers. For example, Public Knowledge notes, online video providers like Netflix need Comcast in order to reach their audience — but Comcast owns NBC and Universal Studios as well as its own cable channels, meaning Comcast already has an incentive to favor its content over that of competitors. In the wake of the vacating of the FCC’s no-blocking and no-discrimination rules, Comcast could be free to do just that, so long as it notified customers of its practices.

Deadlines

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MARCH 1: CPNI ANNUAL CERTIFICATION . Carriers should modify (as necessary) and complete their "Annual Certification of CPNI Compliance" for 2013. The certification must normally be filed with the FCC by March 1. Because March 1 is a Saturday this year, per FCC Enforcement Bureau, carriers who may not be able to file on March 1 should plan to file by Friday, February 28.

Note that the annual certification should include the following three required Exhibits: (a) a detailed Statement Explaining How the Company's Operating Procedures Ensure Compliance with the FCC'S CPNI Rules to reflect the Company's policies and information; (b) a Statement of Actions Taken Against Data Brokers; and (c) a Summary of Customer Complaints Regarding Unauthorized Release of CPNI. A company officer with personal knowledge that the company has established operating procedures adequate to ensure compliance with the rules must execute the Certification, place a copy of the Certification and accompanying Exhibits in the Company's CPNI Compliance Records, and file the certification with the FCC in the correct fashion. Our clients can forward the original to BloostonLaw in time for the firm to make the filing with the FCC by March 3, if desired. BloostonLaw is prepared to help our clients meet this requirement, which we expect will be strictly enforced, by assisting with preparation of their certification filing; reviewing the filing to make sure that the required showings are made; filing the certification with the FCC, and obtaining a proof-of-filing copy for your records. Please note, that BloostonLaw will respond to any requests concerning the filing of the CPNI report within 24 hours of receipt. If you do not receive a response within this timeframe, please contact the office to ensure that your request has been received.

Clients interested in obtaining BloostonLaw's CPNI compliance manual should contact Gerry Duffy (202-828-5528). Note: If you file the CPNI certification, you must also file the FCC Form 499-A Telecom Reporting Worksheet by April 1.

Calendar At-A-Glance

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February

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Feb. 20 – Open Meeting.
Feb. 21
– Comments on NECA 2014 Average Schedule Formulas are due.
Feb. 21 – Reply comments due on American Tower Petition for Waiver of Periodic Inspection of Marking and Lighting Alarm System Rules.
Feb. 25 – Auction 902
Feb. 28
– PRA comments on Rural Call Completion are due.
Feb. 28 – Petitions to Deny T-Mobile/Verizon Spectrum Sale are due.

March

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Mar. 1 – Annual CPNI Certification is due.
Mar. 3 – Copyright Statement of Account Form for cable companies is due.
Mar. 3 – FCC Form 477 (Local Competition & Broadband Reporting) is due.
Mar. 3 – Comments on the Wireline Competition Bureau's VoIP Numbering Trial Report are due.
Mar. 3 – Reply comments on Public Knowledge's Petition for Declaratory Ruling on CPNI are due.
Mar. 7
– Initial expressions of interest in rural broadband experiments are due.
Mar. 7
– Reply comments on NECA 2014 Average Schedule Formulas are due.
Mar. 10 – Oppositions to Petitions to Deny T-Mobile/Verizon Spectrum Sale are due.
Mar. 10 – Electronic filing deadline for Form 497 for carriers seeking support for the preceding month and wishing to receive reimbursement by month's end.
Mar. 11 –– Replies to Oppositions to Petitions for Reconsideration on Rural Call Completion Order are due.
Mar. 17 – Reply comments are due on Use of Mobile Wireless Devices on Airborne Aircraft.
Mar. 17 –
Replies to Oppositions to Petitions to Deny T-Mobile/Verizon Spectrum Sale are due.
Mar. 31
– FCC Form 525 (Delayed Phase-down CETC Line Counts) is due.
Mar. 31 – FCC Form 508 (ICLS Projected Annual Common Line Requirement) is due.
Mar. 31 – Comments on FCC Process Reform Report are due.

April

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Apr. 1 – FCC Form 499-A (Telecommunications Reporting Worksheet) is due.
Apr. 1 – Annual Accessibility Certification is due.
Apr. 1 – PRA comments on Form 477 (Local Telephone Competition and Broadband Reporting) are due.

This newsletter is not intended to provide legal advice. Those interested in more information should contact the firm. For additional information, please contact Hal Mordkofsky at 202-828-5520 or halmor@bloostonlaw.com .

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With Chromebooks A Success, Google Adds Focus On Chromeboxes

Posted Feb 12, 2014 by Frederic Lardinois
TechCrunch

When you think ChromeOS, chances are the first thing that comes to mind are Chromebooks. Since 2012, though, Google and its hardware partners have also been quietly selling its Chromeboxes , the desktop equivalents of the ChromeOS laptops. Now that Chromebooks seem to have found their place, with very solid sales according to the latest data, the company is starting to put the Chromebox concept back into the spotlight and positioning it as a platform that goes beyond traditional desktop computing.

At the Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas today, for example, Google is highlighting how Chromeboxes can power — you guessed it — digital signage. Making this work is pretty straightforward and goes a bit beyond the traditional kiosk mode Google has long enabled on ChromeOS. Developers can set ChromeOS up to run any Chrome App the moment the device starts.

This means a signage company could just hook a Chromebox up to a screen (or billboard on the side of the road — assuming billboards use standard graphics inputs) and run ads or power the menu screens in a fast-food store. Want to make these ads interactive? Just use a touchscreen. Many of these signage companies currently use proprietary systems and as the occasional blue screen of death clearly shows, some even still use old versions of Windows to run them.

This was possible before, but it’s only now that Google is actually focusing on these use cases.

All it takes to enable this mode is a few extra lines of code . The install, updates, new code and any changes to the app can then be managed remotely from the Chromebook management console . Some schools that have deployed Chromebooks already use this feature for switching between the regular ChromeOS mode and apps for testing their students .

Last week, Google also unveiled its Chromebox for Meetings , which basically uses this same system but to run a video-conferencing platform in the background.

Until now, the only Chromeboxes available were Samsung’s models starting at $329. The Chromebox for Meetings, however, is made by Dell, and both HP and ASUS are about to launch their own versions soon. At CES, LG also unveiled a ChromeOS-based desktop, but this one is an all-in-one with a 21-inch display.

The Chromebox hardware has now also moved beyond basic Celeron processors and offers Core i7 CPUs and relatively high-powered graphics, which enable developers to run complex apps right on the desktop. With the help of Native Client, developers can even run games and apps that need high-end graphics on these devices.

With Chromebox for Meetings on the market and a round of fresh ChromeOS hardware about to hit stores, it makes sense for Google to start homing in on new use cases for this hardware. At just $180 for a basic Asus Chromebox, after all, the hardware is pretty affordable. But what will sell the system is likely the fact that they are easy to manage remotely and very unlikely to crash, and that it’s pretty easy to find developers who can write the kind of web apps that will run on them.

Google is clearly starting to position the Chromebox as a platform. I wouldn't be surprised if the company decided to launch more niche products based on this platform in the future. There is no reason, for example, a Chromebox with the right interface couldn't make a good device for powering the big screen in your living room, for example.

Source: TechCrunch

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Friends & Colleagues

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Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.

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Complete Technical Services For The Communications and Electronics Industries Design • Installation • Maintenance • Training • Engineering • Licensing • Technical Assistance

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Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.
Consulting Engineer
Registered Professional Engineer

Tel/Fax: 972-960-9336
Cell: 214-707-7711
Web: IWA-RADIO.com
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Dallas, TX 75248-3112
E-mail: iwiesenfel@aol.com

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Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.

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Wireless Network Planners

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Wireless Network Planners
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www.wirelessplanners.com
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R.H. (Ron) Mercer
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217 First Street South
East Northport, NY 11731
ron mercer

Cellphone: 631-786-9359

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Wireless Network Planners

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Prism Paging

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PRISM IP MESSAGE GATEWAY

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THE ULTIMATE IN COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE RADIO PAGING SYSTEMS

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  • VoIP telephone access — eliminate interconnect expense
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New Taxi Top Digital Signage Arrives in the Big Apple

February 20, 2014

VeriFone Media has selected MRI'S custom-made Digital Taxi Toppers for its digital out-of-home network in New York City.

Manufacturing Resources International (MRI) announced that New York-based VeriFone Media has selected the company to provide 200 BoldVu 44-inch TTU (Taxi Top Units) outdoor digital LCD displays to replace the standard iconic Static Taxi Toppers on its digital out-of-home network.

Alpharetta, Ga.-based MRI said it modified its standard 47-inch LCD size to create the 44-inch diagonal size required to meet the height restrictions required for each double-sided taxi topper. According to the company, these customized mobile digital LCD displays feature full HD resolution at an eye-catching 2000 nit brightness during full sunlight conditions.

Furthermore, the new SideVu feature from MRI provides optimum brightness to the side of the double-side system that is facing the sunlight, therefore limiting the power consumption and prolonging the life-cycle, the company said. The MRI engineering team also custom designed a power solution to be completely powered by the taxi's alternator without draining the battery or affecting other aspects of the taxi's power requirements.

According to the company, the overall design is suitable for the extreme shock and vibration and the sudden stops and starts that are normally associated with taxi cabs, while being fully sealed against the elements (summer heat in Las Vegas and winter sleet and snow in New York) and for temperature extremes of -30° C to +50° C (-22° F to 122° F).

The integrated Media Player supports standard content management software platforms and allows for dayparting and geocentric marketing as the taxi travels through different parts of the city at different times of the day. Advertising content can be updated remotely.

The Digital Taxi Toppers provide for eight advertising slots at 15 seconds each. Heineken is one advertiser that has already taken advantage of the opportunity.

Source: Digital Signage Connection

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WiPath Communications

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Intelligent Solutions for Paging & Wireless Data

WiPath manufactures a wide range of highly unique and innovative hardware and software solutions in paging and mobile data for:

  • Emergency Mass Alert & Messaging
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  • Fire House Automation
  • Load Shedding and Electrical Services Control

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PDT3000 Paging Data Terminal

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  • FLEX & POCSAG
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  • Huge capcode capacity
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  • Message & system monitoring

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Paging Controlled Moving Message LED Displays

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  • Variety of sizes
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PDR3000/PSR3000 Paging Data Receivers

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  • Message interception, filtering, redirection, printing & logging Cross band repeating, paging coverage infill, store and forward
  • Alarm interfaces, satellite linking, IP transmitters, on-site systems

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Mobile Data Terminals & Two Way Wireless  Solutions

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  • Fleet tracking, messaging, job processing, and field service management
  • Automatic vehicle location (AVL), GPS
  • CDMA, GPRS, ReFLEX, conventional, and trunked radio interfaces

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Contact
Postal
Address:
WiPath Communications LLC
4845 Dumbbarton Court
Cumming, GA 30040
Street
Address:
4845 Dumbbarton Court
Cumming, GA 30040
Web site: www.wipath.com left arrow CLICK
E-mail: info@wipath.com left arrow CLICK
Phone:770-844-6218
Fax:770-844-6574
WiPath Communications

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Hark Technologies

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Wireless Communication Solutions

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USB Paging Encoder

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  • Single channel up to eight zones
  • Connects to Linux computer via USB
  • Programmable timeouts and batch sizes
  • Supports 2-tone, 5/6-tone, POCSAG 512/1200/2400, GOLAY
  • Supports Tone Only, Voice, Numeric, and Alphanumeric
  • PURC or direct connect
  • Pictured version mounts in 5.25" drive bay
  • Other mounting options available
  • Available as a daughter board for our embedded Internet Paging Terminal (IPT)

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Paging Data Receiver (PDR)

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  • Frequency agile—only one receiver to stock
  • USB or RS-232 interface
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  • Eight contact closure version also available
  • Product customization available

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Other products

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Please see our web site for other products including Internet Messaging Gateways, Unified Messaging Servers, test equipment, and Paging Terminals.

Contact
Hark Technologies
717 Old Trolley Rd Ste 6 #163
Summerville, SC 29485
Tel: 843-821-6888
Fax: 843-821-6894
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Web: http://www.harktech.com left arrow CLICK

hark David George and Bill Noyes
of Hark Technologies.

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Hark Technologies

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Click on the logo above for more info.

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Tablets

If you are considering the purchase of a Tablet, I found this article: Engadget's tablet buyer's guide: winter 2014 edition — which should be helpful.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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From:Ronald Mercer wirelessplannerron@gmail.com
Subject:  “Improvements” to the Newsletter
Date:February 20, 2014 1:18:28 PM CST
To:Brad Dye

Hi Brad,

Thinking about your editorial in last week's Newsletter, I wonder if a “History” column might be interesting. You could solicit historic articles covering early RCCs, the evolution of technology, the history of mergers and acquisitions that so changed the industry etc, etc.

To keep the burden under control, you might want to make the History Column bi-weekly or even monthly.

Regards and please let me know what you think.

Ron

———
R.H.(Ron) Mercer
Paging & Wireless Network Planners LLC
217 1st Street, East Northport, NY 11731
Tel: (631) 266-2604
Cell: (631) 786-9359

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The Wireless Messaging News


Best regards,
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Newsletter Editor
73 DE K9IQY

Brad Dye
P.O. Box 266
Fairfield, IL 62837 USA

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CONTACT INFO & LINKS
Skype: braddye
Twitter: @BradDye1
Telephone: 618-599-7869
E–mail: brad@braddye.com
Wireless: Consulting page
Paging: Home Page
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K9IQY: Ham Radio Page

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THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

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Success

“More than other idols, personal success and achievement lead to a sense that we ourselves are God, that our security and value rest in our own wisdom, strength, and performance. To be the very best at what you do, to be at the top of the heap, means no one is like you. You are supreme.”

— Pastor Tim Keller, in Counterfeit Gods

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left arrow Newspapers generally cost 75¢ $1.50 a copy and they hardly ever mention paging or wireless messaging. If you receive some benefit from this publication maybe you would like to help support it financially? A donation of $50.00 would certainly help cover a one-year paid subscription. If you are wiling and able, please click on the PayPal Donate button on the left. Any amount will be sincerely appreciated.

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